The Blackwood Football Club has made three changes to its squad for Round 13 of the Mortgage Choice Hills Football League to face Lobethal at U-Install-It Kitchens Oval. Selected to play his first A Grade game in the red and the green is currently senior colt player Deqhlan Files.A member of the 2017 senior colt premiership side which he booted three goals in the famous victory, Files becomes the 11th player to make his A Grade debut for the Woods in 2018.
He will also be apart of the exclusive group of players to play both senior colts and A Grade football in the same season. Currently across opening 12 rounds, their has been 13 players in the HFL Division One competition which have played both Senior Colts and A Grade football (4 from Echunga: 3: from Lobethal, 2: from Mt Barker and Uraidla Districts, 1 Onkaparinga Valley).
During 2018, Files has developed his game playing seven B Grade games in the opening 12 rounds. From these games been named in the best players on five occasions (71.4%). This is the fourth highest percentage of any player who had played six or more games in the entire B Grade competition in 2018. Coach Damien Salievic said it was an exciting moment for Files to make his debut. “He’s been playing well in the B Grade. It’s an exciting opportunity for him.”
In other selection news, Jake Atkinson and Lachlan Furness return in the A Grade whilst in the B Grade they make another four changes with Jak Baldisserra, Jonah Duperouzel, Zac Murar and Bryce Semba returning to the selected squad.
See the full Round 13 teams below.
