South Australian state football team

The South Australia state football team is the representative side of South Australia in the sport of Australian rules football.

South Australia
Badge of South Australia team
Team information
NicknameThe Croweaters
Governing bodySouth Australian National Football League
Most capsLindsay Head (37)
Home stadiumAAMI Stadium (51,515)
Adelaide Oval (53,583)
Various SANFL grounds
First game
Victoria (state) Victoria 7–0 South Australia South Australia
1879

South Australia has a proud history in interstate football, having a successful historical record. South Australia won the second National Football Carnival in 1911 and won two out of the four Interstate Carnivals in the State of Origin era, including the last two.[1][2] While the senior team no longer plays, it continues to contest the underage men's (5 division 1 titles) and underage women's championships (1 division 2 title).

South Australia has a long and intense rivalry with Victoria.[3] The rivalry was characterised by the catchcry in South Australia called "Kick a Vic", and fans would bring signs of the cry to the games.[1] The South Australia–Victoria rivalry was characterised by long-time South Australian player Andrew Jarman, who has said "it was the mother of all battles".[4] Some of the games between South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia in the 1980s and 1990s have been described as "some of greatest games in the history of Australian football".[5]

The rivalry with Victoria stems from before State of Origin started, when the standard rules prior to 1977 mandated that all VFL players must only play interstate football for Victoria.[6] As most of the country's best players played in the VFL, Victoria dominated the pre–State of Origin era,[6] it created a culture of disdain towards Victoria.[7][3] Another component of the rivalry is a historical feeling in South Australia that Victoria doesn't rate any player or league outside Victoria.[7] Another contributing factor is a feeling in South Australia that Victorians think they own the game.[8]

History
Victoria vs South Australia at the East Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1879

The first game South Australia played was in the first intercolonial/interstate game in 1878 against Victoria.[9] South Australia has played several games annually from 1879 till when interstate football ended in 1999. South Australia has also participated in every Australian National Football Carnival and always participated in section 1 when there were divisions.

The 1980s was a golden period for South Australia, winning the national championship three times, including an Interstate Carnival Championship.[10]

South Australia won the Interstate Carnival three times and came runner up another eight.

Honour of playing for South Australia
Bob Quinn's 1947 South Australian guernsey.

Many players have spoken of the honour of playing for South Australia. Graham Cornes has said when talking about being presented with the South Australian jumper "the pride of holding the jumper first—I can't describe that", and has also said that "pulling the South Australian jumper on is like a dream come true".[11] Former South Australian and Carlton player Andrew McKay has stated, "I never dreamt of playing VFL/AFL as a child, but I always dreamt of playing for my state". Neil Kerley has stated about playing for South Australia that "it was another level".[12] John Platten has been quoted as saying that "state jumpers have to be earned."[13]

Rivalries

Victoria
South Australian player contesting a mark against Victoria players during the Australian National Football Council Interstate Carnival at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 1933

Although the rivalry with Western Australia is very strong, the rivalry between South Australia and Victoria is the strongest.[14]

Neil Kerley has stated that beating Victoria was the ultimate in football in South Australia. After stating that the interviewer said "you've got premierships as a player and coach", but Kerley followed up with "they were great" but continued to state it was the ultimate achievement.[15] Neil Kerley has also stated before an Interstate Carnival grand final with Victoria, that "I don't like the Victorians and I think the South Australians are every bit as good".[16]

Graham Cornes has stated about the rivalry with Victoria that "they don't rate anyone else, they don't regard, it's a lack of respect and appreciation". He then followed up saying "there've been some great footballers out of South Australia who are just unknown in Victoria".[17] He's also commented on Victoria taking South Australia's best footballers away and making them play for Victoria, stating "you even claimed Malcolm Blight as a Victorian, we never quite forgave you for that".[17] Cornes has also described the football culture in Victoria as insular, for their lack of regard for football outside their state.[18]

Former Victorian captain Garry Lyon has commented on games in South Australia versus Victoria, that fans in Adelaide absolutely loved those games, the fans in attendance were "hostile and maniacal", and "by the time the games came around they were whipped into a frenzy".[19]

Ben Hart has talked about South Australia playing Victoria by saying,"the games against Victoria have always been such huge occasions for South Australians".[20]

