The South Australian National Football League (SANFL) and State Government have formally agreed to a new partnership which aims to boost participation in Aussie rules and promote health and wellbeing for a new generation of young South Australians through our school communities.

As children at Goodwood Primary School enjoyed an Auskick footy clinic, SANFL Chief Executive Officer Darren Chandler signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the State Government which aims to promote physical activity through sporting programs in schools, boost investment in school sporting infrastructure and increase out of hours community access to school sports facilities.

Under the agreement, the Department for Education and SANFL will pursue collaborative opportunities, including creating second ovals for SANFL clubs on school grounds similar to the partnership already delivered between Central District Football Club and Playford International College, which is helping to boost participation among girls and women.

SANFL CEO Darren Chandler said, with more than 66,600 registered participants in our game this year, from young Auskickers to junior and senior players, and a further 2,500 community umpires across the State who also require training venues, this partnership with the State Government will be vital in supporting the future growth of footy in this State.

“Secondary fit-for-purpose ovals for our eight SANFL clubs also are critical to accommodate talent pathways and the growth in elite female footy and will provide greater connection between the clubs and their local communities”.

“Furthermore, we now have over 12,000 boys and girls playing in our SANFL Juniors league across the metropolitan area with a significant shortage of oval space for both training sessions and matches”.

“Unlocking access to existing green space and infrastructure within schools is a logical approach to supporting grassroots community sport and will ensure our community football clubs can accommodate the ongoing growth of our game”.

“Importantly this partnership also opens up many opportunities to get more school children active and playing football”.

“Over the past two years as part of AFL Gather Round, SANFL has travelled to more than 50 regional towns with the AFL, AFLW, SANFL and SANFLW premiership cups, providing the opportunity for local school children to engage with the excitement of Gather Round through clinics, education sessions and photo opportunities”.

“We look forward to expanding this initiative in 2025, along with other school-based initiatives, that will support getting kids more active and participating in footy”.

A partnership between Urrbrae Agricultural High School and Sturt Football Club is already in development. Other opportunities to be explored include co-investment in facilities such as lights, changerooms and flexible multi-purpose spaces that can double as classrooms and sports team education facilities, as well as partnership delivery of sporting programs aligned to curriculum and student wellbeing.

With significant growth in the number of girls and women taking up footy, clubs are experiencing pressure around access to training grounds. In addition to helping ease that, the collaboration is also expected to directly support all players while ensuring improved pathways for girls and women in the game.

Goodwood Primary School Principal Belinda Adams said, although the school is landlocked, sporting and team activities are thoughtfully designed to make the most of the available open space.

“This encourages students to be creative, flexible, and resourceful, working within the constraints of their environment to maximise physical activity and problem-solving”.

“Goodwood Primary places a strong emphasis on building community connections, which play a vital role in enhancing our students’ sporting experiences. For example, this year we had a focus on transforming Sports Day into a community event, encouraging parent participation and inviting local clubs from the community to run stations and serve as an expo for our parents to sign up their children” she said.

“Such initiatives reinforce our commitment to engaging students in physical activity while strengthening relationships with local organisations that share our vision for an active, healthy lifestyle”.

The MOU builds on the department’s commitment to supporting schools to develop strong partnerships with their communities that benefit all parties, with public education as the primary focus.