SANFL teams up with Guide Dogs SA/NT to announce new Blind Low Vision League

14  January 2026

SANFL and Guide Dogs SA/NT are thrilled to announce an exciting new partnership to deliver the first Aussie Rules competition for South Australians living with blindness and low vision.

The SANFL Blind Low Vision (BLV) League, supported by Guide Dogs SA/NT, is set to start in March and will provide participants who live with low vision or blindness with the opportunity to play modified competitive footy in a supportive environment.

Matches will be played indoors at AFL Max at Adelaide Airport, ensuring a controlled environment which allows players to hear the sound of the modified Sherrin football.

The BLV League has also been supported through State Government funding from the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing’s Collaboration Grants program.

SANFL CEO Darren Chandler said SANFL was thrilled to be partnering with Guide Dogs SA/NT to start the new BLV competition in South Australia.

“Our strategic goal is to make footy inclusive and accessible to everyone,” Mr Chandler said.

“The launch of the SANFL BLV League with the support of Guide Dogs SA/NT will ensure South Australians living with blindness and low vision can now participate in our game.

“The establishment of this new league strengthens our commitment to growing football for all South Australians. It’s a really exciting time for our game.

“We thank both Guide Dogs SA/NT and the State Government for their commitment to creating inclusive sporting opportunities and getting more South Australians living with disability to be healthy and active.”

Guide Dogs SA/NT CEO Aaron Chia said Guide Dogs SA/NT was excited to be a part of the introduction of the League to increase access and inclusivity in sport.

“At Guide Dogs SA/NT, our mission is to provide independence, participation, inclusion and wellbeing for people living with low vision, blindness and other specialised needs,” Mr Chia said.

“The SANFL BLV League is an excellent step in ensuring there is greater access and inclusion in our community for people with any level of vision, and we’re incredibly proud to be supporting this initiative.

“We’re looking forward to partnering with SANFL so that more South Australians can enjoy and get involved in the football community.”

Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing, The Hon. Rhiannon Pearce MP, said:

“I really commend SANFL for being such an inclusive sporting organisation and this new competition for South Australians living with blindness and low vision is further evidence of this.

“Disability should not be a barrier for being able to enjoy our national game and this partnership ensures South Australians living with blindness and low vision have the opportunity to get active and enjoy our great game.”

The inaugural SANFL BLV League will kick off with a ‘come n try’ session on Saturday 7 February from 5.30 pm at AFL Max before the season gets underway in March.

The BLV League, which has already proven popular in Victoria, will be six-a-side competition with 8-10 players per team to allow for substitutes.

Additional modifications include a specially designed Sherrin football that features an electronic beeper to produce a loud sound to assist with tracking the ball, and goal umpires who shake rattles when the football enters the scoring zone to identify the location of the goals.

Participants, volunteers and SANFL staff involved with the new League will also have the opportunity to undertake Human Guide Training, a technique used to assist a person with blindness or low vision to move safely, efficiently, and confidently through their surroundings.

To find out more about the new Guide Dogs SA/NT-supported SANFL BLV League and register for the ‘come n try’ session, visit the SANFL website in the link below or email [email protected]