Brett Chalmers was quoted saying before South Australia played Victoria in 1992, "I'd love to beat the Victorians, every South Australian doesn't like the Victorians, it'll be great to beat them".[21]

Victorian Paul Roos has described the first state game he played in South Australia, saying: "when walking up the entrance and onto Football Park [it] was an experience in itself. I quickly realised how much hatred existed towards Victorians and their football".[22] He has also stated about State of Origin games against South Australia, saying: "from an early age I was glued to the television hoping Victoria would destroy South Australia".[23]

Western Australia

South Australia also has an intense rivalry with Western Australia.[14] It has been described that South Australia likes to try and underline its authority over Western Australia and let it be known that it's the more powerful football state of the pair.[24]

Fans at games between South Australia and Western Australia have been described as vociferous and parochial.[25] A game between Western Australia and South Australia in Adelaide has been described as "parochialism raining".[26]

Notable State of Origin games

South Australia have been involved in some of the most notable games in the history of Australian football.[27] Here are some of them.

1993 South Australia 16.13.109 d Victoria 14.13.97: A close game at the MCG saw South Australia just get home in a game where Darren Jarman kicks six goals and Gary Ablett kicks five.

1992 South Australia 19.19 133 d Victoria 18.12.120: A game that Wayne Carey has described the reason he believed he could succeed in the AFL.[28] In a high scoring game, Stephen Kernahan kicks six goals, Paul Salmon kicks five, Paul Roos kicks three and Wayne Carey dominates at centre half forward, kicking two goals.[29] A classic where South Australia get home in the dying moments.

1984 Victoria 16.12.108 d South Australia 16.8.104: A packed house at Football Park set the stage for a thriller, in a game where Stephen Kernahan kicks ten goals, Paul Salmon kicks five and Peter Daicos kicks three.

1984 Western Australia 14.14.98 d South Australia 14.13.97: One of the most controversial State of Origin games, Western Australia came from 14 points down at the last break to win by a point. Late in the last quarter Western Australia was awarded a controversial free kick close to goal for holding the ball, and took the lead. With scores tied and seconds to go, a Western Australia player kicked a point on the run from outside 50, kicking the ball just before the siren went, to give Western Australia the lead.[30][31]

1994 South Australia 11.9.75 d Victoria 10.13.73: A game regarded as one of the greatest games in the history of Australian football.[32] In a close game, Tony Modra kicks six goals and Gary Ablett kicks four.

1986 South Australia 18.17.125 d Victoria 17.13.115: A high scoring game, where Stephen Kernahan, Grenville Dietrich, and Victoria Australian rules football team's Paul Salmon all kick 4 goals. The game also features John Platten, Tony McGuiness, Greg Williams, Dale Weightman, Chris McDermott and Dermott Brereton.

1987 South Australia 12.13.85 d Victoria 11.15.81: South Australia get home in a close finish, in a game that features John Platten, Chris McDermott, Gary Ablett, Dermott Brereton and Tony McGuiness.

1983 South Australia 26.16.172 d Victoria 17.14.117: In front of 42,521 parochial home fans at Football Park, the Croweaters earned their first win over Victoria at home since 1964 with a stirring 53-point win. Starring for South Australia were Fos Williams Medalist Michael Aish, Bruce Lindner, Peter Motley, John Platten and Mark Naley

There was a song created about South Australia, called "Came from Adelaide", which describes two people watching a game between South Australia and Victoria, when one person says "Those Croweaters just can't play", while the other person replies: "That just isn't true, South Australians are great, as I'm about to tell you."

Carnival history
1908 squad

National Under 18 Championships
  • 7: 1978, 1979, 1980, 1991, 1995, 2013, 2014, 2018

Fos Williams Medal

The Fos Williams Medal was awarded to the best player from a South Australian team. The medal was first awarded in 1981.

List of matches
Year Fixture Opponent Result Venue Crowd
1879 1 1 July Intercolonial Victoria SA: 0 – VIC: 7 East Melbourne Cricket Ground 10,000
2 5 July Intercolonial Victoria SA: 1 – VIC: 4 East Melbourne Cricket Ground 6,000
1880 3 14 August Intercolonial Victoria SA: 2.7 (2) – VIC: 5.13 (5) Adelaide Oval 4,000
4 18 August State of Origin Victoria SA: 1.1 (1) – VIC: 5.17 (5) Adelaide Oval 1,500
5 21 August Intercolonial Victoria SA: 0.6 (0) – VIC: 3.2 (3) Adelaide Oval 2,500

Other state teams

The South Australian National Football League has a representative state team that plays annually against other state league teams. The South Australian Amateur Football League has a state team that plays annually against other state amateur league teams. There was a women's Victorian representative team that played annually in the defunct AFL Women's National Championships. There are also Under-18 South Australian teams that competes annually in the AFL and AFL Women's Under-18 Championships.

