The Adelaide Footy League’s top 30 clubs of 2024 ranked
We’ve looked back at the 2024 local footy season to rank the 30 best Adelaide Footy League clubs. See who made the cut.
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The Adelaide Footy League has played host to some of the state’s best local talent and clubs over the years and season 2024 was no exception.
A number of outfits achieved historic success or continued reigns over their divisions, but which clubs were the best of the bunch?
It may be an impossible question to answer given the variance in quality of football played across the divisions.
No-one would consider that a club from division seven would beat a side in division one if they were to go head-to-head.
But, when comparing clubs as the best performed we have to take into account how they fared relative to the skill level around them.
At the risk of being ridiculed, we have tried to answer that seemingly unanswerable question as we rank the top 30 performing clubs of the 2024 AdFL season.
For our ranking system, we’ve graded some teams based on their records in their own comps rather than trying to compare them across other divisions.
So a club that dominated a lower div may rank higher than some clubs from a higher div even though the higher division’s team would surely win should the two ever play against each other.
Some teams did outrank others due to their performances in a stronger division, despite not coming away with the premiership.
Here are our rankings from 30 to 1.
30. OSB LONSDALE
(Division seven)
Finish: Runners-up
Veteran forward Trevor Rigney turned back the clock as the Lions finished second in division seven and made the grand final to earn promotion to div six.
Recorded 15 wins and just two losses in the minor round before falling to Para Hills by a kick in the big dance.
29. MARION
(Division five)
Finish: Third
The Rams were strong in 2024 after a successful 2023 season which saw the side achieve promotion from div six.
Finished with 12 wins and defeating Greenacres in the semi final to book a prelim final clash with Colonel Light Gardens.
28. GOODWOOD
(Division two)
Finish: Sixth
Goodwood finished two wins short of finals in division two after suffering relegation from div one at the end of 2023.
The Saints still achieved some strong wins throughout the year and will be a side to watch in 2025.
27. ST PETER’S OC
(Division one)
Finish: Eighth
A major upset win over top spot Glenunga in round 17 ensured safety from relegation for SPOC in division one.
Saints fielded a relatively young side throughout 2024 and did well to remain in the top competition.
26. MORPHETTVILLE PARK
(Division four)
Finish: Fourth
Led by division four medallist Alex Barns, Morphettville Park improved on season 2023 to finish fourth on the ladder and make it to the second week of finals.
The Roos won 12 minor round games and defeated Hectorville by 19 points in the elimination final.
25. PARA HILLS
(Division seven)
Finish: Premiers
The Big Reds bounced back from finals disappointment in 2023 to win an epic grand final against OSB Lonsdale in division seven.
Led by star goalkicker Daniel Weetra, the side finished top with 15 wins before beating the Lions by six points in the grand final.
24. BROADVIEW
(Division one)
Finish: Seventh
The Tigers won an important final game of the season against Brighton to avoid relegation to division two and finish seventh in the top div.
The club also tallied wins against PNU, Golden Grove and Prince Alfred OC through the season.
23. SALISBURY
(Division six)
Finish: Runners-up
The Magpies went the entire minor round undefeated and lost their first game in the grand final in what was an overall successful year.
The side defeated Eastern Park by four points to earn promotion before falling to the Demons in the big dance.
22. EASTERN PARK
(Division six)
Finish: Premiers
Eastern Park’s standout 2024 season was highlighted by one of the upsets of the year with a thrilling grand final win over a previously undefeated Salisbury.
The Demons, led by stars Chris Knapp and Shawn Mansell, won 16 games and lost two to the Magpies in the minor round before emerging 11-point victors in the big dance.
21. NORTH HAVEN
(Division three)
Finish: Fourth
The Magpies experienced an improved season after suffering relegation to division three, winning 13 games to finish fourth on the ladder.
The side showed promise throughout the season but fell to Pembroke OS in the elimination final.
20. PEMBROKE OS
(Division three)
Finish: Fifth
Pembroke OS finished fifth and achieved a strong elimination final win over fourth spot North Haven.
The Kings won eight games to just make finals by percentage and went on to defeat the Magpies by 19 points in a first round finals upset.
19. COLONEL LIGHT GARDENS
(Division five)
Finish: Runners-up
Colonel Light Gardens produced a strong division five season to finish on the same amount of minor round wins as top side Mitcham before falling to the Hawks in the big dance.
The Lions defeated Marion twice in the finals before falling to Mitcham by 65 points in the grand final.
18. MODBURY
(Division two)
Finish: Fourth
The Hawks showed positive signs in division two after earning promotion from division three in 2023.
The side finished fourth on the ladder with 10 wins and eight losses and eventually went down to Flinders Park in the elimination final.
17. PRINCE ALFRED OC
(Division one)
Finish: Sixth
Craig Pitt’s PAOC side performed well in division one after a number of key player departures following the club’s 2023 premiership.
The Old Reds won seven games to finish sixth on the ladder and comfortably avoid relegation.
16. PLYMPTON
(Division four)
Finish: Minor premiers
Plympton found success in the minor round of division four yet again this year, finishing top of the ladder before experiencing finals disappointment.
