SANFL Grand Final Thriller Draws Huge Crowd, Silences Critics
The SANFL has drawn a crowd of 38,340 fans for its Grand Final, silencing concerns over the league's financial struggles and the potential departure of Port Adelaide to the VFL. The event marked the 10th time in 14 years the Grand Final has attracted over 30,000 fans, with Sunday's attendance being the largest since COVID.
A thrilling SANFL Grand Final has drawn a crowd of 38,340 fans, silencing concerns over the league's financial struggles and the potential departure of Port Adelaide to the VFL. The event marked the 10th time in 14 years the Grand Final has attracted over 30,000 fans, with Sunday's attendance being the largest since COVID.
A League Alive and Kicking
The SANFL is thriving on the eve of its 150th anniversary, with its biggest crowd since COVID and a 14-point thriller between Norwood and Sturt at the Adelaide Oval. This comes as interstate competitions face declining crowds, with Fremantle Dockers affiliate Peel Thunder's 62-point thrashing of Claremont drawing 19,210 people at Perth Stadium, continuing a four-year run of declining crowds in the WAFL.
West Adelaide coach Nathan Bassett said the state's emotional investment in the historic competition was what separated it from the rest of the country.
"It's how much we care about it and how much it means to our community," he said.
"There's more passion involved in it. That's what makes our competition a great one."
The Secret to Success
SANFL CEO Darren Chandler believes the success of their long-standing clubs is why the competition is thriving.
"We've seen this year our final five are traditional SANFL clubs and the coverage and support has been outstanding," he said.
When Port Adelaide chairman David Koch declared in August the Power were "done" with the state league, there were concerns the loss of an AFL connection to the competition would diminish its interest.
"The AFL have continued to make it clear to us that they don't want a national reserves competition … It doesn't make any sense at all for those clubs to play in the VFL, it's just putting a massive additional cost on a footy system for no real net result," Chandler said.
"If they don't want to be part of it that's fine. We'll move on and make sure our competition continues to be the best it can be."
A Bright Future
Sunday's Grand Final was a clear message to critics that the SANFL isn't going anywhere and its 150th year might be its biggest yet. Chandler revealed there'll be a nine-week exhibition at the festival centre and a gala event mid-year, but his biggest goal is a Gather Round inspired weekend at Adelaide Oval.
"We're looking at a potential round of matches at the Adelaide Oval for all teams over one weekend … and potentially that becoming an additional 19th round," he said.