South Australia State of Origin guernsey.

Australian Rules football is a popular team and spectator sport played in the Australian state of South Australia. Image File history File links SA-1986. ... Image File history File links SA-1986. ... State of Origin is the name used in Australia for rugby league and Australian rules football matches, in which players are selected for the State in which they first played. ... Australian Rules and Aussie Rules redirect here. ... Team mates cooperate to beat the other team Team sport is a term used to distinguish between sports based on one-on-one direct confrontation (such as most raquet sports, boxing or Martial arts) or timed races (such as athletics or swimming), as opposed to those which are practiced between... A spectator sport is one that is characterized by the presence of spectators, or watchers, at its matches. ... The Australian States and Territories make up the Commonwealth of Australia under a federal system of government. ... Emblems: Hairy Nosed Wombat (faunal); Leafy Seadragon (marine); Piping Shrike (bird: unofficial); Sturts Desert Pea (floral); Opal (gemstone) Motto: United for the Common Wealth Slogan or Nickname: Festival State Other Australian states and territories Capital Adelaide Government Const. ...

It is the most popular sport in the state.

History

Pre-1877

The early years of football in South Australia were poorly organised and dogged by argument over which set of rules to adopt. In fact, after a match between Port Adelaide and Kensington in 1873, it was remarked that neither side understood the rules clearly, and there was uncertainty over which team had won. However, as they years progressed, there became a growing push for uniformity and structure in South Australian football.

1877-1900

Port Adelaide's magenta uniform (c.1896)

In 1877, 12 of South Australia's football clubs met to develop a uniform set of rules and establish a governing body. They formed the South Australian Football Association, the first governing body of its type for football in Australia, and adopted rules similar to those used in Victoria. The inaugural 1877 season was contested by those 12 clubs: South Park, Willunga, Port Adelaide, Adelaide, North Adelaide, Prince Alfred College, Gawler, Kapunda, Bankers, Woodville, South Adelaide and Victorian. Port Adelaides magenta uniform (c. ...

South Adelaide have worn blue and white since establishment (c.1890)

Norwood joined the Association the following season in 1878, and went on to win the next six premierships. Norwood, along with South Adelaide and Port Adelaide, dominated the early years, winning 23 of the first 24 premierships between them. However, club numbers were diminishing. South Park, Willunga, North Adelaide, Prince Alfred College, Gawler, Kapunda, Bankers, Woodville, and Victorian all left the Association within the first 10 years. By 1886, the Association had been reduced from 12 to four clubs. South Adelaide have worn their blue and white since establishment. ...

But the Association experienced a resurgence in the late 1880s and early 1890s. The addition of West Adelaide (1887), North Adelaide (1893), West Torrens (1897) and only the demise of Adelaide (1893), meant the Association comprised of six clubs by the turn of the century. In 1898, the Magarey Medal was awarded to the fairest and most brilliant player for the first time (see #Magarey Medal).

1901-1913

The Sturt Football Club joined the Association in 1901, but performed poorly initially, finishing last in its first three seasons. In 1902, Port Adelaide adopted its now famous black and white colours, and the competition was beginning to take a more familiar form. In 1907, the Association changed its name to the South Australian Football League.

Heavyweights Norwood and Port Adelaide continued their domination of the league, and were joined by West Adelaide and North Adelaide and between them, the four clubs won all premierships between 1901 and 1913. Amazingly, West Adelaide followed three straight wooden spoons from 1904-06 with four out of the five premierships from 1908-1912. This was to be the most successful period in West Adelaide's history.

Port Adelaide v Sturt, 1914 Grand Final

Port Adelaide v Sturt at Adelaide Oval (c. ...

World War I

The SAFL managed to maintain competition for the first two years of World War I, 1914 and 1915, with Sturt winning their first premiership in 1915. But by 1916, clubs were sustaining high losses to war and competition was suspended and did not resume until 1919. Combatants Allied Powers: British Empire France Italy Russia United States Central Powers: Austria-Hungary Bulgaria Germany Ottoman Empire Casualties Military dead: 5 million Military dead: 4 million The First World War, also known as The Great War, The War to End All Wars, and World War I (abbreviated WWI) was...

