SAFA - Telecasts

[CK]

I remember well when KG's Footy Show, in the late 1970s and early to mid 1980s, used to give the scores from all SAFA games played that day, and also reckon there were telecasts of some games also, but can't recall many details about the telecasts. Does anyone remember much about the telecasts, when they were shown, commentators etc, please? The SANFL Reserves games were still being shown in the early 80s, but can't recall when SAFA telecasts stopped.

[GWW]

I can recall telecasts being on Sundays. The first time i'd heard of Ingle Farm and Pooraka Football clubs.

[rd]

Definitely in 1978 on Sunday afternoons - I can remember watching Ken Whelan & Malcolm Greenslade (both no longer required by Sturt) playing for Edwardstown - I think the SAFA was telecast for maybe 2-3 years afterwards.

[JK]

I vaguely remember them, think Mocca Dunstan might have been playing IIRC.

Athelstone, Edwardstown and Poorooka were the first teams I came to know via that coverage

[Sojourner]

My memory was that the Grand Final used to be on TV, yet cant remember what year it was or what teams were involved!

[Interceptor]

Did they get many people attending SAFA games back then?

[Magpiespower]

First time I saw ridiculously high player numbers - three-figures even! - was watching a SAFA game on Sunday TV...

[gadj1976]

The commentary team used to be Ian Aitken and Gary Window. I used to barrack for the Towns, cos they used to wear Sturt colours (dark blue, light blue sash).

I remember seeing Townies, Flinders Park, Ingle Farm, Pooraka, (maybe Ferryden Park).

Sunday arvo used to be match of the round from memory.

Great memories.

[robranisgod]

The commentary team used to be Ian Aitken and Gary Window. I used to barrack for the Towns, cos they used to wear Sturt colours (dark blue, light blue sash).

I remember seeing Townies, Flinders Park, Ingle Farm, Pooraka, (maybe Ferryden Park).

Sunday arvo used to be match of the round from memory.

Great memories.

The other team that I remember playing quite often on TV in those days were Athelstone, who were royal blue with a white V. Ferryden Park were Green and Gold. Alex Drzal from Westies played for them. Flinders Park won the first couple of flags and Edwardstown then killed them, I reckon in 1980. Certainly in 1978 and 1979 the game of the day was shown on TV every Sunday. I reckon I saw Tea tree Gully play as well

[Hondo]

According to this, telecasts started in 1978:

http://saafl.asn.au/history/1977

"A suggestion was made mid-season that the A1 Grand Final be played on a Sunday. This was not taken up as several potential finalists had prior commitments. The suggestion was then made that one A1 match (perhaps the ‘Match of the Day’) be played each Sunday during the 1978 season at a good venue such as Woodville Oval, perhaps with a live telecast. Ironically, this is what occurred in the new S.A.F.A. competition the following season, but the amateurs did not favour the idea"

[Adelaide Hawk]

Flinders Park were the first premiers, coached by Peter Milsom, and they had a teenage redhead named Ron Fuller running around for them before he tried out with Woodville.

I recall the first game, a sunny Sunday afternoon match at Adelaide Oval between Flinders Park and Athelstone, the two teams expected to dominate. Another day, I remember Gary Window interviewing (I think) Peter Anderson on the boundary line at half time. The interview was finished and Anderson walked off leaving Window standing there like a shag on a rock. Two kids were standing behind him and one called out "You're a wanker Window". Window just had this non-plussed look on his face and I couldn't help but laugh.

[mr o]

i played all my colts football at ingle farm.and it was around 78,79,80 that the safa was telacast on sundays.ingle farm had a lot of ex north players, ken and moirre frankcou and big dennis sache

[smithy]

Didn't David Darcy used to host the SAFA games ?

[dedja]

Jeez, time have changed ... SANFL reserves sat mornings, Big Reply and Kenmax mark of the day sat evenings, and footy shows and SAFA on Sundays.

Now we get ...

[bayman]

I can recall telecasts being on Sundays. The first time i'd heard of Ingle Farm and Pooraka Football clubs.

it was the first time i'd even heard of a suburb called athelstone let alone a footy club

[dedja]

I can recall telecasts being on Sundays. The first time i'd heard of Ingle Farm and Pooraka Football clubs.

it was the first time i'd even heard of a suburb called athelstone let alone a footy club

You obviously spent too much time on the 'other' side of town to be aware of God's country ...

