Matt Crocker, Tom Keough among footballers behind the formation of the SANFL Players Association

SANFL captains, current and past footballers have thrown their weight behind a big move to give players a stronger voice on key issues facing the state league. See why here.

A group of current and past SANFL footballers have formed a players association to give them a greater voice on key issues in a move they believe will be positive for the future of the league.

The SANFL Players Association announced its establishment to the league and club chief executives on Friday following an inaugural annual general meeting on Thursday night.

Captains of all eight stand-alone SANFL clubs have signed up to the association, which will be led by president and recently retired Sturt wingman Matt Crocker along with vice president and West Adelaide captain Tom Keough.

However it comes after the SA Football Commission endorsed a separate plan in November for “Player Representative Committees”.

Sturt premiership player Matt Crocker will lead the SANFLPA as president. Picture Dean Martin

Crocker said the creation of the SANFLPA would be a positive for the state league and its focus would be to work through issues which affect players’ decisions to play in the competition, including the salary cap and fixtures.

“Our goal and the reason that we’ve formed this is because we want to make sure the SANFL maintains its position as the second best competition in Australia,” Crocker said.

“What we see is an opportunity for the players to have a voice and a seat at the table to be able to help the SANFL achieve that common objective.

“We have a voice and we want to be a part of this.”

Glenelg’s Luke Partington, Norwood’s Matt Panos and Lewis Hender, who departed North Adelaide at the end of the season, have joined Crocker and Keough on the board.

Crocker said the SANFLPA had the endorsement of the AFL Players Association and would follow its model of two player delegates to represent each club.

While the initial focus would be on senior men’s footballers, he said including female and past players in the association would be a long-term objective.

West Adelaide skipper Tom Keough will be the association’s vice president. Picture: Sarah Reed

Recently retired North Adelaide player Lewis Hender will also sit on the board. Picture: Tait Schmaal.

Crocker said the SANFLPA concept had long been a topic of discussion among players and gained momentum in the past six months, mainly due to the challenges the league has faced in 2020 and 2021.

In November, the SA Football Commission endorsed a different plan for representative committees for both male and female players with unanimous support from the clubs.

SANFL chief executive Darren Chandler said this would provide the players with an opportunity to have a voice directly to the commission, which makes all decisions relating the SANFL competitions.

He said the league was aware of a separate players association but had “not been formally notified of specific details”.

“SANFL is committed to working with the current players from all clubs – both male and female – to achieve the best outcomes for SANFL players and state league competitions,” Chandler said.

The SANFLW Players Committee met for the first time on Friday morning at Adelaide Oval.

The future of the competition has been a topic of discussion since the end of the season due to a string of experienced players retiring or leaving for community football clubs.

That exodus has been tempered by strong recruiting across several teams in recent weeks.