SANFL fixture 2023 : Download this year’s full footy timetable

Download your complete SANFL 2023 fixture here to see where your club’s playing and when.

Barb Kerley wife of Neil with grandson Campbell Hossack, and Jack Madgen of the Adelaide Crows and Kaiden Brand from West Adelaide at Richmond Oval. Picture: Sarah Reed

SANFL powerhouse Woodville-West Torrens will play its first four games on the road this season as its home ground undergoes major construction work.

The Eagles, who won back-to-back premierships in 2020 and 2021 and are considered one of this year’s flag favourites, will not play at Woodville Oval until round five as their home changerooms under the Barry Jarman Stand are reconstructed.

In what will be a challenging start to their campaign, they will kick off the 2023 SANFL season against reigning premier Norwood at The Parade on Friday, March 31, before playing South Adelaide at Noarlunga, Glenelg at the Bay and last year’s runner-up North Adelaide at Prospect.

Their first home game is scheduled for May 6 against Sturt when it is hoped their $1 million refurbishment will be completed.

The Eagles will play at home only twice in the first 10 rounds before hardly having to leave Woodville Oval in the second half of the season.

Seven of their last eight minor round matches will be played at the ground with their only away fixture against the Double Blues in round 15.

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“It’s one of those things where we’ve just got to have the mindset that no matter where we play or who we play the ambition and drive remains the same and that’s to win every game,’’ Eagles chief executive Luke Powell said.

“Ideally it would be nice to have your share of home games early in the season to help create interest in the team but from a football department side of things it’s just head down and get on with the job, whether you’re playing at home or away.’’

While Woodville-West Torrens faces a tough start to the season, the fixture includes a series of early blockbusters.

Apart from the mouthwatering Eagles-Redlegs clash, other marquee round one match-ups include a SANFL Showdown between Port Adelaide and Adelaide at Adelaide Oval and Sturt and Glenelg going head-to-head at an upgraded Unley Oval.

Four matches will be played on Good Friday in round two, including between bitter rivals the Tigers and Magpies at the Bay, complemented by a huge Easter Thursday night clash between Norwood and the Double Blues at The Parade.

Anzac Weekend will see five matches played over four days from Saturday to Tuesday, including the traditional grand final rematch between last season’s top two, Norwood and North, at The Parade on April 25.

”We are really excited about the marquee match-ups, particularly in the opening rounds,” SANFL head of football operations Sean Toohey said.

Glenelg v Eagles at Woodville Oval Eagles in 2022. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

“Given the close nature of last season’s minor round, it promises to be an intriguing start while maximising the potential for significant attendances amid the milder weather.”

Four regional games will be played this season, including the inaugural Neil Kerley Memorial Match between West Adelaide and the Crows in Murray Bridge in round 16.

The Bloods will host Port in Loxton for the second Russell Ebert Tribute Match in round four on April 30.

The South Australian state team will play at home this year, with its annual match against Western Australia scheduled for the May 20 weekend.

A four-week finals series, starting on Sunday, September 3, will be played at Adelaide Oval, with the grand final scheduled for Sunday, September 24.

Match days and start times for rounds 11 to 18 will be confirmed later in the year, once the

AFL finalises its full minor round fixture.

‘Knuckles’ to be honoured with fixture match

South Australian football great Neil Kerley will be honoured with a SANFL tribute match this year.

In a highlight of the 2023 SANFL fixture, to be released on Tuesday, Kerley’s original SANFL club West Adelaide will play his beloved Adelaide at Murray Bridge in round 16 on Sunday, August 13.

The Neil Kerley Memorial Match, to be held in the heart of the Bloods’ new country recruiting zone, has been introduced to honour Kerley, a SA football icon, following his death last year.

Neil Kerley in 1961.

Neil Kerley in 1959.

It follows the inaugural Russell Ebert Tribute match in the Riverland town of Loxton last season.

That fixture – in honour of Port Adelaide’s four-times Magarey Medallist Russell Ebert – will be played for the second consecutive year between Port and West at Loxton Oval in round four on Sunday, April 30.

Barb Kerley with grandson Campbell Hossack and players, Jack Madgen of the Adelaide Crows and Kaiden Brand from West Adelaide, at Richmond Oval. Picture: Sarah Reed

The tribute matches will be among four regional games scheduled for this season, which kicks off with a blockbuster Friday night clash between premier Norwood and Woodville-West Torrens at The Parade on Friday, March 31.

The other country games are between the Redlegs and West at Port Lincoln in round six on Saturday, May 13, and Central District and the Crows in the Barossa Valley in round 12 on Saturday, July 8.

The Bulldogs-Crows encounter will be a key feature of this year’s SA Country Championships.

Kerley’s wife Barb described the tribute to him as “a great honour.’’

“He would be delighted, particularly with the game being between two loves of his football life,’’ Barb said.

“Kerls would be blown away by the fact this game is being held in his honour and to think a little boy from Barmera would become a legend like he has.

“It will be a wonderful occasion for our family but I won’t know who to cheer for, the Crows or Westies.’’

Neil Kerley autographs his record at Cox Foys.

A member of the Australian and SA Football hall of fames, Kerley, affectionately known as ‘Kerls’, ‘Knuckles’ or ‘King’, died in June at age 88 after suffering a medical episode while driving near his Walker Flat home.

A hard-as-nails utility, he played 265 games for West, South Adelaide and Glenelg, along with 32 state games, from 1952-69.

He coached five SANFL clubs to a total of four premierships (West 1961 and 1983, South 1964 and Glenelg 1973) and was appointed the Crows inaugural football manager when they entered the AFL in 1991.

There has been no more fiercely loyal or passionate SA football person than Kerley.

“Given Kerls’ love of the Murray River region – he treasured his Walker Flat home – the match will provide locals with something to cheer about after enduring significant flooding during the Christmas-New Year period,” SANFL executive general manager football Matt Duldig said.

Bloods captain Kaiden Brand said his club was delighted to be able to play a part in honouring club legend Kerley.

“it’s a great honour to play in a game of such magnitude,’’ he said.

“There’s a big image of him in our changerooms and you can’t go through our footy club without knowing who Kerls was, so hopefully we can put on a good show for him.’’