View source for Australian rules football in South Australia

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=May 2011}}
{{Sport overview
| non country            = 
| sport                 = Australian rules football
| image                 = File:Adelaide_Oval,_2014.jpg
| imagesize             = 300px
| caption               = The [[2014 SANFL Grand Final|2014 South Australia National Football League Grand Final]] at the [[Adelaide Oval]]
| union                 = [[South Australian Football Commission]]
| repteam               = [[South Australia Australian rules football team|South Australia]]
| nickname              = 
| first                 = [[Adelaide]] {{Start date and age|1877}}
| registered            = 63,969 (adult)<br />28,692 (child)<ref name="participation 2023/24" />
| clubs                 =  367 (30 competitions)
| match                 = '''66,987''' (1976). [[SANFL]] [[Grand Final]]. [[Sturt Football Club|Sturt]] vs [[Port Adelaide Football Club|Port Adelaide]]. ([[Football Park]], [[Adelaide]])
| league                = 
| national_list         = 
| club_list             = 
{{Plainlist|
*'''[[South Australia National Football League]]'''
*[[Adelaide Footy League]]
*[[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 (South Australia)|Great Southern Football League]]
*[[Hills Football League]]
*[[Kangaroo Island Football League]]
*[[Kowree-Naracoorte-Tatiara Football League]]
*[[Mid South Eastern Football League]]
*[[North Eastern Football League]]
*[[Northern Areas Football Association]]
*[[Port Lincoln Football League]]
*[[Riverland Football League]]
*[[River Murray Football League]]
*[[Southern Football League (South Australia)|Southern Football League]]
*[[Spencer Gulf Football League]]
*[[Western Border Football League]]
*[[Whyalla Football League]]
*[[Woomera & Districts Football League]]
*[[Yorke Peninsula Football League]]
}}
| countryflag           = 
}}
In [[South Australia]], [[Australian rules football]] is traditionally a popular participation and spectator sport. It is governed by the [[South Australian Football Commission]] which runs the [[South Australia National Football League]] in the capital [[Adelaide]], the highest profile competition among the 24 spread across the state. Participation has fallen substantially in recent years to a current rate of 4.1% and 63,969 adults and 28,692 children less than a quarter of which are female.<ref name="participation 2023/24" /> Prior to 2019 it was the most participated team sport in the state, however it dropped to third after both basketball and [[Soccer in South Australia|soccer there]] surpassed it in 2024.<ref name="participation 2023/24" />

Forms of football were played very early in the history of the [[Colony of South Australia]] pre-dating the organisation of [[Australian rules football in Victoria]] and rivalled football's popularity there. In 1877, the colony officially adopted the code in order to compete in the very first intercolonial representative football match in Australia against Victoria. The first governing body, the [[South Australian Football Association]] (now SANFL) formed on 13 April 1877, remains the oldest in Australia. Its clubs rivalled Victoria's in popularity and won 9 of 19 [[Championship of Australia]] titles from 1888 to 1975. Even with its current semi-professional status, it remains the second most popular and third strongest competition in the world in the sport.

The [[South Australian state football team]] (the "Croweaters") have defeated every state in [[Interstate matches in Australian rules football]] and has an intense rivalry with [[Victoria Australian rules football team|Victoria]] inspiring the popular catchcry "Kick a Vic". The state has the second most State of Origin titles. 3 time South Australian captain [[Russell Ebert]] has the most caps in State of Origin. Adelaide hosted national carnivals in [[1911 Adelaide Carnival|1911]], [[1930 Adelaide Carnival|1930]], [[1953 Adelaide Carnival|1953]], [[1969 Adelaide Carnival|1969]], [[1975 Knockout Carnival|1975]], [[1980 Adelaide State of Origin Carnival|1980]] and [[1988 Adelaide Bicentennial Carnival|1988]]. 

South Australia has two fully professional teams competing in the [[Australian Football League]] (AFL) and [[AFL Women's]] (AFLW), both based in the capital [[Adelaide]]: the [[Adelaide Football Club]] (1990) and [[Port Adelaide Football Club]] (1870), the latter having the distinction of being the only pre-existing club to have entered the AFL from another league, as a  founding member of the SAFA (SANFL). These two clubs compete against each other in the "[[Showdown (AFL)|Showdown]]". South Australia was chosen to host '[[Gather Round]]' a special round where all AFL matches are played in one state annually between 2023 and 2026. 

It is the most watched sport and has the second largest television audience in the country.<ref>[https://www.footyindustry.com/?page_id=136820 2022 AFL TV Ratings]</ref> From 1976 to 2003 the SANFL held the record for the largest attendance in the sport outside of Victoria. South Australia holds the world record for a non-VFL/AFL attendance with the [[1976 SANFL Grand Final]] drawing an estimated 80,000 spectators which remains the record crowd for any code of football in the state and the third highest official attendance outside of Victoria. The SANFL remains the second most attended league worldwide in the sport and attracts a television audience larger than that of some AFL clubs. Since 1991 South Australia has attracted an average AFL premiership season attendance of 35,919, second in the country, boosted with the 2014 upgrade of the [[Adelaide Oval]] the state's flagship venue.

The state has produced some of the greatest Australian Footballers of all time, including the [[Australian Football Hall of Fame]] legends: [[Barrie Robran]], [[Malcolm Blight]], [[Jack Oatey]] and Russell Ebert. In addition, it has produced almost a thousand born and raised AFL/AFLW players, most notably: AFL players [[Craig Bradley]] who has the [[VFL/AFL games records|most games]] with 375 and [[Stephen Kernahan]] who has the [[VFL/AFL goalkicking records|most goals]] with 738. In women's Australian rules, AFLW player [[Erin Phillips]] is most notable with 2 league best and fairests, while [[Ebony Marinoff]] has the [[AFL Women's games records|most games]] and [[Ashleigh Saint]] has the [[AFL Women's goalkicking records|most goals]].

==History==
{{see also|South Australian National Football League}}

=== Early examples of football (1843–1853) ===
[[File:St_Patricks_Day_Football_Game_Advertisment,_1843,_Adelaide.png|thumb|Advertisement in the Southern Australian newspaper dated 17 March 1843 for an upcoming Irish Football game to celebrate St Patricks Day.|250x250px]]
[[File:Irish_invitational_football_game_Thebarton,_Adelaide,_22_March_1853.png|thumb|right|250px|Football challenge advertisement that appeared in the 22 March 1853 calling for fellow Irishmen to join in a game of football in [[Thebarton]]]]
The first recorded game of any "football" in South Australia was that of '[[Caid]]' played in [[Thebarton]] by people of the local Irish community in 1843 to celebrate St Patrick's Day.

In 1844 there was debate amongst the South Australian Legislative Council whether it be allowed that "foot-ball"  be played on Sundays, with arguments against preferring the quiet worship of God.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71629837 |title=LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. |newspaper=[[Southern Australian]] |volume=VII |issue=549 |location=South Australia |date=20 August 1844 |access-date=3 February 2018 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article56527518|title=HISTORIC FOOTBALL.|date=1 July 1907|newspaper=[[The Register (Adelaide)]]|access-date=10 October 2019|issue=18,917|location=South Australia|volume=LXXII|page=5|via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

In 1853 a group of Irishmen from [[County Westmeath|Westmeath]], Ireland placed an advertisement in the [[South Australian Register]] calling for Irishmen from another county of Ireland to join them in [[Thebarton]] to play a game of football.<ref>{{cite news|date=22 March 1853|title=Advertising|volume=XVII|page=1|newspaper=[[South Australian Register]]|issue=2033|location=South Australia|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article38454695|via=National Library of Australia|accessdate=1 October 2021}}</ref>

In 1854 at the opening of a new school in [[Morphett Vale]], at the end of the first day the students played a game of football amongst other activities.<ref>{{cite news|date=18 November 1854|title=NEW SCHOOL-HOUSE, MORPHETT VALE.|volume=XII|page=4|newspaper=[[Adelaide Observer]]|issue=595|location=South Australia|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article158099821|via=National Library of Australia|accessdate=4 October 2021}}</ref>

In 1855 William Anderson Cawthorne illustrated a series of images documenting South Australia's indigenous people including a pair of playthings, one being a sling and the other being a ball, referred to in Kaurna language as Pando.

==== John Acraman and St Peters College (1854) ====
[[File:John Acraman c1880.jpg|thumb|left|200px|[[John Acraman]] was a successful businessman who lived in Adelaide and sponsored the development of football at [[St Peter's College, Adelaide]] in the 1850s.]]

In 1854 Adelaide businessman [[John Acraman]] imported five round footballs from England and paid for the construction of goal posts at [[St Peter's College, Adelaide|St Peter's College]] in Adelaide's eastern suburbs.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Pill|first=Shane|date=2011|title=1860–2010: Celebrating 150 years of organised football in South Australia|url=https://www.academia.edu/11876585|journal=27th ACHPER International Conference|pages=336}}</ref><ref>Daly, Elysian Fields, 63, citing South Australian Register of 25 July 1908.</ref> St Peter's football matches were played between Frome Road and Adelaide Bridge, on a similar site to the current [[University Oval, Adelaide|University Oval]]. [[Harrow football]], involving kicking the ball but not running with it, was played.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last1=Pill|first1=Shane|last2=Frost|first2=Lionel|date=17 January 2016|title=R.E.N. Twopeny and the Establishment of Australian Football in Adelaide|journal=The International Journal of the History of Sport|volume=33|issue=8|pages=797–812|doi=10.1080/09523367.2016.1173033|s2cid=147807924}}</ref>

=== Growing popularity (1855–1859) ===
In June 1855 the Sunday School associated with St Jude's Church in Brighton included football for its children's activities.<ref>{{cite news|date=2 June 1855|title=CENTRAL ROAD BOARD.|volume=X|page=2|newspaper=[[Adelaide Times]]|issue=1503|location=South Australia|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207025165|via=National Library of Australia|accessdate=4 October 2021}}</ref>

On 4 November 1856 a Temperance Festival with 400 participants included games of football.<ref>{{cite news|date=5 November 1856|title=STRATHALBYN.|volume=XX|page=3|newspaper=[[South Australian Register]]|issue=3147|location=South Australia|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49758276|via=National Library of Australia|accessdate=4 October 2021}}</ref>

In 1857 a football match was held in Glenelg as part of the annual Commemoration Festival to celebrate the 21st anniversary of the proclamation of the colony of South Australia.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49209987|title=TWENTY-FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE COLONY.|date=30 November 1857|newspaper=[[South Australian Register]]|access-date=10 October 2019|issue=3479|location=South Australia|volume=XXI|page=2|via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

In 1859 the Gawler Institute ran a rural fete which included a game of football being staged.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article790177|title=THE GAWLER INSTITUTE RURAL FETE.|date=10 March 1859|newspaper=[[The South Australian Advertiser]]|access-date=3 February 2018|issue=208|location=South Australia|volume=I|page=3|via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> The start of this match featured "a long first run to the ball".<ref>{{cite news|date=17 March 1859|title=XI.—FETES AND AMUSEMENTS.|volume=I|page=4|newspaper=[[The South Australian Advertiser]]|issue=214|location=South Australia|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article790481|via=National Library of Australia|accessdate=3 October 2021}}</ref> On 12 March 1859 the town of Angaston held a farewell party for Charles Fuller which included football.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article790350|title=ANGASTON.|date=15 March 1859|work=South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858–1889)|access-date=11 October 2019|pages=2}}</ref> For the Prince of Wales Birthday the Drapers Assistants Association included a football game in their festivities at Waterfall Gully.<ref>{{cite news|date=3 November 1859|title=Classified Advertising|volume=II|page=1|newspaper=[[The South Australian Advertiser]]|issue=411|location=South Australia|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1198835|via=National Library of Australia|accessdate=3 October 2021}}</ref> During a Christmas picnic in 1859 football was played by the employees of 'English & Brown' at Fourth Creek (River Torrens).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article96492257|title=THE MAGILL RACES.|date=31 December 1859|newspaper=[[South Australian Weekly Chronicle]]|access-date=12 October 2019|issue=76|location=South Australia|volume=II|page=5|via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

=== Formation of designated clubs (1860–1875) ===
{{see also|List of Australian rules football clubs by date of establishment}}
The earliest recorded football club in South Australia was the original [[Adelaide Football Club (SAFA)|Adelaide Football Club]] (unrelated to its modern namesake), formed on 26 April 1860.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/1858_to_1879.htm |title=Full Points Footy |access-date=25 January 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061208180556/http://fullpointsfooty.net/1858_to_1879.htm |archive-date=8 December 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Adelaide club hosted intra-club matches to provide a platform for football games to be played. Later in 1860 two new teams were formed bearing the names North Adelaide Football Club and South Adelaide Football Club, also unrelated to their modern namesakes.

