5 July 2026

SANFLPA members met on Sunday at the Norwood Football Club to discuss whether to pursue a Memorandum of Understanding or a Collective Bargaining Agreement with the SANFL. The SANFL Executive team attended and presented to those present (their slides are not included).

Lots of questions were asked of the PA Board and the SANFL, and following a two-hour meeting, members voted.

28 January 2026

The SANFLPA Board presented to the SANFL’s executive a plan for the future of the SANFL competition. The presentation was the culmination of an extensive review of the publicly available financial statements of SANFL, AFL and SANFL clubs.

The SANFLPA made the case to SANFL that the administration, clubs and players should join forces to lobby the AFL for increased funding to ensure SANFL players’ pay is fair and reasonable.

15 July 2025

SANFLPA invited all current SANFL players from standalone SANFL clubs to share their views in a competition-wide survey.

The survey provides a snapshot of what life is like for the typical SANFL player.

11 July 2026

It is a very simple solution to make the SANFL players’ wages more equitable given their standing as the second most important football competition. The AFL must increase its grants to the other Australian football competitions.

After all, without the SANFL and the WAFL there is no AFL. There can be no peak of the pyramid without a solid base, and our state-based competitions provide that solid foundation.

6 July 2026

Having lobbied for more money and better working conditions after a player survey, conducted by the SANFL Players’ Association in 2025, revealed the typical SANFL player was earning about $8 an hour – well below the national minimum wage of $26.44 prescribed by the Fair Work Commission – the players settled on an MOU after a two-hour meeting at The Parade.

Their other option was to demand a Collective Bargaining Agreement, which the SANFL was not keen on and might have led to industrial action.

6 July 2026

SANFL Players' Association members have voted in favour of a memorandum of understanding with the state league, rather than taking industrial action which could disrupt play.

The agreement follows an ongoing decline in player wages over the past two decades.

Details of the agreement are yet to be finalised, with the aim for it to be signed before the end of the year.

13 June 2026

The ABC reported that SANFL players considered taking collective action on the eve of Round 1. This resulted in the SANFL arranging for a meeting between SANFL’s executive team, SANFL club CEOs, the SANFLPA and SANFL men captains.

The membership of the SANFLPA will meet on 5 July 2026 to determine whether to pursue a MoU or CBA with SANFL.

12 March 2026

The SANFL Players’ Association has called on the AFL to increase funding for the state league, warning that low player payments are pushing talented footballers to interstate and country leagues offering bigger deals. The PA says additional AFL support is needed to address a significant shortfall in player payments and help protect the long term strength of the SANFL competition.

20 February 2026

Tensions are escalating between the South Australian National Football League and the SANFL Players’ Association as negotiations over a proposed Collective Bargaining Agreement stall. A year after players voted to pursue a CBA, the league has declined to formally negotiate, prompting frustration from SANFLPA president Matt Crocker. At the centre of the dispute are concerns over player contracts, pay rates and working conditions, with the union arguing greater clarity and collaboration are needed to protect players and secure the league’s future.

17 December 2025

Recent media coverage has highlighted the increasing challenges SANFL clubs face in recruiting and retaining players, with strong interstate country leagues becoming more attractive due to a combination of lifestyle factors, incentives, and reduced time commitments. The article notes that the demands of state league football continue to place pressure on clubs competing for talent, prompting broader discussion around player conditions, sustainability, and the long term strength of the SANFL, and reinforcing the importance of ongoing dialogue between the league, clubs, and the Players’ Association.

15 July 2025

An article published on Adelaide Now reveals that many SANFL footballers are currently earning as little as eight dollars an hour. It highlights a statement by the SANFL Players’ Association which is calling for a fair and sustainable Collective Bargaining Agreement to ensure players receive reasonable pay and the league remains viable.

22 March 2025

This opinion piece by Graham Cornes reflects on the first formation of a players’ association for the SANFL half a century ago and argues that now, more than ever, players’ voices need to be heard. It emphasises the ongoing importance of collective representation and advocates for the renewed SANFL Players’ Association to ensure that players have a seat at the table and a meaningful say in decisions that affect competition.

10 December 2021

This article highlights the 2021 re-launch of the SANFL Players’ Association, driven by past and present players. It outlines our goal to give SANFL footballers a stronger collective voice on key issues such as pay, welfare, scheduling and working conditions, and reinforces the Association’s purpose as an organisation created by players to advocate for players.

30 July 2025

In this interview on the FIVEAA Sports Show, SANFLPA President Matt Crocker outlines the key findings from the SANFL Players’ Association’s 2025 Conditions Report. He speaks about players’ welfare, working conditions, pay concerns and how the Association plans to use the data to push for meaningful change across the league.

15 July 2025

In this interview with Channel 7, SANFLPA President Matt Crocker discusses the key findings from the first-ever 2025 Conditions Report, a league-wide survey of SANFL players. The report sheds new light on life as a SANFL player, covering themes such as life outside football, player wellbeing, remuneration and match conditions. Matt explains what the results reveal about players’ challenges and ambitions, and outlines how SANFLPA plans to use this feedback to advocate for better conditions and long-term sustainability of the league.