Scouting Notes: 2026 AAMI Talent League – Round 1
THE NEWLY renamed AAMI Talent League got underway on Wednesday night with a double-header at Coopers Stadium. Reigning premier Sturt powered away from Central District to win by 63 points in the season-opener, before North Adelaide did the same to Norwood in a 30-point victory at The Parade. The following night at Richmond Oval, Glenelg […]
TOP 5s | 2026 South Australian Preseason Testing
A BUNCH of South Australian state academy members have impressed at the recent preseason testing combine, as several prospects featured across the leaderboards. Though, it was Eagles top-ager Hunter Rowe who stole the show with a high of three top-five finishes out of the handful of events. >> SCROLL to see the Top 5s for […]
Croweaters keen to keep tabs on speedster
SOUTH Australia’s state academy members have been buoyed by the progression of Central District speedster Jake Eime, who was a common answer to the question ‘which teammate should we look out for to have a big year?’. Eime’s name popped up several times as all 25 top-agers were surveyed. >> MORE: State teammates single Steed […]
Recruitment drive: South’s surge of talent
OFF-SEASONS can often be the catalyst for in-season success, and several state league clubs will hope that is the case in 2026. In a new series on Rookie Me Central, we highlight some of the most exciting recruitment drives from around the country, starting with SANFL club South Adelaide. The Panthers have an exciting crop […]
AFL Draft | State in Focus: South Australia
FRESH off a breakthrough title at last year’s National Championships, South Australia’s Under 18 squad for 2026 shapes as one which could go back-to-back. A deep top-age contingent is supported by promising 2009-born prospects, and a strong midfield core forms the base of a strong spine. We take a deep dive into SA’s representative stocks. […]
2026 AFL Draft spotlight: South’s star midfielders
SOUTH Adelaide has long produced some of South Australia’s finest footballers. Recently, the Panthers have had their talent program headed up by Mark Clayton, who has been appointed Port Adelaide’s academies coach. Before him, current South Australian Under 18 mentor Tony Bamford was in charge. It’s no wonder, then, that the club boasts three of […]
Scouting Notes: 2025 SANFL U17 Futures Match
TEAM Blue took the chocolates in Sunday’s annual SANFL Under 17 Futures match, played as a curtain-raiser to the Reserves Grand Final at Adelaide Oval. The exhibition game showcased some of South Australia’s best 2008 and 2009-born prospects, primed for the next two AFL drafts. An entertaining opening quarter yielded the most scoring, with Team […]
SANFL U18s: Centrals keep Glenelg goalless to storm into finals
CENTRAL District has roared into the SANFL Under 18 finals series after a mammoth 140-point win over Glenelg in the ultimate home-and-away round. Needing a win or draw to secure a postseason berth, the Bulldogs kept the Bays goalless in the rampant 22.14 (146) to 0.6 (6) victory at X Convenience Oval. >> SCROLL to […]
SANFL reveals 2025 U17 Futures squad
THE SANFL has released a 55-player squad to take part in its Futures program, starting in September. Selected prospects will undergo a three-week training camp once their club campaigns are completed, hoping to earn selection in the state’s Under 17 showcase game on SANFL League Grand Final day. >> SCROLL to see the full squad […]
Scouting Notes: Bottom-age stars see South kick away from Norwood
SOUTH Adelaide powered home with six unanswered final quarter goals to defeat Norwood by 51 points on Sunday. In what was a bottom-of-the-table Under 18s clash, the Panthers kicked ahead during the second quarter and led by 13 points at three-quarter-time before embellishing the scoreboard. A trio of bottom-aged Panthers did the damage, including five-goal […]
Process-driven Eagles focus on consistency
AFTER a breakout campaign that saw previous non-finalists Woodville-West Torrens rise up to play in the SANFL Women’s Grand Final, Eagles coach Narelle Smith said the team is just focused on continuing the upward trajectory in 2026. While the ultimate prize eluded them on the last day of the season when an experienced South Adelaide […]
Smith got South Australian balance right in Vic win
WHILE she did not read too much into any pre-match predictions, South Australian coach Narelle Smith was “really pleased” that her side could knock off a “fully loaded” Victorian outfit when the SANFLW got up in the annual State Game on Saturday by two points. The Croweaters won 3.4 (22) to 2.8 (20) to reverse […]
Glenelg “excited” about experience and youth mix
GLENELG coach Talia Radan can’t wait for Round 1 of the SANFL Women’s to kick off this weekend, as the second year coach is excited for what the Bays can produce in 2026. They bottomed out last season in what was a “reset year” for the club, and while Radan insisted there were “no expectations […]
2026 SANFLW team preview: Norwood
NORWOOD has undergone a series of change over the last few seasons, from reaching the grand final in 2024 to slumping to seventh on the ladder last season. A change of coaches sees Central District premiership mentor Ben Hunt take over the reigns of the Redlegs who will look to build back up the ladder […]
2026 SANFLW team preview: West Adelaide