1919-1938

Sturt won the first premiership of the post-WWI era, beating North Adelaide in the Challenge Final replay. Glenelg became the newest addition to the league in 1921 and started poorly with five consecutive wooden spoons. In 1927, the South Australian Football League changed its name for a third time, adopting the now familiar, South Australian National Football League. Meanwhile, Port Adelaide celebrated a golden era during the inter-war years, with 12 grand finals yielding five premierships.

World War II

As with World War I, the SANFL managed to continue competition for the first few years of World War II. However, by 1942, the war forced all clubs to merge in order to field a side. Mergers were geographically determined with Port Adelaide merging with West Torrens, West Adelaide merging with Glenelg, Sturt merging with South Adelaide and Norwood merging with North Adelaide. This wartime competition continued from 1942-44. Combatants Allies: Poland, United Kingdom, Soviet Union, France/Free France, United States, China, Canada, India, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Greece, Norway, Honduras, and others Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, Japan, Bulgaria, Finland, Romania, Hungary, Burma, Slovakia Casualties Military dead: 17 million Civilian dead: 33 million Total dead: 50 million Military...

1946-1959

Norwood began the post-war era in superb style winning three premierships by 1950. However, this period was dominated by Fos Williams' Port Adelaide, winning seven premierships, including an amazing six in a row from 1954-59 (although the 1959 premiership was won under the stewardship of Geoff Motley as Captain-Coach). Fos Williams was an Australian rules footballer who played for and coached the Port Adelaide Magpies in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL). ...

1960-1969

Port Adelaide continued their dominance of the competition with three more premierships by 1965. In 1964, for the first time in 60 years, the SANFL admitted two new clubs, Central District and Woodville. Both clubs performed poorly, and many questioned the purpose of introducing two more teams, in particular Woodville, who were closely surrounded by existing clubs, Port Adelaide and West-Torrens. Meanwhile a new power, Sturt, hit the competition, winning five straight premierships from 1966-70. Sturt shared a fierce rivalry with Port Adelaide whom they played in four consecutive Grand Finals. Woodville Football Club was an Australian rules football club that competed in the South Australian National Football League from 1964 to 1990, when it merged with the West Torrens Football Club to form the Woodville-West Torrens Eagles. ...

1970-1979

Sturt began the 1970s by defeating Glenelg in a rain-effected Grand Final by 21 points. North Adelaide secured back-to-back premiership victories over Port Adelaide in 1971 and 1972 and defeated VFL premier Carlton by one point in the end-of-season Champions of Australia match. Port Adelaide continued their success, winning two premierships themselves (1977, 1979), and finishing lower than 3rd only once for the decade. Other premiership winning clubs in the 1970s were Sturt (1970, 1974, 1976), Glenelg (1973), and Norwood (1975, 1978). The SANFL made the biggest shift in its history, moving all operations to the new Football Park in 1974. Central District and North Adelaide played the first ever match at the ground on May 4, 1974. The first SANFL Grand Final was played at the Ground the same year, the first away from Adelaide Oval (Sturt versus Glenelg). In front of a crowd of 58,042 people, Sturt won by 15 points despite kicking into a stiff breeze in the last quarter after leading by just 5 points at three-quarter time. The 1975 season was highlighted by Glenelg's score of 49.23 (317) against Central District. In fact, the winning margin of 238 points was larger, at that time, than the previous highest score ever recorded by a side in a single game. In 1976, Sturt defeated Grand Final favourites Port Adelaide by 41 points in front of a record Football Park crowd of 66,897. Norwood won the 1978 premiership in their centenary year by beating Sturt in the Grand Final by the narrowest of margins - one point - after Sturt had lost just one game for the entire season. During the 1970s, football in South Australia experienced an increase in players moving across the border to play in the higher standard VFL competition.