On 20 May 1861 the Adelaide Council were presented with a request by a party representing an "East Adelaide Football Club" (John Clark) to erect football goals in the East Park Lands but were refused.<ref>{{cite news|date=21 May 1861|title=MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.|volume=XXV|page=3|newspaper=[[South Australian Register]]|issue=4553|location=South Australia|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50016579|via=National Library of Australia|accessdate=3 October 2021}}</ref>

In 1862 the newly formed [[Modbury Football Club|Modbury and Tea Tree Gully Football Club]] was invited to play a match against the Adelaide team. A return match was held later in the year. The early years of football were poorly organised and dogged by argument over which set of rules to adopt. In fact, after a match between [[Port Adelaide Football Club|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 the years progressed, there became a growing push for uniformity and structure in South Australian football.

=== 20 July Meeting (1876) ===
[[File:Charles Kingston.jpg|thumb|left|296x296px|At the old Prince Alfred Hotel on 20 July 1876 a meeting between local club delegates was held where [[Charles Kingston]] pleaded that all the local clubs adopt the rules of the "[[Adelaide Football Club (SAFA)|Old Adelaide club]]" as they were similar to those in use in Victoria. He said that by adopting the "Old Adelaide club rules" intercolonial matches could be played between states.]]
After a period of years with clubs fighting over technicalities of rules a meeting was held between representatives of the Adelaide, South Adelaide, Victorian and Woodville clubs. At the meeting [[Charles Kingston]] argued that "it was possible that someday an inter-colonial football match might be played, and it was desirable in that case that South Australian players should play the game as it was played in other colonies". During his plea to the other clubs at the meeting he compared the 'Old Adelaide rules' to those used in Victoria saying 'practically there was but little difference between them'.<ref name=":0" />

=== Establishment of SAFA (1877) ===
Following an initial meeting on Thursday 19 April 1877 at Prince Alfred Hotel <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/90881172|title=Cricket & Football|newspaper=South Australian Chronicle and Weekly Mail|date=28 April 1877}}</ref> called by [[Richard Twopeny]] the Captain of the Adelaide Football Club two delegates each from the following Football Clubs - [[Kensington Football Club|Kensington]], [[South Park Football Club (SAFA)|South Park]], [[Willunga Football Club|Willunga]], [[Port Adelaide Football Club|Port Adelaide]], Adelaide, North Adelaide, [[Prince Alfred College]], [[Gawler Football Club|Gawler]], [[Kapunda Football Club|Kapunda]], [[Bankers Football Club|Bankers]], Woodville, [[South Adelaide Football Club|South Adelaide]] and Victorian attended a meeting held at the Prince Alfred Hotel in King William Street, Adelaide held on 30 April 1877 to develop a uniform set of rules and establish a governing body.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/40794431|title=Football|newspaper=South Australian Register|date=May 1877}}</ref>

They formed the [[South Australian National Football League|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 use of an oval ball, [[running bounce|bouncing the ball]] and [[push in the back|pushing from behind]] forbidden amongst the rules agreed. The inaugural [[1877 SAFA season]] was contested by 8 clubs.

=== Early years of organised competition (1877–1886) ===
A newly formed club [[Norwood Football Club|Norwood]] joined the South Australian Football Association in 1878, but Bankers (1877), Woodville (1877), [[Kensington Football Club|Kensington]] (1877-1881), South Park (1877-1884), Victorian (1877-1884), Willunga, North Adelaide, Prince Alfred College and Kapunda had all left within the first 10 years. In 1879-1880 there was a growing call to create a junior competition for the growing number of other clubs which included amongst others - North Parks, St.Peter's College, Prince Alfred College, Royal Parks, West Torrens, Woodville, South Suburban, Hotham, and Middlesex.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/207587459|title = Junior Football Association|newspaper = Express and Telegraph|date = 25 March 1880}}</ref>

The first Annual General Meeting of the Adelaide and Suburban Association was held at Prince Alfred Hotel on 27 March 1882. The following clubs - North Parks, N.A Juniors, Kensington, Kent Town, Albion, Triton, and West Torrens were represented.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/197768435|title = Football|newspaper = Evening Journal|date = 28 March 1882}}</ref>

The South Australian Junior Football Association was officially formed following meetings held at the Hamburg Hotel on 17 and 24 March 1885. It was decided to limit the Association to 10 clubs - Coromandel Valley, Prospect, Creswick, Medindie, Hindmarsh, Kingston, Lefevre's Peninsula, Semaphore, Albert Park, and Fitzroy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/35979025|title=Football|newspaper=South Australian Advertiser|date=27 March 1885}}</ref>

=== Growth as major pastime (1887–1915)  ===
1887 saw existing clubs Gawler, Hotham and West Adelaide join the SAFA competition with the last of those bearing no relation to the modern day West Adelaide Bloods. The Association experienced a resurgence in the late 1880s. From the 1886 season to the 1887 attendances almost doubled.

1888 saw Medindie (which renamed to North Adelaide in 1893) joining the Association, but West Adelaide folded after just one season and Hotham (which had renamed North Adelaide for 1888) merged with Adelaide for 1889. For 1891 Season Gawler withdrew from competition games (having complained about the 1890 program when only given 5 home and 10 away games) but remained a member of the SAFA.

By the 1894 Season, the Association had been reduced to just four clubs (Port Adelaide, South Adelaide, Norwood, North Adelaide originally called Medindie until 1892) with the demise of the Old Adelaide Football Club (which was founded in 1860) at the end of the 1893 Season.

[[West Torrens Football Club|West Torrens]] (which joined as Port Natives in 1895 and renamed in 1897) and [[West Adelaide Football Club|West Adelaide]] (1897) meant the Association had expanded to six clubs until the turn of the century.

In 1898, the [[Magarey Medal]] was awarded to the fairest and most brilliant player for the first time.

[[Sturt Football Club|Sturt]] joined the Association in 1901 and in 1907, the Association was renamed the South Australian Football League.

=== War years (1916–1944) ===
[[File:1918 South Australian Patriotic Football League badge.png|thumb|right|Some league clubs went against the preferences of the [[SANFL|SAFL]] during World War I and formed the [[South Australian Patriotic Football League]] which ran for three seasons.]]
[[File:Port Adelaide Norwood 1923 Adelaide Oval.png|thumb|{{AFL Por}} playing {{SANFL Nor}} during the [[1921 SAFL Grand Final]] at [[Adelaide Oval]].]]
The SAFL was suspended from 1916–18 due to World War I.  [[Glenelg Football Club|Glenelg]] joined the league in 1921.  In 1927, the South Australian Football League was renamed the [[South Australian National Football League]].  During World War II, the eight clubs merged to form four composite clubs over the period 1942–44.

=== Golden era (1945–1981) ===
The post war years saw the code become a part of everyday life with mass media providing greater coverage than ever before. After Port Adelaide had won its 8th premiership in the last 10 seasons the SANFL admitted two new clubs for the 1964 season, [[Central District Football Club|Central District]] and [[Woodville Football Club|Woodville]]. The latter club Woodville being located less than 3&nbsp;km away from Port Adelaide.

=== Move towards national club competition (1982–1989) ===
[[File:Championship_of_Australia_1971_Adelaide_Oval_Hawthorn_North_Adelaide.jpg|thumb|SANFL premier North Adelaide contest against the VFL premier Hawthorn at the Adelaide Oval for the title of [[Championship of Australia]] in 1971.]]
In 1982 the [[SANFL]] approached the [[VFL]] in regards to entering two sides, Port Adelaide and [[Port Adelaide–Norwood SANFL rivalry|longtime major rival]] {{SANFL Nor}}, in the [[Victoria (Australia)|Victorian]] league.<ref name="Port2Power">{{Cite book|title=From Port to a Power|last=Abernethy|first=Bruce|publisher=Wakefield Press|year=1997|isbn=186254400X|location=Kent Town, Adelaide|page=71}}</ref> This action was also taken by [[West Australian Football League|WAFL]] club [[East Perth Football Club|East Perth]] in 1980.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amnet.net.au/~daveiza/royals/vfl.html|title=Fight on East Perth – Applying to Join VFL|website=www.amnet.net.au|access-date=8 October 2015}}</ref> All approaches were ignored by the VFL at the time with the reason given by [[Jack Hamilton (footballer, born 1928)|Jack Hamilton]] being that the VFL clubs thought that one or two SANFL teams would end up being too strong later admitting that they also wanted to continue to poach the states best players, which would soon include [[Craig Bradley]] and [[Stephen Kernahan]] in 1986.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|title=The Phoenix Rises|last=Oakley|first=Ross|publisher=Slattery Media Group|year=2014|isbn=9780987420596|location=Richmond, Victoria|page=156}}</ref> 1982 also saw the first instance of the VFL expanding beyond Melbourne and Geelong with the [[Sydney Swans|South Melbourne Football Club]] being relocated to Sydney. The [[Port Adelaide Football Club]]'s annual report from late 1982 showed that the failure of the attempts made by South Australian and West Australian clubs to enter the VFL significantly impacted the club's understanding of its future.<ref>'Port Adelaide Football Club Inc. Annual Report and Balance Sheet Season 1982', page 11</ref> From this point Port Adelaide restructured the club in regards to economics, public relations and on-field performance for an attempt to enter the league in 1990. There was genuine feeling that failure to do this would result in the club ceasing to exist in the future.<ref name="australianfootball.com" /> In 1985 Port Adelaide registered itself as a national football club. Sentiment at this time amongst the direction of Australian rules football in South Australia was succinctly encapsulated by a Michael Robinson article in the 1985 Football Times Yearbook that previewed the SANFL's upcoming season. In that article Robinson wrote about the disappointment of the equal gate sharing of match takings enforced by the SANFL for the upcoming season with the stronger South Australian clubs propping up ailing clubs such as Woodville.<ref name=":4" />

{{blockquote|text="What would be left of the SA league without the great clubs such as Norwood and Port Adelaide? It would drop to a miserable fourth-class contest. No one could blame Norwood and Port Adelaide for wanting to get out of the SA league into national ranks if they are further threatened by the dragging down process.|author=Michael Robinson|source=in regards to impacts of gate revenue sharing adopted by the SANFL for the 1985 season on Norwood and Port Adelaide<ref name=":4">{{Cite news|title=Yet another season of advancing backwards|last=Robinson|first=Michael|work=1985 Football Times Yearbook (1976–1992)|publisher=Ashley Hornsey|year=1985|pages=10–12}}</ref>}}

The following year the SANFL registered the name "Adelaide Football Club" in 1986 but ended up deciding against entering a team into the VFL.<ref name="theroar">{{cite web|url=http://www.theroar.com.au/2012/07/16/revisiting-the-south-australian-license-saga-of-1991/|title=Revisiting the South Australian license saga of 1991|publisher=The Roar}}</ref> In 1986 [[Norwood Football Club]] made an independent approach to the VFL with entry into the league discussed in great detail but these discussions ultimately failed to materialise.<ref name="australianfootball.com">{{cite web|url=http://australianfootball.com/clubs/bio/Port%2BAdelaide/9|title=Port Adelaide Football Club..."one must ask does the 'Big V' want the game to go national"|publisher=Australian Football}}</ref> In 1987 the [[West Coast Eagles]] and [[Brisbane Bears]] were admitted to the Victorian Football League leaving South Australia as the only mainland state without representation in the VFL.

