1879 SAFA season
{{Short description|none}}
{{Use Australian English|date=October 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox Australian rules football season
| competition = safa
| year = 1879
| image = Norwood_1879.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = {{SANFL Nor}} premiership team
| teams = 7
| premiers = {{SANFL Nor}}
| count = 2
| minor premiers =
| mpcount =
| pre-season cup =
| pscount =
| matches = 34
| attendance =
| highattend = 3,000 (Round 11, {{SANFL Nor}} vs. {{AFL Por}})
| top goal scorer = William Dedman
{{SANFL Nor}} (7 Goals)
| magarey medal =
| prevseason = 1878
| nextseason = 1880
}}
The 1879 South Australian Football Association season was the 3rd season of the top-level Australian rules football competition in South Australia.
The {{SANFL Nor}} Football Club went on to record its 2nd consecutive premiership, going through the season undefeated. The Kensington Football Club received its second consecutive wooden spoon, failing to win a game, and extending its winless streak to 27. Several disputes between South Adelaide and the other clubs arose during the season.[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/160125331 18 Oct 1879 - football. - Trove]
Pre season
{{AFLGameHeader|title=South Australians vs. Allcomers}}
{{AFLGame|Day, 10 May (3:30 pm)|South Australians|0|D|Allcomers|0|Adelaide Oval|1,200|{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article29370894 |title=FOOTBALL. |newspaper=The South Australian Advertiser |location=Adelaide |date=12 May 1879 |access-date=28 December 2014 |page=6 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}}}
{{AFLGameFooter|notes= }}
Premiership season
= Round 1 =
{{AFLGameHeader|title=Round 1}}
{{AFLGame|Saturday, 17 May (3:00 pm)|{{SANFL Nor}}|1|H|{{SANFL SthA}}|0|East Park Lands|2,000|{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article93969917 |title=football. |newspaper=South Australian Chronicle and Weekly Mail |location=Adelaide |date=24 May 1879 |access-date=28 December 2014 |page=18 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}}}
{{AFLGame|Saturday, 17 May (3:00 pm)|Kensington|3|A|{{SANFL Ade}}|5|Kensington Oval||}}
{{AFLGame|Saturday, 17 May (3:00 pm)|{{AFL Por}}|2|H|South Park|0|Adelaide Oval||{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article93969917 |title=football. |newspaper=South Australian Chronicle and Weekly Mail |location=Adelaide |date=24 May 1879 |access-date=12 January 2015 |page=18 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}}}
{{AFLGameFooter|notes=
- During the Norwood vs. South Adelaide game when A. Terrell kicked Norwood's second goal much disagreement and disorder ensued. }}
=Round 2=
{{AFLGameHeader|title=Round 2}}
{{AFLGame|Saturday, 24 May (3:00 pm)|{{SANFL Nor}}|1|H|{{SANFL Vic}}|0|Adelaide Oval|1,500|{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article73440768 |title=FOOTBALL. |newspaper=The South Australian Advertiser |location=Adelaide |date=26 May 1879 |access-date=12 January 2015 |page=7 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}}}
{{AFLGameFooter|notes= }}
=Round 3=
{{AFLGameHeader|title=Round 3}}
{{AFLGame|Saturday, 31 May (3:30 pm)|{{SANFL SthA}}|1|D|{{AFL Por}}|1|South Park Lands|1,500|{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article29371556 |title=FOOTBALL. |newspaper=The South Australian Advertiser |location=Adelaide |date=2 June 1879 |access-date=12 January 2015 |page=6 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}}}
{{AFLGame|Saturday, 31 May (3:15 pm)|{{SANFL Ade}}|0|D|{{SANFL Vic}}|0|Adelaide Oval|550|}}
{{AFLGame|Saturday, 31 May (3:00 pm)|Kensington|0|A|South Park|1|Kensington Oval||}}
{{AFLGameFooter|notes= }}
