Smithfield Football Club accepted back into Adelaide Footy League for 2023

A local footy club has been accepted back into the Adelaide Footy League for season 2023 after two years on the sidelines but the competition remains wary of its return.

A local SA footy club will officially return to the field for season 2023 after spending two years on the sidelines.

The Smithfield Football Club will re-enter the Adelaide Footy League next season after its application for return was accepted by the league on Tuesday.

The club – one of the oldest in Adelaide’s north – had spent the last two years out of all senior competition after taking a hit to player and volunteer numbers during Covid but has managed to register enough players through the offseason to field two men’s teams and a women’s team.

“It’s been a long time coming,” vice president Jess Collis said.

“It’s not just off of the back of this application, it has been years of blood, sweat and tears to get to this point and it feels amazing to know our kids will be wearing the same guernsey they put on in U7s once they get to senior footy.”

The Smithfield Football Club will return to the Adelaide Footy League in season 2023. Picture: Supplied, Smithfield Football Club

The club saw a significant increase in player interest after it announced it would be attempting to return at the conclusion of the 2022 season.

Collis said the Panthers were able to recruit numbers without impacting neighbouring northern clubs such as Salisbury, Salisbury North and Central United.

“There are a lot of people with passion for the club who are always willing to help and off of the back of that we’ve pulled 60 men and 20 women together to sign up.

“This number would definitely be higher if we weren’t actively trying to encourage players to stay put in their clubs and protect the clubs surrounding us – which is something we need to do.”

Smithfield Football Club's men's division five team in 2020. The club will need to field two men’s sides every Saturday of next season and cannot heavily impact surrounding sides with player recruitment. Picture: Supplied, Smithfield Football Club

Adelaide Footy League chief John Kernahan said there was still concern about the impact Smithfield’s resurgence could have and that northern clubs could reject player transfers under competition regulations.

“The Adelaide Footy League notes that while the collective enthusiasm and efforts of those charged with reforming the SFC is acknowledged with respect and admiration, the league through very well-founded experience, coupled with an understanding of the present-day challenges for clubs to remain sustainable, still has reservations,” Kernahan said.

“Neighbouring clubs still have access to existing regulations which allow them to deny a transfer request and these regulations have been manufactured over time to dilute the threats an exodus of players from one to another creates.

Adelaide Footy League chief John Kernahan said the league still had concerns about Smithfield’s return and had til February 28 to assess the club’s progress. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

“The league has been witness to clubs and leagues in a far healthier position succumbing to the reality of much less participation rates.

“However in the interests of transparency we are affording the club the opportunity to deliver on their assurances of being able to field two men’s teams every Saturday and have until February 28, 2023 to assess its progress.”

Collis said Smithfield was comfortable with the requirements and was eager to build into the future.

“Our goal is to just continue to improve on what we already have.

“No one is expecting to come out of the park and compete with the best in a division – everyone is aware the hard work has just begun.”