Adelaide Footy League

The Adelaide Footy League, formerly known as the South Australian Amateur Football League (SAAFL),[1] is a semi-professional[2] Australian rules football competition based in Adelaide, South Australia. Comprising sixty-seven member clubs playing over one hundred and ten matches per week, the SAAFL is one of Australia's largest Australian rules football associations.

Adelaide Footy League
SportAustralian rules football
Founded8 March 1911 (1911-03-08)
Inaugural season1911
No. of teams69 (Men)
17 (Women)
Country Australia
TV partner(s)Nine Network (2018)
Official websiteadelaidefootball.com.au

The league currently provides competition across eight Senior divisions with Reserves grades, accompanied by a separate C grade competition, all from Divisions 1 to 7. There are also two under 18 divisions named Red and Yellow divided by area.

History
Semaphore Central FC (current Port District FC), 1914 Premiers

The league was officially formed on 8 March 1911 and the first match was played on 6 May 1911. With the exception of recesses during the two World Wars, the competition has been continuous since that time.

The South Australian Football Association (later to be renamed to South Australian National Football League) had existed as a competition since 1877, but by the early 1900s was structured on an "electorate system" where players qualified for clubs on the basis of electoral boundaries. Adelaide University Football Club was keen to field a team in the SAFA competition and applied each year from 1906 to 1910. Each time the application was rejected as it was felt the inclusion of a university team would threaten the electorate system.

In 1910 the Adelaide University Sports Association thought the case for admission to SAFA would be strengthened if the University had a team playing successfully in regular competition. It was felt that this could be achieved by forming a purely amateur league with other clubs not already in an association.[3] By late 1910 Glenferrie, Marlborough and St. Bartholomew clubs had agreed to join with University to form the new association based on amateur principles. By 1911, as preparations were in hand for the inaugural season, the four clubs had become five with the inclusion of St. Francis Xavier. The clubs also had agreed to admit late applicant Semaphore Central for the 1912 season.

In that first season only three ovals were used for matches - Jubilee Oval, Price Oval and University Oval. Price Oval (now known as Hawthorn Oval) in Mitcham and University Oval (at the corner of Sir Edwin Smith Avenue and War Memorial Drive) both still exist today. The Jubilee Oval however was built upon by the university in 1946.

Throughout the history of the league there have been many clubs join and leave the league. Affiliation peaked in 2001 with 72 clubs.[4] Of the founding clubs, only Adelaide University remains.

The 2010 season marked the 100th year of the league, with the last day in September won by Henley, who won their first Division 1 premiership in history.

2017 the league decided to change its name from the South Australian Amateur Football League to the Adelaide Footy League.[1]

Division 1

Club-by-club summary

This table summarises the total Division 1 premierships and grand finals from 1911 to 2020.

Club Premierships Most Recent
Premiership		 Most Recent
Grand Final		 Runners Up Grand Finals
Adelaide University [note 1]23199920062043
Port District Football Club [note 2]12197219771022
Goodwood Saints920202020312
Adelaide College [note 3][note 4]719821982714
Broadview620042004612
Exeter [note 3][note 5]51948195549
Riverside [note 3][note 6]319841990710
Kilburn32001200136
Underdale United [note 3]21934193857
Payneham [note 3]21978197835
Rostrevor OC22017202035
Gaza22011201124
Greek Camden [note 3]21991199124
Kenilworth21930193024
PHOS Camden22002200213
Flinders Park21977197713
St. Peters OC22012201202
Walkerville21953195302
West Adelaide United [note 3]21937193702
Kingswood [note 3]21915191502
Henley12010201223
Payneham NU12019201923
Tea Tree Gully12018201812
Prince Alfred OC12016201912
Port District11992199412
Greek [note 3]11985198512
Seaton Ramblers11973197312
Rosewater11957195712
Woodville11947194612
Greenacres11988198801
Salisbury North0-201322
Sacred Heart0-201122
Edwardstown [note 7]0-199611
Glenunga0-197811
SA Railways Institute0-194111
Prospect [note 3]0-192111
Henley & Grange [note 8]0-192011
St. Francis Xavier [note 3]0-191211
Glenferrie [note 3]0-191111
Notes
  1. Previously known as "University" until 1969.[5]
  2. Semaphore Central and Exeter merged to form "Port District FC" in 1979. Nevertheless, PDFC set its date of establishment in 1873, as a continuity of Semaphorce Central.
  3. Defunct club.
  4. Previously known as Adelaide Teachers College from 1972–79, Teachers College from 1935–72, Teachers Training College from 1923–34.[5]
  5. Semaphore Central and Exeter merged to form "Port District FC" in 1979. Exeter had been founded in 1924 and is considered defunct, with Port District being a continuity of Semaphore Central
  6. Merged with Alberton United and Ethelton to form Portland in 1997.[5]
  7. Moved to Southern Football League in 2009.
  8. The current "Henley Sharks Football Club" was formed in 1994 as a merger of the Henley Districts, Old Scholars and Greek FC.