South Australia is also represented in the annual veterans' game, the E. J. Whitten Legends Game, by the All-Stars team representing all states apart from Victoria.

References
  1. SAfootballarchive (6 March 2012), 1988 State of Origin South Australia 15.12.102 d Victoria 6.6.42, retrieved 2 March 2016
  2. SAfootballarchive (6 March 2012), 1993 State of Origin Final South Australia 16.13.109 d Victoria 14.13.97, retrieved 2 March 2016
  3. "Cornes leads SANFL with pride in jumper at forefront". WA Football. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  4. SAfootballarchive (6 March 2012), 1992 State of Origin South Australia 19.19.133 d Victoria 18.12.120, retrieved 2 March 2016
  5. "The greatest State of Origin game ever, WA v Victoria '86". The Roar. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  6. "Australian Football - West Coast Football Club - Stats". australianfootball.com. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  7. Adelaide Football Club (19 August 2013), Graham Cornes on Open Mike - 19 August 2013, retrieved 2 March 2016
  8. "Australian Football - The+pride+of+South+Australia". australianfootball.com. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  9. The First Intercolonial, The Australasian, (Saturday, 6 September 1924), p.31.
  10. "Picking a SANFL All Stars team of the 1980s". The Roar. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  11. Adelaide Football Club (19 August 2013), Graham Cornes on Open Mike - 19 August 2013, retrieved 3 March 2016
  12. aflonthetubes (3 April 2014), Open Mike (2014) - Neil Kerley, retrieved 3 March 2016
  13. "Subscribe to the Herald Sun". Herald Sun. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  14. "Digitised Resource Viewer". cedric.slv.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  15. aflonthetubes (3 April 2014), Open Mike (2014) - Neil Kerley, retrieved 29 June 2016
  16. SAfootballarchive (6 March 2012), 1980 State of Origin Victoria 15.12.102 d South Australia 12.13.85, retrieved 29 June 2016
  17. Adelaide Football Club (19 August 2013), Graham Cornes on Open Mike - 19 August 2013, retrieved 29 June 2016
  18. AllStarAFL (31 August 2015), The Cornes Family on Open Mike (31 Aug 2015), retrieved 29 June 2016
  19. Lyon, Garry (18 June 2011). "No stopping the pick of the Vics". The Age. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  20. "Digitised Resource Viewer". cedric.slv.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  21. SAfootballarchive (6 March 2012), 1992 State of Origin South Australia 19.19.133 d Victoria 18.12.120, retrieved 29 June 2016
  22. "Digitised Resource Viewer". cedric.slv.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  23. "Digitised Resource Viewer". cedric.slv.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  24. "Digitised Resource Viewer". cedric.slv.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  25. "SA loses thrilling match - The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995) - 10 Jun 1984". Trove. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  26. SAfootballarchive (6 March 2012), 1993 State of Origin South Australia 19.13.127 d Western Australia 13.7.85, retrieved 1 July 2016
  27. "The greatest State of Origin game ever, WA v Victoria '86". The Roar. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  28. North Melbourne Football Club (11 May 2015), Wayne Carey feature - Part 1 (AFLPlayers.com.au), archived from the original on 21 December 2021, retrieved 3 March 2016
  29. The YouTube Rub (31 May 2014), 31/05/2014 The Origin of the Fraudulent Chief, archived from the original on 21 December 2021, retrieved 3 March 2016
  30. "SA loses thrilling match - The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995) - 10 Jun 1984". Trove. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  31. SAfootballarchive (6 March 2012), 1984 State Game Western Australia 14.14.98 d South Australia 14.13.97, retrieved 30 June 2016
  32. Costa Sports (8 April 2015), That Was the Season that Was 1994 AFL, archived from the original on 21 December 2021, retrieved 3 March 2016
  33. "Fullpointsfooty.net".
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