SANFL/SACFL makes local footy player transfer changes ahead of season 2026
SA’s biggest community footy competition believes a recent change to player transfer rules for season 2026 has the potential to save the future of some local clubs. See the changes.
An recent amendment to SA community football player transfer rules ahead of season 2026 has the potential to guarantee the future of a number of local clubs according to the state’s top community competition.
In a significant change to player transfers at the local level, SANFL has amended Regulation 13.3 (transfer limits) of its community football rules and regulations, reducing the number of players allowed to leave one club to join the same club in the same season down from five to three.
Clubs will also no longer be able to mutually agree to override the new transfer limit.
This masthead understands the previous rule was placing pressure on club volunteers to approve further transfers, causing tension and breakdowns in club relationships as well as public disputes on social media involving players, parents and officials.
Backed by the Adelaide Footy League and other regional competitions, AdFL chief John Kernahan believed the amendment would have a positive in 2026.
“The main benefit is the relief on volunteers which is why it was amended to start with,” Kernahan said.
“We also get caught up in silos thinking it only affects us, but the cold comfort is some regional leagues supported the proposal because their players were being recruited en-masse to underpin neighbouring clubs and leagues who can financially support it but for whatever reason, do not have a local contingent of local players to pull a guernsey on.
“Clubs work hard to build a platform for a sustainable footy club … the exodus of a posse of players upping and shifting camp does little for the sustainability of a healthy competition whether it is regional or metropolitan.
“Importantly, it is still beholden on any club to provide an environment for players to stay … the new rule doesn’t say you have to stay at a club but speaks to spreading available players to a wider range of clubs if they’re not happy – in metro Adelaide there are 68 other clubs, in regional SA there are 200 or more to take your pick.”
It is understood the majority of Adelaide Footy League clubs were in favour of the rule change.
During an off-season which has already seen multiple clubs such as AdFL outfit Mawson Lakes and Murray Valley FL club BSR Redbacks express significant doubt over future viability due to player and volunteer shortages, Kernahan believed the transfer amendment could promote player retention and potentially save clubs down the line.
“Feedback prior to this rule change allowed us a great deal of comfort that we were acting in the best interests of the greater majority of our clubs,” he said.
“Time will tell but in fact some have made the observation that had this rule been in place in recent years, a downward cycle they may have experienced recently could have been avoided.”