WEST Adelaide is another side with a SANFLW head coaching change in 2026 with Shane Pill taking over the reigns from Bruce Dawes. The Bloods are coming off another frustrating season where they missed out on finals, and will be hoping to make the leap into the top four this year. LAST SEASON West Adelaide […]
Scouting Notes 2026 SANFL U16 Showcase Game
ADELAIDE has claimed a dramatic golden point win over Port Adelaide in Friday night’s SANFL Under 16 Showcase Game at Woodville Oval. Crows forward Nate McCleary first levelled the scores with a last minute behind, before his wide set shot after regulation time finally brought about the full time siren. Port Adelaide held ascendancy at […]
SANFLW edge out VFLW in two-point battle
AFTER going down to the Vics a year earlier, South Australia’s top female talent has triumphed in a two-point nail-biter in 2026. The SANFLW ground past the VFLW 3.4 (22) to 2.8 (20), making more of their seven scoring shots compared to their opponents 10 in victory at Stratarama Stadium. The game was part of […]
2026 SANFLW team preview: Sturt
LIKE half the competition, Sturt heads into 2026 with a new coach at the helm, after former AFLW player Ange Foley took over from Michael O’Connor in the off-season. The Double Blues did well to secure a finals spot and then knock off North Adelaide, but are looking to make the next step after narrowly […]
Scouting Notes: 2026 AFLW U16s – Giants Academy vs. Northern Territory
AFTER a long day of watching others, the local GWS Giants Academy players finally got to celebrate, defeating Northern Territory in the last game of an AFLW Under 16s Championships triple-header at Blacktown yesterday. It was a tight first half, but the Giants Academy just had that extra polish in front of goal along with […]
2026 SANFLW team preview: North Adelaide
NORTH Adelaide became the surprise packets of 2025 with the Roosters incredibly rising from wooden spooners to finalists within a season. They have kept the team relatively stable in 2026, but with some extra additions look to forge deeper into the post-season. LAST SEASON North Adelaide had a brilliant first full season under new coach […]
Scouting Notes: 2026 AAMI Talent League – Round 1
THE NEWLY renamed AAMI Talent League got underway on Wednesday night with a double-header at Coopers Stadium. Reigning premier Sturt powered away from Central District to win by 63 points in the season-opener, before North Adelaide did the same to Norwood in a 30-point victory at The Parade. The following night at Richmond Oval, Glenelg […]
TOP 5s | 2026 South Australian Preseason Testing
A BUNCH of South Australian state academy members have impressed at the recent preseason testing combine, as several prospects featured across the leaderboards. Though, it was Eagles top-ager Hunter Rowe who stole the show with a high of three top-five finishes out of the handful of events. >> SCROLL to see the Top 5s for […]
Croweaters keen to keep tabs on speedster
SOUTH Australia’s state academy members have been buoyed by the progression of Central District speedster Jake Eime, who was a common answer to the question ‘which teammate should we look out for to have a big year?’. Eime’s name popped up several times as all 25 top-agers were surveyed. >> MORE: State teammates single Steed […]
Recruitment drive: South’s surge of talent
OFF-SEASONS can often be the catalyst for in-season success, and several state league clubs will hope that is the case in 2026. In a new series on Rookie Me Central, we highlight some of the most exciting recruitment drives from around the country, starting with SANFL club South Adelaide. The Panthers have an exciting crop […]
AFL Draft | State in Focus: South Australia
FRESH off a breakthrough title at last year’s National Championships, South Australia’s Under 18 squad for 2026 shapes as one which could go back-to-back. A deep top-age contingent is supported by promising 2009-born prospects, and a strong midfield core forms the base of a strong spine. We take a deep dive into SA’s representative stocks. […]
2026 AFL Draft spotlight: South’s star midfielders
SOUTH Adelaide has long produced some of South Australia’s finest footballers. Recently, the Panthers have had their talent program headed up by Mark Clayton, who has been appointed Port Adelaide’s academies coach. Before him, current South Australian Under 18 mentor Tony Bamford was in charge. It’s no wonder, then, that the club boasts three of […]
Scouting Notes: 2025 SANFL U17 Futures Match
TEAM Blue took the chocolates in Sunday’s annual SANFL Under 17 Futures match, played as a curtain-raiser to the Reserves Grand Final at Adelaide Oval. The exhibition game showcased some of South Australia’s best 2008 and 2009-born prospects, primed for the next two AFL drafts. An entertaining opening quarter yielded the most scoring, with Team […]
SANFL U18s: Centrals keep Glenelg goalless to storm into finals
CENTRAL District has roared into the SANFL Under 18 finals series after a mammoth 140-point win over Glenelg in the ultimate home-and-away round. Needing a win or draw to secure a postseason berth, the Bulldogs kept the Bays goalless in the rampant 22.14 (146) to 0.6 (6) victory at X Convenience Oval. >> SCROLL to […]
SANFL reveals 2025 U17 Futures squad
THE SANFL has released a 55-player squad to take part in its Futures program, starting in September. Selected prospects will undergo a three-week training camp once their club campaigns are completed, hoping to earn selection in the state’s Under 17 showcase game on SANFL League Grand Final day. >> SCROLL to see the full squad […]
