The 1939 SAAFL season was the 25th season of the South Australian Amateur Football League (SAAFL).
The season commenced on 22 April and concluded on 23 September.
Applications for affiliation were received from Grange and Kilburn. The League decided not to accept any new clubs.
The Australian Amateur Football Council rejected the new holding-the-ball rule that the SANFL and VFL had introduced., however the Amateurs had approved the new throw-in law where the boundary umpire is to throw the ball in if the ball has gone out of bounds.
In Round 1, Payneham lost for the first time in 72 games, against Semaphore Central. Payneham then had in Round 2, after having defeated University, their points taken away because one of their players was a professional runner; then in round 4 after defeating Exeter, Payneham had their points taken away again for playing a professional cyclist. Payneham were also fined 5/ for each game that the two men played during the previous and current season. They both played an aggregate of 27 game, so Payneham was fined £ 6 15.
King's Old Collegians and Pulteney Old Scholars had their 27 May match moved to 12 June to be played at Victor Harbor.
On 7 June 1939, six players and a club official were sent to the tribunal for incidents that happened in the Semaphore Central v Railways Institute game on 3 June. The charges included: W. Donnon (Semaphore Central) for allegedly using abusive language to Field Umpire Oehme and being sent off in the last quarter; J. Johnson and T. Glaister (Semaphore Central) for allegedly hacking opponents; J. Heaton (Semaphore Central) for allegedly striking an opponent (reported by Railways secretary); R. Marten (Semaphore Central Secretary) for allegedly stricking a Railways Institute player during the last quarter; W. Hudson, M. Venning and J. McLoughlin (Railways Institute) for allegedly kicking opponents (reported by Semaphore's secretary). Donnon was suspended for two matches and Glaister was suspended for one match. The charge against Johnson was dismissed. The charge against Marten was adjourned for the following week (14 June). The reports by the secretaries of both clubs were referred to the League for direction whether club officials were empowered to report. Semaphore Central were disqualified on the 23rd August by the League's tribunal for the remainder of the season after having played 17 out of 18 rounds. The umpire J.J. Quinn, laid a charge of unseemly conduct by the Semaphore Central team and its supporters in the match against University University Oval. The former secretary of Semaphore Central, Mr. Roy Marten, said that the Umpire Mr. Quinn, who is a life member of Semaphore Central, returned his life membership certificate and medallion. The tribunal members were Messrs, S.H. Lewis, J.M. Jay and R.D. King. Semaphore Central appealed this decision, and the executive committee met on Tuesday 29 August. The appeal was dismissed at the meeting of the Amateur League delegates on 29 August, the disqualification only applies for the remainder of the current season, the secretary of the Amateur League (Mr. H.V. Millard) stated that "Semaphore Central would not necessarily have to reapply formally for admission into the Amateur League next year."
A1 Walkerville, Prince Alfred Old Collegians, St. Peter's Old Collegians, Colonel Light Gardens, Exeter, University, Semaphore Central, Payneham, Underdale, Railways Institute.
Ladder +PosTeamPldWLDPFPAPts1Payneham18135017661185262Exeter18135019221388263S.A. Railways Institute18117014631326224Colonel Light Gardens18810013901491165Underdale18711014761819146St. Peter's O.C.18612015011644127University18612015851778128Walkerville18612016061837129Prince Alfred Old Collegians1851301271221710DisqualifiedSemaphore Central1713401800119626 source:
Finals
Semi Finals
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Final
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L. Long (Payneham) was suspended for three matches.
Challenge Final
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A2 Christian Brothers Old Collegians, Alberton Church United, University B, Banks, Kenilworth, King's Old Collegians, Pulteney Old Scholars, Old Scotch, Teachers' College, Y.M.C.A.
Ladder +PosTeamPldWLDPFPAPts1Kenilworth18162018881149322Alberton Church United18135018411281263Teachers College18117016961448224Pulteney O.S.18117017231481225Kings Old Collegians18108017021494206Y.M.C.A1899015991543187Scotch Old Collegians1899012751430188Christian Brothers Old Collegians18612013221727129Combined Banks18414011811760810University B18117097619062 source:
Finals
Semi Finals
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Final
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Challenge Final
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Representative VAFA
29th July Norwood Oval +SAAFLVAFAsource:source:
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References