City of Onkaparinga provide significant support towards Panthers female change rooms

South Adelaide Football Club's bid for new female friendly change rooms took an important step forward when the City of Onkaparinga agreed to provide $90,000 in funding following a Council meeting on Tuesday night.

South Adelaide have collaborated with SANFL to design South Australia's first high specification, state modular change room complex.

The funding from City of Onkaparinga will greatly assist the Club with its submission for the bulk of the funding, which is currently being considered by the Office for Recreation and Sport.

South Adelaide have requested funding of $500,000 from the Female Facilities Grants program to design a facility that complies with AFL Preferred Facility Guidelines for female sport.

The AFL have committed a further $50,000 to the project to provide coaching and media boxes with the goal of Hickinbotham Oval hosting more AFL pre-season games in the future.

South Adelaide CEO Neill Sharpe said the support from City of Onkaparinga was a significant outcome in the process.

"It was fantastic to hear the positivity and understanding towards the growth of female football in the Council chamber. The Club is genuinely grateful for the support.

"If we can have the grant approved by the Office for Recreation & Sport this will provide a terrific opportunity for female footballers in the southern region to realise their AFLW dreams.

"In our first season in the SANFLW we have already set the benchmark and this will continue with our aim to make South Adelaide a destination club for female and male footballers, coaches, administrators and volunteers."

This Saturday South Adelaide will also be looking to retain the Mayor's Cup which is contested every year against Central District and recognises the support the City of Onkaparinga and City of Playford provide their respective SANFL clubs.

The Panthers are current holders of the trophy.