=Round 4=
{{AFLGameHeader|title=Round 4}}
{{AFLGame|Saturday, 14 June (3:15 pm)|{{AFL Por}}|1|A|{{SANFL Nor}}|3|Glanville Estate|1,000|{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article42969012 |title=FOOTBALL. |newspaper=South Australian Register |location=Adelaide |date=16 June 1879 |access-date=12 January 2015 |page=4 Supplement: Supplement to the South Australian Register |publisher=National Library of Australia}}}}
{{AFLGame|Saturday, 14 June (3:00 pm)|{{SANFL Vic}}|0|D|South Park|0|Montefiore Hill|500|}}
{{AFLGameFooter|notes= }}
=Round 5=
{{AFLGameHeader|title=Round 5}}
{{AFLGame|Saturday, 21 June (3:30 pm)|{{SANFL Ade}}|1|D|{{AFL Por}}|1|Adelaide Oval||{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article29372279 |title=FOOTBALL. |newspaper=The South Australian Advertiser |location=Adelaide |date=24 June 1879 |access-date=12 January 2015 |page=7 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}}}
{{AFLGame|Saturday, 21 June (3:00 pm)|{{SANFL Vic}}|3|H|Kensington|0|Montefiore Hill||{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article42974641 |title=FOOTBALL. |newspaper=South Australian Register |location=Adelaide |date=24 June 1879 |access-date=12 January 2015 |page=7 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}}}
{{AFLGameFooter|notes= }}
=Round 6=
{{AFLGameHeader|title=Round 6}}
{{AFLGame|Saturday, 12 July (3:15 pm)|South Park|1|D|{{SANFL Ade}}|1|South Park Lands|300|{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article43095761 |title=FOOTBALL. |newspaper=South Australian Register |location=Adelaide |date=15 July 1879 |access-date=13 January 2015 |page=7 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}}}
{{AFLGameFooter|notes= }}
=Round 7=
{{AFLGameHeader|title=Round 7}}
{{AFLGame|Saturday, 26 July (3:30 pm)|Kensington|0|A|{{SANFL Nor}}|7|Kensington Oval||{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article43095999 |title=FOOTBALL. |newspaper=South Australian Register |location=Adelaide |date=28 July 1879 |access-date=13 January 2015 |page=7 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}}}
{{AFLGame|Saturday, 26 July |South Park|1|D|{{SANFL SthA}}|0|South Park Lands||{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article29373352 |title=FOOTBALL. |newspaper=The South Australian Advertiser |location=Adelaide |date=28 July 1879 |access-date=13 January 2015 |page=6 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}}}
{{AFLGame|Saturday, 26 July|{{AFL Por}}|2|H|{{SANFL Ade}}|0|Glanville Estate||{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article29373390 |title=FOOTBALL. |newspaper=The South Australian Advertiser |location=Adelaide |date=29 July 1879 |access-date=13 January 2015 |page=6 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}}}
{{AFLGameFooter|notes= }}
=Round 8=
{{AFLGameHeader|title=Round 8}}
{{AFLGame|Saturday, 2 August (3:00 pm)|{{AFL Por}}|2|H|South Park|0|Glanville Estate||{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article73441390 |title=FOOTBALL. |newspaper=The South Australian Advertiser |location=Adelaide |date=4 August 1879 |access-date=13 January 2015 |page=7 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}}}
{{AFLGame|Saturday, 2 August (Time pm)|Kensington|0|A|{{SANFL Vic}}|6|Kensington Oval||}}
{{AFLGameFooter|notes= }}
=Round 9=
{{AFLGameHeader|title=Round 9}}
{{AFLGame|Saturday, 9 August (3:15 pm)|{{SANFL Nor}}|4.15 (4)|H|{{SANFL Ade}}|0.1 (0)|East Park Lands|400|{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article73440886 |title=FOOTBALL. |newspaper=The South Australian Advertiser |location=Adelaide |date=11 August 1879 |access-date=13 January 2015 |page=7 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}}}
