SANFL to review list restrictions for Port Adelaide, Adelaide after their push for national reserves league

The SANFL has revealed the next steps in mooted changes to help Port Adelaide and Adelaide be more competitive after peace talks avoided them abandoning the league.

The SANFL has confirmed it will review the list restrictions on Port Adelaide and Adelaide as part of a plan to keep the two clubs’ reserve sides playing in South Australia.

The Advertiser revealed on Thursday the clubs would continue to participate in the SANFL next year on the proviso the league addressed key concerns regarding top-up players and fixture equality.

The two clubs want to field stronger reserves’ sides to help bolster their development programs at the club in-line with the teams in the Victorian Football League.

The SANFL, which has strongly opposed a national reserves competition, confirmed on Friday talks on Wednesday with the Crows, Power and the AFL were productive.

SANFL chief executive Darren Chandler said the league would review the competition rules and “in particular the conditions that apply to the Adelaide and Port Adelaide Football clubs”.

Port Adelaide and Adelaide clash in a SANFL showdown. Picture: Sarah Reed

It is expected Adelaide and Port Adelaide will also be given more consideration regarding their fixture requests to better manage their AFL emergencies and holdover players.

“Every year, the SANFL reviews the rules that apply to the Adelaide and Port Adelaide football clubs. This year, the review has been accelerated on the back of the AFL competitive balance review,” Chandler said.

“In reviewing these rules, the league remains committed to ensuring we continue to have the best competition outside of the AFL, and one in which every club can be competitive and have every chance of winning a premiership.

“SANFL has provided its detailed submission to the AFL, highlighting that it does not support a national reserves competition and that it believes the best structure for football in South Australia is to have the two AFL clubs in the SANFL competition.”

The Power and Crows have a combined three SANFL wins this season. Picture: Sarah Reed

Chandler said the league would hold more talks with the other SANFL clubs before making recommendations to the commission for approval for 2025.

If Adelaide and Port Adelaide are not satisfied by the changes, they are certain to reignite their push to join the VFL in 2026.

“The SANFL will complete its review over the coming months, which will involve discussions with SANFL clubs, the AFL, Adelaide and Port Adelaide football clubs, other State Leagues and clubs around the nation,” Chandler said.

“As the oldest competition in the nation, established in 1877, we are extremely proud of the rich traditions of our State League competition and will ensure this is protected.

“We are also proud of SANFL’s reputation as being the best competition outside of the AFL and are committed to maintaining this position into the future.”

Port Adelaide and Adelaide remain anchored to the bottom spots on the SANFL ladder with only three wins from 19 matches combined.

POWER, CROWS TO REMAIN IN SANFL — FOR NOW

Port Adelaide and Adelaide will remain in the SANFL next season after the league agreed to address the clubs’ long-held concerns about list concessions and fixture equality.

The clubs’ attempts to join a new national state league or the VFL will be shelved for 2025 after talks on Wednesday involving the AFL reached a resolution on key fronts.

It is a major development for South Australian football as the Power had led the mission to break with more than 155 years of history and exit the league over the past six months.

But key concessions remain central to a new agreement which will help the two clubs field stronger teams in the SANFL, and more broadly, help bolster the clubs’ development programs.

Port Adelaide and Adelaide occupy the last two spots on the SANFL ladder with only three wins between them for the year from 19 matches combined.

Port Adelaide and Port Adelaide will remain in the SANFL in 2025. Picture: Peter Argent

Importantly, the Power and Crows will be given more flexibility to add quality top-up players to their SANFL side next year in line with the Victorian’ clubs allowances in the VFL.

The two South Australian clubs have argued the restrictions on their top-ups are an impediment to their players’ development prospects and leave them with weaker sides.

There is a strong view Victorian sides have an advantage over their South Australian and Western Australian rivals due to the superior strength of the VFL as a state league.

Additionally, the two SA clubs are also expected to make strong requests around their SANFL fixtures for next year which will help them get more game time into their AFL-listed emergencies.

The two clubs are frustrated by clashes with their AFL and SANFL fixtures which sometimes prevent their AFL emergency players from playing at either level or on reduced game time.

It is expected the two clubs will be heard on their fixture requests for next year otherwise Port Adelaide and Adelaide will reconsider their position on the issue.

There will be some changes to assist Port and Adelaide in the SANFL. Picture: Peter Argent

Both clubs have a contract to play in the SANFL next season but there was pressure on the AFL to either find a resolution to their problems or add them to the VFL 2025.

West Coast and Fremantle will stay in the WAFL as the AFL continues its work on a competitive balance review designed to overhaul the draft system and father-son and academy bidding.

The league is also expected to loosen some restrictions on the clubs in the trade period such as allowing them to trade future picks two years in advance.

Currently, clubs can only trade future picks one year in advance.

Port Adelaide has made clear it wants to stay competitive and push for finals every year rather than accept a rebuilding phase which includes a major draft focus and years at the bottom of the ladder.

It means the Power is again expected to be a key player in the trade period at season’s end as GWS Giant Harry Perryman weighs up interest from Victorian clubs including Hawthorn.

The Crows have come under pressure after a poor start to the season.