Luke Reynolds bids farewell to the Bays

BY LAURA HUBERT

Glenelg star premiership forward, Luke Reynolds, bids farewell to the Bays this season, hanging up his boots with an epic 318 goals under his belt. The talented tall forward played a pivotal role in the Club’s 2019 drought-breaking premiership, a triumph that affirmed his call to back football over cricket paid off in style.

Reynolds, a keen athlete from a young age, possessed natural ability across several sports, earning him the chance to choose his path at just age 17. Speaking to Zac Milbank in 2022 as he approached his 100th HostPlus SANFL League match, Reynolds confirmed he “decided to give footy a really good crack”.

“I thought footy was going to be my pathway,” he said.

And what a fantastic decision that was, by age 24, Reynolds established himself as one of the modern greats at the Bay, cementing his place in Club history after beginning his SANFL career with Port Magpies in 2013.

That following year Reynolds spent 12-months as Carlton AFL rookie, “It taught me about being an elite athlete and what it takes to make it at AFL level”, Reynolds told Port Adelaide as he made his way home to South Australia in 2015.

The star forward made a memorable career move when he joined the Tigers in Round 1, 2018, kicking 25 goals across 15 matches in his debut season. But it was when Glenelg champion Liam McBean returned to the Club after a two-year stint with Richmond FC that Reynolds’ true flair began to shine.

Just 12 months after pulling on the black and gold, Reynolds embedded his place as a key figure in the Bays powerful league forward line. Despite their towering frames, both Reynolds and McBean impressed with remarkable agility. The dynamic duo became an intimidating forward partnership, made even more remarkable with the inclusion of fellow talented forwards Lachie Hosie and Josh Scott.

“As a whole, we really complemented each other, and I loved playing in that team environment. I got just as excited about the other boys kicking goals, as I did kicking one myself,” Reynolds told Andrew Capel in the 2019 Solid Gold premiership yearbook.

That team environment fostered a culture where the Club’s forward line talent only got better and better, with Reynolds and McBean named joint Leading Goal Kicker in that premiership season. 53 a piece, and Reynolds eight goals throughout the Bays successful finals campaign solidified his presence in the SANFL competition. Reynolds appeared in the SANFL West End State Team in 2021 booting 4.1, and 2.2 in the 2024 clash against Western Australia.

Reynolds career showed no sign of halting following the drought-breaker in 2019. He went on to play a critical role in the Club’s historic second-ever back-to-back premierships in 2023 and 2024, slotting 3.0 in the 2023 HostPlus SANFL Grand Final against Sturt, and 1.2 in the following year’s major against Norwood, led by Captain McBean’s seven goal sensation.

“An often unheralded and underrated barometer for our club during its most successful era,” McBean describes Reynolds. “A three-time premiership player that drove incredibly high standards and delivered on the biggest of stages, demonstrating an enormous work ethic and drive to push himself as well as others.”

Reynold’s ability to complement the talent of his teammates was key in the Bays’ success, stepping up when needed.

“We got used to where each other was on the ground inside forward 50 and understood that sometimes it was going to be Beany’s day, some days it would be mine, other days it would be Scotta (Josh Scott) or Hosie’s,” Reynolds reflected the playing style of the group during his 150^th game milestone.

A method that saved the squad when Ken Farmer Medallist Lachie Hosie damaged his right knee in Round 7 of season 2024. Reynolds adaptability and versatility enabled the forward line to stand strong amidst loss, “Since moving to Glenelg, and having the luxury of playing alongside Liam and Josh, and Lachie coming along. I’ve managed to find myself in a slightly different role using my running ability,”

“It has suited the make-up of our forward line.”

Luke’s lucky number 7 proved fitting, as he finished 7^th on Glenelg’s Best and Fairest leaderboard in the same year he celebrated his first SANFL premiership those years ago. Whilst he hangs his boots up on his SANFL career, Reynold’s passionate sportsman personality will see him journey to Mildura Football Club for season 2026, no doubt taking his goal-kicking flair to the Sunraysia Football and Netball League.

Reynold’s legacy will be etched in history by the number 7 locker at Brighton Road, with his name adorned alongside three premiership trophies. Spanning eight years, across 177 games and 318 career goals, it’s a small nod to the epic performances Reynolds contributed to the Bays greatest era.

Reynolds farewell’s Glenelg Football Club, extending sincere gratitude to the entire Glenelg community:

“After eight incredible years of football at the bay, I just want to take a moment to say thank you.

Thank you to all my coaches over the years for your unconditional belief, trust, and support on and off the field.

Thank you to my teammates, for the many friendships, laughs, memories, triumphs and lessons learned.

Thank you to the support staff and admin team for the mountain of work you do behind the scenes to make our jobs as players easy – your hard work never went unnoticed.

Thank you to the supporters for your passion, commitment and loyalty through every high and low – you’ve made playing at Brighton Road very special.

And finally, to my family and beautiful partner Amanda, thank you for the endless love and support that’s allowed me to chase my dreams.”

“I’m incredibly grateful for every moment, every memory and every person who has been part of the journey.”