2026 Adelaide Footy League - Division 1

[wristwatcher]

Any truth in the rumor that PNU wants to drop to M2 because of large exodus of players and PAOC to stay in M1?

No! There is no truth to this rumour. PNU will be in Division 1 in 2026.

[Jimmy_041]

Any truth in the rumor that PNU wants to drop to M2 because of large exodus of players and PAOC to stay in M1?

No truth in it at all

[Lightning McQueen]

Any truth in the rumor that PNU wants to drop to M2 because of large exodus of players and PAOC to stay in M1?

I don't believe there is any truth at all in it.

[The Bedge]

Can anyone confirm if there is any truth to it?

[wristwatcher]

The truth is out there but it’s not emanating from old mate Freddy 2 posts

[wristwatcher]

Anyway back to some facts and speculation

Port Power/Magpies/Eagles/Pamthers Districts are the most overwhelming backed favourite in SA Footy forum polls - 13 votes and 76%
Golden Grove is the only other club to have 2 votes or 12% but I’d be guessing they are loyal supporters. With about 8 out I can’t see them beating Port

The only other raging favourites is in Div 6 with 12 votes or 57% - the Elizabeth GlennEagles. They got my vote.

Of the likely potential 2026 Promotions into Div 1
Goody Saints has 6 votes at 33% but they don’t get my vote
The Reds to return from where they came in their anniversary year are my tip

Bring on March 14th

[Jimmy_041]

Anyway back to some facts and speculation

Port Power/Magpies/Eagles/Pamthers Districts are the most overwhelming backed favourite in SA Footy forum polls - 13 votes and 76%
Golden Grove is the only other club to have 2 votes or 12% but I’d be guessing they are loyal supporters. With about 8 out I can’t see them beating Port

The only other raging favourites is in Div 6 with 12 votes or 57% - the Elizabeth GlennEagles. They got my vote.

Of the likely potential 2026 Promotions into Div 1
Goody Saints has 6 votes at 33% but they don’t get my vote
The Reds to return from where they came in their anniversary year are my tip

Bring on March 14th

So many years one of the relegated teams gets odd on favourites to go straight back up but it rarely turns out that way
8 ex-D1 sides in D2 all trying to get up
You still need ex-AFL / SANFL players and a good run with injuries

[wenchbarwer]

Is this the third or fourth year that Goody Saints are going straight back to D1?

[Jimmy_041]

Is this the third or fourth year that Goody Saints are going straight back to D1?

I was going to make the same comment then was wary of the karma bus

[wristwatcher]

Anyway back to some facts and speculation

Port Power/Magpies/Eagles/Pamthers Districts are the most overwhelming backed favourite in SA Footy forum polls - 13 votes and 76%
Golden Grove is the only other club to have 2 votes or 12% but I’d be guessing they are loyal supporters. With about 8 out I can’t see them beating Port

The only other raging favourites is in Div 6 with 12 votes or 57% - the Elizabeth GlennEagles. They got my vote.

Of the likely potential 2026 Promotions into Div 1
Goody Saints has 6 votes at 33% but they don’t get my vote
The Reds to return from where they came in their anniversary year are my tip

Bring on March 14th

So many years one of the relegated teams gets odd on favourites to go straight back up but it rarely turns out that way
8 ex-D1 sides in D2 all trying to get up
You still need ex-AFL / SANFL players and a good run with injuries

Yes and Broadview will struggle and wont be back.

Your boys will be back as sure as Coopers Red puts hair on your chest. 2nd year under Ned will be a lot smoother and the recent addition at the school of your new head of footy is going to ensure you have a real solid crop coming out for years to come. Tipping you will be carrying on yelling RED RED RED towards the end of September. Your lads were still good in Div 1 and unlucky to be relegated. Still a decent gap from 2 to 1 and i would be willing to place a lot of hard earned on a top 3 finish.

[Jimmy_041]

Anyway back to some facts and speculation

Port Power/Magpies/Eagles/Pamthers Districts are the most overwhelming backed favourite in SA Footy forum polls - 13 votes and 76%
Golden Grove is the only other club to have 2 votes or 12% but I’d be guessing they are loyal supporters. With about 8 out I can’t see them beating Port

The only other raging favourites is in Div 6 with 12 votes or 57% - the Elizabeth GlennEagles. They got my vote.

Of the likely potential 2026 Promotions into Div 1
Goody Saints has 6 votes at 33% but they don’t get my vote
The Reds to return from where they came in their anniversary year are my tip

Bring on March 14th

So many years one of the relegated teams gets odd on favourites to go straight back up but it rarely turns out that way
8 ex-D1 sides in D2 all trying to get up
You still need ex-AFL / SANFL players and a good run with injuries

Yes and Broadview will struggle and wont be back.

Your boys will be back as sure as Coopers Red puts hair on your chest. 2nd year under Ned will be a lot smoother and the recent addition at the school of your new head of footy is going to ensure you have a real solid crop coming out for years to come. Tipping you will be carrying on yelling RED RED RED towards the end of September. Your lads were still good in Div 1 and unlucky to be relegated. Still a decent gap from 2 to 1 and i would be willing to place a lot of hard earned on a top 3 finish.

But we dont teach or train players. That's exclusively done by the district clubs and the private schools just leach off them

[wenchbarwer]

Guess this is as good a thread as any to post it in:

VAFA, Adelaide Football League set for representative clash
Two of Australia’s leading local footy competitions are set to reignite their rivalry later this year in a representative clash, eight years after their last meeting.

Two of Australia’s best football leagues are set to go head-to-head in 2026.

The Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) and Adelaide Football League will face off in a blockbuster clash at Norwood Oval on June 6 in men’s and women’s representative clashes.

