1878 SAFA season

The 1878 South Australian Football Association season was the 2nd season of the top-level Australian rules football competition in South Australia.

In its first season, Norwood won the premiership, going through the year undefeated - 8 wins and 4 draws.

The SAFA competition was contested by seven teams with the admission of newly formed club Norwood, after Bankers and Woodville folded at the end of 1877.

Each team of twenty men were scheduled to play each other twice this season, the first time a standardised fixture was in place. Clubs also fielded second twentys and these games were also advertised on a weekly basis along with the first twenty games.

The SAFA clubs played inter club matches on 4 May.

An additional pre season game was played between some South Australian and Victorian residents who live in Adelaide.

Premiership matches are those that took place after 11 May.

Norwood advertised a full practice match on their ground in the afternoon.

FIRST TWENTIES. South Park v. South Adelaide, on South Park Lands. Kensington v. Norwood, on Kensington Oval. Adelaide v. Port, on North Park Lands. SECOND TWENTIES. Kensington v. South Adelaide, at South terrace east. Norwoods v. Port, at Glanville. South Park v. Victorian, at Montefiore Hill | | | | | |

• Victorian had kicked a goal, but it was deleted after a head count revealed they had 21 men on the ground at the time.

The mistake being unintentional when they took on two substitutes at the start of the game and one of their players Knill arrived late. After the headcount and the dispute which followed, which lasted half an hour, Knill was removed from the field and play continued.

At a South Australian Football Association Committee meeting held on evening of 6th September 1878 it was decided that the match played between the South Adelaide and Victorian Clubs last Saturday should be declared a win for the former.

Notes: Port Adelaide and Kensington and Victorian and South Park did not play return matches.

South Adelaide were awarded a win following a disputed draw with Victoria (see Round 16)

All who love the noble game, hear the story I proclaim; How the Norwoods earned their fame [How they won their glory]. First, against the Souths so strong, Cheers went up, both loud and long; Forward! Norwoods, red and blue. Fair ones' smiles encourage you. Chorus Cheer the bonny red and blue, Cheer the colours fast and true, Keep their colours still in view, Forward! Men of Norwood.

Who will e'er forget that day, Sturdy Mac led on the play, Giffen dashing through the fray, Kicked first goal for Norwood And from thousand throats that cried, Cleft the air up to the skies. Forward! Norwood, red and blue. Fair ones' eyes are watching you. (Chorus) When they met the sprightly Vics, With their little marks and tricks, People thought would be a fix, Too much for the Norwoods. Like the Souths the Vics were licked, Traynor for us one goals kicked. Forward! Norwoods, red and blue, Wiry Vics you did subdue. (Chorus) Sturdy Ports and Adelaides, Little Parks [those knowing blades] Kensingtons, who love the maids, All succumbed to Norwood. So the first year passed away, And our men still held the sway;

Forward! Norwood, red and blue, Beauty's lips are praising you.

Some of the Clubs took their annual trips into the country.

Norwoods defeated the Gawler seven goads to one;

Adelaide and Gawler, two goals each, played a draw;

Kensingtons scored two goals to Kapunda's one;

South Parks beat Riverton three goals to, nil, and were defeated by Willunga two goals to one. (Thu 20 June 1878)

The Victorians visited Melbourne and were beaten twice by the Melbourne Club and once by Geelong, but were successful in the game played with the Ballarat Club.

There has been a large increase in the number of junior Clubs.