Definition
The 1983 SANFL season refers to the 104th annual competition of the South Australian National Football League (SANFL), a senior Australian‑rules football league based in South Australia. The term designates the series of matches, finals series, and associated awards that took place during the calendar year 1983.
Overview
The season featured ten senior clubs: Central District, Glenelg, North Adelaide, Norwood, Port Adelaide, Sturt, South Adelaide, West Adelaide, West Torrens, and Woodville. Teams played a 22‑round home‑and‑away schedule followed by a finals series conducted under the “final five” system, culminating in the Grand Final at Football Park (later AAMI Stadium).
West Adelaide Football Club secured the premiership by defeating Sturt in the Grand Final. The victory marked West Adelaide’s first senior flag since 1961. Throughout the season, matches attracted strong local attendance, reflecting the SANFL’s status as a premier sporting competition in South Australia during the early 1980s.
Etymology/Origin
The phrase “1983 SANFL season” combines the calendar year (1983) with the abbreviation “SANFL,” standing for the South Australian National Football League, and the word “season,” indicating the yearly competition cycle. The naming convention aligns with common practice for Australian‑rules football leagues, where each year’s competition is identified by the year followed by the league’s acronym and the word “season.”
Characteristics
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Number of teams | 10 senior clubs participated. |
| Regular‑season format | 22 rounds; each club played every other club twice, once at home and once away. |
| Finals system | “Final five” structure: qualifying final, elimination final, semi‑finals, preliminary final, and Grand Final. |
| Premiers | West Adelaide Football Club (defeated Sturt in the Grand Final). |
| Runner‑up | Sturt Football Club. |
| Key individual awards | The Magarey Medal (awarded to the league’s fairest and most brilliant player) and the Ken Farmer Medal (leading goalkicker). Accurate details of the 1983 award recipients are not confirmed. |
| Notable statistics | Average match attendance remained high, with the Grand Final drawing a crowd in excess of 40,000 spectators. Precise figures are not confirmed. |
| Venue | Regular‑season matches were held at each club’s home ground; the finals were held at Football Park, Adelaide. |
Related Topics
- South Australian National Football League (SANFL) – The governing body and competition framework for Australian‑rules football in South Australia.
- West Adelaide Football Club – The premiership‑winning club of the 1983 season.
- Sturt Football Club – Grand Final runner‑up in 1983.
- Magarey Medal – Annual award for the SANFL’s best and fairest player.
- Australian rules football – The sport played in the SANFL.
- 1982 SANFL season and 1984 SANFL season – Adjacent seasons providing contextual continuity.
Note: Specific statistical details such as exact scores, individual award recipients, and attendance figures for the 1983 SANFL season have not been independently verified within the scope of this entry.