1878 SAFA season

Last updated

1878 SAFA premiership season
Norwood premiership team 1878.png
Norwood premiership team
Teams7
Premiers Norwood
1st premiership
Leading goalkicker William Dedman
Norwood (12 Goals)
Matches played40
Highest3,000 (Round 13, Norwood vs Port Adelaide)
←  1877
1879  →

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

Contents

In its first season, Norwood won the premiership, going through the year undefeated - 8 wins and 4 draws. [1]

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.

Pre season

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.

South Australian vs. Victorian residents
Saturday, 11 May (Time pm)South Australians 1def.Victorians 0 Adelaide Oval (crowd: 350) [2]

Premiership season

SAFA Senior Clubs 1878 Season

ClubColoursHome GroundCaptainComments
Adelaide  Black,   RedOld Adelaide GroundDaltonPlayed majority of home games
at Adelaide Oval
Kensington  Scarlet   White Kensington Oval Milne
Norwood  Navy blue   RedEast Park LandsJ.R.OsborneNew club formed from
leading players from Woodville
Port Adelaide  Magneta   WhiteGlanville Hall EstateW. Fletcher
South Adelaide  Navy Blue   White South Terrace, Adelaide G.D.Kennedy
South Park  Light Blue   White South Park Lands J.H.Sinclair
Victorian  Orange   Black Montefiore Hill (North Adelaide) G.E.Downs

Premiership matches are those that took place after 11 May. [3]

Round 1

Round 1
Saturday, 18 May (3:15 pm) Norwood 1def. South Adelaide 0 Adelaide Oval (crowd: 800) [4]
Saturday, 18 May (3:15 pm)South Park 0def. by Port Adelaide 2South Park Lands [5]
Saturday, 18 May (3:00 pm)Kensington 0def. by Adelaide 5 Kensington Oval [4]
Bye
Victorian

Round 2

Round 2
Saturday, 25 May (3:45 pm) Norwood 1def. Victorian 0East Park Lands (crowd: 500) [6]
Saturday, 25 May (3:40 pm) Adelaide 1def. South Adelaide 0 Adelaide Oval [6]
Saturday, 25 May (3:00 pm)Kensington 0def. by Port Adelaide 4 Kensington Oval [6]
Bye
South Park

Non Competition Match - Monday 27th May was Queen's Birthday Holiday.
Norwood (with a strong team) visited Gawler - Winning 7 goals to 1. [7]

Round 3

Round 3
Saturday, 1 June (3:25 pm) South Adelaide 0def. by Port Adelaide 1South Park Lands (crowd: 300) [8]
Saturday, 1 June (3:30 pm)Kensington 0def. bySouth Parks 1 Kensington Oval [8]
Saturday, 1 June (3:00 pm) Adelaide 2drew with Victorians 2 Adelaide Oval [9]
  • The South Adelaide vs. Port Adelaide game was ended early due to the interference of rowdy larrikins.

Round 4

Round 4
Saturday, 8 June (Time pm) Adelaide 0def. by Norwood 1 Adelaide Oval [10]
Saturday, 8 June (3:00 pm) South Adelaide 1vSouth Parks 0South Park Lands [10]

The Port Adelaide vs. Victorian game was called off due to bad weather and rescheduled for 6 July despite Port kicking a goal. [11]

Round 5

Round 5
Saturday, 15 June (3:15 pm) South Adelaide 2def.Kensington 0South Park Lands [12]
Saturday, 15 June (Time pm) Victorians 3def.South Parks 0 Montefiore Hill [12]
Saturday, 15 June (Time pm) Port Adelaide 0def. by Norwood 1 Glanville Estate (crowd: 600) [13]

Round 6

Round 6
Saturday, 22 June (3:00 pm)South Parks 0drew with Norwood 0Park Lands, South Tce (crowd: 600) [14]
Saturday, 22 June (3:00 pm) Port Adelaide 2def. Adelaide 0 Glanville Estate (crowd: 300) [14]
Saturday, 22 June (3:45 pm)Kensington 0drew with Victorians 0 Kensington Oval [14]

Round 7

Round 7 [15]
Saturday, 29 June (3:00 pm) Victorians 1def. South Adelaide 0 Montefiore Hill (crowd: 1,100) [16]
Saturday, 29 June (Time pm)South Park 1?drew with Adelaide 1?South Park Lands

South Park vs Adelaide at South Park Lands was advertised for 02.45pm (No Match Report) [17]
Based upon the published midseason table on 13 July 1878 this game ended in a draw. Goals deduced from end of season table. [18]
SECOND TWENTIES.
South Park v. Port, at Glanville.
Kensington v. Adelaide, on North Park Lands.


