Former AFL forward Steven Motlop has joined local club Goodwood Saints for the 2026 Adelaide Footy League season.
The signing is a major coup for the Saints, who will welcome Motlop's significant AFL and State League experience to their ranks, despite him only being available on a part-time basis due to commitments in the Northern Territory.
Motlop played 217 games at AFL level across stints with Geelong and Port Adelaide, finishing his elite career with 229 goals.
He made 135 appearances for the Cats between 2009 and 2017, including a runner-up finish in the best-and-fairest in 2015, before adding another 82 games for Port Adelaide from 2018 to 2022.
The club announced the signing on social media during the week, with Motlop saying he was looking forward to the opportunity to contribute when his schedule allows.
"I'm very excited about the opportunity to play at such a great community club as Goodwood Saints," Motlop said via a Facebook post.
"I know coach Chad Cornes well from my playing days at Port Adelaide - Chad is building an excellent program at Goodwood Saints and I know I can add value with my experience to a relatively young playing list.
"Being based in Darwin, I won't be able to play every week, however, when I'm down in Adelaide for work with my company Seven Seasons, hopefully it aligns with the footy schedule and I can contribute in some way.
"Ultimately, at this stage of my career, I want to stay involved and remain active, if I can have a kick on a Saturday whilst in Adelaide for the weekend juggling work commitments, I'm keen to give back to local grassroots footy."
The 35-year-old heads to Goodwood after recently completing the Northern Territory Football League season with Southern Districts, where he showed he still has plenty left in the tank.
Motlop featured in 11 matches for the Crocs and averaged just under 20 disposals per game, but his best football came late in the season when he was shifted into a rebounding defensive role.
From Round 16 through to the semi-final, he averaged close to 30 disposals per game and was one of Southern Districts' most influential players during that stretch.
Goodwood Saints coach Chad Cornes said Motlop's addition would be a major plus for the club.
"It's great to have a player of the quality of Mots join our club," Cornes said.
"He's fit and in great shape having just completed a season at Southern Districts in the NTFL.
"He brings a wealth of experience to our relatively young group (and) whilst we know we won't have Mots every week, we believe he will have a great impact on our group when he is here."
Goodwood Saints finished fourth in last season's Adelaide Footy League Division Two competition and bowed out after losing to Henley in the semi-final.
