A few bods at work were discussing a match when Carlton scored 12 goals in the opening quarter against the Swans in 1982.
After looking through PhilH's 2006 SA Media Guide, I discovered that the highest quarter time score in the SANFL was 78 points, and it's not a rarity having found three instances:
12-6 (78) North v South - Rnd 7, 1972
12-6 (78) Glenelg v Central - Rnd 17, 1975 (H/T score was 25-12 162)
12-6 (78) Glenelg v Woodville - Rnd 6, 1977
I also discovered some close calls, with seven further scores between 70 and 76 listed:
12-4 (76) Port v South - Rnd 6, 1935
12-4 (76) West v Glenelg - Rnd 17, 1928
12-3 (75) Port v Norwood - Rnd 19, 1936
11-7 (73) Port v West - Rnd 2, 1973
11-7 (73) South v Sturt - Rnd 7, 1975
11-6 (72) South v Woodville - Rnd 10, 1985
11-4 (70) Central v North - Rnd 2, 2002
Spelly, pretty please can we see the quarter time scores for each of these ten games as debate also centred on whether any major league has had a combined total of 20 goals been racked up by quarter time (which would be well worth the price of admission!).