{{AFLGame|Saturday, 9 August |{{SANFL Vic}}|0.2 (2)|A|{{AFL Por}}|1.2 (1)|Montefiore Hill|750|}}
{{AFLGameFooter|notes= }}
=Round 10=
{{AFLGameHeader|title=Round 10}}
{{AFLGame|Saturday, 16 August (3:20 pm)|{{SANFL Nor}}|2.18 (2)|D|South Park|2.2 (2)|East Park Lands||{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article29374012 |title=FOOTBALL. |newspaper=The South Australian Advertiser |location=Adelaide |date=18 August 1879 |access-date=13 January 2015 |page=6 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}}}
{{AFLGame|Saturday, 16 August (3:30 pm)|{{SANFL Vic}}|1|H|{{SANFL Ade}}|0|Montefiore Hill|300|}}
{{AFLGame|Saturday, 16 August (3:40 pm)|Kensington|0.6 (6)|A|{{SANFL SthA}}|1.7 (1)|Kensington Oval||{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article29374266 |title=FOOTBALL. |newspaper=The South Australian Advertiser |location=Adelaide |date=26 August 1879 |access-date=13 January 2015 |page=6 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}}}
{{AFLGameFooter|notes= }}
=Round 11=
{{AFLGameHeader|title=Round 11}}
{{AFLGame|Saturday, 23 August (3:15 pm)|{{SANFL Nor}}|1.7 (1)|H|{{AFL Por}}|0|East Park Lands|3,000|{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article29374205 |title=FOOTBALL. |newspaper=The South Australian Advertiser |location=Adelaide |date=25 August 1879 |access-date=13 January 2015 |page=6 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}}}
{{AFLGame|Saturday, 23 August (3:00 pm)|{{SANFL SthA}}|2|H|{{SANFL Vic}}|0|South Park Lands||}}
{{AFLGameFooter|notes= }}
=Round 12=
{{AFLGameHeader|title=Round 12}}
{{AFLGame|Saturday, 30 August (3:20 pm)|{{SANFL Vic}}|0.3 (3)|A|{{SANFL Nor}}|3.4 (3)|Montefiore Hill||{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article29374453 |title=FOOTBALL. |newspaper=The South Australian Advertiser |location=Adelaide |date=1 September 1879 |access-date=13 January 2015 |page=6 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article43092603 |title=FOOTBALL. |newspaper=South Australian Register |location=Adelaide |date=3 September 1879 |access-date=13 January 2015 |page=7 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}}}
{{AFLGame|Saturday, 30 August (3:20 pm)|{{SANFL Ade}}|0.4 (4)|A|South Park|4.8 (4)|Adelaide Oval||{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article43098597 |title=FOOTBALL. |newspaper=South Australian Register |location=Adelaide |date=1 September 1879 |access-date=13 January 2015 |page=7 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}}}
{{AFLGameFooter|notes=
=Round 13=
{{AFLGameHeader|title=Round 13}}
{{AFLGame|Saturday, 6 September (3:15 pm)|South Park|0.2 (2)|A|{{SANFL Vic}}|1.4 (1)|South Park Lands|550|{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article73439542 |title=FOOTBALL. |newspaper=The South Australian Advertiser |location=Adelaide |date=8 September 1879 |access-date=13 January 2015 |page=7 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}}}
{{AFLGameFooter|notes=
- A game scheduled at Glanville Estate on Saturday, 6 September between {{AFL Por}} and Kensington was postponed due to illness amongst the Kensington players and the fact it was mail day.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article43086447 |title=FOOTBALL. |newspaper=South Australian Register |location=Adelaide |date=8 September 1879 |access-date=13 January 2015 |page=6 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} }}
=Round 14=
{{AFLGameHeader|title=Round 14}}
