Smithfield Football Club to make official application for Adelaide Footy League return this month

A former Adelaide Footy League club will officially apply to return to competition after seeing itself sidelined for two years, but some clubs are wary of the possible domino effect.

A local footy club will make its bid to rejoin the Adelaide Footy League official in the coming weeks after experiencing two years on the sidelines.

The Smithfield Football Club made the decision to sit out of the 2021 and 2022 seasons after suffering drops in playing and volunteer numbers on the back of Covid-19 but has now been given the opportunity to make an application by the competition.

The 110-year-old northern club had been fielding junior sides throughout its hiatus from the Adelaide Footy League but is now by default not an existing club and will need to lodge an application by the end of October and await approval or rejection from the league.

The Panthers had begun recruiting players, volunteers and coaches in late August and will need to meet requirements of 40 registered men’s players.

It will also need to register further 15 men’s players and 25 women’s players by February 15.

“The application is in full motion,” a Smithfield FC representative told The Messenger.

Ryan Hocking – president and Dwayne Nisbet – football development manager are ready for the Smithfield Football Club to return to the Adelaide Footy League in 2023. Picture: Kelly Barnes

“At the moment the club is working extremely hard to satisfy the requirements laid out by the Adelaide Footy League.

“We’re also working hard to provide chief John Kernahan and the executive committee with confidence in our club and leadership personnel and eliminating any doubts that may arise.”

Kernahan said the league was happy to give Smithfield a chance at an application but that there were doubts or concerns around the impact the return of the Panthers could have on surrounding clubs.

“As unfortunate as it is, history shows that Smithfield isn’t the first club to struggle to maintain its identity and regrettably it won’t be the last,” Kernahan said.

“What we have done though out of an abundance of caution is allow Smithfield to present a case as to why the League should consider its affiliation in 2023.

“But we also have to respect and balance the viability of other clubs which have endured some pretty tough times in the Covid era and as a league we are still very unsure as to how playing numbers will recover.

The 2019 Smithfield Football Club's men's division five team. The club has been unable to field a men’s side since 2020. Picture: Supplied, Smithfield Football Club

“Post-Covid participation is down around 15 per cent which equates to roughly 1500 players but we still have the same number of clubs.”

While some clubs had shown support of Smithfield in its attempt to return to play next season, others were sceptical of how it could impact the competition.

One spokesperson for an anonymous club told The Messenger it was wary of a further hit to playing numbers.

“It’s safe to say there is concern as to whether clubs, especially surrounding clubs, can continue to maintain required playing and volunteer numbers if another club joins the competition,” they said.

“Clubs have found it quite challenging to push through Covid-19 already.

“You can’t tell the future and we hope it doesn’t become the case but it is a concern.”

Smithfield will need to lodge its application by October 31.