Max Bell

Max Bell played his first full season of senior football with Strathalbyn in 1973 after he was runner up for the Dunn Memorial Trophy in his final season of colts in 1972. Max played with Strathalbyn until 1977 when he received a posting to Cleve Area School as a physical education teacher in 1978.

Max joined Cleve as a player in 1978 and was then appointed as their coach in 1979. He led Cleve to four consecutive grand finals and they were successful in two of them in 1980 and 1981. While at Cleve, Max won the Mail Medal in 1979 and was runner up in 1981. Max was twice chosen to coach the County Jervois association side and was selected in the combined Eyre Peninsula team four times.

In 1983, Max transferred to the Loxton High School and was appointed coach of the Loxton Tigers, a position he held for two seasons. Loxton made the finals in both seasons Max was coach, playing off in the 1984 grand final where they went down to Barmera Monash. In 1984, Max coached the Riverland combined team against Barossa and Light and was captain of the Riverland side which defeated the Hills Football League in 1984.

Max then had a season with Reynella in 1985 before being appointed playing coach of Mount Compass in 1986 and 1987. Max was appointed playing coach of Victor Harbor reserves in 1992. He led them to a premiership, kicking two goals and being named high in their best players. As reserves coach Max was an assistant to the A grade coach Dennis Russell as well.

Max was reappointed B grade coach of Victor Harbor again in 1993 and 1994. When Kym Smith was appointed A grade coach of Victor Harbor in 1995 he chose Max to be his assistant. Max was appointed coach of the junior colts in 1996 and then took on the role of senior colts coach in 1998 and held that position until 2004. Max was presented with life membership of the Victor Harbor Football Club in 2002.

Arguably the best junior that Max mentored during his seven years as Victor Harbor senior colts coach would have been Leigh Kruger. Leigh went on to play 53 league games for South Adelaide and has also played for the South Australian country team. In a touch of football irony, Leigh has followed in his former coaches footsteps and is coaching the Loxton Tigers in 2017.