Almanac Football: The Lienert legend continues
Sadie Lienert (Copyright Peter Argent)
Sadie Lienert became a second generation SANFL footballer when debuting in West Adelaide women’s round one game against Norwood at the Parade on Friday evening, February 26.
Her father Kym “Leg” Lienert was a Central District league footballer back in the days when the club wore the white jumper, designed by Darryl Hicks. He debuted in 1978 and played 13 league games across that and the 1980-81 seasons.
Dad was among the crowd at Norwood watching his youngest daughter take her first steps in the game at SANFL level.
Kym Lienert’s career started as a junior with Lyndoch, before playing with Immanuel College First XVIII. “I debuted for the Doggies at 18, and can remember we played against North; I reckon it (the game) was at the Ponderosa (Elizabeth Oval),” the laconic Lienert explained.
Kym Lienert (Copyright: Peter Argent)
“After Neville O’Brien and I were kicked out of Centrals, we had a couple of years at Barossa District, playing in a flag in 1982. “I played in a premiership at Freeling under ‘Scratcher’ (Ian McKay) and the 1986 Grand Final, which was one of the best teams I ever played in, although we lost that Grand Final to Angaston.
“I missed out on Tanunda premiership in 1987, the first year of BLG footy, frustrated by injury that year, but played in a Magpies premiership in my last game ever in 1989 under Graeme “Mocca” Dunstan.”
Lienert was also talented enough to play SA state country football under Graham Cornes as well.
His daughter Sadie only started playing football last year at SMOSH West Lakes under the tutelage of Greg and Erin Phillips because the 2020 netball season was cancelled due to Covid. As the image of her playing underage representative netball for the Barossa, Light and Gawler Netball Association (BLGNA) at the Country Championship back in 2015 displays, Sadie is also an outstanding and athletic netballer.
Sadie the netballer (Copyright Peter Argent)
Sadie also enjoyed a win in her first outing, as West Adelaide collected a solid 14-point win against Norwood at Coopers Stadium. She was used in the wing rotations, finishing with four possessions, including three handballs, a couple of tackles and a clearance.
Sadie on debut (Copyright Peter Argent)
“Yes, that’s right, my first full season of footy was last year at SMOSH West Lakes, after the netball season was cancelled,” Lienert, 19, confirmed.
“I was asked by West Adelaide to come out a participate in a pre-season.
“Erin Phillips has a hand in getting us out to the SMOSH West Laker, and we played in a premiership under her father Greg Phillips.
“My friend Shay Partington convinced me to play for SMOSH and she is now playing SANFLW at Glenelg. “We have already run into each other this year in a pre-season trial.
“It was my aim to play at SANFL, to honour my pa, Trevor Becker.”
Sadie in the West Adelaide colours (Copyright Peter Argent).
If the fixtures allow, from a netball perspective, Sadie is still endeavouring to play a couple of games of the code alongside older siblings, Rubi and Matilda at the Tanunda Magpies in the Barossa, Light and Gawler Netball Association this year.
Sadie confirmed she currently works with her father on the family property at Shea-Oak Log, where her father would get her off the header during harvest, to ensure she travelled down to Richmond Oval, in the inner southern suburbs of Adelaide to train.
Footnote – Shay Partington is the sister of Glenelg star Luke Partington, the 2019 Magarey Medalist and premiership player, who originally hail from the west coast town of Tumby Bay.
For more of Peter Argent’s Almanac work, click HERE.
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The Tigers (Covid) Almanac 2020 will be published in 2021. It will have all the usual features – a game by game account of the Tigers season – and will also include some of the best Almanac writing from the Covid winter. Pre-order HERE
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Nice story Peter. It is good that there are now pathways (at all levels) for girls to pursue football and other sports.
Is it a sign of the times that a player has to get off the header to go to pre-season training? There was a time when pre-season didn’t start until well after the harvest and January holidays, later still for those with cricket commitments.
I never thought I’d say it at the time, but I do miss that Centrals jumper and the white socks (white socks!).
Greg A
I played in that jumper and sox – only in lower grades – Horrible!