2021 Statewide Super League Fixture

By ZAC MILBANK

Four matches will be played on Good Friday for the first time in a blockbuster start to the 2021 SANFL Statewide Super League.

Arch-rivals Norwood and Port Adelaide will kick the season off under lights in front of the Redlegs’ new Wolf Blass Community Centre at The Parade on Easter Thursday.

It looms as a fascinating encounter before the remaining eight clubs collide on Friday April 2 in an historic occasion for the competition.

Reigning premier Woodville-West Torrens will unfurl its 2020 premiership flag in front of its faithful against Sturt at Maughan Thiem Kia Oval while Glenelg will host West Adelaide at ACH Group Stadium in the twilight timeslot of 4.10pm.

Central District will defend its home turf against regular Good Friday combatant North Adelaide at X Convenience Oval while South Adelaide’s star recruit Bryce Gibbs will face his former teammates against Adelaide at Flinders University Stadium.

”It promises to be an exciting start to the Statewide Super League season with the Redlegs and Magpies going head-to-head on Easter Thursday,” SANFL General Manager Football Matt Duldig said.

”To have a record four games played on Good Friday in a variety of timeslots will provide us with an invaluable opportunity to showcase the competition and maximise attendances.”

Start times, dates and venues have been confirmed for the opening 11 rounds to provide as much certainty as possible for all SANFL stakeholders while maintaining flexibility later in the season.

Glenelg will have its opportunity to host Port Adelaide in its 2019 Grand Final rematch under lights at ACH Group Stadium on Saturday April 24 after missing out on the League’s traditional Anzac Day fixture last year due to Covid-19.

The Eagles will clash with North Adelaide at Maughan Thiem Kia Oval on Anzac Day in what looms as a fascinating standalone rematch of last season’s title-decider.

”We felt it was important to reward Glenelg with what has become a SANFL tradition – playing a Grand Final rematch on Anzac Weekend,” Duldig said.

”To have two blockbuster clashes in the space of 24 hours is another really exciting feature of the fixture.”

Battle lines will be redrawn for the Haydn Bunton Cup as SANFL’s West End State Team prepares to host the WAFL at Adelaide Oval on the weekend of Saturday May 15.

The best players from the Statewide Super League will get their opportunity to record consecutive wins against the Sandgropers after securing a memorable seven-point win at Perth’s Optus Stadium in 2019.

South Adelaide’s players will rub shoulders with their regional fans when they play Adelaide at Victor Harbor on the weekend of Saturday July 10.

Having previously played at Encounter Bay in their country zone, this time the Panthers will be at the home of the Kangaroos as part of the SA Country Football Championships.

SANFL will celebrate the outstanding contribution to Australian Football made by its Indigenous players in Round 13.

Indigenous Round will be held on the weekend of Saturday July 3, leading into NAIDOC week, in which all Australians celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

All Statewide Super League finals matches will be played at Adelaide Oval, culminating in the Grand Final on Sunday September 19.

The Statewide Super League major round will return to a four-week period, beginning on the weekend of Saturday August 28, with the resumption of a top-five major round in 2021.

Fixtures for the Reserves and U16 and U18 Torrens University Cup competitions will be released early next week.