South Australia’s biggest footy fan of 2025: Nominate now to prove your passion for the game
This Crows-mad centenarian turned down a diamond ring, saying she wants a grand final win instead. Nominate now and help us find SA’s top footy superfan.
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Do you barrack harder than anyone else in South Australian football crowds?
Do you bleed your team’s colours? It’s time to put your passion to the test.
The Advertiser on the hunt for the state’s biggest footy fan and we’re calling on all SA football tragics to nominate no matter what side they support.
We’ve already crowned the state’s top Auskicker or the year with five-year-old Crow fanatic Hugh O’Donnell refusing to share his prize with his Port supporter dad.
Whether you’ve painted your house in club colours, not missed a game in decades or have a lucky scarf that’s practically heritage-listed – we want all diehard fans to throw their guernsey in the ring.
Nominate yourself or a mate who lives and breathes footy by filling out the form below.
Bragging rights are up for grabs – it’s time to kick some goals off the field.
Nominations have been extended and will close on Tuesday, July 29 at 8am with finalists being put to a vote.
Find the full terms and conditions here.
Could 100-year-old Bet Price be SA’s biggest footy fan?
When Adelaide Crows superfan Bet Price turned 100, her daughter offered to buy her a diamond ring.
She politely declined — she had something better in mind.
“I told her I didn’t want diamonds, I just wanted the Crows to win a grand final,” Bet said.
The Parkside mother has followed the team since day one in 1991, and said her passion for the club was what keeps her going.
To mark her milestone birthday this year, players sent Bet a personalised video message and signed guernsey — organised through her daughter Jane’s school friends, who happened to be at Reilly O’Brien’s wedding.
“I’ve watched the video at least 30 times,” Bet said.
“It means more to me than any jewel.
“That guernsey is so precious, and when I’m gone, I want it donated to the RSPCA to auction for the animals.”
In her nursing home room, red, yellow and blue touches are everywhere — from her Crows doona cover to her balloon collection.
Even her beloved eight-year-old Pomeranian is named Roo, after Bet’s favourite player Mark Ricciuto.
“He’s as cute as Mark and I love them both,” she said.
“Roo wears his Crows jacket every game day and sleeps on my bed — I always wake him up screaming when we kick a goal!”
In her younger years, Bet would catch the bus to Adelaide Oval with friends, laughing as the crowd yelled “Roo!” and reminiscing about the joy of fans singing the Crows anthem on the way home.
“When I got too old to go, I’d squeeze six girlfriends into my lounge to yell at the TV together,” she said.
“Now I just shut my nursing home door and yell on my own — with Roo of course.”
Daughter Jane, 57, from Toorak Gardens admits she was never a fan herself — but her mum’s obsession has worn her down.
“I’ll never forget when she bought a new BMW and the first thing she did was hang a knitted Crows booty from the rearview mirror,” Jane said.
“It embarrassed me to death … now those booties hang from her lamp.”
Bet insists she doesn’t want to be named SA’s biggest footy fan — instead backing 13-year-old Enzo, a young Crows supporter with a rare genetic disorder.
“His passion reminds me of myself. He’s a darling,” she said.
“When I go to heaven, I’ll send him my Crows cap.
“But if I was given the biggest fan title, well that would mean more to me than my 100th birthday card from the King.”
Her message for the team this season is simple: “Up the Crows!”
Could the Hooper trio be SA’s biggest footy fans?
They may be small, but this pint-sized cheer squad packs a big punch when it comes to footy fever.
Stephen, 8, Thomas, 6, and Florence “Flossie” Hooper, 4, are third-generation Crows tragics – proudly carrying the red, blue and gold baton handed down from their dad, Gordon, and embraced wholeheartedly by their American-born mum Ellen.
“We are a family of Crows fans because everyone in our family are Crows fans – this has been passed down through the generations,” Ellen said.
And while Ellen grew up in a house of diehard New York Yankees supporters, she knew marrying into the Hooper family came with one important condition – back the Crows or bust.
“I went to a game nearly 20 years ago when I first visited Australia, and I’ve been converted ever since,” Ellen said.
“In my family, it would be completely unacceptable not to support the Yankees, so I can appreciate the need for me to also support the Crows.”
From watching every game on television – sometimes twice if it’s a big win – to packing the family into the car for AFLW matches, the Hoopers are always game-day ready.
“Daddy loves talking about when the Crows won back-to-back grand finals (in 1997 and 1998),” Flossie said.
“Dad always tries to take us to the games,” Thomas added.
“But we do watch every game on TV together.”
Stephen, who plays for the Brighton Bombers, got to meet one of his footy heroes last year – and he’s never forgotten it.
“I love Tex, the Fog, Keaysey and Rankine … they’re my favourite,” Stephen said.
“Fogarty came to my club’s training once last year and I got his autograph.”
Do you know someone as footy-mad as the Hooper Trio?
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