by Leaping Lindner » Tue Feb 17, 2009 1:25 pm
As a matter of interest this is the original proposed District System that W.B Griffiths proposed at the meeting of S.A.F.A on August 10th 1896. This system was designed so that players who resided in a particular district played for that district’s football team. Prior to this it had basically been a free for all which allowed the senior clubs to get stronger by poaching good players from the junior clubs. The scheme also made way for the inclusion of more clubs to the Association. Seen as necessary to attract more crowds and interest to the game after a decline in a past few seasons.
This was to be the most important and drastic change to football in South Australia since the S.A.F.A had first formed on April 30th 1877, nearly twenty years prior.
1. That the football Association consist of not more than eight clubs.
2. That each club shall comprise and consist of players residing in an electoral district to be allotted to each of the said clubs.
3. That the electoral district of East Adelaide be allotted to a club to be called the East Adelaide, or other name to be decided.
4. That the electoral district of West Adelaide be allotted to a club to be called the West Adelaide, or other name.
5. That the electoral district of East Torrens be allotted to a club to be called the Norwood, or other name.
6. That the electoral district of West Torrens be allotted to a club to be called the Natives, or other name.
7. That the electoral district of North Adelaide be allotted to a club to be called the North Adelaide, or other name.
8. That the electoral district of Sturt be allotted to a club to be called the South Adelaide, or other name.
9. That the electoral district of Port Adelaide be allotted to a club to be called the Port Adelaide, or other name.
10. That the electoral district of Barossa be allotted to a club to be called the Gawler, or other name
11. That on or after May 1, 1897, each and every player (not provided for under rule 12) playing with any of the above clubs shall be only allowed to play with the club representing the electoral district in which he resides, and can only change to another club on producing proof of a bonafide change of residence to the district represented by that club, and on making personal and written application to the Association, providing that no permission be given to change clubs after June 1 in any year.
12. That each and every player at present playing with any of the above clubs shall be allowed the right to continue playing with such club irrespective of the district such player resides in, providing that should any such player wish to change to the club representing his electoral district the Association grant him permission to do so on his making written application for such permission on or before May 1, 1897, failing which application such and every player be considered to be attached to the district which the club he has been playing with represents, and can only change his club at any time by coming under the ordinary permit rules of the Association and receiving permission to make such change before June 1 in that and any succeeding year.
13. Any player (not coming under rule 12) who shall change his residence from one district to another after June 1 in any year shall be considered to be attached to his original district until the end of the current system only, and shall then, on making application before May 1 in the succeeding year, become attached to his new district.
14. That the clubs representing the districts of East Adelaide, West Adelaide, and Barossa be allowed a handicap of two men when playing against the clubs at present styled Port Adelaide, South Adelaide, and Norwood, such handicap to be abolished for each or any club at any time by a two-thirds majority of the Association .
15. That in all matches other than specified all clubs play twenty men a side.
16. That two delegates be appointed from each of the above clubs to legislate and adjudicate on all matters connected with football in South Australia
17. That at the conclusion of the present football season footballers be notified by public advertisement of the proposed changes, and invited to form clubs for the district at present un-allotted, and that such advertisement be issued once per week from February 1, 1897, until such time as the Association shall think proper.
18. That the constitution of the South Australian Football Association shall remain as at present, save and except where altered herein.
19. That any and every club coming under the control of the Association shall have equal rights with those clubs at present constituting the Association.
20. That any club wishing to play a player residing outside any of the above specified electoral districts can only do son on such player supplying to and receiving permission from the Association to play with such club.
21. Penalties for any infringement of any of the foregoing rules to be forfeiture of a match by the club playing an unauthorized player and disqualification of such player during the pleasure of the Association.
"They got Burton suits, ha, you think it's funny,turning rebellion into money"