[Adelaide Hawk]

I have a handful of SAFA Football Budgets from the years 1980 to 1983. It would appear SAFA began in 1978, and the TV coverage continued until 1980. In the 1980 Budgets, the advertisement for channel 9 shows Neil Kerley, Gary Window and john Robinson in the commentary box. From 1981, there was no TV advertisement in the Budget, and only Saturday games were programmed.

I would think the direction of Sunday matches in the SANFL, as well as Channel 7 doing VFL matches from Sydney put an end to it.

Just leafing through the 1980 Budgets, some interesting names crop up. They mention the leading goalkicker in 1978 was George Roache, and in 1979 it was Lindsay Backman.
Elizabeth - David Saywell.
Ferryden Park - coached by John McInnes, and had Peter Munn, Alex Drzal, and Rodney Seekamp. Ingle Farm - coached by Maurie Francou and had Stephen Keane, Ian Verrier, Paul Zoontjens. Bob Scaglia and John May.
Port Districts - captain coach was Leon Milde, and Greg Leal amd Paul Marrett. Leal kicked 9 goals in this match.
Pooraka - captain-coach Peter Anderson, John Plummer, Trevor Ettridge.
Edwardstown - captain-coach John O'Connor, Hadyn Cutting, Bruce Twelftree, Bill Ruth, Terry Farman from Geelong.
Athelstone - coached by John Burkett. players included Michael Olsen, Neville Harris and Clem Fitzgerald.
Flinders park - coached by Rod pope, players included Trevor Haupt, Peter Tisato, Lou Cailotto, Des Pilkington, Stephen Winstanley and half forward flanker who booted 13 goals this round against Athesltone.
Modbury - coached by Geoff Paull, Michael Eichner played.
Tea Tree Gully - coached by Bohdan Jaworskyj, players were Noel Pettingill and Warren Packer

Div 1 GF: Edwardstown 17-12, Flinders Park 9-12
Div 2 GF: Payneham 15-13, Walkerville 10-9.

There were a lot of changes over the next 3 years with coaches, players, etc, but the most interesting would have to be in 1983. Division 2 team Walkerville coached by Maurie Francou, players included Ken Francou, Terry Collins, John Payne, and some guy in the number 10 jumper named Barrie Robran.

I'm not sure when SAFA was wound up but I know it was still going in 1987, so it lasted at least a decade. I recall in 1986, Pooraka were the red hot favourite for the flag having beaten Payneham by 25 goals in the 2nd Semi Final. Two weeks later in the Grand Final, Payneham turned the tables on Pooraka, beating them by 12 goals ... a remarkable turnaround of 37 goals!!!

[am Bays]

I think it wound up in 93-94. I know my 1992 copies of the Footy Times still include a SAFA round up section.

IIRC clubs like Port Diststicts, TTG Flindrs park started to migrate over to the "Amateur" competition and clubs like Brighton went to the SFL in those last few seasons.

[JK]

I think it wound up in 93-94. I know my 1992 copies of the Footy Times still include a SAFA round up section.

IIRC clubs like Port Diststicts, TTG Flindrs park started to migrate over to the "Amateur" competition and clubs like Brighton went to the SFL in those last few seasons.

Reckon that timing has to be pretty close AB, IIRC Henley moved across in amalgamation with Greek Camden which meant they could avoid having to enter the SAAFL via the lower grades.

[Hondo]

According to the SAAFL history pages (someone has done a great job here) the last SAFA clubs joined the SAAFL in 1996

http://saafl.asn.au/history/1996


"At the end of the 1995 season and leading up to the ’96 season, the Amateur League admitted the remaining S.A.F.A. clubs to its ranks, resulting in a record 208 senior teams in the competition. A questionnaire to clubs had revealed that two thirds opposed the S.A.A.F.L. removing its amateur status, so four separate proposals for gradings were put to the first meeting of delegates in February. The meeting voted to divide the competition into a Premier Division of three grades with reserves, and an A Division of 10 grades of which six had reserves. However, both divisions were to play under the amateur rules for 1996 with a view to making the Premier Division semi-professional in 1997. Those clubs considered by the Executive to be best suited to a semi-pro competition were placed in the Premier Division, including all the former S.A.F.A. clubs."