The South Adelaide Football Club Reserves have won 3 Premierships in 1914, 1979, and 1991.

After coming so close to victory in 1977 and 1978, the Reserves finally got the job done in 1979. 

The premiership side was coached by John Reid and Captained by Haydn Cutting. Special mentions to Mark Naley, Mark Keam, Paul Cotter and Frank Spiel all had an impressive finals campaign. 

The following was published in the 1979 Annual Report.

Dear Members,

PREMIERS - the goal of every team!

1979 saw our coach John Reid and his dedicated players achieve elusive goal, a feat which did a great deal to heal the wounds of defeat in 1977 and 1978. The task was not achieved easily because after the fourth game of the season the Reserves had won only one game and was second to bottom on the premiership table.

Then the persistence and discipline began to pay dividends and if it had not been for a drawn game against North Adelaide, then we would have finished third at the end of the minor round. The month of September brought an intensification of application and demand by John and his players with numerous team meetings, training, examination of opposition teams, all culminating into a supreme effort on Saturday, 29th September.

We had fought our way into the Grand Final by defeating West Torrens, Norwood and Port Adelaide and in most games the opposition was the "Press" favourite. The glory of winning the Grand Final turned to a mood of disappointment when our League team was beaten, but it proved the closeness of the ties between the players and officials of both grades and we would have gladly traded our trophy to see the League team win the top award.

It is difficult to single out players after a final series, but I feel that it would be amiss not to mention a few, namely Frank Spiel, Mark Naley, Mark Keam and Paul Cotter. Also I would like to make special praise of our Captain Haydn Cutting who has decided to retire after several dedicated years with South Adelaide. He has always given of his best, never complains and if every player was as co-operative and dedicated then coaching or managing teams would be considerably easier-good luck for the future, Haydn.

As is normal and most deserving my thanks must go to the following people who assist in the smooth operation of the team each Saturday.

They are: Ron Taylor, Tom Crossen, (Runner and Fitness Coach) David Burge, Ken Rann, Bert Oates, Ray Rendall, John Kimber, Graham Martin, Greg Warren and all trainers, John and George Shrive and our medical officers. Also a special thanks to our Selectors, Haydn Bunton, Laurie Rusby and Graham Hebbard who have done a wonderful, but difficult job so well again. Last, certainly not least, my thanks on behalf of all players and officials to John Reid for his determined and intelligent manner in the coaching of the team and he has justly been rewarded with a Premiership.

Also with a great deal of regret I must report to our members that John may not be with us in 1980, it is possible that he may be transferred to Port Augusta with his employer and we wish him luck and a speedy return to South Adelaide.

Congratulations to Chris Wright of Port Adelaide the 1979 Reserves Magarey Medalist and our commiserations to Glenelg, the Reserves runners up. 

The SAFC Reserves earnt their third premiership in 1991, against a dogged Woodville West Torrens (in their first year post amalgamation), in a down to the wire thriller at Football Park. On a blisteringly hot day, with temperatures reaching 30 degrees, the Panthers led for most of the day & finally ran out winners by 2 points, with final scores South 15.9 to Eagles 14.13.

South kicked with a slight breeze in the 1st quarter & played a brilliant brand of footy, kicking 9 goals to the Eagles 4, in what was an entertaining and high quality affair.

Although Niemann & Bulluss looked dangerous early in the quarter, getting good service from Steven Sziller & Nick Pesch, South soon took control, particularly through the centre, with David Baker & Randall Bone dominating in the ruck. Trevor Mitton was all class, winning clearances from stoppage, whilst also kicking a goal & setting up others with his skill & deft touch.

When WWT did go forward, South's defensive pressure was telling, with the red headed duo of Trent Mills & Ian White rebounding well, along with Chris Groom, who managed to get on top of Niemann, despite the latter's 3 goals for the quarter.

South's movement was scintillating at times and the use of handball to create space. resulted in a number of goals, to Ian Cox, Peter Keam & Braine. Harrison & Forbes were the architects of much of this movement & by quarter time, South had a more than handy lead of 9.1 to 4.0.

After a free running 1st quarter, the 2nd started in a much more dour fashion and it took 11 minutes before the Eagles, through Popplestone, registered the quarter's first major.

As the quarter wore on, the Eagles got on top in the midfield, with McCarthy taking control in the ruck & Popplestone in particular, along with the Sziller brothers, Hannam & Pesch, exerting their influence.

Searle & Lukosius were proving to be a thorn in South's side, providing plenty of drive from half back & the Eagles scored some late and deserved goals, from Sziller & Hannam, to reduce the margin to 12 points at half time. 11.5 to 9.5.

For South, Harrison continued to play well & kicked his second goal for the game. Craig Dewhirst & young Kym Koster tried hard to contain the Eagles midfielders & Greg Klenjans playing his "will-o-the-wisp" half forward role, looked dangerous, but failed to take advantage of numerous scoring opportunities. 

WWT dominated play in the 3rd quarter, but couldn't take advantage of that dominance, kicking 3.5, as well as a number out on the full. 

The unseasonably hot weather was starting to take its toll, with players from both sides appearing to run out of puff. The Eagles midfield continued to hold sway & created a number of scoring opportunities. Nick Pesch was excellent & reminded everyone of what a bright future he had & the Sziller boys continued to play well. Paul Bulluss was a dangerous target up forward, but was also the main culprit in failing to convert opportunity into scoreboard pressure.

For the Panthers, Mitton & Dewhirst fought valiantly, but received little support from their team mates & their rare forays into attack, were thwarted by the Eagles defenders. As in the first half, Lukosius & Searle were impassable & it appeared that the Eagles, with the advantage of the week's break, would be hard to overcome in the last quarter & looked the likely premiers. Scores at 3/4 time South 13.6 to Eagles 12.10.

The last quarter was a dour, but enthralling affair. WWT scored an early goal from Foote, to hit the front & they continued to exert their control over South, however, the Panthers were desperate in defence & there were some heroic examples of this, a smother from Harrison in particular, stopped a certain Eagles goal, that probably would have put them into an unassailable position and young Matt Powell did some good work & looks to have a bright future.

Keam took a terrific mark in the goal square to put the Panthers back in front, before Bulluss was awarded a questionable mark & converted to put Eagles back on top, with only a few minutes remaining. The Eagles went into attack, but Chris Groom won a contest across half back and pushed the ball forward, where Klenjans gathered the ball on the member's side boundary, centred it to Randall Bone, who broke a tackle & handballed to Andrew Osborn, who'd been quiet all day & through heavy traffic & extreme pressure, he snapped a brilliant goal from 15m out. From the subsequent centra bounce, the siren sounds & South have won a famous victory & their 3rd Reserves Premiership.