APM SANFL Inclusive League grows in season 2025

May 1, 2025

By ALEXANDRA BULL

The APM SANFL Inclusive League kicks off its 34^th season this weekend, with the competition expanding to eight teams in 2025.

The league is a senior men’s competition for players with an intellectual disability and offers regular, competitive football to inclusive teams in a safe, fun and friendly environment. The focus is on the development of players and their social inclusion at community football clubs.

Approximately 200 players will take part in the competition this season, which first started in 1992 as the SAAFL A12 Division.

In an exciting move, Broadview will field a team in the competition for the first time, joining Athelstone, Christies Beach, Goodwood Saints, Kenilworth, Kilburn, Tea Tree Gully and Salisbury.

Athelstone will be looking to win back-to-back flags in season 2025, after defeating Kilburn by 35-points in the 2024 season decider.

As naming rights partner since 2019, APM has supported the league’s success and growth since becoming the APM SANFL Inclusive League six years ago.

“Here at APM, we are so proud to see the continuing expansion of the APM Inclusive League providing even more opportunities for people with an intellectual disability to thrive in a competitive and fun environment,” APM National Partnership Manager Sheree Holdsworth said.

SANFL Inclusion Programs Coordinator Nathan Pepper said SANFL is excited to have the Broadview Football Club join the APM SANFL Inclusive League.

“All the players from the other teams will welcome Broadview, because they also love seeing a new set of colours enter the competition,” Pepper said.

Inaugural Broadview Inclusive team coach Phil Summers said the Broadview Football Club is thrilled to be entering a team in the 2025 APM SANFL Inclusive League.

“With our Inclusive team joining our senior men and women, our junior boys and girls, as well as our Auskick program, Broadview is now truly a community club,” Summers said.

“We started with three players at our first training session, but word quickly spread about how fun the guys were having, and our numbers have grown to around 20.

“The players can’t wait for the first match this Saturday. It will be a massive challenge, but the players are up for the fight.

“The coaches and support crew are so impressed at the dedication shown by the players and we all can’t wait for the season to start.”