1980-1989

The exodus of quality players to the VFL continued in the 1980s and inevitably the quality of competition began to drop. Sensing the change, in 1981 the SANFL submitted a bid to enter a composite South Australian team in the VFL, but were rejected. Following this failed attempt, the SANFL introduced a Player Retention Scheme in 1988. The aim of the Scheme was to provide financial incentives to top players to remain in South Australia. While this Scheme saw a short-term increase in the quality of the competition, attandences soon began to drop again.

Meanwhile, on-field, night football came to the SANFL in 1984 with floodlights installed at Football Park following a long battle with nearby residents. The heavyweights Port Adelaide, Norwood and Glenelg dominated the competition, winning eight premierships between them.

1990-1999

AFL football at AAMI Stadium in Adelaide featuring the Port Adelaide Power against the West Coast Eagles

The 1990s was the most turbulent decade in the history South Australian football. The SANFL continued to resist the temptation to enter a side in the AFL. However matters came to an abrupt head on July 31, 1990, when the Port Adelaide Football Club, feeling it was subsidising the other SANFL clubs, made an independent bid to the join the AFL. The shock announcement took everyone by surprise and instigated the most controversial period in South Australian football. Image File history File links Mahoneyresized. ... Image File history File links Mahoneyresized. ... // History AAMI Stadium, formerly known as Football Park, is the home of Australian rules football in South Australia. ... Adelaide is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of South Australia, and is the fifth largest city in Australia, with a population of over 1. ... The Port (Adelaide) Power Football Club In 1995 the Port Magpies from the SANFL (South Australian National Football league) bid against Norwood and a number of other proposals, such as from the Central District Football club for the second license for AFL entry. ... The West Coast Eagles Football Club is an Australian Rules Football club that is a member of the Australian Football League. ... The Port (Adelaide) Power Football Club In 1995 the Port Magpies from the SANFL (South Australian National Football league) bid against Norwood and a number of other proposals, such as from the Central District Football club for the second license for AFL entry. ...

The SANFL was left with little option but to submit its own bid to enter the AFL. In a thirty-minute meeting the SANFL formed the Adelaide Football Club, a composite side made up of players from all SANFL clubs. While Port Adelaide had by far the largest supporter base in South Australia, they could not compete with the SANFL's offer of a composite club and the use of Football Park.

In November 1990, following a vicious legal battle, the AFL announced the Adelaide Football Club had been granted the licence and would enter the competition in 1991.

After a tumultuous summer, the Adelaide Crows debuted in 1991 wearing the state colours of navy blue, red and yellow. While the Adelaide Crows enjoyed crowds of over 40,000 every week and dominated local media coverage, crowds at local SANFL matches plummeted. The 1990s was the first decade in the SANFL's history that it was not South Australia's premier football event every weekend.

In 1997, Port Adelaide finally achieved their goal of joining the Australian Football League under the new nickname, the Power. After just missing out on the finals in their first season, the Power finally made their first finals series in 1999.

The Crows were the first of SA's two clubs to taste premiership success in the big league, winning back-to-back cups in 1997 and 1998.

Locally, Port Adelaide Magpies dominated the competition winning seven premierships in the 1990s.

Participation

In 2004, with 14,825 senior players in SA and a total participation of 67,194, South Australia has the second most players of any state in Australia. With a participation rate of around 4% per capita, makes it the equal third most supported state (with Victoria and South Australia). [1]

Audience

Attendance Record

• 66,987 (1976). SANFL Grand Final. Sturt vs Port Adelaide. (Football Park, Adelaide)

1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ... The South Australian National Football League, or SANFL as it is usually referred to, is the premier league for Australian Rules football in the state of South Australia. ... A Grand Final is the culmination of a series of final matches played between a number of sporting teams to decide the premier team. ... Sturt Football Club Logo The Sturt Football Club is an Australian rules football club in the South Australian National Football League. ... The Port (Adelaide) Power Football Club In 1995 the Port Magpies from the SANFL (South Australian National Football league) bid against Norwood and a number of other proposals, such as from the Central District Football club for the second license for AFL entry. ... AAMI Stadium, formerly known as Football Park, is the home of Australian rules football in South Australia. ... Adelaide is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of South Australia, and is the fifth largest city in Australia, with a population of over 1. ...