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

Round 8

Round 8
Saturday, 6 July (Time pm) Norwood 6def.Kensington 0East Park Lands (crowd: 300) [11]
Saturday, 6 July (3:15 pm) Port Adelaide 1drew with Victorians 1 Glanville Estate [11]

The Victorian Club visited Glanville on Saturday afternoon, July 6, to play off their match of Saturday, June 8. with the Port Club, which was postponed, after the Ports had obtained one goal, owing to the unfavorable state of the weather.

Round 9

Round 9
Saturday, 13 July (Time pm)Kensington 0drew with Norwood 0 Kensington Oval [19]
Saturday, 13 July (3:15 pm) Adelaide 0drew with Port Adelaide 0Old Adelaide Ground [20]
Saturday, 13 July (Time pm)South Park 0?def. by South Adelaide 2?South Park Lands

South Park vs South Adelaide - No Match report. Result and goals deduced from end of season Table.
FIXTURES ADVERTISED FOR JULY 13, Commencing at 2.45 p.m. sharp. [21]
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

Round 10

Round 10
Saturday, 20 July (3:00 pm) South Adelaide 0drew with Adelaide 0South Park Lands (crowd: 600) [22]
Saturday, 20 July (3:15 pm) Port Adelaide 2def.South Park 0 Glanville Estate [22]
Saturday, 20 July (3:30 pm) Victorian 1def.Kensington 0 Montefiore Hill [22]

Round 11

Round 11
Saturday, 27 July (3:30 pm) South Adelaide 0drew with Norwood 0South Park Lands (crowd: 700) [23]
Saturday, 27 July (3:00 pm) Victorian 0drew with Port Adelaide 0 Montefiore Hill (crowd: 500) [23]
Saturday, 27 July (3:35 pm)South Park 0drew withKensington 0South Park Lands [24]

Round 12

Round 12
Saturday, 3 August (Time pm) Norwood 4def.South Park 1East Park Lands (crowd: 800) [25]
Saturday, 3 August (Time pm) Victorian 2def. Adelaide 0 Montefiore Hill [25]
Saturday, 3 August (3:45 pm)Kensington 0def. by South Adelaide 2 Kensington Oval [26]

Round 13

Round 13
Saturday, 10 August (3:00 pm) Norwood 0drew with Port Adelaide 0East Park Lands (crowd: 3,000) [27]
Saturday, 10 August (Time pm) Adelaide 4vKensington 1 Adelaide Oval [27]

Round 14

Round 14
Saturday, 17 August (Time pm) Adelaide 1vSouth Parks 0 Adelaide Oval [28]
Saturday, 17 August (Time pm) Port Adelaide 0def. by South Adelaide 1 Glanville Estate (crowd: 300) [28]

Round 15

Round 15
Saturday, 24 August (Time pm) Norwood 1def. Adelaide 0East Park Lands (crowd: 700) [29]

Round 16

Round 16
Saturday, 31 August (3:00 pm) South Adelaide 0def. Victorian 0South Terrace (crowd: 1,200) [30]

South Adelaide were awarded the disputed draw by South Australian Football Association Committee at a meeting on 6th September 1878 - See below note.


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 a 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. [31]

Round 17

Round 17
Saturday, 7 September (3:30 pm) Victorian 0def. by Norwood 1 Montefiore Hill (crowd: 2,750) [32]

1878 SAFA Home and Away Season

Home \ Away NOR PAD VIC SAD ADL SPK KEN
Norwood 0–01–01–01–04–16–0
Port Adelaide 0–11–10–12–02–0
Victorian 0–10–01–02–03–01–0
South Adelaide 0–00–10–00–01–02–0
Adelaide 0–10–02–21–01–04–1
South Park 0–00–20–0
Kensington 0–00–40–00–20–50–1
Source:
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Ladder

1878 SAFA Ladder
TEAMPWLDGFGAPtsAdj Pts
1 Norwood (P)128041612020.00
2 Port Adelaide 115241341415.27
3 South Adelaide 12642841414.00
4 Victorian 114341061213.09
5 Adelaide 1244414101212.00
6 South Park 1117321455.45
7 Kensington 1108312533.00
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 [33] >

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)

1878 Norwood Club Song

Men of Norwood

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.

