SANFL Fast Footy will not happen in 2020 after state league rules out return of AFL-X style concept
It was labelled “Fast Footy” and the SANFL’s AFLX-style pre-season competition came quickly, went and appears unlikely to return after just one running.
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- SANFL scraps Fast Footy plans but says it could return
- 12-a-side pre-season Fast Footy tournament launched
The SANFL’s Fast Footy pre-season competition – the state league’s answer to AFLX – will not run again next season.
A hybrid 12-a-side game, Fast Footy was introduced in 2018 before the SANFL put the concept on hold in 2019 due to lack of a suitable venue but committed to bringing the mini tournament back in 2020.
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SANFL head of football operations Tom Hurley told said difficulties accessing a venue and timeslot as well as the cost of the event meant it would not go ahead next season.
But he did not rule out the possibility of Fast Footy returning in the future, despite the two-year hiatus.
“Furthermore, with the Statewide Super Women’s League season commencing in mid-February, the focus for both the league and clubs is on resourcing and showcasing our elite women’s competition,” Hurley told The Messenger.
“The Fast Footy concept is not off the drawing board – we will continue to explore the event in the future, subject to availability of a venue, cost and scheduling around our women’s league.”
Fast Footy was run as a two-day carnival at Norwood Oval in 2018.
But the Redlegs’ home at The Parade was unavailable earlier this year due to work on its $8 million redevelopment.
Outgoing SANFL general manager football Adam Kelly said in January there had been difficulties in accessing a suitable venue to host the carnival format, especially in terms of changeroom facilities for players and the proximity of retail and hospitality precincts that support the event.
“We’re committed to exploring a venue to relaunch Fast Footy in 2020 as a one-day carnival,” Kelly said.
Following the inaugural Fast Footy, SANFL chief executive Jake Parkinson described the tournament as a successful introduction and something to build on.
Teams were also largely supportive, although Central District was the only club to decline to be involved and then coach Roy Laird labelled the competition a “gimmick”.
Fast Footy featured 12-a-side matches with 10-minute quarters, unlimited interchanges, a last-touch out-of-bounds rule and kick-outs after every score, including goals.
South Adelaide defeated Woodville-West Torrens in the grand final to win the 2018 competition.
The SANFL offered $20,000 as prizemoney, including $10,000 to the winner, $5000 to the runner-up and $2500 each for third and fourth place.
Players were restricted to four in attack, four in the midfield and four in defence during games.
Fast Footy debuted the same year as the national league’s AFLX concept, although that competition was played on a rectangular field opposed to a full-sized oval.