The SANFL, suburban and country football expect big crowds after our AFL sides bombed out

THE football season is still going, even though the Crows and the Power are off to holidays and not contesting the finals — and the football landscape and Adelaide Oval will still be bubbling.

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BUMPER crowds are predicted for SANFL and the state’s community leagues, as Crows’ and Power fans seek alternative finals action in September.

There will be four weeks of SANFL finals at Adelaide Oval on Sundays over the next month and four amateur-ranks grand finals at Thebarton Oval on Saturdays.

The 20-odd country leagues around the state also are at various stages of their finals series and most grand finals are played over the next three weeks.

The failure of both Adelaide and Port Adelaide to qualify for finals action for the first time since 2011 means the SANFL and community football are expected to thrive with greater numbers attending.

SANFL chief executive Jake Parkinson hopes the state league – the highest-scoring elite competition in the nation – could fill the hole left by the AFL clubs on Father’s Day on Sunday.

“It’s a great opportunity,” Parkinson said. “Most people have two teams; they’ve got their AFL team and their SANFL team. For the Crows’ fans and the Port Adelaide fans, it’s a chance for them to see their SANFL club play.

“And all those regular SANFL supporters get the chance to get to Adelaide Oval.

“Historically, there has been a rise in numbers if the AFL clubs haven’t performed.”

Adding to the intrigue of the SANFL is the open nature of the finals. Norwood will go into September as the firm favourite, but Parkinson said a case could be made for others.

“Norwood’s been the standout but Sturt has won the last two so they know how to play Adelaide Oval, the Eagles have been there on a regular basis and North Adelaide and South Adelaide add an X factor to it,” he said. Adelaide Footy League chief executive John Kernahan was planning for crowds in the thousands each week at Thebarton Oval.

“The fact that there’s no footy played at the sharp end of town, we seem to be getting a bit more interest in what we’re doing,” Kernahan said.

“We think we’ll see anything up to 4000 or 5000 for Division 1, maybe the same for Division 2 and not much less for Division 3 or, this week, Division 6. What we do see with our community is that when it comes to finals, they all get behind their football clubs.”

SANFL community football manager Matt Duldig expected crowds to swell in the country as well, even though this week’s grand finals – in the Spencer Gulf league and the Far North – were not easily accessible from Adelaide.

The Advertiser is giving readers the chance to get discounted tickets for the first three weeks of the SANFL finals series at Adelaide Oval.

Buy the Saturday Advertiser or Sunday Mail and simply redeem the token on page 2 and present at the entry gate to receive two tickets for just $25.

WEEKEND GAMES

SANFL, qualifying final

Woodville-West Torrens v Sturt,

Adelaide Oval, Sunday, 3.15pm

Elimination final

North Adelaide v South Adelaide, Adelaide Oval, Sunday, 12.15pm

ADELAIDE FOOTY LEAGUE

Division six grand final

Rosewater v Trinity Old Scholars at Thebarton Oval, tomorrow, 2.15pm

Division one elimination final

Payneham Norwood Union v Port District at Payneham Oval, tomorrow, 2.15pm

Division one qualifying final

Tea Tree Gully v Goodwood Saints at Pertaringa Oval, tomorrow, 2.15pm

Division two double-chance semi-final

St Peter’s Old Collegians v Brighton at Caterer Oval, tomorrow, 2.15pm

SOUTHERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, qualifying final

Noarlunga v Port Noarlunga at Christies Beach, tomorrow, 2.30pm

FAR NORTH FOOTBALL LEAGUE, grand final

Roxby Districts v Hornridge, Roxby Downs Town Oval, tomorrow

MALLEE FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Preliminary final

Karoonda v Peake, Lameroo, tomorrow

SPENCER GULF FOOTBALL LEAGUE, grand final

South Augusta v Solomontown, Central Oval, Port Augusta, tomorrow

GREAT SOUTHERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, qualifying final

Langhorne Creek v McLaren, Myponga, tomorrow

YORKE PENINSULA LEAGUE,

second semi-final

Central Yorke v Moonta, Bute Oval, tomorrow