The South Australian National Football League (SANFL) has approved wholesale changes to the AFL-affiliate clubs Adelaide and Port Adelaide to assist with greater flexibility to promote local talent on their playing lists.
The new strategy is expected to enhance the development of talented young players in South Australia following a six-month review that was accelerated by the AFL's competitive balance assessment.
The extensive review process was undertaken under the annual requirement of the two AFL clubs' licence agreement to play in the SANFL, especially since talks of a national reserves competition continue to be a hot topic.
The key outcomes of this review are:
- Rule amendments to provide Adelaide and Port Adelaide football clubs with greater flexibility to promote local talent on their playing lists
- Greater opportunity for young talented players to develop in an AFL environment
- Ensuring the long-term sustainability of the SANFL competition and SANFL clubs
- Increased investment from the AFL into male and female talent, umpiring, under-18 SANFL club coaching and community coaching in SA
What that looks like from a list regulation perspective for both the Power and Crows from 2025 is:
Talent Development Listย (up to 8 players) introduced for both AFL clubs:
- Players must be aged under 21 on January 1
- 1 per SANFL club at any time (per AFL club)
- 6 players total from SANFL clubs (per AFL club) and 2 from interstate
Access to U18 Father-son or NGA players
Open Age Listย (up to 4 players) introduced for both AFL clubs:
- Players aged 21 or over on January 1
- 1 per SANFL club at any time across both AFL clubs
Community List remains โ both AFL clubs can continue to access community club players.
SANFL Chief Executive Officer Darren Chandler spoke about ensuring the league's longevity, continuing its proud history as the longest competition in the nation.
โThis review focused on the long-term growth of the SANFL competition and the sustainability of the eight SANFL clubs while considering the AFL clubs and the best overall structure for football in South Australia,โ Chandler said.
โSANFL provided a 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 compete in the SANFL competition."
The changes will ensure players like Port Adelaide youngster Logan Evans are provided more opportunities to live out their dreams whilst also playing the highest level of football they can.
Evans was overlooked in the most recent draft but underwent the SANFL Rookie Program with Norwood before the Power scooped him up mid-season.
As a result of the Rookie Program, both Port Adelaide and the Crows will be required to pay a loan of $2,500 upon signing a Talent Development Listed player, like Evans was.
"Under-18 Father-Son and Next Generation Academy players, such as Tyler Welsh at Adelaide this year, will continue to be provided with an opportunity to join their AFL club for the season, leading into the AFL Draft," the SANFL report declared.
"AFL clubs also will be permitted to list up to four players aged over 21 from SANFL clubs, or from interstate competitions such as the VFL, WAFL or AFL, which will replace the current marquee player, 10-year AFL player and interstate player regulations."
Port Adelaide was a dominant force before entering the AFL but has struggled to recapture some of its glory days in the reserves competition, failing to win a flag since 1999.
As for the Crows, they've yet to break the drought, albeit a decade long, despite holding many AFL-listed players.
The new regulations come into effect immediately as clubs prepare for the 2025 season.
