The 1937 SAAFL season was the 23rd season of the South Australian Amateur Football League (SAAFL).
The season commenced on 1 May and concluded on 18 September.
Three clubs left the Amateur League, Goodwood did not reform, Henley & Grange who reverted to Grange left to play in the Adelaide & Suburban, and Holden's disbanded. Goodwood and Henley & Grange left A1, their places taken by the A2 Grand Finalists of 1936, Walkerville and Eastwood Rechabites. Three new clubs joined and entered A2, S.A. Railways Institute and Colonel Light Gardens who both returned from Adelaide & Suburban, and newly-formed Combined Banks. Broadview and Payneham also applied for affiliation, but were unsuccessful.
The Best and Fairest were won by two players in both A1 (Hone Medal) and A2 (Chambers Medal)
Due to "a brawl" among the spectators, between 40 and 50 people, the Amateur League held a special meeting on the 28 September 1937. By an overwhelming majority, the recommendation of the league tribunal that "in the interests of the league and football generally" the West Adelaide United Club would need to forfeit its membership. This did not affect their premiership win. The president of the Amateur League (Mr. J.T. Massey) stated that "The Amateur League particularly, always places the responsibility for supporters and their behaviour upon the constituent clubs. If a club is unable to control its followers then it is considered undesirable in the Amateur League." This decision has a precedent where the Flinders Park club were disqualified for a similar incident.
A1 West Adelaide United, Semaphore Central, St. Peter's Old Collegians, University, Underdale, Kenilworth, Exeter, Walkerville, Prince Alfred Old Collegians, and Rechabite.
Ladder +PosTeamPldWLDPFPAPts1West Adelaide United18144017881395282Semaphore Central18135018461353263St. Peter's O.C.18116117661435234Prince Alfred O.C.18108016781487205University18108014871525206Underdale1898115471463197Kenilworth18710113941578158Exeter18711013841594149Walkerville186111151216551310Eastwood Rechabites181170110820232 source:
Finals
Semi-Finals
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Final source:
Challenge Final source:
A2 Railways Institute, Colonel Light Gardens, Alberton Church United, Christian Brothers Old Collegians, Teachers' College, Banks, Pulteney Old Scholars, King's Old Collegians, Y.M.C.A., and Old Scotch.
Ladder +PosTeamPldWLDPFPAPts1Alberton Church United1816201651856322Old Scotch18144017811244283S.A. Railways Institute1813501989998264Colonel Light Gardens18126016261134245Y.M.C.A18117012551330226Teachers College1899016131376187King's O.C.17611011881349128Pulteney O.S.18513013541820109Christian Brothers O.C.1721508481693410Combined Banks18117083723402 source:
Finals
Semi-Finals
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Final source:
Representative
vs S.A.F.A A Match was arranged between the Amateur League and the S.A. Football Association (SANFL's B Grade) at Adelaide Oval on ANZAC Day following a request from the Returned Soldiers and Sailors' Imperial League, the proceeds for a fund for disabled returned men. + source:source:
vs Victorian Amateur Football Association
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References