By PETER ARGENT

The Holloway family, with both Whadjuk and Yamatji heritage are the true sporting clan. There are five siblings – the oldest sister Chelsea, brothers Aaron and Joel, along with younger girls, Shayla and Demi. Four of them have already had elite sporting journeys.

The baby of the siblings Demi is currently a part of the South Australian Under 18s Girls state program at the National Football Championships.

She has been a member of the SANFL state pathways footy programs for the past couple of seasons.

After winning a best and fairest at Salisbury North juniors – which is also home club of four Indigenous AFL premiership players Michael O’Loughlin, Gavin Wanganeen, Troy and Shane Bond – she played through the grades in the Central District SANFLW programs.

Demi was a member of the SA state Under 16s football in 2024 and is a part of the power packed SA team in the National Under 18s championships this year in her AFLW draft year.

After being runner up in last year’s Development League best and fairest at the Bulldogs, Demi Holloway made her SANFLW league debut in round eight last season, against Glenelg at the Bay and is now in her second season in this premier state league competition.

Watching his little sister, while playing in the SA’s famed state red, blue and gold jumper middle sibling Joel was asked about family bragging rights, Joel’s quick and succinct replay was, “Don’t worry, I taught her everything she knows.” 

“Everyone loves their sports in our family,” he continued. “We’re all a pretty competitive bunch.”

Joel, currently one of the dominant players with the South Gawler football club in this highly touted Barossa, Light and Gawler Football Association, his second in the Coaches Trophy media award for the unbeaten Lions.

In his early 20s, Joel Holloway has already generated an impressive football resume. This has included two Best and Fairest awards with the Virginia Rams in the Adelaide Plains competition and a runner up to former Hawthorn premiership player Paul Puolopo.

He won a best and fairest and played in the 2024 premiership with Willaston in the Barossa, Light and Gawler, then moved to fellow club in the same competition, Freeling in ‘25, where he was runner up to the club’s best and fairest.

Holloway also has a young family with partner, Kiara Aguis, the daughter of one time Adelaide United soccer player and SANFL footballer with Central District, Freddie Arguis.

They have two children, two and half year-old Rome and Zeas, currently eight weeks.

“I was junior with my older brother Aaron at Gepps Cross,” Joel Holloway confirmed. “Aaron also has a year or two at Virginia with me.

“He is an outstanding Indoor netballer, who won a Silver Medal back maybe a decade for his country in South Africa.

Along with his national netball achievements Aaron was state netballer for SA from 2016 to 2019 and was in an AFL aboriginal academy from 2015 to 2017.

“Our oldest sister Chelsea also played Indoor Netball for SA.”

The leader of the pack, oldest child, Chelsea played SA State Indoor Netball both in 2016 and 2018 and won the SAASTA Netballer of the Year in the first of those two seasons.

In 2022 she ventured up to the rural city of Port Pirie, enjoying a successful season and an A grade premiership with Central Risdon Netball Club.