Major Australian Rules Events in South Australia

• Australian Football League Premiership Season (Crows and Power home games)
• The Showdown
• SANFL Grand Final

The Australian Football League is the Australian national competition in the sport of Australian rules football. ... Bold text Headline text The Showdown The Showdown is a heavy metal band hailing from the south. ... The South Australian National Football League, or SANFL as it is usually referred to, is the premier league for Australian Rules football in the state of South Australia. ...

Great South Australian Footballers

Great players from SA to participate in elite football include: Malcolm Blight, Russell Ebert, John Platten, Neil Kerley, Stephen Kernahan, Craig Bradley, Tony Hall, Tony McGuiness, Andrew Jarman, Darren Jarman, Gavin Wanganeen and Mark M. Williams. Malcolm Blight AM (born 16 February, 1950), is a former Australian rules football player who had a Hall of Fame career with the North Melbourne Football Club. ... Russell Ebert is acknowledged as one of the greatest players in the long history of Australian Rules football. ... John Patrick The Rat Platten (born March 17, 1963 in South Australia) is a former Australian rules footballer. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Stephen Kernahan is an Australian footballer best known for his career with Carlton and Glenelg in the 1980s and 1990s. ... {{Infobox afl player/{{{image}}}|image name={{{image name}}}|name=Craig Bradley}} Craig Braddles Bradley (born October 23, 1963) is a former South Australian Australian rules footballer and first class cricketer, who holds the record for senior Australian football games played. ... Tony Patrick Hall (born Jan. ... Anthony Tony McGuinness (born May 6, 1964) is a former Australian rules footballer who played in the VFL/AFL. VFL/AFL Career Footscray: 1986-90, 109 games, 108 goals. ... Andrew Jarman (born January 14, 1966) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Adelaide in the Australian Football League. ... Darren Jarman (born January 28, 1967) is a former Australian rules footballer who played in the Australian Football League. ... Gavin Wanganeen (born 16 June 1973) is an Australian rules footballer, currently playing with the Port Adelaide Football Club. ... Mark M. Choco Williams (born August 21, 1958) is a former Australian rules footballer and currently, the coach of the Port Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League. ...

Notable South Australian Players in the AFL

Mark Anthony Ricciuto (born June 8, 1975) is a prominent Australian rules football player, representing the Adelaide Crows in the Australian Football League. ... Byron Pickett (born August 11, 1977) is an indigenous Australian rules footballer known for his strength and tough approach to the game. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Tyson Edwards (born 6 August, 1976) is an Australian rules footballer with the Adelaide Football Club. ... Chad Cornes (born 12 November, 1979) is an Australian rules footballer who made his debut in 1999. ... Adam Cooney (born September 30, 1985) is an Australian rules footballer who plays in the AFL. As a solid midfielder, he was picked up as the number one draft pick in 2003 AFL Draft as a priority pick. ... Alan Didak (born February 15, 1983) is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League. ... Warren Tredrea (born December 24, 1978) is a centre half-forward, playing for Port Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League. ... Michael OLoughlin (born 20 February 1977) is an Indigenous Australian Rules Football player from the state of South Australia, currently with the Sydney Swans of the AFL. In 2005, he was selected alongside Sydney Swans teammate Adam Goodes in the inaugural All-Indigenous Team Categories: Australia biography stubs | Australian... Matthew Pavlich (b. ... Luke Darcy (born July 12, 1975) is an Australian rules footballer with the Western Bulldogs. ... Jared Rivers, (born October 18, 1984 in Port Augusta, South Australia) is fast developing into one of the AFLs premier centre-half backs in the sport of Australian rules. ...