{{blockquote|text="In 1988 a deputation from [[Norwood Football Club]] had announced it was interested in joining the VFL 'at any time in the future' and ... a private consortium headed by [[Ken Eustice]] was interested in grabbing a licence".<ref name="adelaidenow.com.au">{{Cite news|url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/teams/port-adelaide/fight-to-break-south-australian-impasse-on-vfl-involved-far-more-than-port-adelaide/news-story/dc13dfdbbd3f8cc2beb939c308e48831|title = Oakley breaks silence on Norwood saga|newspaper = The Advertiser|date = 29 June 2014|last1 = Rucci|first1 = Michelangelo}}</ref>|author=Ross Oakley}}

By 1989 seven out of ten SANFL clubs were recording losses and the combined income of the [[SANFL]] and [[West Australian Football League|WAFL]] had dropped to 40% of that of the [[VFL]].<ref name="theroar" /> The 1989 Port Adelaide annual report and November newsletter contrasted with the outlook of other SANFL and WAFL clubs. After its demolition of {{SANFL NthA}} in the [[1989 SANFL Grand Final]] holding its opposition to a single goal, the club claimed a profit in the annual report and hinted at its intentions the following year in the club newsletter by saying Port Adelaide was "far better than their nearest rival in the SANFL".<ref>{{Cite book|title=Port Adelaide Football Club Inc. Report of the Football and Footballers Clubs.|last=Whimpress|first=T.J.|publisher=Largs Bay Printers|year=1989|location=Largs Bay, South Australia|page=26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Magpie News|last=Weber|first=Bruce|publisher=Port Adelaide Football Club|year=1989|location=Largs Bay Printers|page=3}}</ref>

=== First South Australian AFL club (1990) ===
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| footer = '''Left:''' On 9 August 1990 it was revealed {{SANFL Nor}} had been in discussions with the AFL to join in 1991. However, after seeing the local media response to {{AFL Por}}'s bid they sided with the SANFL. Norwood would again try to gain a licence during 1994 in a merger with {{SANFL Stu}}<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122303541 |title=AFL sought Norwood |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |volume=64 |issue=20,209 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=10 August 1990 |access-date=1 August 2017 |page=13 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><br />'''Right:''' An injunction was won in the [[Supreme Court of South Australia]] preventing Port Adelaide from continuing its discussions with the AFL after 12 August 1990
}}During early 1990 the SANFL had decided to wait three years before making any further decision. Frustrated with lack of progress, Port Adelaide were having secret negotiations in the town of [[Quorn, South Australia|Quorn]] for entry in 1991.<ref name="abc">{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/stateline/sa/content/2003/s1206851.htm|title=Port Adelaide from SANFL to AFL|publisher=ABC: Stateline South Australia}}</ref> A practice match organised by Port Adelaide and {{AFL Gee}} on 25 February at [[Football Park]] attracted at over 30,000 spectators and illustrated the potential of a South Australian side in the newly renamed national competition.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Keeping Score '90|last=Fishburn|first=Chris|date=April 1990|work=Magpie News|page=34}}</ref> Around the same time AFL was also seeking Norwood to join the national competition in 1990. However Norwood would eventually side with the SANFL after seeing the media reaction to Port Adelaide's attempts.

{{blockquote|text="They [the SANFL clubs] are not going to make that decision until they are at the lowest possible ebb. They'd be voting themselves into obscurity [opting for a composite team] in their state."
|author=[[Ross Oakley]]|source=in regards to the other SANFL clubs opposing Port Adelaide's entry.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122302786 |title=Put Port Adelaide into AFL: Oakley |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |volume=64 |issue=20,205 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=6 August 1990 |access-date=10 May 2018 |page=22 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>}}

When the knowledge of [[Port Adelaide Football Club (SANFL)|Port Adelaide Football Club]]'s negotiations to gain an AFL licence were made public, the other [[SANFL]] clubs saw it as an act of treachery. Subsequently, the SANFL clubs, led by Glenelg and Norwood, urged Justice Olssen to make an injunction against the bid, which he agreed to.<ref name="theroar" /> In total the SANFL spent $500,000 in legal fees to stop Port Adelaide's entry into the AFL, with the latter simply unable to compete in the court room. The SANFL promptly created a composite team to beat Port Adelaide's bid. The [[Adelaide Football Club]] gained what was very close to being Port Adelaide's licence to the AFL and began playing in 1991. The new Adelaide club would adopt the moniker of "Crows" after the states inhabitants often used the nickname "Crow-eaters". During this time the SANFL began suing people involved with Port Adelaide, including people volunteering in unpaid positions, with the AFL quickly stepping in to guarantee the protection of the club and associated people.<ref name="Port2Power" /> In 2014 during an interview with the Adelaide Advertiser, Ross Oakley revealed that "In desperation to force (the SANFL’s) hand...we began dealing directly with two powerhouse clubs of the SANFL, Norwood and Port Adelaide...we were changing the league’s name to AFL – and we could not go without a team from Adelaide".<ref name="adelaidenow.com.au">{{Cite news|url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/teams/port-adelaide/fight-to-break-south-australian-impasse-on-vfl-involved-far-more-than-port-adelaide/news-story/dc13dfdbbd3f8cc2beb939c308e48831|title = Oakley breaks silence on Norwood saga|newspaper = The Advertiser|date = 29 June 2014|last1 = Rucci|first1 = Michelangelo}}</ref> 
{| style="margin-right:4px; margin-top:8px; float:right; border:1px #000 solid; border-radius:8px; background:#fff; font-family:Verdana; font-size:8pt; text-align:center;"
|-
| width=200 | [[1990 SANFL Grand Final]]<br />''Last game without AFL in SA.'' || ''G'' || ''B'' || ''Total''
|-
| style="text-align:left" |[[Glenelg Football Club|Glenelg]] || 13 || 15 || 93
|-
| style="text-align:left" |'''Port Adelaide''' || '''16''' || '''12''' || '''108'''
|-
| Venue: [[Football Park]]
| colspan=3 | Crowd: 50,589<ref name="subiacofc.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.subiacofc.com/seasons/season/SANFL/1959/ |title = subiacofc.com}}</ref>
| colspan=3 |
|}

{{blockquote|text="These twenty blokes, everyone who has helped us, are sensational people and all the views that you have read in the press the one thing that really matters is that there will always be a Port Adelaide Football Club."|author=[[George Fiacchi]]|source=upon accepting the 1990 [[Jack Oatey Medal]] for best on ground at the 1990 SANFL Grand Final.<ref>George Fiacchi, 1990 SANFL Grand Final – Port Adelaide vs. Glenelg, Channel 9.</ref>}}

{{blockquote|text="I want to tell you that you want to enjoy this moment for what it is because the good times are well and truly gone. Apart from Jack ([[John Cahill (footballer)|John Cahill]]) and the players there are a couple of individuals out there who are responsible for that and make sure you enjoy tonight because the good times will not happen again."|source={{SANFL Gle}} coach and inaugural {{AFL Ade}} coach [[Graham Cornes]]'s address to the Port Adelaide change-rooms post the [[1990 SANFL Grand Final]].<ref>Graham Cornes, 1990 SANFL Grand Final, Channel 9.</ref>}}

The front runners for the coaching job at the newly created club were both involved in the last SANFL game played in South Australia before the advent of a local AFL team, the [[1990 SANFL Grand Final]]. In that game Port Adelaide, coached by [[John Cahill (footballer)|John Cahill]] defeated Glenelg, coached by [[Graham Cornes]], by 15 points. Graham Cornes ended up being selected to coach Adelaide for the [[1991 AFL season]]. Cornes compiled a club list of the best players from South Australia, with few originating from other states, in what was almost a state side in the first year.<ref name=":2" /> Chris McDermott, captain of Glenelg in the 1990 SANFL Grand Final, was designated as the Crows inaugural captain.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=http://www.afc.com.au/news/2015-03-11/on-this-day-inaugural-squad-named|title=On this day: Inaugural squad named – AFC.com.au|work=afc.com.au|access-date=15 April 2017}}</ref> Despite Port Adelaide being SANFL premiers in 1990, only 5 players from the team became part of the Adelaide squad of 52. Those players being [[Bruce Abernethy]], [[Simon Tregenza]], [[David Brown (footballer, born 1969)|David Brown]], [[Darren Smith (Australian rules footballer)|Darren Smith]] and [[Scott Hodges]], with the last three joining Port Adelaide's inaugural AFL squad in 1997.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/club/history/past-players|title=Past players – portadelaidefc.com.au|website=portadelaidefc.com.au|access-date=15 April 2017}}</ref>

=== Race to be second South Australian AFL club (1991–1996) ===
The admission of Adelaide to the AFL had a devastating impact on the leagues attendances with the SANFL recording a 45% drop between 1990 and 1993.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Budget|publisher=SANFL|year=1994|location=Adelaide}}</ref> Port Adelaide defied this trend of falling SANFL attendances recording an increase of 13% from 1990 to 1993.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFs5JkiB4qU|title = Port Adelaide AFL Bid Video|date = 1994|publisher = Port Adelaide Football Club}}</ref>

{{blockquote|text="I only hope petty jealousies and fears within the S.A.N.F.L. don't short circuit a Port Adelaide proposal which clearly seems better than any other"|author=Tony Greenberg |source=Inside Football, June 1994<ref>Tony Greenberg, Inside Football, 8 June 1994.</ref>}}

In 1994 the AFL announced that South Australia would receive a licence for a second team based in the state.<ref name=":1" /> The major bids competing with Port Adelaide this time around were from merger club proposals in Norwood-Sturt, and Glenelg-South. On 15 June the SANFL handed down a report recommending the second license go to a team formed from the amalgamation of two clubs.

{{blockquote|text="The sub-licence should be granted to an amalgamation of two SANFL clubs"
| source = SANFL, Report on the Future Direction of Football in South Australia, 15 June 1994<ref>SANFL, Report on the Future Direction of Football in South Australia, 14 June 1994.</ref>
}}

On 16 June it was reported in The Age by Stephen Linnell that "the League's preference was for a single, established club to join the league".<ref>{{Cite news|title=League 'No' may open door to Port|last=Linnell|first=Stephen|date=16 June 1994|work=The Age}}</ref> The final tenders were submitted to the SANFL on 14 September 1994 including Port Adelaide's second application, Norwood–Sturt's merged club bid with the remaining application coming from Woodville–West Torrens.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Destiny|last=Ashton|first=Norman|publisher=Wakefield Press|year=2018|isbn=9781743055946|location=Adelaide|pages=137}}</ref>

{{blockquote|text="In my opinion coming second [not getting the second South Australian AFL licence] means you die"|author=[[Michael Aish (footballer)|Michael Aish]]|source={{SANFL Nor}} champion, August 1994<ref>Jeff Reynolds, ''Australian Football'', May 2016.</ref>}}

On 2 October Port Adelaide won the [[1994 SANFL Grand Final]], its fifth in seven years. On 13 December Port Adelaide won the tender for the second SA license over its various state rivals, however it was prevented from entering the competition before 1996 as stipulated in the Adelaide license agreement.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Premiers SA's Second Team|last=Rucci|first=Michaelangelo|date=14 December 1994|work=The Advertiser (Adelaide)|pages=1–2}}</ref> In 1995 after an SANFL game at Football Park the Adelaide began carrying out a training session which was interrupted by a large hoard of Port Adelaide supporters chanting "We're coming to get you".<ref name=":5">{{Cite news|title=What makes Port Adelaide different from the Crows?|last=Rucci|first=Michelangelo|date=29 May 1996|work=The Advertiser (Adelaide)}}</ref> Adelaide coach [[Robert Shaw (footballer)|Robert Shaw]] was the only Adelaide official to confront the hoard.<ref name=":5" /> In 1996 Port Adelaide was left to wait again as a vacancy was required in the league.