The Bulldogs won 14 games and lost just three to finish on top before eventually losing to Kilburn and Westminster OS in the finals.
15. MITCHAM
(Division five)
Finish: Premiers
Mitcham produced a dominant 2024 season in division five, finishing as minor premier and recording a big grand final win.
The Hawks won 16 games through the minor round to take top spot and then defeated second spot Colonel Light Gardens twice in finals, including a 120-55 grand final victory.
14. FLINDERS PARK
(Division two)
Finish: Fifth
A top five finish and elimination final win over Modbury marked a successful division two season for the Reds after earning promotion in 2023.
The Schwarz brothers were again at their best for the club as it tallied 10 minor round wins and topped the Hawks by 27 points in the first week of finals.
13. UNLEY
(Division three)
Finish: Preliminary finalists
Scott Thompson’s Jets put together another solid year in division three to finish third and make a preliminary final.
Led by star utility Mitch Duval, Unley was dominant throughout the majority of the year and defeated Lockleys in the first week of finals only to fall to them in the prelim.
12. WESTMINSTER OS
(Division four)
Finish: Runners-up
The Dragons showed major improvement throughout 2024 and topped their season off with a grand final appearance and promotion to division three.
A number of players including ruck Kurtis Phillips and mid Harry Lienert remained consistent and helped the club to a second spot finish on the ladder and a strong finals charge to the grand final against Kilburn.
11. KILBURN
(Division four)
Finish: Premiers
The Chics continued their impressive run up the divisions, winning the div four premiership after another strong season.
Led by captain Jayden Davison, midfielder Brayden Lauder and gun utility Corey Solly, Kilburn tallied 14 minor round wins before defeating Plympton and Westminster OS in finals to claim a second consecutive flag.
10. ATHELSTONE
(Division two)
Finish: Preliminary finalists
The Raggies produced another solid season in division two to finish third on the ladder and make a preliminary final appearance.
FA Bloch Medallist Mitch Grigg was at his best as his side tallied 12 minor round wins and topped Flinders Park in the finals to set up a meeting with Rostrevor OC in the prelim, ultimately losing by 16 points.
9. GOLDEN GROVE
(Division one)
Finish: Fourth
The Kookaburras enjoyed a solid 2024 season after earning promotion to division one, finishing fourth on the ladder and playing in an elimination final.
Luke Barmby’s side won 10 minor round games to secure its finals spot and eventually fell to PNU in the first final by five points in a tough contest.
8. LOCKLEYS
(Division three)
Finish: Runners-up
Lockleys continued its strong run of success in 2024, earning promotion to division two by making the div three grand final.
Former AFL player Ben Haren was at his best up front again as the Demons finished second on the ladder with 15 wins and defeated Pembroke and Unley in finals to reach the big dance.
7. SACRED HEART OC
(Division one)
Finish: Second
Sacred Heart OC performed well throughout the minor round in the top division of the Adelaide Footy League and produced a strong season despite more finals disappointment.
Playing-coach Alex Cailotto’s side racked up 13 wins to finish second on the ladder but would eventually crash out of finals with losses to Port District and Payneham Norwood Union.
6. HENLEY
(Division three)
Finish: Premiers
Henley was reinvigorated after additions of matt Broadbent, Kane Sherlock and Chris Hall for the 2024 season and emerged as one of the most dominant sides in the AdFL.
The Sharks lost just two minor round games to finish top before going on to defeat Lockleys by 49 points in the grand final.
5. SALISBURY NORTH
(Division two)
Finish: Runners-up
The Hawks put together a strong division two season under new coach Luke Habel, finishing as minor premiers with a 16-2 record and making the grand final to earn promotion to the top div.
The side led Rostrevor OC early in the game but eventually fell by 11 points despite a three to one goal final term.
4. PAYNEHAM NORWOOD UNION
(Division one)
Finish: Preliminary finalists
The Falcons finished fifth on the ladder in their return season to division one and went on a strong finals run to make a prelim appearance against eventual premier Port District.
The addition of former Norwood captain Matthew Nunn saw Jeremy Cini’s side produce some attractive footy and compete with the league’s best.
3. ROSTREVOR OC
(Division two)
Finish: Premiers
Led by highly regarded coach Damian Boots, Rostrevor OC put together a fantastic division two campaign, finishing second and achieving a famous grand final win over top spot Salisbury North.
James Warton starred through the midfield as ROCS won 15 minor round games and defeated Athelstone twice in finals before topping the Hawks by 16 points in the grand final.
2. GLENUNGA
(Division one)
Finish: Runners-up
Season 2024 was another overall dominant one for Grima’s Rams which again ended in heartbreak.
Led by captain and dual Keith Sims OAM Medallist Abe Davis, Glenunga won 18 games and lost just once before falling to Port District in the big dance.
1. PORT DISTRICT
(Division one)
Finish: Premiers
Port District enjoyed another strong season in division one in 2024 after adding former AFL ruck Scott Lycett, South Adelaide captain Matt Rose and defender Joey Haines.
Josh Ramsey’s side was at its best through the second half of the season and the finals, eventually beating flag favourite Glenunga by 20 points in the grand final to claim their second premiership in three years.
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