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

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.

History

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 in 1897 was restructured on an "electorate system" where players were zoned to clubs on the basis of their residential address for electoral enrolment. 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. 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 (Adelaide), 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 University of Adelaide in 1946.

In 1915, the season prior to WW1, there were 8 clubs - St Francis Xavier (Captain T. Rice), Kenilworth (Captain P.S. Thomas, Kingswood (Captain H. Daw), Semaphore Central (Captain A. Channon), Prince Alfred College (Captain A.H. White), Glenferrie (Captain D. Craven), University (Captain C.E. Pellew), St Peter's College (Captain R.D. Hall).

Throughout the history of the league there have been many clubs join and leave the league. Affiliation peaked in 2001 with 72 clubs. 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.

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

Clubs Current Men's Division 1 ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in AdFL/SAAFL AdFL/SAAFL Senior PremiershipsTotalMost recent Athelstone RaggiesMax Amber Sportfield, ParadiseSAFA 1904 1996-22019 RamsWebb Oval, GlenungaETFA1954 1960-112019 Golden Grove KookaburrasHarpers Field, Golden Grove–1995 1997-62023 SharksHenley & Grange Memorial Oval, Henley Beach– 1994 1994-82026Port DistrictDittersLargs Reserve, Largs BaySAFA 1979 1984-112025Prince Alfred OC Reds, PrincesBundey's Paddock (Park 9), North Adelaide–1926 1926-1940, 1946-132023 ROCSCampbelltown Memorial Oval, Paradise– 1923 1936-1939, 1947-1949, 1962-142024Salisbury North HawksSalisbury North Oval, Salisbury NorthSAFA 1953 1996-12026St. Peters OC SPOCs, SaintsCaterer Oval, Hackney– 1928 1928-1940, 1946-142018Tea Tree Gully Gullies, WolvesPertaringa Oval, Banksia ParkSAFA 1862 1988-92025

Division 2

ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in AdFL/SAAFL AdFL/SAAFL Senior PremiershipsTotalMost recent Brighton BombersBrighton Oval, BrightonSFL1991 1991-1996, 2017-12017 Broadview TigersBroadview Oval, BroadviewNADFA 1928 1964-202022Flinders Park RedsFlinders Park Oval, Flinders ParkSAFA 1927 1933, 1949-1977, 1996-142023 Goodwood Saints SaintsGoodwood Oval, Millswood– 1985 1985-152020Modbury HawksModbury Oval, RidgehavenSAFA1862 1988-152016 Old Ignatians IggiesKaren Rolton Oval (Gladys Elphick Park, Park 25), Adelaide–1972 1972-82021 Payneham Norwood UnionFalconsPayneham Oval, PaynehamSAFA1995 1996-62019 PHOS Camden PhantomsCamden Oval, Novar Gardens– 1994 1994-82015 Sacred Heart OC SHOCs, Double Blues, HeartsMarcellin War Memorial Oval, Somerton Park– 1968 1968-42011Seaton Ramblers RamsPedlar Oval, SeatonWTDFA 1958 1961-92026

Division 3

ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in AdFL/SAAFL AdFL/SAAFL Senior PremiershipsTotalMost recent Edwardstown TownsEdwardstown Oval, EdwardstownSFL1919 1996-2008, 2016-32005 Kilburn ChicsBlair Athol Reserve, Blair AtholNADFA1923 1958-212024MarionRamsMarion Oval, MarionSFL18912018-22025MagpiesLargs North Oval, Largs NorthASFL 1935 1980-22021 KingsHaslam Oval, Kensington Park– 1932 1936-1940, 1946-112022 Plympton BulldogsPlympton Oval, Plympton Park SAFA 1937 1996-42025Scotch OC NonePrince of Wales Oval, Torrens Park– 1929 1929-1933, 1935-1939, 1946-1956, 1958-112026 JetsKingswood Oval, Kingswood– 1970 1970-52015Walkerville CatsWalkerville Oval, WalkervilleSAFA 1901 1936-1979, 1990-142020 Westminster OS DragonsGlandore Oval, Glandore– 1969 1969-1981, 2000-72025