It was announced on 27 October 1995 that Port Adelaide would be participating in the [[1997 AFL season]], one season later than initially planned and seven years after the clubs first failed bid in 1990.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Destiny|last=Ashton|first=Norman|publisher=Wakefield Press|year=2018|isbn=9781743055946|location=Adelaide|pages=153}}</ref>

=== National premierships (1997–2004) ===
From 1997 to 2004 South Australian AFL clubs won three Australian Football League premierships.

=== Adelaide Oval return (2009–2014) ===
After previous hosting the highest level of Australian rules football in South Australia from 1877 to 1973, Adelaide Oval once again became permanent the home of top level Australian rules football in South Australia after a major redevelopment of the ground.

==Regional variation==
Some variations of Australian Rules Football in South Australia compared with other Australian states still exist:

'''Points system:''' In South Australia, most leagues award two points for a win, and one for a draw.  Elsewhere in Australia generally four points are awarded for a win and two for a draw.

'''Percentage:''' In South Australia, ladder percentage is usually calculated as "For" ÷ "For and Against" × "100".  Elsewhere in Australia it is generally calculated as "For" ÷ "Against" × "100".

'''Behind posts:''' Behind posts have generally been coloured red in South Australia, as opposed to white elsewhere.

'''Goalkicker listings:''' Match reports in South Australia generally list goals and behinds scored by player, whereas elsewhere in Australia goals only are generally shown.

'''Field markings:''' The "50" on the 50-metre line at AAMI Stadium is in a [[serif]] font, whereas at Victorian grounds a sans-serif font is used.

==Attendance record==
* '''66,987''' (1976). [[SANFL]] [[Grand Final]]. [[Sturt Football Club|Sturt]] vs [[Port Adelaide Football Club|Port Adelaide]]. ([[Football Park]], [[Adelaide]])

==Major Australian Rules events in South Australia==
*[[Australian Football League]] Premiership Season (Crows and Power home games) including 'Gather Round' (2023-2026) a special round where all AFL matches are played in the state
*[[Showdown (AFL)|The Showdown]]
*[[Port Adelaide-Norwood SANFL rivalry]]
*[[SANFL]] Grand Final
*State League [[Interstate matches in Australian rules football|Interstate matches]]

==Players==

===Participation===
According to Ausplay, there are 63,969 players and the overall participation rate per capita is 4.1%.<ref name="participation 2023/24" />  In 2019 was the only state in Australia where Australian rules football participation was higher than soccer, however soccer surpassed it in 2024.<ref name="participation 2023/24" />

In 2007, there were 14,825 senior players in SA and total participation of 72,971.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://realfooty.com.au/news/news/we-love-aussie-rules/2007/06/19/1182019117471.html |title=More chase Sherrin than before – realfooty.com.au |access-date=21 June 2007 |archive-date=4 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204073341/http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/we-love-aussie-rules/2007/06/19/1182019117471.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

{| class="sortable wikitable"
! colspan="6" | Adult players
|-
! colspan="1" | 2007 || 2019 || 2023/24
|-
|| 72,791<ref name="participation 2007">{{Cite web |url=http://realfooty.com.au/news/news/we-love-aussie-rules/2007/06/19/1182019117471.html |title=More chase Sherrin than before – realfooty.com.au |access-date=21 June 2007 |archive-date=4 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204073341/http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/we-love-aussie-rules/2007/06/19/1182019117471.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|| 68,985<ref name="participation 2019">[https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiZDgwYjA1MzYtMmQ3MS00YmE5LWEwM2MtYTVhMDg3YTg4OWQ3IiwidCI6IjhkMmUwZjRjLTU1ZjItNGNiMS04ZWU3LWRhNWRkM2ZmMzYwMCJ9 Ausplay South Australian Australian Football participation report 2019]</ref>
|| 63,969<ref name="participation 2023/24">{{Cite web | url=https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/research/ausplay/results#data_tables_br_july_2023_june_2024 | title=AusPlay results | first=Australian Sports Commission; jurisdiction=Commonwealth of Australia; corporateName=Australian Sports | last=Commission | website=Sport Australia | access-date=2024-11-05}}</ref>
|}

===South Australians in the Australian Football Hall of Fame===
''see [[Australian Football Hall of Fame]]''

====Legends====
* [[Barrie Robran]] ([[North Adelaide Football Club|North Adelaide]])
* [[Malcolm Blight]] ([[Woodville Football Club|Woodville]], [[North Melbourne Football Club|North Melbourne]])
* [[Jack Oatey]]
* [[Russell Ebert]]

<gallery>
File:Barrie_Robran_Statue.jpg|[[Barrie Robran]] statue
File:Russell_Ebert_statue.jpg|[[Russell Ebert]] statue
File:Malcolm_Blight_statue_Adelaide_Oval.jpg|[[Malcolm Blight]] statue
</gallery>

====Players====
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
* [[Mark Bickley]] ([[South Adelaide Football Club|South Adelaide]], [[Adelaide Football Club|Adelaide]])
* [[Craig Bradley]] ([[Port Adelaide Football Club|Port Adelaide]], [[Carlton Football Club|Carlton]])
* [[Peter Carey (Australian rules footballer)|Peter Carey]] ([[Glenelg Football Club|Glenelg]])
* [[John Daly (footballer, born 1870)|John Daly]] ([[Norwood Football Club|Norwood]], [[West Adelaide Football Club|West Adelaide]])
{{col-break}}
* [[Ken Farmer]] ([[North Adelaide Football Club|North Adelaide]])
* [[Bob Hank]] ([[West Torrens Football Club|West Torrens]])
* [[Lindsay Head]] ([[West Torrens Football Club|West Torrens]])
* [[Neil Kerley]] ([[West Adelaide Football Club|W. Adel]], [[South Adelaide Football Club|S. Adel]], [[Glenelg Football Club|Glenelg]])
* [[Stephen Kernahan]] ([[Glenelg Football Club|Glenelg]], [[Carlton Football Club|Carlton]])
* [[Tom MacKenzie]] ([[West Torrens Football Club|West Torr.]], [[North Adelaide Football Club|N. Adel]])
{{col-break}}
* [[Dan Moriarty (Australian rules footballer born 1895)|Dan Moriarty]] ([[South Adelaide Football Club|South Adelaide]])
* [[Geof Motley]] ([[Port Adelaide Football Club|Port Adelaide]])
* [[John Platten]] ([[Central District Football Club|Central District]], [[Hawthorn Football Club|Hawthorn]])
* [[Bob Quinn (Australian footballer)|Bob Quinn]] ([[Port Adelaide Football Club|Port Adelaide]])
* [[Jack 'Dinny' Reedman]] ([[South Adelaide Football Club|S.Adl]], [[North Adelaide Football Club|N.Adl]], [[West Adelaide Football Club|W.Adl]])
* [[Mark Ricciuto]] ([[Adelaide Football Club|Adelaide]])
{{col-end}}

<gallery>
File:Mark_Ricciuto_300th.jpg|[[Mark Ricciuto]]
File:Robert_'Bob'_Hank,_Australian_rules_footballer,_April_1950.jpg|[[Bob Hank]]
File:Bob_Quinn_(Australian_footballer).jpg|[[Bob Quinn (Australian footballer)|Bob Quinn]]
File:Ken_Farmer_SANFL.jpg|[[Ken Farmer]]
File:Jack_Reedman.png|[[Jack Reedman]]
File:John_Daly_1880's.jpg|[[John Daly (footballer, born 1870)|John Daly]]
</gallery>

====Umpires====
* [[Ken Aplin]]

====Coaches====
* [[John Cahill (footballer)|John Cahill]]
* [[Jack Oatey]]
* [[Fos Williams]]

====Administrators====
* [[Max Basheer]]
* [[Thomas Seymour Hill|Thomas Hill]]
* [[Bob McLean (Australian footballer)|Bob McLean]]

===AFL Players from South Australia===
{{missing information|players|date=August 2023}}

<gallery>
File:Sam_Day_2019.2.jpg|Sam Day is from Adelaide
File:Alex_Neal-Bullen_2019.1.jpg|Alex Neal-Bullen is from Adelaide
File:James_Aish_2018.5.jpg|James Aish is from Adelaide
File:Sean_Lemmens_2019.4.jpg|Sean Lemmens was raised in Adelaide
File:Rhys_Stanley_2019.1.jpg|Rhys Stanley is from Berri
File:Lachie_Neale_28.02.20.jpg|Lachie Neale is from Naracoorte and Kybybolite
File:Brodie_Grundy_2017.2.jpg|Brodie Grundy is from Adelaide
File:Aaron_Francis_2018.5.jpg|Aaron Francis is from Adelaide
File:Oleg_Markov_03.03.19.jpg|Oleg Markov is from Adelaide
File:Caleb_Daniel_2018.7.jpg|Caleb Daniel is from Adelaide
File:Rory_Laird_2019.1.jpg|Rory Laird is from Adelaide
File:Orazio_Fantasia_2018.1.jpg|Orazio Fantasia is from Adelaide 
File:BradCloseGF.jpg|Brad Close is from Mount Gambier
File:George_Hewett_2017.2.jpg|George Hewett is from Adelaide
File:Brodie_Smith_2019.1.jpg|Brodie Smith is from Adelaide
File:Harrison_Petty_2019.5.jpg|Harrison Petty is from Wudinna
File:Wayne_Milera_2019.1.jpg|Wayne Milera is from Adelaide
File:Jordan_Dawson_2018.3.jpg|Jordan Dawson is from Kingston SE
File:Callum_Coleman-Jones_(2)_16.04.21.jpg|Callum Coleman-Jones is from Adelaide
File:Lewis_Young_2018.2.jpg|Lewis Young is from Adelaide
File:Will_Hayward_2017.1.jpg|Will Hayward is from Adelaide
File:Mitch_Hinge_2019.6.jpg|Mitch Hinge is from Adelaide
File:Trent_Dumont_2017.4.jpg|Trent Dumont is from Adelaide
File:Tyson_Stengle_2023.jpg|Tyson Stengle is from Adelaide
File:Bailey_Williams_2018.3.jpg|Bailey Williams is from Adelaide
File:Callum_Wilkie_2019.3.jpg|Callum Wilkie is from Adelaide
File:Lachie_Jones_09.04.21.jpg|Lachie Jones is from Bute
File:Ryan_Burton_2018.3.jpg|Ryan Burton is From Adelaide
File:Connor_Rozee,_2021-2.jpg|Connor Rozee is from Port Augusta
</gallery>