Grand Finals

The following list summarises the Division 1 Grand Finals from 1911 to 2019.[6]

Year Premier Score Runner-Up Score Ground
1911 University 14.15 (99) Glenferrie 5.11 (41) University Oval
1912 University 12.9 (81) St. Francis Xavier 5.11 (41) University Oval
1913 Kingswood 5.8 (38) Semaphore Central 4.6 (30)
1914 Semaphore Central 6.12 (48) University 4.11 (35) Norwood Oval
1915 Kingswood 8.11 (59) Semaphore Central 5.11 (41)
1920 University 10.18 (78) Henley and Grange 2.11 (23)
1921 University 9.10 (64) Prospect 7.11 (53)
1922 University 9.9 (63) Semaphore Central 8.4 (52)
1923 Semaphore Central 6.10 (46) University 5.5 (35) Norwood Oval
1924 Semaphore Central 6.10 (46) Teachers Training College 5.9 (39) Norwood Oval
1925 Semaphore Central 9.16 (70) Kenilworth 7.6 (48) Norwood Oval
1926 University 9.15 (69) Semaphore Central 7.18 (60) Norwood Oval
1927 Kenilworth 10.18 (78) University 10.9 (69) Belair National Park
1928 Semaphore Central 10.13 (73) Kenilworth 4.11 (35) Thebarton Oval
1929 University 11.11 (77) Semaphore Central 10.10 (70) Jubilee Oval
1930 Kenilworth 12.15 (87) University 12.13 (85) Glenelg Oval
1931 Semaphore Central 12.11 (83) Underdale United 9.16 (70) University Oval
1932 University 14.11 (95) Underdale United 11.13 (79) Jubilee Oval
1933 Underdale United 6.15 (51) University 6.10 (46) Thebarton Oval
1934 Underdale United 11.11 (77) University 8.11 (59) Norwood Oval
1935 St Peter's O.C. 13.8 (86) Underdale United 10.13 (73) Unley Oval
1936 West Adelaide United 11.19 (85) Underdale United 10.8 (68) Thebarton Oval
1937 West Adelaide United 10.3 (63) Prince Alfred O.C. 7.10 (52) Prospect Oval
1938 Semaphore Central 14.12 (96) Underdale United 10.10 (70) Alberton Oval
1939 Exeter 15.11 (101) Payneham 15.9 (99) Prospect Oval
1940 Exeter 11.11 (77) Semaphore Central 5.12 (42) Alberton Oval
1941 Exeter 10.16 (76) S.A. Railways Institute 8.6 (54) Woodville Oval
1946 Woodville 8.13 (61) University 9.5 (59) Alberton Oval
1947 Exeter 14.14 (98) Woodville 6.8 (44) Alberton Oval
1948 Exeter 8.10 (58) Semaphore Central 6.8 (44) Woodville Oval
1949 Semaphore Central 8.11 (59) University 4.10 (34) Alberton Oval
1950 Walkerville 5.12 (42) Exeter 6.3 (39) Thebarton Oval
1951 University 6.8 (44) Exeter 5.13 (43) Thebarton Oval
1952 University 13.17 (105) Exeter 10.7 (67) Thebarton Oval
1953 Walkerville 8.10 (58) University 7.8 (50) Alberton Oval
1954 University 19.11 (125) Rosewater 10.4 (64) Alberton Oval
1955 University 18.5 (113) Exeter 7.7 (49) Alberton Oval
1956 Semaphore Central 11.8 (74) University 6.10 (46) Payneham Oval
1957 Rosewater 8.19 (67) Semaphore Central 6.13 (49) Kensington Oval
1958 Riverside 8.11 (59) University 6.13 (49) Alberton Oval
1959 Semaphore Central 15.10 (100) Riverside 8.17 (65) Kensington Oval
1960 University 6.4 (40) Semaphore Central 2.6 (18) Alberton Oval
1961 University 8.6 (54) Kilburn 3.8 (26) Alberton Oval
1962 University 8.14 (62) Teachers College 7.5 (47) Alberton Oval
1963 Teachers College 5.7 (37) University 3.7 (25) Alberton Oval
1964 Payneham 11.11 (77) University 10.8 (68) Norwood Oval
1965 University 14.15 (99) Riverside 3.18 (36) Alberton Oval
1966 Teachers College 9.11 (65) University 3.7 (25) Alberton Oval
1967 Teachers College 8.10 (58) University 7.8 (50) Alberton Oval
1968 University 9.10 (64) Teachers College 6.5 (41) Alberton Oval
1969 Adelaide University 7.8 (50) Teachers College 4.7 (31) Alberton Oval
