AFL 2024: The SANFL exit of Adelaide and Port Adelaide gathers steam

Adelaide and Port Adelaide will face off in a SANFL curtain raiser ahead of Showdown 55 – but the fixture won’t exist for long as a national second-tier competition takes shape.

Port Adelaide and Adelaide have progressed in talks with the AFL about joining a new national second-tier competition next season.

The league is under increasing pressure to bring the clubs into either the VFL or new national second-tier league for 2025 to help put all clubs on the same footing.

The Power, in particular, has said the club is at a disadvantage playing its seconds’ side in the SANFL.

This masthead revealed last year Port had led the push to split with the SANFL after 155 years in the South Australian league.

James Borlase in action during last year’s SANFL showdown. Picture: Sarah Reed

Clubs are highly supportive of the move with West Coast also expected to follow suit, leaving Fremantle as the only club which wants to stay in the WAFL.

Port and the Crows – who face off in a SANFL curtain raiser at Adelaide Oval ahead of Thursday night’s Showdown – have been in talks with the league about the split, and are keen to make it happen in time for next season.

The league is expected to ramp up talks with the SANFL about possible compensation as Port and Adelaide have a contract to remain in the SANFL in 2025.

But the AFL holds the upper hand as the SANFL relies on the league and the South Australian government for strong support, and are in talks with all clubs about the competition structure for next year as part of a competitive balance review.

The move is controversial among SANFL supporters but officials from the Power and Crows have openly said the clubs’ preference is to be part of a national second-tier league where the AFL clubs’ reserves sides will all play against each other.

The VFL is seen as superior to the SANFL, while the SANFL plays a last-touch out-of-bounds rule.

Originally published as AFL 2024: The SANFL exit of Adelaide and Port Adelaide gathers steam