1885 SAFA season

none October 2012 April 2021 safa 1885 South Adelaide Football Club, Premiers 1885.jpg 250 South Adelaide, premiers 4 2 30 54000 8,000 (Round 6, vs. ) H R Hill (19 goals) 1884 1886 The 1885 South Australian Football Association season was the 9th season of the top-level Australian rules football competition in South Australia. A new senior Adelaide Football Club formed from a merger of North Adelaide Junior and North Parks clubs from the Adelaide and Suburban Football Association joined. However, two inaugural clubs - South Park on 18 March 1885 and Victorians (North Adelaide) on 21 April 1885 both resigned and disbanded before the season commenced reducing the number of teams in the competition to 4. The 1885 SAFA season was the first time since 1878 that all clubs played a fixed number of games with each of the four clubs playing five times against the other three for a total of 15 games. Twenty three of the thirty games played had crowd figures quoted for an approximate average of 1,800 spectators per game. At the committee meeting of the S.A. Football Association held on 28 April 1885 Messrs. A. Mehrtens, J. Sidoli, F. H. Wedd, and J.Pollock were appointed Association Field Umpires from the eleven applicants. The large scoring-board at the Adelaide Oval was first used for football matches during the season. A new fence and bicycle track had also been added around the Oval.Football https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/160738194 2026-08-30 trove.nla.gov.au The first ever night match under lights at Adelaide Oval was held on 1st July 1885 for the match between Adelaide and South Adelaide.Adelaide Oval's first sports event under lights in 1885: Adelaide v. South Adelaide footy Adelaide AZ https://adelaideaz.com/articles/adelaide-oval-s-first-sports-event-under-lights-in-1885--adelaide-v--south-adelaide-football-match 2026-08-30 adelaideaz.com SAFA Senior Clubs 1885 Season ClubColoursHome GroundCaptainCommentsAdelaideblack Blackred Red Adelaide Oval, AdelaideJ.D. StephensNew Adelaide Senior Club formed from the merger of North Adelaide Junior and North ParkNorwood#00008B Dark blue#ee0f49 Red Kensington Oval, KensingtonA.E. Waldron Port Adelaide#FF00FF Magneta#0000FF BlueAlberton Oval, AlbertonR.Turpenny C.KellettSouth Adelaide#000080 Navy BlueWhite WhiteAdelaide Oval, Adelaide A.J.Hall Premiership season Round 1 Round 1 Saturday, 2 May (3:15 pm) 6.15 (6) H 1.5 (1) Kensington Oval https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article36305608 NORWOOD v. ADELAIDE. The South Australian Advertiser Adelaide 4 May 1885 20 February 2015 7 National Library of Australia Saturday, 2 May (3:15 pm) 4.11 (4) H 3.3 (3) Adelaide Oval 1,500 https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article44533363 FOOTBALL. South Australian Register Adelaide 4 May 1885 20 February 2015 3 National Library of Australia Round 2 Round 2 Monday, 25 May 5.13 (5) H 0.8 (0) Adelaide Oval 4,500 https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article36307092 FOOTBALL. The South Australian Advertiser Adelaide 26 May 1885 20 February 2015 6 National Library of Australia , was on a football trip in Victoria during rounds 2 and 3. Round 3 Round 3 Saturday, 31 May 4.9 H 2.11 Adelaide Oval 950 https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article44531134 FOOTBALL. South Australian Register Adelaide 1 June 1885 20 February 2015 7 National Library of Australiahttps://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article36307443 FOOTBALL. The South Australian Advertiser Adelaide 1 June 1885 20 February 2015 7 National Library of Australia , Adelaide Oval's surface was in poor condition due to the famous Indigenous corroboree the night before. It was performed by around 100 Aboriginal men and women from Point MacLeay mission and Yorke Peninsula and was attended by around 20,000 spectators (around a sixth of Adelaide's population).ABORIGINAL CORROBBOREE https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/44530755 2026-08-30 trove.nla.gov.au It was followed by a second performance on the Saturday evening.Saturday Night's Corroboree https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/208348659 2026-08-30 trove.nla.gov.au The match between South Adelaide and Adelaide was witnessed by about forty aborigines, who were seated upon the lawn in front of the pavilion. Round 4 Round 4 Saturday, 6 June (3:10 pm) 3.11 (3) A 5.8 (5) Adelaide Oval 2,000 https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article36307812 