{| class="wikitable"
|- bgcolor="#CCFF99"
| Currently on an AFL senior list
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable" 
|-
!| Player || SA junior/senior club/s || Representative honours || AFL Draft || Selection || AFL Years || AFL Club/s || AFL Games || AFL (Goals) || Connections to South Australia, Notes & References
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Harry Lemmey]] || Flagstaff Hill, {{SANFL SA}} || || [[2022 AFL draft|2022]] || #47 || 2024- || {{AFL Car}} || - || - || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Ashton Moir]] || Plympton Junior, {{SANFL Gle}} || || [[2023 AFL draft|2023]] || #29 || 2024- || {{AFL Car}} || - || - || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Henry Smith (footballer, born 2002)|Henry Smith]] || Blackwood, {{SANFL WWT}} || || [[2020 AFL draft|2020]] || #48 || 2024- || {{AFL BL}} || 1 || 0 || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Logan Evans (footballer)|Logan Evans]] || {{SANFL Nor}}, {{AFL PA}} || || [[2021 AFL draft|2021]] || Rookie (#12) || 2024- || {{AFL PA}} || 1 || 0 || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Billy Dowling]] || {{SANFL NA}}, Walkerville, {{AFL Ade}} || || [[2022 AFL draft|2022]] || #43 || 2024- || {{AFL Ade}} || 1 || 0 || Born and raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Loch Rawlinson]] || Mitcham, {{SANFL Stu}} || U18 (2023) || [[2023 AFL draft|2023]] || Rookie || 2024- || {{AFL|WC}} || 1 || 0 || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Kane McAuliffe]] || Central Augusta, {{SANFL NA}} || U18 (2023) || [[2023 AFL draft|2023]] || #40 || 2024- || {{AFL Ric}} || 1 || 0 || Raised in [[Port Augusta]]
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Max Michalanney]] || {{SANFL Nor}}, {{AFL Ade}}  || || [[2022 AFL draft|2022]] || #17 || 2023- || {{AFL Ade}} || 22 || 0 || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Mattaes Phillipou]] || PHOS Camden, {{SANFL WWT}}  || || [[2022 AFL draft|2022]] || #10 || 2023- || {{AFL StK}} || 24 || 13 || Raised in Adelaide
|- 
| [[Tom Emmett (footballer)|Tom Emmett]] || Payneham Norwood Union, {{SANFL Stu}}  || || [[2022 AFL draft|2022]] || #41 || 2023-2024 || {{AFL Fre}} || 15 || 11 || Born and raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Jakob Ryan]] || Brighton Districts & Old Scholars, Sacred Heart College, Torrens University, {{SANFL Gle}}  || || [[2022 AFL draft|2022]] || #28 || 2023- || {{AFL Col}} || 1 || 0 || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Hugh Jackson (footballer)|Hugh Jackson]] || Crystal Brook, Rostrevor College, {{SANFL NA}},  {{AFL PA}} || || [[2021 AFL draft|2021]] || #55 || 2023- || {{AFL PA}} || 1 || 0 || Raised in [[Crystal Brook, South Australia|Crystal Brook]]
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[James Borlase]] || Unley, {{SANFL Stu}}, {{AFL PA}} || || [[2020 AFL draft|2020 (rookie)]] ||  || 2023- || {{AFL PA}} || 2 || 0 || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Matthew Coulthard]] || Port Noarlunga, {{SANFL Gle}}  || || [[2023 AFL draft|2023]] || #3 || 2023- || {{AFL Ric}} || 4 || 1 || Raised in [[Port Noarlunga, South Australia|Port Noarlunga]]
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Jacob Bauer]] || {{SANFL NA}} || || [[2022 AFL draft|2022 (rookie)]] || Rookie (#10) || 2023- || {{AFL Ric}} || 3 || 3 || Recruited from Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Harry Barnett]] || [[Goodwood Saints Football Club|Goodwood]], {{SANFL WA}} || || [[2022 AFL draft|2022]] || #23 || 2023- || {{AFL|WC}} || 1 || 0 || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Jason Horne-Francis]] || [[Christies Beach Football Club|Christies Beach]], {{SANFL SA}}, {{AFL PA}} || U16 (c), U19 (2021 c) || [[2021 AFL draft|2021]] || #1 || 2022- || {{AFL NM}}, {{AFL PA}} || 42 || 20 || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera]] || {{SANFL Gle}} || U18 (2021) || [[2022 AFL draft|2022]] || #11 || 2022- || {{AFL StK}} || 41 || 5 || Raised in Adelaide
|- 
| [[Kaine Baldwin]] || {{SANFL Gle}} || U16 (2018 c) || [[2021 AFL draft|2021]] || Supplemental || 2022-2024 || {{AFL Ess}} || 8 || 2 || Born and raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Jase Burgoyne]] || [[Port District Football Club|Port District]], [[Henley High School (Adelaide, South Australia)|Henley High School]], {{SANFL WWT}}, {{AFL PA}}  ||  ||  [[2021 AFL draft|2021]]  || #60 || 2022- || {{AFL PA}} || 16 || 2 || Raised in Adelaide
|- 
| [[Jacob Wehr]] || Balaklava, {{SANFL WWT}} ||  ||  [[2020 AFL draft|2020]]  || #59 || 2022- || {{AFL GWS}} || 25 || 4 || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Jye Menzie]] || {{SANFL SA}} ||  ||  [[2022 AFL draft|2022]]  || Mid-season Rookie (#15) || 2022- || {{AFL Ess}} || 24 || 25 || Recruited from Adelaide
|- 
| [[Tex Wanganeen]] || {{SANFL Stu}} ||  ||  || Rookie || 2022-2024 || {{AFL Ess}} || 5 || 1 || Raised in Adelaide
|- 
| [[Jack Hayes (footballer, born 1996)|Jack Hayes]] || {{SANFL WWT}} || || [[2022 AFL draft|2022]] || Preseason Supplemental || 2022-2024 || {{AFL StK}} || 5 || 6 || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Harvey Harrison]] || Golden Grove, Tyndale Christian College, {{SANFL NA}} || || [[2021 AFL draft|2021]] || #52 || 2022- || {{AFL Col}} || 4 || 3 || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Matthew Roberts (footballer)|Matty Roberts]] || Langhorne Creek, St Peter's College, {{SANFL SA}} ||  || [[2021 AFL draft|2021]] || #34 || 2022- || {{AFL Syd}} || 12 || 2 || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Kaine Baldwin]] || {{SANFL Gle}} || U16 || [[2021 AFL draft|2021]] || Supplementary || 2022- || {{AFL Col}} || 8 || 2 || Recruited from Adelaide
|- 
| [[Josh Carmichael]] || {{SANFL WA}} || || [[2022 AFL draft|2022]] || Mid-season (#9) || 2022-2024 || {{AFL Col}} || 8 || 4 || Recruited from Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Leek Aleer]] || Angle Vale. {{SANFL CD}} || || [[2021 AFL draft|2021]] || #15 || 2022- || {{AFL GWS}} || 6 || 0 || Recruited from Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Alastair Lord]] || {{SANFL Nor}} || || [[2021 AFL draft|2021]] || #46 || 2022- || {{AFL Ess}} || 1 || 0 || Recruited from Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Luke Pedlar]] || Kingston, {{SANFL Gle}}, {{AFL Ade}} || || [[2020 AFL draft|2020]] || #11 || 2021- || {{AFL Ade}} || 26 || 26 || Born in Mount Gambier, raised in Kingston SE and Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Elijah Hollands]] || - || || [[2020 AFL draft|2020]] || #7 || 2021- || {{AFL GC}}, {{AFL Car}} || 14 || 8 || Born and raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Riley Thilthorpe]] || [[Goodwood Saints Football Club|Goodwood]], {{SANFL WA}}, {{AFL Ade}} || || [[2020 AFL draft|2020]] || #2 || 2021- || {{AFL Ade}} || 46 || 44 || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Beau McCreery]] || Cove, {{SANFL SA}} || || [[2020 AFL draft|2020]] || #44 || 2021- || {{AFL Col}} || 62 || 44 || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Lachie Jones]] || {{SANFL WWT}} || || [[2020 AFL draft|2020]] || #16 || 2021- || {{AFL PA}} || 21 || 5 || Raised in [[Bute, South Australia|Bute]]
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Jed McEntee]] || Mitcham, {{SANFL Stu}} || ||  [[2021 AFL draft|2021]] (mid-season) || #13 || 2021- || {{AFL PA}} || 35 || 21 || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Tom Powell (Australian footballer)|Tom Powell]] || Concordia,  Unley Jets, Scotch College, {{SANFL Stu}} || U18 (2020) || [[2020 AFL draft|2020]] || #13 || 2021- || {{AFL NM}} || 47 || 18 || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Caleb Poulter]] || Ardrossan, {{SANFL WWT}} || || [[2020 AFL draft|2020]] || #30 || 2021- || {{AFL Col}}, {{AFL WB}} || 19 || 4 || Raised in [[Ardrossan]]
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Ash Johnson]] || Scotch Old Colegians, {{SANFL Stu}} || || [[2020 AFL draft|2020]] || Mid-season (#3) || 2021- || {{AFL Col}} || 26 || 36 || Recruited from Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Brayden Cook]] || Happy Valley, {{AFL Ade}} || || [[2020 AFL draft|2020]] || #25 || 2021-2023 || {{AFL Ade}} || 12 || 3 || Born in Mount Barker, raised in Adelaide
|- 