1970 Semaphore Central 8.16 (66) Teachers College 6.15 (51) Alberton Oval
1971 Teachers College 15.16 (106) Seaton Ramblers 8.14 (62) Alberton Oval
1972 Semaphore Central 13.11 (89) Adelaide Teachers College 13.9 (87) Alberton Oval
1973 Seaton Ramblers 14.8 (92) Payneham 10.6 (66) Alberton Oval
1974 Adelaide University 16.11 (107) Payneham 7.5 (47) Adelaide Oval
1975 Adelaide University 14.15 (99) Flinders Park 4.9 (33) Adelaide Oval
1976 Flinders Park 19.20 (134) Adelaide University 10.12 (72) Richmond Oval
1977 Flinders Park 9.13 (67) Semaphore Central 5.14 (44) Richmond Oval
1978 Payneham 12.20 (92) Glenunga 9.8 (62) Richmond Oval
1979 Adelaide College 18.13 (121) Broadview 15.10 (100) Adelaide Oval
1980 Broadview 17.12 (114) Adelaide College 4.18 (42) Adelaide Oval
1981 Adelaide College 7.14 (56) Riverside 6.5 (41) Adelaide Oval
1982 Adelaide College 16.10 (106) Riverside 11.10 (76) Adelaide Oval
1983 Riverside 15.7 (97) Adelaide University 11.11 (77) Adelaide Oval
1984 Riverside 14.15 (99) Greek 11.14 (80) Norwood Oval
1985 Greek 16.9 (105) Riverside 11.11 (77) Alberton Oval
1986 Adelaide University 11.17 (83) Riverside 12.8 (80) Adelaide Oval
1987 Broadview 12.6 (78) Greek Camden 7.15 (57) Adelaide Oval
1988 Greenacres 11.13 (79) Broadview 11.11 (77) Adelaide Oval
1989 Broadview 18.13 (121) Greek Camden 2.8 (20) Adelaide Oval
1990 Greek Camden 18.12 (120) Riverside 12.15 (87) Alberton Oval
1991 Greek Camden 9.12 (66) Kilburn 9.10 (64) Alberton Oval
1992 Port District 17.8 (110) Broadview 8.10 (58) Alberton Oval
1993 Broadview 14.7 (91) Kilburn 9.17 (71) Adelaide Oval
1994 Kilburn 10.15 (75) Port District 8.9 (57) Adelaide Oval
1995 Kilburn 14.18 (102) Broadview 11.15 (81) Adelaide Oval
1996 Adelaide University 21.12 (138) Edwardstown 13.9 (87) Adelaide Oval
1997 Goodwood Saints 11.9 (75) PHOS Camden 10.8 (68) Adelaide Oval
1998 Broadview 18.13 (121) Goodwood Saints 8.6 (54) Adelaide Oval
1999 Adelaide University 5.13 (43) Goodwood Saints 5.12 (42) Adelaide Oval
2000 PHOS Camden 7.5 (47) Broadview 6.6 (42) Alberton Oval
2001 Kilburn 19.5 (119) Adelaide University 14.7 (91) Adelaide Oval
2002 PHOS Camden 11.17 (83) Adelaide University 10.12 (72) Adelaide Oval
2003 Gaza 10.15 (75) Broadview 7.9 (51) Adelaide Oval
2004 Broadview 9.11 (65) Goodwood Saints 8.10 (58) Adelaide Oval
2005 Goodwood Saints 13.10 (88) Gaza 8.5 (53) Adelaide Oval
2006 Goodwood Saints 18.11 (119) Adelaide University 10.12 (72) Alberton Oval
2007 Goodwood Saints 19.16 (130) Gaza 11.7 (73) Thebarton Oval
2008[7] Goodwood Saints 13.9 (87) Salisbury North 9.4 (58) Thebarton Oval
2009[8] Goodwood Saints 11.13 (79) Henley 8.12 (60) Thebarton Oval
2010[9] Henley 11.6 (72) Sacred Heart OC 7.5 (47) Thebarton Oval
2011 Gaza 10.13 (73) Sacred Heart OC 9.15 (69) Thebarton Oval
2012 St Peter's O.C. 15.13 (103) Henley 13.15 (93) Adelaide Airport Stadium
2013[10] Rostrevor OC 17.9 (111) Salisbury North 10.9 (69) Adelaide Airport Stadium
2014[11] Goodwood Saints 14.10 (94) Rostrevor OC 7.7 (49) Adelaide Airport Stadium
2015 Goodwood Saints 12.7 (79) Payneham NU 7.9 (51) Adelaide Airport Stadium
2016 Prince Alfred OC 10.13 (73) Tea Tree Gully 6.10 (46) Adelaide Airport Stadium
2017 Rostrevor OC 10.8 (68) Payneham NU 3.13 (31) ALDI Arena
2018 Tea Tree Gully 13.15 (93) Rostrevor OC 9.9 (63) ALDI Arena
2019 Payneham NU 12.4 (76) Prince Alfred OC 10.12 (72) Guardall Security Stadium
2020 Goodwood Saints 9.12 (66) Rostrevor OC 7.8 (50) Norwood Oval