FOOTBALL. The South Australian Advertiser Adelaide 8 June 1885 20 February 2015 6 National Library of Australiahttps://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article44533960 FOOTBALL. South Australian Register Adelaide 8 June 1885 20 February 2015 7 National Library of Australia Saturday, 6 June (3:10 pm) 10.14 (10) H 2.11 (2) Alberton Oval 800 Round 5 Round 5 Saturday, 27 June (3:00 pm) 2.5 (2) A 3.16 (3) Alberton Oval 1,500 https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article36309094 FOOTBALL. The South Australian Advertiser Adelaide 29 June 1885 20 February 2015 7 National Library of Australia Saturday, 27 June (3:15 pm) 4.5 (4) H 0.13 (0) Adelaide Oval https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article44532199 FOOTBALL. South Australian Register Adelaide 29 June 1885 20 February 2015 6 National Library of Australia Round 6 Round 6 Wednesday, 1 July (8:00 pm) 1.8 (1) H 0.8 (0) Adelaide Oval 8,000 https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article44944306 FOOTBALL BY ELECTRIC LIGHT. South Australian Register Adelaide 2 July 1885 20 February 2015 5 National Library of Australia Saturday, 4 July 2.12 (2) A 3.8 (3) Alberton Oval 2,000 https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article36309534 FOOTBALL. The South Australian Advertiser Adelaide 6 July 1885 20 February 2015 6 National Library of Australia The game between and at Adelaide Oval under artificial light was the first night game ever played in South Australia. Round 7 Round 7 Saturday, 11 July (3:25 pm) 0.5 (0) D 0.12 (0) Kensington Oval https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article44948085 FOOTBALL. South Australian Register Adelaide 13 July 1885 20 February 2015 7 National Library of Australia Saturday, 11 July (3:18 pm) 0.10 (0) A 2.10 (2) Adelaide Oval 600 Round 8 Round 8 Saturday, 18 July 1.20 (1) A 4.10 (4) Kensington Oval 400 https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article36310322 FOOTBALL. The South Australian Advertiser Adelaide 20 July 1885 20 February 2015 6 National Library of Australia Saturday, 18 July (3:13 pm) 2.8 (2) D 2.15 (2) Adelaide Oval 3,000 Round 9 Round 9 Saturday, 25 July (3:25 pm) 3.11 (3) H 2.16 (2) Kensington Oval 1,000 https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article36310665 FOOTBALL. The South Australian Advertiser Adelaide 27 July 1885 20 February 2015 7 National Library of Australia Saturday, 25 July 0.5 (0) A 6.14 (6) Adelaide Oval Round 10 Round 10 Saturday, 1 August (3:16 pm) 8.11 (8) H 4.5 (4) Adelaide Oval 2,000 https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article44943496 FOOTBALL. South Australian Register Adelaide 3 August 1885 20 February 2015 3 National Library of Australiahttps://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article36311065 FOOTBALL. The South Australian Advertiser Adelaide 3 August 1885 20 February 2015 3 National Library of Australia Saturday, 1 August (3:20 pm) 8.17 (8) H 1.8 (1) Alberton Oval 500 Round 11 Round 11 Saturday, 8 August (3:10 pm) 5.10 (5) H 3.11 (3) Kensington Oval 500 https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article44945551 FOOTBALL. South Australian Register Adelaide 10 August 1885 20 February 2015 3 National Library of Australiahttps://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article36311443 FOOTBALL. The South Australian Advertiser Adelaide 10 August 1885 20 February 2015 7 National Library of Australia , Round 12 Round 12 Saturday, 15 August (3:29 pm) 2.11 (2) H 1.5 (1) Alberton Oval 2,000 https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article36311925 FOOTBALL. The South Australian Advertiser Adelaide 17 August 1885 20 February 2015 3 National Library of Australia Saturday, 15 August (3:28 pm) 3.5 (3) A 4.6 (4) Adelaide Oval 1,000 https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article44948482 FOOTBALL. South Australian Register Adelaide 17 August 1885 20 February 2015 3 National Library of Australia Round 13 Round 13 Saturday, 22 August (3:25 pm) 1.13 (1) A 6.16 (6) Alberton Oval 2,000 https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article36312396 FOOTBALL. The South Australian Advertiser Adelaide 24 August 1885 20 February 2015 7 National Library of Australiahttps://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article44947602 FOOTBALL. South Australian Register Adelaide 24 August 1885 20 February 2015 3 National Library of Australia Saturday, 