| [[Jack Saunders (Australian footballer)|Jack Saunders]] ||  [[Walkerville Football Club|Walkerville]], Unley, {{SANFL Nor}} || || [[2021 AFL draft|2021 (Rookie)]] || Rookie (#4) || 2021-2022 || {{AFL Haw}} || 1 || 1 || Raised in and recruited from Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Michael Frederick (footballer)|Michael Frederick]] || {{SANFL WWT}} || || [[2019 AFL draft|2019]] || #61 || 2020- || {{AFL Fre}} || 59 || 64 || Born and raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Will Day]] || [[PHOS Camden Football Club|PHOS Camden]], Glenelg Junior, {{SANFL WA}} || U18 (2019) || [[2019 AFL draft|2019]] || #13 || 2020- || {{AFL Haw}} || 54 || 10 || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Kysaiah Pickett]] || [[Port District Football Club|Port District]], {{SANFL WWT}} || || [[2019 AFL draft|2019]] || #12 || 2020- || {{AFL Mel}} || 89 || 133 || Recruited from South Australia
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Connor Budarick]] || - || || [[2019 AFL draft|2019]] || #16 || 2020- || {{AFL GC}} || 26 || 1 || Born and raised in [[Robe, South Australia|Robe]]
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Brad Close]] || [[North Gambier Football Club|North Gambier]], {{SANFL Gle}} || || [[2019 AFL draft|2019]] || #14 || 2020- || {{AFL Gee}} || 76 || 64 || Born and raised in Mount Gambier
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Sam Draper]] ||{{SANFL SA}} || || [[2017 AFL draft|2017]] || #1 || 2020- || {{AFL Ess}} || 57 || 25 || Born and raised in Adelaide
|- 
| [[Harry Schoenberg]] ||{{SANFL WWT}}, {{AFL Ade}} || || [[2019 AFL draft|2019]] || #24 || 2020- || {{AFL Ade}} || 61 || 22 || Born in [[Marrabel, South Australia|Marrabel]], raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Connor Rozee]] || South Augusta, {{SANFL NA}}, {{AFL PA}} || || [[2018 AFL draft|2018]] || #5 || 2019- || {{AFL PA}} || 106 || 98 || Born and raised in Port Augusta
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Callum Wilkie]] || [[Walkerville Football Club|Walkerville]], {{SANFL NA}} || || [[2019 AFL draft|2019 Rookie Draft]] || Rookie (#3) || 2019- || {{AFL StK}} || 107 || 1 || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[John Noble (footballer)|John Noble]] || {{SANFL NA}} || || [[2019 AFL draft|2019]] || Mid-season (#14) || 2019- || {{AFL Col}} || 93 || 7 || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Izak Rankine]] || Edwardstown, Flinders Park, {{SANFL WA}}, {{AFL Ade}} || || [[2018 AFL draft|2018]] || #3 || 2019- || {{AFL GC}}, {{AFL Ade}} || 68 || 93 || Born and raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Jack Lukosius]] || Henley, {{SANFL WWT}} || || [[2018 AFL draft|2018]] || #2 || 2019- || {{AFL GC}} || 96 || 59 || Born and raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Brandon Zerk-Thatcher]] || {{SANFL Stu}}, {{AFL PA}} || || [[2017 AFL draft|2017]] || #66 || 2019- || {{AFL Ess}}, {{AFL PA}} || 51 || 0 || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Kade Chandler]] || [[Western United Tigers]], {{SANFL Nor}} || || [[2019 AFL draft|2019]] || #15 || 2019- || {{AFL Mel}} || 39 || 31 || Born and raised in [[Charra, South Australia|Charra]]
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Tom Sparrow (Australian footballer)|Tom Sparrow]] ||  [[Bridgewater Football Club|Bridgewater]], {{SANFL SA}} || ||  ||  || 2019- || {{AFL Mel}} || 77 || 29 || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Shane McAdam]] || {{SANFL Stu}}, {{AFL Ade}} || ||  ||  || 2019- || {{AFL Mel}} || 50 || 72 || Raised in and recruited from Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Jordon Sweet]] || Tea Tree Gully, {{SANFL NA}}, {{AFL PA}} || ||  [[2019 AFL draft|2019]] || Rookie (#23) || 2019- || {{AFL WB}}, {{AFL PA}} || 11 || 2 || Raised in and recruited from Adelaide
|- 
| [[Chris Burgess (footballer)|Chris Burgess]] ||Flinders Park, {{AFL Ade}} || || [[2018 AFL draft|2018]] || Pre-draft selection  || 2019- || {{AFL GC}}, {{AFL Ade}} || 44 || 21 || Raised in Adelaide
|- 
| [[Nathan Kreuger]] || Victor Harbour, {{SANFL SA}} || || ||  || 2019-2024 || {{AFL Gee}}, {{AFL Col}} || 15 || 7 || Raised in [[Victor Harbor, South Australia|Victor Harbour]]
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Darcy Fogarty]] || Rostrevor College, {{SANFL Gle}} || || [[2017 AFL draft|2017]] || #12 || 2018- || {{AFL Ade}} || 79 || 117 || Raised in [[Lucindale, South Australia|Lucindale]] and Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Callum Coleman-Jones]] || Blackwood, {{SANFL Stu}} || U15 (2014), U16 (2015), U18 (2017 c) || [[2017 AFL draft|2017]] || #20 || 2018- || {{AFL Ric}}, {{AFL NM}} || 31 || 20 || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Charlie Ballard]] || Mitcham, {{SANFL Stu}} || U18 (2017) || [[2017 AFL draft|2017]] || #42 || 2018- || {{AFL GC}} || 110 || 2 || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Harrison Petty]] || Wudinna United, {{SANFL Nor}} ||  || [[2017 AFL draft|2017]] || #37 || 2018- || {{AFL Mel}} || 65 || 20 || Born and raised in [[Wudinna, South Australia|Wudinna]]
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Lewis Young (Australian footballer)|Lewis Young]] || {{SANFL Stu}} || || [[2016 AFL draft|2016]] || #49 || 2017- || {{AFL WB}}, {{AFL Car}} || 58 || 2 || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Will Hayward]] || {{SANFL NA}} || || [[2016 AFL draft|2016]] || #21 || 2017- || {{AFL Syd}} || 148 || 181 || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Brennan Cox]] || {{SANFL WWT}} || || [[2016 AFL draft|2016]] || #41 || 2017- || {{AFL Fre}} || 103 || 31 || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Peter Ladhams]] || [[Modbury Football Club|Modbury]], {{SANFL Nor}}, {{AFL PA}} || || [[2017 AFL draft|2017]] || #9 || 2017- || {{AFL PA}}, {{AFL Syd}} || 50 || 25 || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Mitch Hinge]] || {{SANFL Gle}} || || [[2017 AFL draft|2017]] || #20 || 2017- || {{AFL BL}}, {{AFL Ade}} || 43 || 5 || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Tyson Stengle]] || [[Portland Football Club (South Australia)|Portland]], {{SANFL Por}}, {{SANFL WWT}}, {{AFL Ade}}, || U18 (2016)|| [[2016 AFL draft|2016]] || #6 || 2017- || {{AFL Ric}}, {{AFL Ade}}, {{AFL Gee}} || 73 || 122 || Raised in Adelaide
|- 
| [[Toby Pink]] || {{SANFL Gle}} || || [[2017 AFL draft|2017 (rookie)]] || Rookie (#54) || 2017-2024 || {{AFL Syd}}, {{AFL NM}} || 15 || 7 || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Ryan Burton]] || [[PHOS Camden Football Club|PHOS Cambden]], [[Sacred Heart College (Adelaide)|Sacred Heart College]], {{SANFL NA}}, {{AFL PA}} || U18 (2014) || [[2015 AFL draft|2015]] || #19 || 2016- || {{AFL Haw}}, {{AFL PA}} || 139 || 21 || Raised in and recruited from Adelaide
|- 
| [[Riley Bonner]] || [[Goodwood Saints Football Club|Goodwood]], {{SANFL WA}}, {{AFL PA}} || || [[2015 AFL draft|2015]] || #37 || 2016-2024 || {{AFL PA}}, {{AFL StK}} || 113 || 15 || Raised in and recruited from Adelaide
|- 
| [[Will Snelling]] || [[Goodwood Saints Football Club|Goodwood]], {{SANFL WA}}, {{AFL PA}} || || [[2016 AFL draft|2016 Rookie]] || Rookie (#10) || 2016-2023 || {{AFL PA}}, {{AFL Ess}} || 65 || 29 || Raised in and recruited from Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Jordan Dawson]] || {{SANFL Stu}}, {{AFL Ade}} || || [[2015 AFL draft|2015]] || #56 || 2016- || {{AFL Syd}}, {{AFL Ade}} || 122 || 57 || Born and raised in Kingston SE
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Mason Redman]] || {{SANFL Gle}}, {{AFL Ade}} || U18 || [[2015 AFL draft|2015]] || #30 || 2016- || {{AFL Ess}} || 103 || 18 || Born and raised in Millicent
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Wayne Milera]] || {{SANFL CD}}, {{AFL Ade}} || U18 || [[2015 AFL draft|2015]] || #11 || 2016- || {{AFL Ade}} || 96 || 29 || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Bailey Williams (footballer, born 1997)|Bailey Williams]] || Brighton Secondary, {{SANFL Gle}} ||  || [[2015 AFL draft|2015]] || #48 || 2016- || {{AFL WB}} || 127 || 29 || Raised in Adelaide
|- 
| [[Aaron Francis]] || {{SANFL WA}} ||  || [[2015 AFL draft|2015]] || #6 || 2016- || {{AFL Ess}}, {{AFL Syd}} || 74 || 13 || Raised in Adelaide
|- 
| [[Oleg Markov]] || Gepps Cross, {{SANFL NA}} || U18 || [[2015 AFL draft|2015]] || #50 || 2016-2024 || {{AFL Ric}}, {{AFL GC}}, {{AFL Col}} || 86 || 7 || Raised in Adelaide