Current Clubs

The following table summarises the member clubs of the league for the 2017 season.

  Playing in Division 1
  Playing in Division 2
  Playing in Division 3
Club Men's Grades Women's Grades Website Nickname Home Ground Founded Joined
Adelaide Lutheran 7, 7R, C65http://www.alsportsclub.com.au/Bulldogs Park 21 (Mirnu Wirra)19691985
Adelaide University 1, 1R, 7, 7R, C1, C5, C61, 1R, 3http://www.bobneil.com/Blacks Park 10 (Warnpangga)19061911
Aldinga 6Sharks AMAC Oval1879 2017
Angle Vale 2, U18Rhttp://www.anglevalefc.com/ Owls Angle Vale Sport Complex1998
Athelstone 2, 2R, C2, U18Rhttp://www.athelstonefc.org.au/Raggies Max Amber Sportfield19041996
Blackfriars Old Scholars 5, 5Rhttps://web.archive.org/web/20070503170115/http://www.bosfc.com/Hounds Park 2 (Pardipardinyilla)20052006
Blackwood U18Bhttp://www.blackwoodfootballclub.com.au/ Woods Blackwood Hill Reserve1912
Brahma Lodge 6, 6R, C6https://web.archive.org/web/20081005054035/http://brahmalodgefc.sportzvault.com/Tigers Brahma Lodge Oval19621996
Bridgewater-Callington 6http://www.bridgewatercallingtonraiders.com/ Raiders AZTEC Oval20132018
Brighton Districts and Old Scholars 1, 1R, C1, U18BBrighton Bombers Brighton Oval1991 2017
Broadview 2, 2R, C2, U18R4http://www.broadviewfc.com.au/Tigers Broadview Oval19281964
CBC Old Collegians 5, 5R, C5https://web.archive.org/web/20080705192211/http://www.cbcoc.com.au/Dolphins King Rodney Park

(Ityamai-Itpina)

