The 1881 South Australian Football Association season was the 5th season of the top-level Australian rules football competition in South Australia. The premiership season began on Saturday 7 May.

went on to record its 4th consecutive premiership.

The years premiership trophy was called the Fowler Challenge Cup. Players were also presented with an individual Gold Medal engraved with their name and on the reverse side - S.A.F.A. Season 1881 The Fowler Champion Medal Won by Norwood.

Adelaide and Kensington Football Clubs (Merger and Resignation from SAFA)

Adelaide and Kensington merged at a meeting held on 11 April 1881 to create full squads of a senior and second twenty and it was decided that the colour of the club be black-and scarlet guernsey, hose, and cap, and navy blue knickerbockers but resigned from the competition after 4 games.

It was then reported endeavours were being made to induce the North Adelaide Juniors and the North Parks to amalgamate and apply to the Association for permission to take up the fixtures of the Adelaide and Kensington Club. However, this didn't eventuate but the two clubs would merge and join as a new Adelaide SAFA senior team in 1885.

Old Adelaide Club disbanded but Kensington organised a number of matches against non-SAFA Clubs including North Park and Unley. On the Public Holiday Monday 8 August 1881, Kensington visited Mount Barker in the Adelaide Hills where the result was a draw - 1 goal 6 behinds to Mount Barker 1 goal 5 behinds.

In 1882, Kensington joined the Adelaide and Suburban Football Association and never rejoined the senior SAFA. Kensington would play four seasons (1882 to 1885) in the Adelaide and Suburban Football Association before resigning in April 1886 and dissolving.

SAFA Senior Clubs 1881 Season

ClubColoursHome GroundCaptainCommentsAdelaide-Kensington Black Scarlet Navy Blue Old Adelaide Ground, North AdelaideKensington Oval, KensingtonH.S. WyattResigned from SAFA on 1 June 1881Norwood Dark blue RedEast Park Lands, AdelaideA.E. WaldronPort Adelaide Magenta Alberton Oval, AlbertonJ. SandilandsSouth Adelaide Navy Blue WhiteSouth Terrace, Adelaide T.Maloney / A.C. (Iney) MehrtensSouth Park Light Blue WhiteSouth Park Lands, AdelaideP.G. McShaneVictorian Orange BlackMontefiore Hill, North AdelaideG.E.Downs

Premiership season

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

BYE ROUND Saturday 11 June to 18 June 1880 were bye Rounds due to the SAFA hosting Carlton from Melbourne. A series of 4 matches were played against the local SAFA Clubs.

Round 6

Round 7

Round 8

Round 9

Round 10

Round 11

Round 12 (Match Abandoned)

Bye Round A practice match for the SAFA Intercolonial Twenty was scheduled. SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 1881, on VIC'S GROUNDS, MONTEFIORE HILL. INTERCOLONIAL TWENTY V. ASSOCIATION.

The following is the SAFA football team chosen to go to Melbourne on the 16th: — J. Brophy, E. Cox, A. W. Docks, J.Creswell, M. Coffey, W. Dixon, A, Dick (vice-captain), A.Frayne, R. Hill, H. B. Lavis, T.Maloney, A.Mehrtens, P. G. McShane, J. Minney, H. Macnamara, A. Shawyer, J. Fidoli, D. C. Scott, R. Turpeny, J. Watt, A. E. Waldron (captain), R. Wardrop

The following have been chosen to play against them in the practice match, to be held on August 13, on the Victorians' ground:— A. Shawyer, J. Minney, J. Traynor, W. Longdon, W. Hilditch, J. Fletcher, Ern. Le Messurier, C.Godfrey, W, Knill, T. Smith, J. E. Woods, W.Budgen, A. M. Pettinger, H. S. Wyatt (vice-captain), J. Sandilands (captain), B. Coonan, T.Blinman, G. Bragge, J. Pollock, A. Attridge; emergency—H. Ewer. W. Reed, J. Rees, J. Munro.

Round 13

Round 14

Round 15

Round 16

Round 17

Ladder 1881 SAFA Ladder TEAM P W L D GFGA 1 Norwood (P) 13 10 0 34092South Adelaide1344519183South Park1355321174Victorian134548155Port Adelaide1326510236Adelaide - Kensington5050117 Key: P = Played, W = Won, L = Lost, D = Drawn, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, (P) = Premiers

Note: South Adelaide played South Park three times for a 1-1-1 record; South Adelaide were ranked above South Park on a superior head-to-head record against Norwood (0-2-1 to 0-3). Adelaide-Kensington withdrew from the competition after Round 4; all published ladders record their Round 5 match against Norwood as a win for Norwood on forfeit. A table published on Saturday 2 July 1881 states - Adelaide & Kensington (resigned) and records 5 losses.

Intercolonial matches

Additional matches Members of the Carlton Football Club arrived at Port Adelaide wharf by the steamer Victorian on Thursday morning at 11.30am, 9 June 1881 after a very rough passage from Melbourne.

Other Matches

References