Media Release

Countdown to 2025 THINK! Road Safety Country Football Championships

The 2025 THINK! Road Safety Country Championships kick off this Friday in Port Pirie, with a number of activations available for footy goers across the three days. Picture - Ash Rayson

9 July 2025

The countdown is on for one of the largest annual regional sporting events – the 2025 THINK! Road Safety SA Country Football Championships, to be staged this weekend in Port Pirie.

More than 250 of the State’s best country footballers, together with 200-plus officials from regional leagues across the State, will descend on the Mid North town from this Friday to represent their zone in matches across Memorial Oval and adjacent Pirie West Oval.

A feature of the event, supported by Port Pirie Regional Council, also will be the Round 13 Hostplus SANFL League regional match between North Adelaide and South Adelaide in the heart of the Roosters’ regional zone at Memorial Oval on Saturday afternoon.

For the second year, the action kicks off on Friday night under lights with a Round 1 women’s triple-header from 5:30pm and the men’s Northern v Eyre Peninsula Round 1 match from 6:35pm.

The championships will see representative teams from six regional zones – Central, Eastern, Eyre Peninsula, South East, Northern and Southern Districts – compete across the weekend.

Eastern zone will be looking to secure its third title in-a-row in the men’s championships, whilst the Eastern women’s squad will also be looking to go back-to-back after winning its first championship in Victor Harbor last year.

At the conclusion of the event, the prestigious women’s and men’s AAMI Team of the Championships will be announced.

The men’s SA Country state team also will be finalised next week ahead of the annual clash against WA Country, to be played on Saturday, July 26 in Perth following the Subiaco v South Fremantle WAFL game.

Eastern were the men’s division winner of the 2024 THINK! Road Safety Country Football Championships. Picture – Peter Argent

SANFL Head of Community Football Shawn Ford said ticket sales for the championships had been strong, with some 3000 spectators expected to attend across the weekend.

“The THINK! Road Safety SA Country Football Championships not only provides a great opportunity to showcase the State’s best country footballers, but also will provide a boost for tourism and the local economy,” Ford said.

“The Championships are a great opportunity to celebrate all the great things we love about country footy and leave a lasting legacy for everyone involved.”

This weekend’s championships are set to be a crowd winner on and off the field, featuring a range of partner activities and SANFL Super Match entertainment.

SANFL Partners looking forward to a big 2025 THINK! Road Safety Country Football Championships

SANFL partners are gearing up for big weekend at the 2025 THINK! Country Football Championships at Port Pirie, with a number of activations available for footy goers to engage with over the three days.

  • THINK! Road Safety marquee with information for road users and giveaways
  • AAMI Lucky Zone with deck chairs for spectators to sit back and enjoy the footy, with one lucky fan to win a $100 gift card just by being in the zone
  • Kia vehicle displays featuring two of the new Kia Tasman utes
  • Health Partners deck chairs at the ground for footy goers to take a break in
  • The Hospital Research Foundation Group activation zone with giveaways
  • Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) with information on tradesperson employment opportunities, plus giveaways
  • Test your goalkicking and handballing skills at the SANFL activations
  • West End continue to show its support to the 2025 THINK! Road Safety Country Football Championships. Look for their two vans as well as the giant inflatable can when you’re at the ground this weekend.

The AAMI Lucky Zone will be heading up to Port Pirie this weekend, with deck chairs for spectators to sit back and enjoy the footy and one lucky fan to win a $100 gift card just by being in the zone. Picture – Ash Rayson

THINK! Road Safety advice

  • Stick to the speed limit
  • Take a break every two hours
  • Make sure everyone in the car wears their seatbelt
  • Don’t drive distracted – keep your focus on the road
  • Plan ahead as the roads may be busy, be patient and courteous to other road users
  • Don’t drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs
  • Be mindful of your license conditions – if you are on your P’s ensure you comply with the relevant rules

Ford said the THINK! Road Safety SA Country Championships also are a vital platform to drive home messaging about road safety to our football community.

He urged players, officials, fans and families travelling to the championships to follow THINK! Road Safety advice.

Online tickets for the THINK! Road Safety Country Championships and Hostplus SANFL League game can be purchased via the SANFL website.

The full fixture for the THINK! Road Safety Country Football Championships can be viewed on the SANFL website here

Every match from the carnival this year will be exclusively live-streamed for FREE on SANFL Now. The North Adelaide v South Adelaide Hostplus SANFL League match will be live-streamed for SANFL Now subscribers.

The SA Football Budget also will be on sale at the gates for $5, featuring all zone team lists and a preview for the championships.

Eastern took out the women’s division of the 2024 THINK! Country Football Championships. Picture – Peter Argent

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