Huge Moment for SA Athlete

While all athletes dream of playing for the national team, the selection of Alec Davis into the Kelpies side for 2025/26 season marks a huge milestone not only for Alec, but for South Australia mens netball. 

Alec will be the first South Australian athlete to earn a Kelpies call up in 30 years. 

In what is an all too familiar story Alec was a basketballer until he was asked to play a game of netball. Like so many others he was immediately hooked and is testament to the fact that netball is a true team sport. Five years ago Alec joined South Australia’s MLeague competition which gave him the opportunity to gaining more minutes in the sport and build on his experience. In 2021 he first represented SA in the 23/Under, and from there, developed into an open aged athlete earning selection in Men’s Reserves for the following two years. In 2024, SA coaching legend Judy Greenwood saw the opportunity to further shape Alec’s game in the Open Mixed team to which Alec became a driving force in the goal circle. Brilliant at finding space and reading the circle feeders play in attack, his impressively accurate shot from range, helped his team to victory at the 2025 AMMNA Championships.  

Alec’s performance at the tournament clearly was a stand out as he was offered a Kelpies selection camp invite. 

Alec will take his history making step onto the world stage this month when the Kelpies tour to Johannesburg in a first time series against the South Africa Men’s Team.  

Career Comes Full Circle

Former SA Kelpie, Darren Saul (pictured) knows all too well what it takes to be in the national team. Being the last Kelpies athlete to wear the green and gold for South Australia, he has so much to offer Alec in his journey. 

He represented South Australia at Open level from 1993 to 1996 and reached the pinnacle of his playing career in 1995 as the speedy wing attack for the All Australia National team.

After retirement from playing Darren focused on his family life but re-entered the game in a coaching capacity. A rapid progression followed from junior coach to elite level Premier League some of Darren’s impressive netball CV reads as Assistant Coach of SA Men’s Open in 2024, Head Coach of Academy Thunderbirds and Assistant Coach of Netball SA’s gold medal winning U17 team to which he now stands as Head Coach for the 2026 season.

But coming full circle in his own Kelpies story, Darren has been appointed as Assistant Coach for this upcoming Kelpies v South Africa Men’s International series. 

We wish both Alec and Darren the best of luck and excited to see SA back in the Kelpies environment.