It will be the first meeting between the two powerhouse competitions since 2018 with the VAFA team having won eight of the last nine meetings.

The VAFA has also confirmed its Premier B-Division 3 side will play the Goulburn Valley League on July 11.

“The VAFA’s long and proud tradition of representative football, showcasing the best talent in our competition, is always a highlight of any VAFA season, and we are thrilled to have secured two-year agreements with both the Adelaide Footy League and the Goulburn Valley League,” VAFA boss Jason Reddick said.

“We are excited to be heading to Adelaide in June, and we look forward to hosting the GVL at Elsternwick Park in July.

“We’re confident these high-class opponents will bring out the very best in our players as they honour the Big V jumper over the next two seasons.”

Adelaide Footy League chief John Kernahan said the competition was thrilled to have a key pillar of its history back for 2026.

“We’re excited for a range of reasons. We still believe state footy is a key pillar to preserving history and generating a positive culture,” Kernahan said.

“Clubs can use it for recruiting better players and reward them for participation outside of the salary cap regulations for the home and away season.

“These adjustments have been made to accommodate a culture for participation that, like it or not, is generated by today’s wants and needs by players.”

The VAFA men’s side will again be coached by former Carlton AFLW coach Daniel Harford who led the side in a loss to the Perth Football League in 2025.

“I really enjoyed being back in the VAFA fold last season. I felt the love of the whole community, which, as we know, is very special,” Harford said.

[wristwatcher]

Thanks Wenchy, really interesting and first i had heard about it.

Will be interesting to see the buy in from clubs as that is obviously the bye weekend and a long weekend.

Hopefully its a success. These State games are generally better received when there is a free trip thrown into the mix

Last years Team of the Year would be pretty competitive with anyone they took on if they all played you would think. I assume it would be players from all Divs though. Could see our first div 6 State Player

[wenchbarwer]

Thanks Wenchy, really interesting and first i had heard about it.

Will be interesting to see the buy in from clubs as that is obviously the bye weekend and a long weekend.

Hopefully its a success. These State games are generally better received when there is a free trip thrown into the mix

Last years Team of the Year would be pretty competitive with anyone they took on if they all played you would think. I assume it would be players from all Divs though. Could see our first div 6 State Player

Interestingly, you can get a grand if you play in a state game - https://sanfl-content.imgix.net/content ... y-2025.pdf

Who pays this, the club or the league?

[watchdog]

Thanks Wenchy, really interesting and first i had heard about it.

Will be interesting to see the buy in from clubs as that is obviously the bye weekend and a long weekend.

Hopefully its a success. These State games are generally better received when there is a free trip thrown into the mix

Last years Team of the Year would be pretty competitive with anyone they took on if they all played you would think. I assume it would be players from all Divs though. Could see our first div 6 State Player

I don't believe there is any byes this year due to the late start. Teams will be playing long weekend

[Jimmy_041]

Thanks Wenchy, really interesting and first i had heard about it.

Will be interesting to see the buy in from clubs as that is obviously the bye weekend and a long weekend.

Hopefully its a success. These State games are generally better received when there is a free trip thrown into the mix

Last years Team of the Year would be pretty competitive with anyone they took on if they all played you would think. I assume it would be players from all Divs though. Could see our first div 6 State Player

Bugger...... it's in Adelaide. No junket this year
Is it still a junket, or just a pain in the a$$ to go to Melbourne for the weekend?

[The Bedge]

Thanks Wenchy, really interesting and first i had heard about it.

Will be interesting to see the buy in from clubs as that is obviously the bye weekend and a long weekend.

Hopefully its a success. These State games are generally better received when there is a free trip thrown into the mix

Last years Team of the Year would be pretty competitive with anyone they took on if they all played you would think. I assume it would be players from all Divs though. Could see our first div 6 State Player

I don't believe there is any byes this year due to the late start. Teams will be playing long weekend

June long weekend?

[watchdog]

Thanks Wenchy, really interesting and first i had heard about it.

Will be interesting to see the buy in from clubs as that is obviously the bye weekend and a long weekend.

Hopefully its a success. These State games are generally better received when there is a free trip thrown into the mix

Last years Team of the Year would be pretty competitive with anyone they took on if they all played you would think. I assume it would be players from all Divs though. Could see our first div 6 State Player

I don't believe there is any byes this year due to the late start. Teams will be playing long weekend

June long weekend?

One of the emails from the league last year stated we would play through June long weekend. Unless things have changed

[The Bedge]

Interestingly, you can get a grand if you play in a state game - https://sanfl-content.imgix.net/content ... y-2025.pdf

Who pays this, the club or the league?

My interpretation of JK's email around this last year (and I could be wrong, because his emails sometimes are sometimes hard to understand).. but the payment of $1k is an incentive clubs offer the players which isn't included in the cap.

So in a nutshell, the clubs pay the player $1k to play.. and supposed to be an incentive to get a new recruit and dangle the carrot for a little more coin if they make it.

As I said, could be wrong.

[wenchbarwer]

Interestingly, you can get a grand if you play in a state game - https://sanfl-content.imgix.net/content ... y-2025.pdf

Who pays this, the club or the league?

My interpretation of JK's email around this last year (and I could be wrong, because his emails sometimes are sometimes hard to understand).. but the payment of $1k is an incentive clubs offer the players which isn't included in the cap.

So in a nutshell, the clubs pay the player $1k to play.. and supposed to be an incentive to get a new recruit and dangle the carrot for a little more coin if they make it.

As I said, could be wrong.

No, that makes sense. I read the article again and he sorta confirms it here:

We’re excited for a range of reasons. We still believe state footy is a key pillar to preserving history and generating a positive culture,” Kernahan said.

“Clubs can use it for recruiting better players and reward them for participation outside of the salary cap regulations for the home and away season.