22 August (3:20 pm) 2.4 (2) A 11.13 (11) Kensington Oval 300 Round 14 Round 14 Saturday, 29 August (3:20 pm) 6.9 (6) H 1.13 (1) Kensington Oval https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article44945691 FOOTBALL. South Australian Register Adelaide 31 August 1885 20 February 2015 7 National Library of Australiahttps://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article36312779 FOOTBALL. The South Australian Advertiser Adelaide 31 August 1885 20 February 2015 6 National Library of Australia Saturday, 29 August (3:15 pm) 6.14 (6) D 6.2 (6) Adelaide Oval 5,000 https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article36312892 FOOTBALL. The South Australian Advertiser Adelaide 2 September 1885 20 February 2015 3 National Library of Australiahttps://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article44949274 FOOTBALL. South Australian Register Adelaide 2 September 1885 20 February 2015 6 National Library of Australia Round 15 Round 15 Saturday, 5 September 2.11 (2) A 8.10 (8) Kensington Oval 550 https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article36313169 FOOTBALL. The South Australian Advertiser Adelaide 7 September 1885 20 February 2015 7 National Library of Australia Saturday, 5 September 2.6 (2) A 3.13 (3) Adelaide Oval 500 https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article44946291 FOOTBALL. South Australian Register Adelaide 7 September 1885 20 February 2015 3 National Library of Australia Round 16 Round 16 Saturday, 12 September (3:18 pm) 5.5 (5) A 8.7 (8) Adelaide Oval https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article44944075 FOOTBALL. South Australian Register Adelaide 14 September 1885 20 February 2015 7 National Library of Australia Saturday, 12 September (3:30 pm) 4.14 (4) H 2.8 (2) Kensington Oval 800 Round 17 Round 17 Saturday, 18 September (3:30 pm) 3.5 (3) H 1.14 (1) Adelaide Oval https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article44946724 FOOTBALL. South Australian Register Adelaide 21 September 1885 20 February 2015 3 National Library of Australia Ladder 1885 SAFA Senior Ladder TEAM P W L D GF BA GA BA 1 South Adelaide (P) 15 11 2 27215936962Norwood1577142162541613Port Adelaide1568149159411464Adelaide1541103811170188 Key: P = Played, W = Won, L = Lost, D = Drawn, GF = Goals For, BF = Behinds For, GA = Goals Against, BA = Behinds Against, (P) = Premiershttps://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article160744738 FOOTBALL. Adelaide Observer 10 October 1885 19 December 2014 19 National Library of Australia Adelaide and Suburban (Junior) Association The Junior sides of the four senior clubs competed in the Adelaide and Suburban (Junior) Association together with Kensington, Hotham and West Torrens. Kensington had competed in the Senior competition for four seasons from 1877 to 1880 before merging with the Old Adelaide Football Club. The merged Club folded after 4 games in 1881. Kensington joined the Adelaide and Suburban (Junior) Association on its formation in 1882. Hotham (North Adelaide) and West Torrens (West Adelaide) both joined the senior SAFA competition in 1887. In 1889, Hotham (North Adelaide) then merged with the new senior Adelaide Club which was formed in 1885, formerly North Adelaide Junior and North Park both from the Adelaide and Suburban Association. North Park were the Premiers of Adelaide and Suburban Association in 1884 with Adelaide (renamed from North Adelaide Junior) as the runner up. This merged new Adelaide team won the Senior SAFA premiership in 1886. A notable player for Hotham was Jack 'Dinny' Reedman who moved to South Adelaide in 1889 when Hotham merged with Adelaide. Reedman was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1996 and South Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2002. 1885 Adelaide and Suburban (Junior) Association Ladder TEAM P W L D GF GA PTS 1 Hotham (P) 12 12 0 0 63 12 24 2 West Torrens 12 10 2 0 56 10 20 3 North Park (Adelaide Junior) 12 6 5 1 33 36 13 4 Norwood Junior 12 5 7 0 24 23 10 5South Adelaide Junior12471263696Kensington12210011464 7Port Adelaide Junior1221009594 Key: P = Played, W = Won, L = Lost, D = Drawn, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, (P) = Premiershttps://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article94332987 FOOTBALL. The Chronicle (South Australia) 12 September 1885 31 July 2026 14 National Library of Australia References 30em SANFL Category:South Australian National Football League seasons