—  Arthur Diamond, Secretary and Treasurer of the Norwood Club to the tune of 'Killarney'

Other Matches

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) [34]
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.

References

  1. ↑ Full Points Footy's SA Football Companion By John P. Devaney, p. 370
  2. ↑ "13 May 1878 - FOOTBALL". nla.gov.au.
  3. ↑ "21 Sep 1878 - football THE PAST SEASON". nla.gov.au. 21 September 1878.
  4. 1 2 "21 May 1878 - FOOTBALL. NORWOODS V. SOUTH ADELAIDES". nla.gov.au. 21 May 1878.
  5. ↑ "29 May 1878 - FOOTBALL. PORT V. SOUTH PARK". nla.gov.au. 29 May 1878.
  6. 1 2 3 "27 May 1878 - FOOTBALL, NORWOODS v. VICTORIANS". nla.gov.au. 27 May 1878.
  7. ↑ "GAWLER. - [From our own Correspondent.] May 27, 1878. - Kapunda Herald (SA : 1878 - 1951) - 31 May 1878".
  8. 1 2 "04 Jun 1878 - FOOTBALL. SOUTH A TDELAIDES V. PORTS". nla.gov.au. 4 June 1878.
  9. ↑ "06 Jun 1878 - FOOTBALL. ADELAIDE V. VICTORIAN". nla.gov.au. 6 June 1878.
  10. 1 2 "10 Jun 1878 - FOOTBALL. ADELAIDE v. NORWOOD". nla.gov.au.
  11. 1 2 3 "08 Jul 1878 - FOOTBALL. PORTS V. VICTORIANS". nla.gov.au.
  12. 1 2 "17 Jun 1878 - FOOTBALL. SOUTH ADELAIDE v. KENSINGTON". nla.gov.au.
  13. ↑ "18 Jun 1878 - FOOTBALL. NORWOODS v. PORTS". nla.gov.au.
  14. 1 2 3 "24 Jun 1878 - FOOTBALL. NORWOODS V. SOUTH PARKS". nla.gov.au.
  15. ↑ https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/197713748
  16. ↑ "06 Jul 1878 - football. VICTORIANS v. SOUTH ADELAIDES". nla.gov.au.
  17. ↑ https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/197713748
  18. ↑ https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/16011199
  19. ↑ "16 Jul 1878 - NORTH PARK V. WOODVILLE". nla.gov.au.
  20. ↑ "16 Jul 1878 - FOOTBALL. ADELAIDES V. PORTS". nla.gov.au.
  21. ↑ https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/197714269
  22. 1 2 3 "22 Jul 1878 - FOOTBALL. SOUTH ADELAIDE V. APP[?]". nla.gov.au.
  23. 1 2 "29 Jul 1878 - VICTORIAN V. PORT ADELAIDE". nla.gov.au.
  24. ↑ "03 Aug 1878 - Football. MATCHES. NORWOOD v. SOUTH ADELAIDE". nla.gov.au.
  25. 1 2 "05 Aug 1878 - FOOTBALL. NORWOOD V. SOUTH PARK". nla.gov.au.
  26. ↑ "05 Aug 1878 - SOUTH ADELAIDE v. KENSINGTON". nla.gov.au.
  27. 1 2 "12 Aug 1878 - FOOTBALL. NORWOODS v. PORT ADELAIDES". nla.gov.au.
  28. 1 2 "19 Aug 1878 - FOOTBALL. SOUTH PARKS v. ADELAIDE". nla.gov.au.
  29. ↑ "26 Aug 1878 - FOOTBALL. ADELAIDE v. NORWOOD". nla.gov.au.
  30. ↑ "02 Sep 1878 - FOOTBALL. SOUTH AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION ..." nla.gov.au.
  31. ↑ https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/197716443
  32. ↑ "11 Sep 1878 - FOOTBALL. NORWOODS V. VICTORIANS". nla.gov.au.
  33. ↑ "21 Sep 1878 - FOOTBALL. THE PAST SEASON". nla.gov.au. 21 September 1878.
  34. ↑ https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/92457735
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.