 19781978
Central United 7, 7Rhttps://web.archive.org/web/20100324235612/http://www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=cufcBulldogs Mofflin Reserve19621995
Christies Beach 1, 1R, U18Rhttp://www.cbfcsaints.org/Saints Bice Oval19632016
Colonel Light Gardens 4, 4R, C4http://www.clgfc.org.auLions Mortlock Park19311931
Eastern Park 4, 4R, C73https://web.archive.org/web/20080309010217/http://www.epfc.com.au/Demons Dwight Reserve19621995
Edwardstown 4, 4R, C4, U18Bhttp://www.edwardstownfc.com.au/ Towns Edwardstown Oval1919 2016
Elizabeth 6, 6R, C6http://www.elizabetheagles.com.au/Eagles Elizabeth Oval19561995
Fitzroy 6, 6R, C5, U18Y1, 1Rhttp://www.fitzroyfc.com.au/Lions Sam Johnson Sportsground19871987
Flinders Park 3, 3R, C3, U18R, U18Bhttps://web.archive.org/web/20080518075151/http://www.flindersparkfc.com.au/Reds Flinders Park No. 119271933
Flinders University 7, 7R3https://web.archive.org/web/20170218100029/http://www.football.flindersclubs.asn.au/Crabs Flinders Uni Oval19661966
Gaza 2, 2R, C2, U18Y3https://web.archive.org/web/20070216041716/http://www.gaza.com.au/football.htmlEagles Klemzig Oval19211962
Gepps Cross 4, 4R, C4, U18Yhttp://geppscross.homestead.com/Rams Duncan Fraser Reserve19521984
Glenunga 5, 5R, C6http://glenungafc.com.auRams Webb Oval19541960
Golden Grove 2, 2R, 7, 7R, U18R4, 5 http://www.ggfc.com.au/Kookaburras Harpers Field19951996
Goodwood Saints 1, 1R, C1, C7, U18RU18Bhttp://www.goodwoodsaints.com.au/Saints Goodwood Oval19851985
Greenacres 5, 5R2https://web.archive.org/web/20090912050327/http://saafl.asn.au/stats/clubs.php?cName=GreenacresDragons Edward Smith Reserve19671973
Happy Valley 3, 4http://hvfc.com.au/ Vikings Happy Valley Sports Club1951 2017
Hectorville 4, 4R, C4, U18Yhttps://web.archive.org/web/20090912051316/http://saafl.asn.au/stats/clubs.php?cName=HectorvilleHounds Daly Oval19611990
Henley 2, 2R, C2, C7, U18RU18Bhttp://www.henleysharks.com.auSharks Henley Oval19061920
Hope Valley 5, 5R, C5, U18YU18Bhttps://web.archive.org/web/20090930170356/http://saafl.asn.au/stats/clubs.php?cName=Hope%20ValleyDemons Hope Valley Sporting Club19061987
Houghton Districts 6, 6Rhttps://web.archive.org/web/20091025063327/http://www.hdfcraiders.com.au/Raiders Houghton Memorial Oval19951995
Imperial (Murraylands Swans) 6Swans AZTEC Oval2018
Ingle Farm 6, 6R, C63http://www.inglefarm.org.au/snr_football.htmBulldogs Rowe Park19681989
Ironbank-Cherry Gardens 6https://www.ibcgfc.com.au/ Thunderers Cherry Gardens Oval1985 2017
Kangarilla/Onkaparinga Valley 6http://www.onkas.com.au/ Double Blues/Bulldogs Kangarilla Recreation Ground1901/1967 2017
Kenilworth 5, 5R, C5, C7, U18B5, U18Rhttps://web.archive.org/web/20080513045914/http://www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=kfcKookaburras St. Marys Park19071924
Kilburn 4, 4R, C4http://www.kfcc.com.au/Knights Blair Athol Reserve19231958
Lockleys 1, 1R, C1, U18http://www.lockleysfc.com.au/Demons Lockleys Oval19511986
Mawson Lakes 6, 6R3http://www.mawsonlakesfc.com.au/Saints UniSA Mawson Lakes Oval19781993
Mitcham 3, 3R, C3U18Bhttp://www.mitchamfootballclub.websyte.com.au/Hawks Price Oval19081968
Mitchell Park 7, 7Rhttp://www.mitchellparkfc.com/Lions Mitchell Park Oval19692001
Modbury 1, 1R, C1, C4, C6, U18Y2http://www.modburyhawks.org.auHawks Modbury Oval18621988
