Three Regional Games a Highlight in 2022 Hostplus SANFL League Fixture

The Hostplus SANFL League will be showcased across the wide expanse of South Australia this season, with three regional matches revealed in the 2022 fixture.

West Adelaide, Norwood and North Adelaide will each host men’s League games in their country recruiting zones, ensuring thousands of rural SANFL fans have an opportunity to watch the best State League in Australia.

SANFL is pleased to announce that the 2022 Think! Road Safety SA Country Football Championships, to be held for the first time in Whyalla, will be headlined by the Round 15 game between North Adelaide and Adelaide on Saturday, July 16.

The two-day carnival, to be hosted by the City of Whyalla, will be held at Whyalla’s award-winning AFL-standard Bennett Oval as well as nearby Memorial Oval.

“The Country Championships is a significant annual event for football in South Australia, with the aim of showcasing country football at its best, and we’re thrilled to be able to feature a Hostplus SANFL League game as part of this,” SANFL General Manager football Matt Duldig said.

“This will also be a great opportunity for the City of Whyalla to capitalise on its outstanding Bennett Oval facility which was recognised as the State winner of the 2021 AFL Community Facility Project of the Year.

“It’s been a challenging two years for regional communities and footy clubs, so programming three regional games across the State this year will help provide a really important connection between communities, leagues and our State League.”

Round 4 will see Norwood hosting West Adelaide at Port Lincoln’s Centenary Oval on Sunday, April 24.

The historic contest between the Redlegs and Bloods in Norwood’s country zone will precede West Adelaide and Port Adelaide playing the inaugural Russell Ebert Tribute Match in Loxton on Sunday, May 22.

The Bloods will tackle Port Adelaide at the Loxton Oval on Sunday, May 22 at 2.10pm in a fitting tribute to one of South Australia’s greatest footballers – Russell Ebert.

The Australian Football Hall of Fame inductee began his junior football with the Loxton Tigers, progressing through to senior ranks before moving to Riverland rival Waikerie, after accepting a job in the local bank.

It was with the Waikerie Magpies where Ebert was recruited by Port Adelaide, triggering a memorable SANFL career which yielded 392 games, three premierships and four Magarey Medals.

As a result, Ebert’s two Riverland Football League clubs – Loxton and Waikerie – will clash in the curtain-raiser before the Bloods and Magpies do battle in Round 7 of the Hostplus SANFL League.