Letter to SAFC Members and Fans

With the election of the Board now completed, and the office holders appointed, it is timely that Members are provided with the approach the Board intend to take in 2024 and beyond.

Firstly, I want to assure Members that the Board is committed to being proactive and approachable and that we have as our collective core value, connecting with our members and every segment of our community.

Our vision is that the SAFC aspires to be ‘The Premier Club in the South’. In practice this means that the South Adelaide Football Club aspires to be the Leading Community Sporting Club in the Southern Districts, collaborating with all other sporting organisations so that the “South” is recognised as the leading sporting and physical activity region in South Australia. 

From a Football perspective we will always play to win in all grades across the club and we expect that our approach on the field will be one of a highly competitive, fully committed and determined team effort from all who wear the Panther’s guernsey. 

Following on from the extensive review of our 2023 performance, the Football Department has implemented a number of key recommendations, the most significant being that we aim to have over 70% of our squads made up of talented local players. 

This has seen the Senior squads having a significant alteration in their age demographics where for example the Senior Men’s squad now have the majority of their squad in the 18 to 23 age group.

It is no doubt that our senior men’s team will be seen as a young developing team but for the Club to have success in the SANFL competition we need to develop our young talent and give them a chance to gain enough experience to ultimately challenge for the Premiership.

In relation to our senior Women’s team, we believe they are in the position to challenge for the finals again this season and hopefully go one better than last year.

I want to thank all our Partners/Sponsors for their continuing support, and I hope to engage with everyone as soon as possible, to flesh out how we intend to achieve our vision. 

I also want to thank our members and supporters for their unwavering support and of course the legion of volunteers who, without which, we would not be able to strive to be a successful SANFL Club.

Finally, I would like to thank the outgoing Board for their efforts on behalf of the SAFC and in particular, thank our outgoing President, Margaret Nyland AM, for her leadership and support. 

Kind Regards, 

Geoff Baynes 

President

South Adelaide Football Club