Here are the games not to be missed during the 2021 Adelaide Footy League season
The 2021 Adelaide Footy League season fixtures have been released. Here are the games you do not want to miss.
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The Adelaide Footy League has released its fixtures for the 2021 season.
We have looked at each division, from the top tier to the seventh, to outline clashes that should not be missed.
See our list here:
Division One:
■ Tea Tree Gully v Payneham Norwood Union — Round one, April 10
This marks Tea Tree Gully’s return to the top tier after spending 2020 in division two.
The Wolves prevailed in an emotion-fuelled division one grand final in 2018, before finishing bottom a year later and being relegated to the second tier.
But in true champion fashion, they rose to the challenge and claimed last year’s division two flag, beating Sacred Heart Old Collegians.
That promoted a request to the league to be elevated despite the coronavirus pandemic halting any official relegation or promotion of teams.
The Wolves would be hoping to get their return to division one off to a great start by beating the 2019 premiers.
■ Prince Alfred Old Collegians v St Peter’s Old Collegians — Round two, April 17
The intercollegiate matches between the two schools is one of the biggest match-ups in SA sport.
And the clashes between the two amateur clubs is not far behind.
Both teams made the finals last year — SPOC finished top before being bundled out of the major round in straight sets and PAOC (third) lost its semi-final.
They have been around the mark for the past few seasons and would be itching to challenge each other again.
■ Goodwood Saints v Rostrevor Old Collegians — Round four, May 1
This game is going to be huge as it's the 2020 grand final rematch.
The Saints claimed last year’s top tier flag but speaking to coach Luke Donaldson the club wants sustained success and will be working hard to go back-to-back this year.
Rostrevor Old Collegians, meanwhile, are likely to still be hurting from the grand final loss and will be seeking revenge for the 24-point defeat.
Both clubs have been leading contenders, adding spice to their match-up.
■ Tea Tree Gully v Goodwood Saints — Round 8, May 29
This is a very special round for both club.
It is the Beyond Blue game, played in honour of two greats of the clubs.
The match is used to help create awareness and raise funds for the not-for-profit mental health foundation.
It is also played to remember past Tea Tree Gully player Bennett Sparrow and former Saints assistant coach David Baker who lost their battles with mental health.
■ Brighton v Prince Alfred Old Collegians — Round nine, June 5
You’ll have to wait a month before these two teams face off but it is set to be an absolute cracker.
Brett Backwell, who led the Old Reds to a flag (2016) and a grand final appearance (2019), is now coaching the Bombers.
Backwell, who parted ways with top tier powerhouse Prince Alfred Old Collegians in 2019 after three seasons at the helm, spent last year away from coaching.
Speaking to The Messenger when he was appointed Brighton’s coach in October, the ex-Carlton and Glenelg midfielder said he was looking forward to coming up against his old side and hoped to get a win.
Division two:
■ PHOS Camden v Sacred Heart Old Collegians — Round one, April 10
Two arch rivals, separated by just 4.7km, players, coaches and volunteers from these two clubs know each other well.
Many PHOS Camden players actually attended Sacred Heart College but the SHOC players were in no mood to be nice during the clubs’ last meeting, beating the Phantoms by 84 points in the last minor round.
That victory crushed the Phantoms’ hopes of making the finals and spoiled their premiership reunion day.
■ Henley v Old Ignatians — Round one, April 10
The match between these two last year was epic.
Henley entered the clash on August 22 in second place while, Old Ignatians were seventh.
The Sharks held a five-point lead at the main break before Old Iggies cut it to four at three-quarter time.
Old Iggies then produced an incredible final term to run over Henley, 11.15 (81) to 8.9 (57)
Expect this year’s meeting to have a lot of emotion as the Sharks hope to restore some pride.
Division three:
■ Plympton v Edwardstown — Round four, May 1
These clubs are also geographically close but have not played against each other often since both returned to the Adelaide Footy League, having been placed in different divisions.
But the former teams of the now defunct Glenelg District Football Association have always enjoyed a healthy rivalry when it comes to attracting players.
■ Golden Grove v Modbury — Round five, May 8
Tea Tree Gully and Modbury have dominated the northeastern area for many years but Golden Grove is slowly grabbing some attention.
The Kookaburras claimed last year’s third tier flag, beating Flinders Park by 30 points.
That was their first flag decider victory since 2014 when they triumphed over Salisbury West in the division four grand final.
The club would be hoping to continue that success and once again beat their cross-town rival in Modbury.
Division four:
■ Pulteney v Pembroke — Round five, May 8
This one may not be as high-profile as the clash between PAOC and SPOC but there’ll still be plenty of spice in the match for supporters of these two old scholar teams.
Pembroke has generally competed in higher divisions and had some success along the way.
But the Navy Blues are expected to be on the rise and the clash is set to be a cracker.
Division five:
■ Colonel Light Gardens v Kenilworth — Round three, April 24
There was a time where these two clubs were not rivals, having merged for a short time in the mid 1980s.
But a return to stronger positions on and off the field led to them returning to single entities.
Both would love to get a win over the other and enjoy strong crowds when they face off.
■ Smithfield v Eastern Park — Round four, May 1
This division has four northern-based clubs who enjoy a strong rivalry and love to beat each other.
The clash between Smithfield and Eastern Park is the first pick of the bunch with each side vying for an early victory to set their campaigns in the right direction.
The Panthers beat the Demons by 20 points in round three last year with the teams only battling once due to the COVID-19 shortened season.
■ Lockleys v West Croydon — Round six, May 15
The western suburbs-base clubs have both done well in previous seasons, with Lockleys winning the division five flag last year.
There is always a bit more spice to the encounter between these two clubs.
The Demons proved way too strong for the Hawks during their clash last year, smashing them by 59 points in round nine.
West Croydon will be searching for revenge.
Division six:
■ Para Hills v Elizabeth — Round one, April 10
This is a great way to start the season for the two northern-based clubs.
Elizabeth ended last season sixth on the ladder, while Para Hills finished eighth.
Both teams will be hoping to get back to playing finals footy this year and what better way to do that than with a win in the opening round?
Elizabeth proved too strong for Para Hills when the two sides met in round seven last year — the Eagles prevailing 23.20 (158) to 8.5 (53).
■ Mawson Lakes v St Paul’s Old Scholars — Round five, May 8
Both sides ear black and gold guernseys and both sing When the Saints Go Marching In after a victory.
But these two sides are very different but also share a strong rivalry.
Mawson Lakes was previously called St Paul’s Old Scholars but changed to its current title, before another group formed the new SPOS club in 2015.
Both sides met in the 2019 division seven grand final and St Paul’s beat Mawson Lakes by 80 points.
St Paul’s still had the edge over Mawson Lakes last year, winning their encounter by 9 points.
St Paul’s also made last year’s sixth tier decider, but went down to Hectorville by two points.
Division Seven:
■ Hackham v Mitchell Park — Round one, April 10
This will be a historic day for Hackham — its debut in the Adelaide Footy League.
The Hawks’ bid to enter the amateurs was accepted in December and the club hoped this would help it become sustainable and successful.
Hackham, which previously fielded one team in the Southern Football League’s Sunday C grade competition, will face-off against Mitchell Park for its first match in the competition and both sides were rivals in the SFL, making this clash mouth-watering.
■ Adelaide Lutheran v Brahma Lodge, Round eight, May 29
This is another grand final rematch because they always make good matches for supporters.
Brahma Lodge prevailed in the 2020 decider, beating Adelaide Lutheran by 15 points.
It was a close encounter and Adelaide Lutheran would have a point to prove, winning this match would go a long way to doing so.
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