{{AFLGame|Saturday, 13 September (3:00 pm)|South Park|0.0 (0)|A|{{SANFL Nor}}|3.13 (3)|East Park Lands|2,000|{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article43094157 |title=FOOTBALL. |newspaper=South Australian Register |location=Adelaide |date=15 September 1879 |access-date=13 January 2015 |page=6 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article29374914 |title=FOOTBALL. |newspaper=The South Australian Advertiser |location=Adelaide |date=15 September 1879 |access-date=13 January 2015 |page=6 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}}}
{{AFLGameFooter|notes=
=Round 15=
{{AFLGameHeader|title=Round 15}}
{{AFLGame|Saturday, 20 September|South Park|0.17 (0)|H|Kensington|0.1 (0)|South Park Lands||{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article29375159 |title=FOOTBALL. |newspaper=The South Australian Advertiser |location=Adelaide |date=22 September 1879 |access-date=13 January 2015 |page=6 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}}}
{{AFLGameFooter|notes= }}
Ladder
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; font-size: 90%; width: 60%; margin: 1em auto;" |
| colspan="10" style="background: #EBEBEB;" |
{| border="0" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" |
| style="background: #EBEBEB;"
| width="35%" style="border: 0;" | | style="border: 0; font-size: 115%;" | 1879 SAFA Ladder | width="25%" style="border: 0;" | |
|- style="text-align: center; font-size: 90%;"
! !! TEAM !! width="25" | P !! width="25" | W !! width="25" | L !! width="25" | D !! width="45" | GF !! width="45" | GA !! width="45" | Pts !! width="45" | Adj Pts
|- style="background: #CCFFCC;"
| 1
| Norwood
| 10
| 9
| 0
| 1
| 30
| 3
| 19
| 22.80
|-
|2
| 9
| 5
| 2
| 2
| 11
| 6
| 12
| 16.00
|-
|3
| 7
| 4
| 2
| 1
| 6
| 4
| 9
| 15.42
|-
|4
| 11
| 4
| 5
| 2
| 11
| 8
| 10
| 10.91
|-
|5
|South Park
|12
|3
|5
|4
|8
|11
|10
|10.00
|-
|6
|10
|2
|5
|3
|9
|20
|7
|8.40
|-
|7
|Kensington
|9
|0
|8
|1
|4
|27
|1
|1.33
|- style="font-size: xx-small;"
| colspan="9" | Key: P = Played, W = Won, L = Lost, D = Drawn, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points, Adj Pts = Points adjusted for match ratio, (P) = Premiers
|{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article160125331 |title=Football: Review of the Season 1879 |newspaper=Adelaide Observer |date=18 October 1879 |access-date=18 December 2014 |page=10 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}
|}
Notes:
- Following disputes between South Adelaide and other clubs, Adelaide (twice), Norwood, Port Adelaide, and Victorian (once each) all refused to play them: these five cancelled matches are not included in the above ladder.
- Kensington only played Norwood once, with their only scheduled match against Port Adelaide being forfeited due to a lack of players.
- Port Adelaide were ranked above South Adelaide on match ratio (only match was drawn), while Victorian were ranked above South Park (1-0-1) and South Park were ranked above Adelaide (1-0-1) on head-to-head record.
Intercolonial matches
During 1879, a team representing the South Australian Football Association) toured Victoria, and played two intercolonial matches against an Association representative team; the first on a public holiday Tuesday, and the other on the following Saturday. The games were the first ever intercolonial matches between colony representative teams.
{{AFLGameHeader|title=1879 Intercolonial Matches}}
{{AFLGame|Tuesday, 1 July|Victoria|7|H|South Australia|0|East Melbourne Cricket Ground|10,000|{{cite news|newspaper=The Argus|publication-place=Melbourne|page=5|date=2 July 1879|title=Intercolonial Football Match}}}}
{{AFLGame|Saturday, 5 July|Victoria|4|H|South Australia|1|East Melbourne Cricket Ground|6,000|{{cite news|newspaper=The Argus|publication-place=Melbourne|page=6|date=7 July 1879|title=Intercolonial Football Match}}}}
{{AFLGameFooter}}