|- 
| [[Josh Schache]] || - || || [[2015 AFL draft|2015]] || #2 || 2016-2024 || {{AFL BL}}, {{AFL WB}}, {{AFL Mel}} || 76 || 79 || Born in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[George Hewett (footballer)|George Hewett]] || {{SANFL NA}} || || [[2013 AFL draft|2013]] || #32 || 2015- || {{AFL Syd}}, {{AFL Car}} || 156 || 39 || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Alex Neal-Bullen]] || [[Mitchell Park Football Club|Mitchell Park]], {{SANFL Gle}} || || [[2014 AFL draft|2014]] || #40 || 2015- || {{AFL Mel}} || 159 || 112 || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Caleb Daniel]] || [[Edwardstown Football Club|Edwardston]], {{SANFL SA}} || || [[2014 AFL draft|2014]] || #46 || 2015- || {{AFL WB}} || 175 || 47 || Raised in Adelaide
|- 
| [[Sam Durdin]] || {{SANFL WA}}, {{SANFL Gle}} || || [[2014 AFL draft|2014]] || #16|| 2015-2024 || {{AFL NM}}, {{AFL Car}} || 24 || 1 || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Trent Dumont]] || {{SANFL Nor}}, {{AFL PA}} || || [[2013 AFL draft|2013]] || #307 || 2014- || {{AFL NM}}, {{AFL PA}} || 121 || 28 || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[James Aish]] || {{SANFL Nor}}, {{SANFL Gle}} || || [[2013 AFL draft|2013]] || #7 || 2014- || {{AFL BL}}, {{AFL Col}}, {{AFL Fre}} || 163 || 33 || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Sean Lemmens]] || [[Salisbury Football Club|Salisbury]], {{SANFL Por}} || || [[2013 AFL draft|2013]] || #27 || 2014- || {{AFL GC}} || 140 || 25 || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Orazio Fantasia]] || Payneham Norwood Union, {{SANFL Nor}}, {{AFL PA}}  || || [[2013 AFL draft|2013]] || #55 || 2014- || {{AFL Ess}}, {{AFL PA}}, {{AFL Car}} || 100 || 141 || Born and raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Rory Laird]] || Kenilworth, {{SANFL WA}}, {{AFL Ade}} || || [[2011 AFL draft|2011]] || Rookie (#5) || 2013- || {{AFL Ade}} || 228 || 29 || Born in South Australia, raised in Adelaide
|- 
| [[Jimmy Toumpas]] || {{SANFL WWT}}, {{AFL PA}} || U18 (2012c)|| [[2012 AFL draft|2012]] || #4 || 2013-2018 || {{AFL PA}} || 37 || 7 || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Brodie Grundy]] || {{SANFL Stu}} || || [[2012 AFL draft|2012]] || #18 || 2013- || {{AFL Col}}, {{AFL Mel}}, {{AFL Syd}} || 204 || 71 || Born and raised in Adelaide
|- 
| [[Chad Wingard]] || [[Imperial Football Club|Imperial]], {{SANFL Stu}}, {{AFL PA}} || || [[2011 AFL draft|2011]] || #6 || 2012-2024 || {{AFL PA}}, {{AFL Haw}} || 218 || 300 || Born and raised in [[Murray Bridge, South Australia|Murray Bridge]]
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Lachie Neale]] || Kybybolite, St Peters College, {{SANFL Gle}} || U18 (2011) || [[2011 AFL draft|2011]] || #58 || 2012- || {{AFL Fre}}, {{AFL BL}} || 250 || 116 || Raised in Kybybolite
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Lincoln McCarthy]] || Bordertown, {{SANFL Gle}} || || [[2011 AFL draft|2011]] || #66 || 2012- || {{AFL Gee}}, {{AFL BL}} || 140 || 154 || Raised in [[Bordertown, South Australia|Bordertown]]
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Brodie Smith (footballer)|Brodie Smith]] || West Lakes, Henley, {{SANFL WWT}}, {{AFL Ade}} ||  || [[2010 AFL draft|2010]] || #14 || 2011- || {{AFL Ade}} || 249 || 71 || Raised in Adelaide
|- 
| [[Tom Jonas]] || [[Rostrevor College]], {{SANFL Nor}}, {{AFL PA}} ||  || [[2011 AFL draft|2011]] || #16 || 2011-2023 || {{AFL PA}} || 215 || 2 || Raised in Adelaide
|- 
| [[Scott Lycett]] || Thevenard, {{SANFL Por}} ||  || [[2010 AFL draft|2010]] || #29 || 2011-2023 || {{AFL GC}} || 146 || 61|| Born in Ceduna, raised in Thevenard
|- 
| [[Jared Polec]] || {{SANFL WWT}} ||  || [[2010 AFL draft|2010]] || #5|| 2011-2022 || {{AFL BL}}, {{AFL PA}}. {{AFL NM}} || 148 || 75 || Born and raised in Adelaide
|- 
| [[Sam Day (Australian rules footballer)|Sam Day]] || {{SANFL Stu}} || U18 || [[2011 AFL draft|2011]] || #3 || 2011-2024 || {{AFL GC}} || 143 || 100 || Born and raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Rhys Stanley]] || {{SANFL WA}} || || [[2008 AFL draft|2008]] || #47 || 2010- || {{AFL StK}}, {{AFL Gee}} || 196 || 105 || Born and raised in [[Berri, South Australia|Berri]] and Adelaide
|- 
| [[Jack Redden]] || Keith, {{SANFL Gle}} || || [[2008 AFL draft|2008]] || #25 || 2009-2022 || {{AFL BL}}, {{AFL WC}} || 263 || 80 || Raised in Adelaide
|- 
| [[Shane Edwards]] || Golden Grove, {{SANFL NA}} || || [[2006 AFL draft|2006]] || #26 || 2007-2022 || {{AFL Ric}} || 303 || 189 || Born and raised in Adelaide
|- 
| [[Shannon Hurn]] || {{SANFL Cen}} || U18 (2005) || [[2005 AFL draft|2005]] || #13 || 2006-2023 || {{AFL|WC}} || 333 || 50 || Born in [[Angaston, South Australia|Angaston]] and raised in Angaston and [[Nuriootpa, South Australia|Nuriootpa]]
|- 
| [[Eddie Betts]] || [[Mallee Park Football Club|Mallee Park]], {{AFL Ade}} || || [[2004 AFL draft|2004]] || (pre-season) #3 || 2005-2021 || {{AFL Ade}}, {{AFL Car}} || 350 || 640 || Raised in [[Port Lincoln]] (Wirangu, Kokatha)
|- 
| [[Shaun Burgoyne]] || [[Mallee Park Football Club|Mallee Park]], {{SANFL Por}} || || [[2000 AFL draft|2000]] || #12 || 2001-2021 || {{AFL PA}}, {{AFL Haw}} || 407 || 302 || Raised in [[Port Lincoln]] (Kokatha)
|- 
| [[Matthew Pavlich]] || [[Sacred Heart College (Adelaide)|Sacred Heart College]], {{SANFL WWT}} || || [[1999 AFL draft|1999]] || #4 || 2000-2016 || {{AFL Fre}} || 353 || 700 || Born and raised in Adelaide
|- 
| [[Adam Goodes]] || || || [[1997 AFL draft|1997]] || #43 || 1999-2015 || {{AFL Syd}} || 372 || 464 || Born and raised in [[Wallaroo, South Australia|Wallaroo]] (Adnyamathanha, Narungga)
|- 
| [[Warren Tredrea]] || {{SANFL Por}} || || [[1996 AFL draft|1996]] || Zone selection || 1997-2010 || {{AFL PA}} || 255 || 549 || Born in South Australia, raised in Adelaide
|- 
| [[Michael O'Loughlin]] || {{SANFL Cen}} || || [[1994 AFL draft|1994]] || #40 || 1995-2009 || {{AFL Syd}} || 303 || 521 || Born and raised in Adelaide ([[Kaurna people|Kaurna]], [[Ngarrindjeri]])
|- 
| [[Tony Modra]] || {{SANFL WA}}, {{AFL Ade}} || ||  || || 1991-2001 || {{AFL Ade}}, {{AFL Fre}} || 165 || 588 || Born in [[McLaren Vale, South Australia|McLaren Vale]], raised in [[Christies Beach, South Australia|Christies Beach]] and [[Loxton, South Australia|Loxton]]
|- 
| [[David Grenvold]] || {{SANFL Gle}} || || [[1987 VFL draft|1987]] || #45 || 1989-1996 || {{AFL Ess}} || 112 || 18 || Born and raised in [[Bordertown, South Australia|Bordertown]]
|- 
| [[Tony Hall (Australian footballer)|Tony Hall]] || {{SANFL Gle}}, {{AFL Ade}} || [[1988 Adelaide Bicentennial Carnival|1988]], 1989, 1992, [[1993 State of Origin Championships|1993]]  || || || 1988-1995 || {{AFL Haw}}, {{AFL Ade}} || 217 || 278 || Raised in Adelaide
|- 
| [[Bruce Abernethy]] || Rosewater, {{SANFL Por}} ||  || || || 1982-1992 || {{AFL NM}}, {{AFL Col}}, {{AFL Ade}} || 112 || 39 || Raised in Adelaide
|-  
| [[Darryl Cowie]] || Gawler Central, {{SANFL CD}} || ||  || || 1982-1987 || {{AFL StK}}, {{AFL Ric}} || 63 || 9 || Raised in and recruited from Adelaide
|-  
| [[Stephen Copping]] || {{SANFL Gle}} || ||  || || 1982-1984 || {{AFL Ess}} || 42 || 88 || Raised in and recruited from Adelaide
|-  
| [[Wayne Slattery]] || {{SANFL SA}} || ||  || || 1982 || {{AFL StK}} || 11 || 12 || Raised in and recruited from Adelaide
|-  
| [[Geoff Linke]] || {{SANFL SA}} || || [[1981 VFL draft|1981]] || #15 || 1982 || {{AFL StK}} || 2 || 3 || Raised in and recruited from Adelaide
|-  
| [[Craig Bradley]] || {{SANFL Por}} || ||  || || 1981-2002 || {{AFL Car}} || 375 || 247 || Born and raised in Adelaide
|- 
| [[Stephen Kernahan]] || {{SANFL Gle}} || ||  || || 1981-1997 || {{AFL Car}} || 251 || 738 || Born and raised in Adelaide
|- 
| [[Harry Laxton]] || || ||  || || 1904-1907 || {{AFL Ess}} || 44 || 3 || Born in [[Aldgate, South Australia|Aldgate]]
|- 
| [[Alf Swift]] || || ||  || || 1904 || {{AFL Ess}} || 7 || 2 || Born in [[Port Elliot, South Australia|Port Elliot]]
|- 
| [[Mick Pleass]] || || ||  || || 1904 || {{AFL Ess}} || 132 || 45 || Born in [[Kent Town, South Australia|Kent Town]]
|- 
| [[Dick McCabe (Australian footballer)|Dick McCabe]] || || ||  || || 1897-1907 || {{AFL SM}} || 148 || 18 || Born in [[Farrell Flat]]
|}