Morphettville Park 4, 4R, U18B1, 1R, 4, U18Rhttp://www.mpscroos.com.au/ Roos Kellett Reserve Oval1958 2017
Mount Barker 2, 6http://mountbarkerfootballclub.org.au/ Barkeroos Howard Lane Oval1967 2016
Mount Lofty District 2, 5http://www.mtloftydevils.com.au/ Devils Heathfield Oval 1987 2016
Nairne Bremer United 5https://www.nbufc.com.au/ Rams Nairne Oval1978 2017
North Haven 4, 4R, C4, C64North Haven FacebookMagpies Largs North Oval19351980
Old Ignatians 2, 2R, C2, C65http://www.oifc.com.au/Iggies Park 25 (Narnungga)19721972
Para Hills 7, 7Rhttp://www.phfc.com.au/Big Reds The Paddocks19741995
Payneham Norwood Union 1, 1R, C1, C6, U18R2https://web.archive.org/web/20080513005802/http://www.paynehamfalcons.com.au/home.htmlFalcons Payneham Oval19951996
Pembroke OS 2, 2R, C2http://www.pembroke.sa.edu.au/page.php?section=517Kings Haslam Oval19321932
PHOS Camden 2, 2R, C2, U18Bhttp://www.phantomsfc.com.au/Phantoms Camden Oval19941994
Plympton 3, 3R, C3http://www.plymptonbulldogs.com.au/Bulldogs Plympton Park19371996
Pooraka 5, 5R, C5https://web.archive.org/web/20080108072954/http://www.poorakafc.com.au/Bulls Lindblom Park19201996
Port Adelaide Women 1, 1Rhttps://www.facebook.com/PAWFC/ Magpies Ethelton Oval2003
Port District 1, 1R, C1, U18Rhttp://www.pdfc.com.auMagpies Largs Reserve19791984
Portland 3, 3R, C3, U18Yhttp://home.iprimus.com.au/aurbow/Thunder Riverside Oval19971997
Prince Alfred OC 1, 1R, C1, C4https://web.archive.org/web/20080511212207/http://www.paocfc.com/Reds Park 9 (Tidlangga)19261926
Pulteney 6, 6R, C45https://web.archive.org/web/20060820230548/http://www.pulteney.sa.edu.au/posa/football.htmlNavy Blues Morgan Oval19361936
Rosewater 5, 5R, C5, U18Bhttp://www.rosewaterfc.com.au/Bulldogs Eric Sutton Oval18851949
Rostrevor OC 1, 1R, C1https://web.archive.org/web/20070829184358/http://www.rostrevor.sa.edu.au/flexipage.aspx?PageId=150ROCS Cambelltown Oval19231974
Sacred Heart OC 2, 2R, C2, U18Bhttp://www.shocfc.com/Football/Default.htmSHOCs Sacred Heart College19681968
Salisbury 4, 4R, C4, C71, 1R, U18Rhttp://freeteams.net/Salisburyfootballclub/index.htmlMagpies Salisbury Oval18831995
Salisbury North 1, 1RSalisbury North FacebookHawks Salisbury North Sports Club19531996
Salisbury West 6, 6R, U18YSalisbury West FacebookTigers Salisbury West Oval19651970
Scotch OC 2, 2R, C25 www.scotchoc.com.au None Price Memorial Oval19291929
Seaton Ramblers 3, 3R, C3Seaton Ramblers FacebookRams Pedlar Oval19581961
Smithfield4, 4R4Smithfield FacebookPanthers Smithfield Oval19651995
SMOSH West Lakes 3, 3R, C3U18RSMOSH West Lakes FacebookLions Jubilee Reserve19961996
St Pauls's OS 7, 7Rhttp://spocfc.com.au/SPOCs St. Pauls College19281928
St. Peters OC 1, 1R, C1http://spocfc.com.au/SPOCs The Caterer Oval19281928
Tea Tree Gully 1, 1R, 7, 7R, U18RU18Bhttp://www.gullies.com.auGullies Petaringa Oval18621988
Trinity OS 6, 6Rhttp://www.tosfc.com.auLions Trinity College Gawler Campus20062006
Unley Mercedes Jets 2, 2R, C2http://unleyjets.com.au//Jets Kingswood Oval19701970
Walkerville 3, 3R, C3http://www.walkervillefc.com.au/Cats Walkerville Oval19011936
West Croydon6, 6R4West Croydon FacebookHawks Fawk Reserve19611974
Westminster OS 3, 3RWestminister OS FacebookDragons Glandore Oval19691969
Woodville South 5, 5R, C5Woodville South FacebookCats Nieuvision Oval18901979

