Adelaide Storm Men Reflect on a Season of Growth and Grit

25 October 2025

While it wasn’t the result they were hoping for, the Adelaide Storm men’s team are taking plenty of positives from their 2025 Australian Volleyball Super League campaign, and looking ahead with renewed purpose!

Team captain, Brendan Clewes, said the season showcased both glimpses of top-level performance and the promise of a new generation of South Australian talent.

“Positives for the season are that we did show, at times, the high level of skill and standard that’s needed to be competitive in the Super League,” Clewes said.

“It was also a positive that we had a lot of younger guys at the beginning of their volleyball careers have a chance to compete, both on the court and at training, so we can start developing the next generation of Adelaide Storm.”

Following their recent team debrief, Clewes said there’s a renewed sense of hunger and professionalism driving preparations for 2026.

“We came away with some real fire in our bellies to perform and be better,” he shared.

“One thing we spoke about and look forward to is taking the next step in professionalism through our pre-season and training, that’s something the Super League demands if you want to compete with the other states.”

When reflecting on the highlights of the season, Clewes said it was hard to pick just one.

“There were too many things to think of as highlights,” he said.

“On court, it was the huge blocks and kills that some of the guys pulled off. Off court, it was the travel rounds, the time we had to build team relationships with people at different stages of life and volleyball. And personally, it was seeing people from the volleyball community who I hadn’t seen for a long time and having Super League as a way to reconnect.”

While results didn’t always go their way, Clewes said the greatest lesson of 2025 will carry the team forward.

“A ‘bad’ season, or a season where results don’t meet expectations, isn’t permanent,” he said.

“It doesn’t define who we are as a team or the legacy of the Storm. The program and franchise we have in South Australia is more than a single season, it’s a big-picture journey that’s still in progress.”