Len Symonds

Fifteen year old Len Symonds began his senior career with Perponda in a premiership year in 1962. By 1968 the talented midfielder had won his first Perponda best and fairest. During the late sixties and early seventies Len became the most influential footballer in Murray Lands football. Whether playing in the middle or at centre half forward, Len won five Perponda best and fairest, collected three Mail Medals and was twice runner up. More importantly Len was an instrumental player in three Perponda premierships.

In 2011 Len was retrospectively awarded another Mail Medal for the 1966 season which he had previously lost on a count back to Peake’s Trevor Krueger. Claiming this additional medal further enhanced Len’s standing as a footballer during this period of his career.

Len left Perponda in 1975 to go share farming in the Brown’s Well district. Instead of the local side, Len decided to play for Loxton to test himself at a higher level. He more than indicated that he had the class and skill to succeed in Riverland A grade. The following year Len joined Brown’s Well.

Len won his first Riverland Independent Mail Medal in 1976 during a period in the 1970s when the standard of Independent football was at its strongest. Len quickly showed the Riverlanders he was a naturally gifted player and that his brilliant disposal with either hand or foot could turn a match in a few minutes. He was quick, played intelligent football and was very rarely ever beaten in one on one contest’s.

Len was well on his way to winning the 1977 medal but soon after being selected in the Riverland squad to play Millewa he broke his arm and missed most of the season. He returned in time for finals and although a little under done was named Brown’s Well’s best player in their semi final elimination.

Len captained Brown’s Well in 1978 and was also named Riverland Independent captain for the interleague match against Millewa. The 1978 grand final was a showcase in how good Len Symonds was as a footballer, at possibly the pinnacle of his career. Len made centre half forward a strong point for Brown’s Well, he kicked six goals and handed out many more. Brown’s Well won the 1978 grand final because they didn’t panic and played smart football when it counted. It was their skipper who led the way in this capacity and provided a fine disciplined example for his teammates to follow.

Len returned to play for Perponda in 1979 and in his absence Perponda had produced and recruited a number of very good players to fill the breach. This allowed Len to play without the opposition attention he had endured in the Riverland. Len stepped up and wound the clock back in 1981 and produced an exceptional season of football. He won Perponda’s best and fairest and led the Grass Parrots to a long awaited premiership.

Len gradually eased back on his football in the following years and in a blow to opposition teams began playing B grade long before he had a right to. Len pulled the curtain down on his career in 1990 as a 43 year old and captain coach of the Perponda B grade. He retired with six Mail Medals, seven club best & fairest awards, six A grade premierships and a handful of B grade flags.