Controversy

Violence and Abuse

The league has received media publicity over a number of incidents occurring at matches in recent years.

2005

  • After the 2005 Division 4 Grand Final, Salisbury West forfeited promotion, had premiership points deducted for the 2006 season and five players received a total of 38 games suspension following a number of violent incidents during their heavy loss to Payneham Norwood Union.[12]

2011

  • Spectators at West Croydon were approached by sex workers during junior games to offer their services.[13]

2012

  • 19 May - Police were called after a spectator wielded a knife and another used a broken beer bottle as a weapon in a fight during a match between Ingle Farm and Trinity Old Scholars. Ingle Farm had to hire security guards and ban drinking in certain areas for their remaining home games of the season.[14]
  • 10 June - Three players were allegedly involved in an incident where their names were signed in permanent marker on a bar whilst representing the SAAFL in Tasmania as part of the Under-23 representative team.[15]

2013

  • 25 May: An alleged brawl involving up to 20 people occurred in the car park during a match involving Smithfield and Ingle Farm.[16]
  • 25 May: A Westminster Old Scholars player was allegedly attacked with a glass bottle during a match.[16]
  • 1 June: A Central United player was banned for life following a 'disgusting' act where he smeared faeces on the door of the umpires' changeroom following a match against Blackfriars Old Scholars.[17]
  • June: One player was sentenced to eight months jail following a "coward punch" against an opponent in a C2 Division match between Adelaide Lutheran and Seaton Ramblers.[18]
  • 15 June: Aboriginal Salisbury North coach Eugene Warrior was racially abused by a Henley supporter.[19]
  • 20 July: Two Smithfield players reported for striking a player and abusing umpires resulted in the Smithfield club being suspended from the league for the rest of the season.[20]
  • 7 September: Police were called after the Division 7 Grand Final between Ingle Farm and Angle Vale was called off with 10 minutes remaining when a wild brawl broke out between spectators.[21]
  • 27 September: A Salisbury North player was banned for life as a result of an incident in the Division 1 Grand Final, and two other Salisbury North players were also suspended.[22][23]
  • Central United had 10 Category A reports during the season, resulting in a combined total of 36 games suspension, with one player banned for life.[24]
  • Salisbury North had eight suspensions for a total of 35 games.[24]
  • Salisbury West punished three players who abused umpires by forcing them to officiate games without pay.[24]

2014

  • Smithfield were reinstated to the competition with stipulations around player behavior. An incident in its Under 18 team involving umpire abuse and intimidation resulted in that team being withdrawn. Its coach was suspended for 18 months, one player was suspended for 8 matches, two other players suspended for four and two games. The club was also fined $2,000, and the A-Grade and B-Grade teams were penalised 8 premiership points each.[25][26]
  • Central United were deducted nine premiership points as a result of a player being suspended for spitting at and striking another player in a game played on 19 July 2014 against Blackfriars Old Scholars.[27]
  • Salisbury and Ingle Farm's Under 18 teams were each deducted six premiership points for involvement in a wild melee.[27]
  • A North Pines player was suspended for 32 weeks, resulting in a life ban, for attempting to headbutt, threatening and abusing an umpire and racial vilification during a Division 7 Semi-Final against Adelaide University. The match resulted in a forfeit after the North Pines team walked off the field to protest the umpiring and three of its players being reported.[28] The team's coach was suspended for 12 months, every North Pines player was suspended for 4 games (suspended until the end of the 2017 season) and North Pines was fined $2000.[29]

2015

  • An Eastern Park player was suspended for ten weeks for recklessly knocking out an umpire's tooth in an on-field collision on 12 April 2015.[30]
  • Ingle Farm were forced to forfeit their C4 game against Pulteney on 9 May 2015 as a result of the club having no players available to play after a bench clearing brawl against Rosewater the previous week.[31] One Ingle Farm player was banned for life after being identified as the instigator by the league's investigation committee.[32]
  • Salisbury's Under-18 Coach was suspended for the rest of 2015 and all of 2016 for failing to stop a melee that occurred during an Under-18 game against Mitcham on 10 May 2015, and for misleading the tribunal during the investigation. The club was also fined $500, one player suspended for six games, and the team was forced to forfeit its following two games due to lack of players.[33]
  • A Rosewater player was suspended for four matches for abusing and threatening an umpire during their 13 June game against Pulteney.[34]
  • Salisbury North were deducted eight premiership points for each of their teams and fined $4,000 following an incident in a C-Grade game against Plympton on 18 July. A player was suspended for 10 games for striking and misconduct, and the C-Grade team was suspended for the remainder of the season.[35]
  • Four people were arrested, including two allegedly armed with knives, following a brawl between two warring families during a junior game between Rosewater and West Croydon.[36]
  • Eastern Park and Salisbury West forfeited their junior games for one week as a result of an incident involving shoving and verbal abuse between parents from both clubs at an under-12 game on 2 August.[37]