Division 4

ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in AdFL/SAAFL AdFL/SAAFL Senior PremiershipsTotalMost recent Adelaide University BlacksUniversity Oval (Red Gum Park, Park 12), North Adelaide– 1906 1911-342010 CBC OC DolphinsCBC Main Oval (King Rodney Park, Park 15), Adelaide– 1978 1978-72023 Gepps Cross RamsDuncan Fraser Reserve, NorthfieldSAFA1952 1984-82006 Greenacres DragonsLJ Lewis Reserve, NorthfieldNNFA 1967 1973-2019, 2021-92026 Hectorville HoundsDaly Oval, HectorvilleSAFA 19611990-82022 Hope Valley DemonsHope Valley Sporting Club, Hope ValleyNMFL 1906 1987-32019 Lockleys DemonsLockleys Oval, LockleysSMFL 1951 1986-32020 HawksPrice Memorial Oval, HawthornSMFL1908 1968-1975, 1985-52024 Morphettville Park RoosKellett Reserve Oval, MorphettvilleSFL1958 201712021Pooraka BullsLindblom Park, PoorakaSAFA 1920 1996-42021

Division 5

ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in AdFL/SAAFL AdFL/SAAFL Senior PremiershipsTotalMost recent Blackfriars OS HoundsSt Dominics Oval (Pardipardinyilla, Park 2), North Adelaide– 2005 2006-32014Colonel Light Gardens LionsMortlock Park, Colonel Light GardensSMFL 1931 1931-1932, 1937-1941, 1946-1975, 1991-82007 Eastern Park DemonsDwight Reserve South, Elizabeth ParkNMFL 1962 1995-42024Fitzroy LionsSam Johnson Sportsground, Renown Park–1987 1987-62025 Gaza EaglesKlemzig Oval, KlemzigNADFA 1921 1962-102026 KenilworthKookaburrasSt. Marys Park, St MarysYMCAFA1907 1914-1915, 1924-1985, 1991-1996, 1998-82013Pulteney Navy BluesMorgan Oval (Blue Gum Park, Park 20), Adelaide– 1936 1936-1940, 1946-1949, 1951-1994, 1997-112017Salisbury MagpiesSalisbury Oval, SalisburyNMFL 1883 1995-32007SMOSH West Lakes LionsWest Lakes Shore Oval, West Lakes Shore– 1996 1996-32007Woodville South CatsLedger Reserve, Woodville SouthSMFL 1890 1979-102016

Division 6

ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in AdFL/SAAFL AdFL/SAAFL Senior PremiershipsTotalMost recent Adelaide Lutheran BulldogsSouth Parklands (Mirnu Wirra, Park 21), AdelaideSMFL 1969 1985-82026 Central United BulldogsMofflin Reserve, Elizabeth ValeNMFL 1962 1995-22006 Elizabeth EaglesArgana Park, Elizabeth DownsNMFL 1956 1995-32025 RaidersHoughton Memorial Oval, Houghton– 1982 1983-11999 Para HillsBig RedsThe Paddocks, Para Hills WestNMFL1974 1978-1989, 1995-2015, 2017-52024PortlandThunderAllen Iversen Reserve, Port Adelaide– 1997 1997-32013Rosewater BulldogsEric Sutton Reserve, RosewaterPADFA 1885 1949-82003St Paul's OS SPOS, SaintsSt. Paul's College, Gilles Plains– 2015 2015-12019Trinity OS LionsWaldeck Oval, Evanston South– 2006 2006-22022

Division 7

ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in AdFL/SAAFL AdFL/SAAFL Senior PremiershipsTotalMost recent Brahma Lodge TigersBrahma Lodge Oval, Brahma LodgeNMFL 1962 1996-42021Flinders University Crabs, Double BluesFlinders University Oval, Bedford Park– 1966 1966-1980, 1982-2013, 2015-52002HackhamHawksHackham Sports Complex, HackhamSFL19762021-0 – Ingle Farm BulldogsRowe Park, Ingle FarmSAFA 1968 1989-52023Mitchell Park LionsMitchell Park Oval, Mitchell ParkSFL 19692001-32015O'Sullivan Beach/Lonsdale LionsLonsdale Oval, Morphett ValeSFL20012018-0 –SmithfieldPanthersSmithfield Oval, SmithfieldNMFL19651995-2010, 2012-2020, 2023-22015 West Croydon HawksFawk Reserve, Athol ParkNNFA 1961 1974-62010

Men's clubs in recess

ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in AdFL/SAAFL AdFL/SAAFL Senior PremiershipsTotalMost recent Mawson Lakes SaintsMawson Lakes Oval, Mawson Lakes – 1978 1980-20252 2003

Women's Only ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundEst.Men's SideAdFL Women's Senior PremiershipsTotalMost recent Angle Vale OwlsAngle Vale Sport Complex, Angle Vale1998APFL22024 Happy Valley VikingsHappy Valley Oval, Aberfoyle Park1951SFL32024Loreto OSLOSACampbelltown Memorial Oval, Paradise2022 -12023Wilderness OSLions, WOSAWilson Oval, Hackney2025 –12026

Locations

Former Clubs