===AFLW Players from South Australia===
{{missing information|players|date=August 2023}}

<gallery>
File:Anne_Hatchard_2019.1.jpg|Anne Hatchard is from Adelaide
File:Mules,_Justine,_Alberton_Oval,_2022_September_3.jpg|Justine Mules is from Adelaide
File:Hannah_Martin_2019.1.jpg|Hannah Button is from Yorke Peninsula
File:Deni_Varnhagen_2019.1.jpg|Deni Varnhagen is from Adelaide
File:Chloe_Scheer_2019.2.jpg|Chloe Scheer is from Adelaide
File:Ebony_Marinoff_2018.jpg|Ebony Marinoff is from Adelaide
File:Jessica_Allan.jpg|Jessica Allen is from Beachport
File:O%27Dea,_Ebony,_Adelaide_Oval,_2022_September_30.jpg|Ebony O'Dea is from Springton
File:Ashleigh_Woodland_19.01.19.jpg|Ashleigh Saint is from Adelaide
File:Sarah_Allan_2018.jpg|Sarah Allen is from Millicent
File:Eloise_Jones_2018.jpg|Eloise Jones is from Adelaide
</gallery>

{| class="wikitable sortable" 
|-
!| Player || SA junior/senior club/s || Representative honours || AFLW Draft || Selection || AFLW Years || AFLW Club/s || AFLW Games || AFLW (Goals) || Connections to South Australia, Notes & References
|- bgcolor="#CCFF99"
| [[Brooke Boileau]] || [[Mount Compass Football Club|Mount Compass]], {{AFLW|Ade}} || U18 (2023) || [[2023 AFL Women's draft|2023]] || #1 || 2024- || {{AFLW|Ade}} || 1 || 0 || Raised in and recruited from [[Victor Harbor, South Australia|Victor Harbour]]
|- bgcolor="#CCFF99"
| [[Elaine Grigg]] || North Adelaide, Central Districts || U18 (2023) || || || 2024- || {{AFLW|WB}} || 1 || 0 || Recruited from Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Molly Brooksby]] || Golden Grove, {{AFLW|PA}} || U18 (2023) || ||  || 2024- || {{AFLW|PA}} || 1 || 0 || Raised in [[Adelaide]]
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Shineah Goody]] || Henley, Edithburgh, {{AFLW|PA}} || || ||  || 2024- || {{AFLW|PA}} || 1 || 0 || Raised in [[Edithburgh]]
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Piper Window]] || Morphettville Park, {{AFLW|PA}} || || ||  || 2024- || {{AFLW|PA}} || 1 || 0 || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Caitlin Wendland]] || Willaston, Central Districts || || ||  || 2023- || {{AFLW|Bri}} || 3 || 0 || Raised in Adelaide ([[Willaston, South Australia|Willaston]])
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Mattea Breed]] || Norwood, Payneham Norwood Union, North Adelaide || || || || 2023- || {{AFL Haw}} || 8 || 0 || Recruited from Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Matilda Scholz]] ||Mitcham, Goodwood, Glenelg, {{AFLW|PA}} || || ||  || 2023- || {{AFLW|PA}} || 1 || 0 || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor="#CCFF99"
| [[Jade Halfpenny]] || Golden Grove, Norwood, {{AFLW|PA}} || U19 (2021) || || || 2022- || {{AFLW|PA}}, {{AFLW|Car}} || 7 || 1 || Raised in and recruited from Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Taylor Ortlepp]] || - || || ||  || 2022- || {{AFLW|Car}} || 9 || 1 || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Leah Cutting]] || [[Morphettville Park Football Club|Morphettvale Park]], Norwood || || ||  || 2022- || {{AFLW|StK}} || 7 || 0 || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Olivia Fuller (footballer)|Olivia Fuller]] || Millicent || || || || 2022- || {{AFLW|Gee}} || 18 || 1  || Raised in [[Millicent, South Australia|Millicent]]
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Jessica Waterhouse]] || [[Christies Beach Football Club|Christie's Beach]], [[Happy Valley Football Club|Happy Valley]], {{AFLW|Ade}} || || || || 2022- || {{AFLW|Ade}} || 12 || 5  || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Olivia Levicki]] || {{AFLW|PA}} || || || || 2022- || {{AFLW|PA}} || 13 || 2  || Born in [[Balaklava, South Australia|Balaklava]]
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Hannah Ewings]] || Roopena, SMOSH West lakes, North Adelaide, {{AFLW|PA}} || || || || 2022- || {{AFLW|PA}} || 18 || 8  || Raised in Whyalla
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Jess Good]] || Blackwood, Sturt || || || || 2022- || {{AFLW|Car}} || 18 || 5  || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Abbie Ballard]] || Peake, West Adelaide, Strathalbyn, {{AFLW|Ade}} || || [[2021 AFL Women's draft|2021]] || #34 || 2022- || {{AFLW|Ade}} || 17 || 4  || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Brooke Tonon]] || East Gambie, Scotch College, Glenelg, {{AFLW|Ade}} || U19 (2021) || [[2021 AFL Women's draft|2021]] || #20 || 2022- || {{AFLW|Ade}} || 10 || -  || Raised in [[Mount Gambier]]
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Zoe Prowse]] || Glenunga, Mt Lofty, Sturt, {{AFLW|Ade}} || U19 (2021) || [[2021 AFL Women's draft|2021]] || #17 || 2022- || {{AFLW|Ade}} || 7 || 1  || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Teah Charlton]] || [[Christies Beach Football Club|Christie's Beach]], South Adelaide, {{AFLW|Ade}} || || [[2020 AFL Women's draft|2020]] || #4 || 2021- || {{AFLW|Ade}} || 48 || 8  || Raised in Adelaide
|- 
| [[Tahlia Meyer]] || [[Morphettville Park Football Club|Morphettvale Park]], South Adelaide || || [[2020 AFL Women's draft|2020]] || Free agent || 2021- || {{AFLW|StK}}, {{AFLW|GC}} || 21 || 2  || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Katelyn Pope]] || North Adelaide, {{AFLW|PA}} || || [[2021 AFL Women's draft|2021]] || Injury replacement || 2021- || {{AFLW|WC}}, {{AFLW|PA}} || 14 || 2  || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Caitlin Gould]] || Glenelg, {{AFLW|Ade}} || || [[2019 AFL Women's draft|2019]] || #68 || 2020- || {{AFLW|Ade}} || 48 || 34  || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Cheyenne Hammond]] || Willunga, [[Christies Beach Football Club|Christie's Beach]], South Adelaide, {{AFLW|PA}} || || [[2019 AFL Women's draft|2019]] || #57 || 2020- || {{AFLW|GC}}, {{AFLW|PA}} || 40 || 2  || Raised in Wilunga
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Chelsea Biddell]] || West Adelaide, {{AFLW|Ade}} || || [[2019 AFL Women's draft|2019]] || #102 || 2020- || {{AFLW|Ade}} || 48 || 4  || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Rachelle Martin]] || West Adelaide, {{AFLW|Ade}} || ||  ||  || 2020- || {{AFLW|Ade}} || 46 || 14  || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Hannah Munyard]] || South Adelaide, {{AFLW|Ade}} || ||  ||  || 2020- || {{AFLW|WB}}, {{AFLW|Ade}} || 35 || 3  || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Najwa Allen]] || Norwood, {{AFLW|Ade}} || || [[2019 AFL Women's draft|2019]] || #37 || 2020- || {{AFLW|Ade}} || 44 || 0  || Recruited from Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Madison Newman]] || West Adelaide, {{AFLW|Ade}} || || [[2019 AFL Women's draft|2019]] || #100 || 2020- || {{AFLW|Ade}} || 39 || 7  || Recruited from Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Ashleigh Saint]] || North Adelaide, {{AFLW|Ade}} || || [[2018 AFL Women's draft|2018]] || Free agent || 2019- || {{AFLW|Mel}}, {{AFLW|Ade}}, {{AFLW|PA}} || 49 || 58  || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Chloe Scheer]] || Salisbury West, Modbury, North Adelaide, {{AFLW|Ade}} || || [[2018 AFL Women's draft|2018]] || #37 || 2019- || {{AFLW|Ade}}, {{AFLW|Gee}} || 49 || 54  || Raised in Adelaide (Gawler)
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Hannah Button]] || West Adelaide, {{AFLW|Ade}} || || [[2019 AFL Women's draft|2019]] || #53 || 2019- || {{AFLW|Ade}} || 39 || 3  || Born in Yorke Peninsula, raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Ebony O'Dea]] || West Adelaide, {{AFLW|Ade}} || || [[2019 AFL Women's draft|2019]] || #53 || 2019- || {{AFLW|GWS}}, {{AFLW|Col}}, {{AFLW|PA}} || 41 || 2  || Born in Springton, raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Eloise Jones (footballer)|Eloise Jones]] || [[Morphettville Park Football Club|Morphettville Park]], {{AFLW|Ade}} || || [[2017 AFL Women's draft|2017]] || #24 || 2018- || {{AFLW|Ade}} || 66 || 41  || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Jessica Allan]] || [[Salisbury Football Club|Salisbury]], {{AFLW|Ade}} || || [[2017 AFL Women's draft|2017]] || #8 || 2018- || {{AFLW|GWS}}, {{AFLW|Ade}} || 31 || 0  || Raised in Beachport and Millicent
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Tait Mackrill]] || Broughton-Mundoora, [[Morphettville Park Football Club|Morphettville Park]] || || [[2017 AFL Women's draft|2017]] || Rookie (#9) || 2018- || {{AFLW|GWS}} || 22 || 5  || Raised in [[Port Broughton, South Australia|Port Broughton]]
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Sarah Allan (footballer)|Sarah Allan]] || [[Salisbury Football Club|Salisbury]], {{AFLW|Ade}} || || [[2017 AFL Women's draft|2017]] || #122 || 2017- || {{AFLW|Ade}} || 69 || 0  || Raised in Beachport and Millicent
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Ebony Marinoff]] || [[Morphettville Park Football Club|Morphettville Park]], {{AFLW|Ade}} || || [[2016 AFL Women's draft|2016]] || #7 || 2017- || {{AFLW|Ade}} || 79 || 11  || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Anne Hatchard]] || [[Morphettville Park Football Club|Morphettville Park]], {{AFLW|Ade}} || || [[2016 AFL Women's draft|2016]] || #87 || 2017- || {{AFLW|Ade}} || 74 || 24 || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Justine Mules]] || [[Morphettville Park Football Club|Morphettville Park]], {{AFLW|Ade}}, {{AFLW|PA}} || || [[2016 AFL Women's draft|2016]] || #133 || 2017- || {{AFLW|Ade}}, {{AFLW|PA}} || 68 || 7 || Raised in Adelaide
|- bgcolor=#CCFF99
| [[Deni Varnhagen]] || [[Morphettville Park Football Club|Morphettville Park]], {{AFLW|Ade}} || || [[2016 AFL Women's draft|2016]] || #26 || 2017- || {{AFLW|Ade}} || 33 || 6  || Raised in Adelaide
|- 
| [[Erin Phillips]] ||{{AFLW|Ade}}, {{AFLW|PA}} || || [[2016 AFL Women's draft|2016]] || Rookie || 2017-2023 || {{AFLW|Ade}}, {{AFLW|PA}} || 66 || 53  || Raised in Adelaide
|}

==Governing body==
The [[sport governing body|governing body]] is the South Australian Football Commission.

==Leagues & Clubs==

===Professional clubs===
*[[Adelaide Football Club]] ([[Australian Football League]])
*[[Port Adelaide Football Club]] ([[Australian Football League]])

===Open===

====Adelaide Metropolitan Leagues====
*[[South Australian National Football League]] (governing body)
*[[South Australian Amateur Football League]]

====Regional leagues====
*[[Adelaide Plains Football League]]
*[[Barossa Light & Gawler Football Association]]
*[[Broken Hill Football League]]
*[[Eastern Eyre Football League]]
*[[Great Flinders Football League]]
*[[Great Southern Football League (South Australia)|Great Southern Football League]]
*[[Hills Football League]]
*[[Kangaroo Island Football League]]
*[[Kowree-Naracoorte-Tatiara Football League]]
*[[Mallee Football League (South Australia)|Mallee Football League]]
*[[Mid Murray Football Association]]
*[[Mid South Eastern Football League]]
*[[North Eastern Football League]]
*[[Northern Areas Football Association]]
*[[Port Lincoln Football League]]
*[[Riverland Football League]]
*[[River Murray Football League]]
*[[Southern Football League (South Australia)|Southern Football League]]
*[[Spencer Gulf Football League]]
*[[Western Border Football League]]
*[[Western Eyre Football League]]
*[[Whyalla Football League]]
*[[Woomera & Districts Football League]]
*[[Yorke Peninsula Football League]]

The South Australian Country Football Championships is contested annually, and comprises the following representative sides:
* Central (comprises the Barossa Light and Gawler, Adelaide Plains, Northern Areas, North Eastern and Yorke Peninsula Football Leagues)
* Southern Districts (River Murray, Great Southern, Hills, Southern and Kangaroo Island Football Leagues)
* South East (Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara, Mid South Eastern and Western Border Football Leagues)
* Eyre Peninsula (Port Lincoln, Great Flinders, Eastern Eyre and Far West Football Leagues)
* Northern Cities (Whyalla, Woomera & Districts and Spencer Gulf Football Leagues)
* Murray Mallee Barrier Zone (Riverland, Mid Murray, Broken Hill and Mallee Football Leagues)

===Women's===
* [[South Australian Women's Football League]] [https://web.archive.org/web/20060708101011/http://www.sawfl.org.au/ Official Site]

==Representative team==
[[File:SLNSW_10109_Australian_National_Football_Council_Interstate_Carnival_Sydney_Cricket_Ground_1933_Victoria_v_South_Australia.jpg|thumb|South Australian player contesting a mark against Victoria at the 1933 Australian National Football Carnival]]
The South Australian representative team, also known as the ''Croweaters'', have played [[Interstate matches in Australian rules football#State of origin|State of Origin]] matches against all other Australian states.  
{{see also|South Australia Australian rules football team}}
{{see also|Interstate matches in Australian rules football}}

==Principal venues==
The following venues meet AFL Standard criteria and have been used to host AFL (National Standard) or AFLW level matches (Regional Standard) or SANFL matches and are listed by capacity.<ref name="preferred_facility">[http://www.aflcommunityclub.com.au/fileadmin/user_upload/Manage_Your_Club/Facilities/AFL_PFG_Guidelines_2019-compressed.pdf AFL PREFERRED FACILITY GUIDELINES] Aflcommunityclub.com.au</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; margin: 1em auto;"
|-
! width="33%" | [[Adelaide]]
! width="34%" | [[Adelaide]]
! width="33%" | [[Adelaide]]
|-
| [[Adelaide Oval]]
| [[Norwood Oval]]
| [[Prospect Oval]]
|-
| Capacity: 53,500
| Capacity: 22,000
| Capacity: 20,000
|-
| [[File:Adelaide_Oval_-_panoramio.jpg|Adelaide Oval|200px]]
| [[File:Norwood_Oval_NAB_cup.jpg|Norwood Oval|200px]]
| [[File:Prospect Oval.jpg|Prospect Oval|200px]] 
|-
! width="33%" | [[Adelaide]]
! width="33%" | [[Adelaide]]
! width="33%" | [[Adelaide]]
|-
| [[Elizabeth Oval]]
| [[Thebarton Oval]]
| [[Alberton Oval]]
|-
| Capacity: 18,000
| Capacity: 15,000
| Capacity: 15,000
|-
|[[File:Playford_Alive_Oval.jpg|Elizabeth Oval|200px]]
|[[File:Full_House_at_Thebarton_Oval_(32439588314).jpg|Thebarton Oval|200px]]
|[[File:Fos_Williams_Stand.JPG|Alberton Oval|200px]]
|-
! width="33%" | [[Adelaide]]
! width="33%" | [[Adelaide]]
! width="33%" | [[Mount Barker, South Australia|Mount Barker]]
|-
| [[Glenelg Oval]]
| [[Unley Oval]]
| [[Summit Sport and Recreation Park]]
|-
| Capacity: 14,000
| Capacity: 10,000
| Capacity: 10,000
|-
|[[File:Glenelg_Oval.jpg|Glenelg Oval|200px]]
|[[File:OIC_unley_oval_3.jpg|Unley Oval|200px]]
| 
|}

===Historic Venues===
* [[Football Park]] (1974 - 2015)

==Sources==
{{reflist}}

==See also==
*[[South Australian National Football League]]
*[[Australian Football League]]
*[[Adelaide Crows]]
*[[Port Adelaide Magpies]]
*[[Port Adelaide Football Club]]
*[[South Australian Football Hall of Fame]]

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060428090609/http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/south_australia.htm South Australia Team of the Century (from Full Points Footy)]

{{Aussie Rules in South Australia}}
{{South Australian National Football League}}
{{Australian rules football in Australia}}
{{Aussie Rules Playing Nations links}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Australian Rules Football in South Australia}}
[[Category:Australian rules football in South Australia| ]]
[[Category:Australian rules football by state or territory|South]]
[[Category:History of Australian rules football]]