SANFL

By ZAC MILBANK Red and Blue will adorn the top of the West End Chimney, at Thebarton, for the first time since 2022 after Norwood’s colours were unveiled in front of its adoring fans. The Redlegs were the first team to sit on top of the West End Chimney at its new location on South Road, when they toppled North Adelaide by a point four years ago. Now, their colours have been painted on the West End Chimney for the 10th occasion since the highly-respected tradition began in 1954.

22 September 2026 By ALEXANDRA BULL An extremely successful 2026 has seen Morphettville Park Football Club awarded the 2026 SANFL Juniors Club of the Year Award. Introduced by SANFL six years ago, the award recognises excellence throughout the season in club governance, club development, volunteers and behaviour through a points system, with the winner showing outstanding performance across all areas.

By ZAC MILBANK South Adelaide’s Finn Emile-Brennan has won the 2026 7News Adelaide SANFL Goal of the Year for his stunning solo checkside effort against Adelaide in Round 9. One of five players short-listed for the annual award in Hostplus SANFL Grand Final week, the hard-running Panthers wingman edged out fellow finalists in teammate Jack Delean, Tiger Lachie Hosie, Bulldog Kyle Presbury and Redleg Declan Hamilton to attract the most fan votes.

By ZAC MILBANK Determined Sturt midfielder Luca Slade has had his persistence rewarded with the 2026 Powerade Breakthrough Player Award. Missing out on selection in last year’s Hostplus SANFL League Grand Final, the 20-year-old featured in all but one minor round game for the Double Blues in 2026 while becoming an important contributor by providing vital outside run and neat disposal by foot.

21 September 2026 Head down to the Hoffmann Kiln at the Brickworks Marketplace on Tuesday 22nd September to see the 2026 Hostplus SANFL League Premier, Norwood, unveil its colours. West End and the City of West Torrens are proud to present the 2026 SANFL Chimney Ceremony at the historic Hoffmann Kiln chimney at the Brickworks Marketplace from 11am. The Brickworks Kiln was constructed in 1913 and restored in 2016 by the West Torrens Council.

By ZAC MILBANK Norwood’s latest Jack Oatey Medallist, Baynen Lowe, has had no shortage of motivation over the past two years. The Redlegs midfield star has had to overcome serious shoulder surgery and a knee injury, causing him to spend more than his fair share of time in the rehab room at The Parade. Speaking on SANFL Radio, the 23-year-old said staring at the premierhsip photos from 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2022 while working his way back to full fitness had given him the perfect spur.

Sturt’s Tom Lewis looks to evade Norwood’s Kade Dittmar. Picture – David Mariuz Norwood buried its ghost of 2024 with a pulsating 14-point triumph against arch-rival Sturt to claim its 32nd premiership in the 2026 Hostplus SANFL League Grand Final at Adelaide Oval.

By ZAC MILBANK South Adelaide stormed home to win its first Reserves premiership in 35 years with a gutsy 10-point win against Glenelg at Adelaide Oval. Chasing their first Reserves flag since 1991, the Panthers showed great determination when it mattered most, piling on 4.1 to the Tigers’ two behinds in the final quarter.

2026 SANFL U17 FUTURES MATCH Sunday September 20, Adelaide Oval Team Yellow  3.2  6.3  9.7  12.11 (83) Team Blue 5.2  8.4  9.4  10.6 (66) BEST – Yellow: Zephyr Thomson, Kai Ivins, Thomas Gribben, Jacob Westley, Logan Treverton. Blue: Archie Simpson, Max Anderson, Hudson Boal, Kobe Collins, Tyler Hitch. GOALS – Yellow: Zephyr Thomson 4, Ted Seager 2, Tony Marrone, Jacob Westley, Josh Jarrad, Oliver Easton, Noah Atkinson, Riley Samain.

Nearly half a century has passed but the memory of Norwood’s dramatic one-point win against Sturt in the 1978 Grand Final remains etched in Phil Gallagher’s mind. One of SANFL’s finest wingmen throughout his 292 League games from 1973 to 1986, Gallagher wrote his name into the history books when he calmly slotted the winning goal against the Double Blues in front of 50,867 fans at Football Park.