Governing Body

The governing body for Aussie Rules in SA is the South Australian National Football League. South Australia is the only state governing body for Australian Football in Australia that is also a league. A sport governing body comes in several forms. ... The South Australian National Football League (SANFL) is the premier league for Australian rules football in the state of South Australia. ...

Leagues & Clubs

Professional Clubs

• Adelaide Crows (Australian Football League)
• Port Adelaide Power (Australian Football League)

The Adelaide Football Club, nicknamed The Crows, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League, based in Adelaide, South Australia. ... The Australian Football League is the Australian national competition in the sport of Australian rules football. ... Port Adelaide Football Club logo Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club, nicknamed The Power in the Australian Football League (AFL), and nicknamed The Magpies in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL). ... The Australian Football League is the Australian national competition in the sport of Australian rules football. ...

Open

Adelaide Metropolitan Leagues

• South Australian National Football League (governing body)
• South Australian Amateur Football League

For other uses, see Adelaide (disambiguation). ... The South Australian National Football League (SANFL) is the premier league for Australian rules football in the state of South Australia. ... The South Australian Amateur Football League is an amateur Australian rules football competition based in Adelaide, South Australia. ...

Regional Leagues

• Adelaide Plains Football League
• Barossa Light & Gawler Football Association
• Broken Hill Football League
• Eastern Eyre Football League
• Far West Football League
• Great Flinders Football League
• Great Southern Football League
• Hills Football League
• Kangaroo Island Football League
• Kowree-Naracoorte-Tatiara Football League
• Mallee Football League
• Mid Murray Football Association
• Mid South Eastern Football League
• Mid West Football League
• North Eastern Football League
• Northern Areas Football Association
• Port Augusta Football League
• Port Lincoln Football League
• Port Pirie Football League
• Riverland Football League
• River Murray Football League
• Southern Football League
• Western Border Football League
• Whyalla Football League
• Woomera & Districts Football League
• Yorke Peninsula Football League

SFL Logo The Southern Football League is an amatuer Australian Rules Football league in South Australia. ...

Junior

• Central District Junior Football League

Masters

• Masters Australian Football SA Official Site

Masters Australian Football (also known as Superules) is a sport based on the game of Australian rules football for players 30 years and over. ...

Women's

• South Australian Women's Football League Official Site

Womens Aussie Rules is a fast growing sport played in Australia, United States, Papua New Guinea and Japan. ...

Representative Team

The South Australian representative team is known as the Croweaters and have played State of Origin test matches against all other Australian states. They still play at U19 level. State of Origin is the name used in Australia for rugby league and Australian rules football matches, in which players are selected for the State in which they first played. ...

See Also Interstate matches in Australian rules football

Australian rules football matches between teams representing the eight Australian colonies/states and territories have been held since 1879. ...

Principal Venues

• AAMI Stadium
• Alberton Oval

// History AAMI Stadium, formerly known as Football Park, is the home of Australian rules football in South Australia. ... Alberton Oval is located on Queen St, Alberton. ...

Sources

• South Australian National Football League
• Adelaide Crows
• Port Adelaide Magpies
• Port Adelaide Power

See also

• West Australian Football League
• Australian Football League
• Adelaide Crows
• Port Adelaide Magpies
• Port Adelaide Power

The West Australian Football League (WAFL) (pronounced waffle) is the premier state based Australian rules football league in Western Australia. ... The Australian Football League is the Australian national competition in the sport of Australian rules football. ... The Adelaide Football Club, nicknamed The Crows, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League, based in Adelaide, South Australia. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Port Adelaide Football Club logo Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club, nicknamed The Power in the Australian Football League (AFL), and nicknamed The Magpies in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL). ...

External links

• South Australia Team of the Century (from Full Points Footy)