2016

  • A Rosewater player was suspended for eight games for abusing and threatening an umpire during their 18 June game against CBC Old Collegians.[34]
  • A Rosewater player was suspended for 20 years and the club suspended from the competition after he pleaded guilty to striking an umpire in a Division 5 game against Blackfriars Old Scholars on 16 July.[34][38] Another player was reported for undue rough play in the same game and refused to leave the ground until the umpire asked the Rosewater coach to remove him from the ground.[34] Further controversy occurred the following weekend when a picture showing players doing an obscene hand gesture with a caption reading "f*** u saafl" was posted by a senior player to social media.[39]

2017

  • North Pines avoided expulsion from the league after a club official ran onto the field during play and twice punched an opposition player. The official was suspended for seven years, and the club was ordered to employ a full-time security guard at all home games.[40]
  • Salisbury North were deducted 6 premiership points after a player was suspended for four matches for abusing and threatening a Division 1 reserves umpire.[41]

2018

  • Salisbury West's captain received a 27-game suspension for four incidents, including breaking an opponent's jaw, during a home Qualifying Final against Trinity Old Scholars which resulted in a life ban; this more than doubled the Adelaide Footy League's threshold of 12 weeks. Despite Salisbury West winning the game by nine points, the club was ejected from the finals and suspended from the league for the rest of the year.[42]
  • Salisbury North were deregistered from the league after a player received an eight-week suspension for striking, and the league suspended all three of Salisbury North's senior teams for the rest of the 2018 season for breaking an amended affiliation agreement (AAA) regarding poor on-field behaviour[43]

Unbalanced Competition

The league received media coverage in 2014 due to extreme scores in a number of games.

  • Consideration was given to reorganising the divisional structure after Kilburn Football Club, in Division 3, was beaten by a combined 736 points in their first two games of the season, whilst forfeiting their B-Grade matches on the same two occasions.[44] Kilburn later forfeited an A-Grade game against Salisbury when a few players misunderstood the start time and a few others could not find their way to the ground.[45]
  • Brahma Lodge were relegated from the Division 4 competition after losing a number of players.[46]
  • Mitchell Park and Flinders University were both reduced to one team each, with Flinders University taking the place of Mitchell Park's reserves in the Division 6 Reserves competition, due to an exodus of players.[47]
  • Blackfriars Old Scholars set a new SAAFL record score when they posted 71.30 (460) in a 429-point win against Angle Vale in Division 6.[48][49] This resulting in the Angle Vale coach, Peter McMillan, quitting[50] the following Tuesday night at a crisis meeting[51] and being replaced by Reserves coach Rob Warren.
  • Wingfield Royals forfeited a match in Division 7 against Smithfield on 24 May following six straight losses by an average of 198 points.[52]
  • Both Kilburn (in Division 3 against Pembroke Old Scholars) and Angle Vale (in Division 6 against Ingle Farm) forfeited their A-Grade games on 5 July.[53]
  • Salisbury West requested to be relegated from Division 3 to Division 5 after losing more than half their squad when they did not pay them for the second half of the 2014 season.[54]

Governance

An attempt to oust then President Gino Capogreco in October 2013 failed when the vote was defeated at an extraordinary meeting of the league.[55] Mr. Capogreco was accused of altering a document and physically threatening a board member.[56][57] Mr. Capogreco was later defeated at the following AGM.

See also

References
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  2. Bloch, Fred (May 1999). "Amateur Aussie Rules: Sudden" (PDF). Sporting Traditions. 15 (2): 55–72. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 30 August 2007. Retrieved 3 June 2007.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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