Grace Plains was possibly the first club formed in the District in 1904. Football was certainly played in the other towns of Mallala, Dublin and Two Wells at that time with those clubs all officially forming in 1908. When Virginia was formed in 1909, moves were being made to form an association from a group of clubs that had played an unofficial competition in 1908.
A meeting held in Dublin on 4 May 1909, resulted in the formation of the Adelaide Plains Football Association. Delegates were present from Mallala, Virginia, Two Wells, Windsor, Lower Light and Dublin. Officers elected were, patron Mr Coombe, president Mr George Cheney and secretary Mr Andrew Driscoll. At a second meeting the colours were chosen as double blue.
Dublin had a comfortable victory over Two Wells in the first match of the new association 9.14 (68) to 0.2 (2). Dublin had gone to a lot of trouble to ensure their facilities were adequate for their opening match of the season. In the preceding months they had built dressing rooms, a pavilion and had even erected new goal posts.
Wasleys Football Club created a record in 1927 when they became the first Adelaide Plains club to complete a season without losing a match. Hamley Bridge applied to join the association in 1930 but their application was rejected because of the poor condition of the roads over which visiting teams would have to travel to arrive at Hamley Bridge.
During a history of just over 100 years, the Adelaide Plains association has stood tall, outlasting many nearby associations. The Wooroora, Wakefield, North Western, Lower North and Gilbert associations have all fallen by the wayside with their member clubs or their incarnations filtering through to become the Adelaide Plains of today.
Colors | Club | Nickname | Home Ground | Est. | Years in APFL | Premiers won | Premiership years[1] |
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| Angle Vale | Owls | Angle Vale Oval, Angle Vale | 1998 | 2016– | 0 | - |
| Balaklava | Peckers | Balaklava Oval, Balaklava | 1903 | 1940–2019; 2021–[2] | 13 | 1951, 1957, 1958, 1977, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1991, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2011 |
| Hamley Bridge | Bombers | Hamley Bridge Sports and Community Centre, Hamley Bridge | 1907 | 1936–63, 1984– | 9 | 1938, 1939, 1952, 1956, 1960, 1988, 1989, 2004, 2014 |
| | Eagles | Port Wakefield Oval, Port Wakefield | 1995 | 1995–2019; 2021– | 6 | 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2019 |
| Mallala | Magpies | Mallala Oval, Mallala | | 1904– | 27 | 1912, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1953, 1955, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1970, 1974, 1978, 1979, 1990, 1997, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2020 |
| Two Wells | Roosters | Two Wells Oval, Two Wells | c.1911 | 1909–27, 1932–38, 1987– | 7 | 1987, 2012, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023 |
| United | Tigers | Long Plains Recreation Ground, Long Plains | 1964 | 1964– | 3 | 1982, 1995, 2002 |
| Virginia | Rams | Virginia Sports Oval, Virginia | 1907 | 1909–13, 1919, 1995– | 4 | 1909, 1910, 1998, 2015 | |
Colors | Club | Nickname | Years in APFL | Premiers won | Premiership years |
---|
| Avon | | 1946-1947 | 0 | - |
| Bute | Roosters | 2020 | 0 | - |
| Dublin | | 1909-1920, 1927-1949, 1954-1963 | 5 | 1911, 1928, 1931, 1932, 1933 |
| Grace Plains | | 1915-1935 | 2 | 1926, 1930 |
| Hummocks United | | 1964-1984 | 11 | 1964, 1965, 1966, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1980, 1981 |
| Hummocks Watchman | | 1985-1994 | 0 | - |
| Korunye | | 1919-1920, 1933 | 0 | - |
| Long Plains | | 1920-1963 | 7 | 1940, 1945, 1946, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1954 |
| Lower Light | | 1920-1963 | 0 | - |
| Mundoora Wokurna | | 1981-1983 | 0 | - |
| Owen | | 1946-1973 | 0 | - |
| Port Owen Hawks | Hawks | 1974-1976 | 0 | - |
| Port Wakefield | | 1964-1973, 1978-1995 | 2 | 1984, 1992 |
| Roseworthy College | Panthers | 1961-63, 1985-1996 | 0 | - |
| South Gawler | | 1961-1962 | 1 | 1961 |
| Two Wells Virginia | | 1970-1973 | 0 | - |
| United | | 1921-1927 | 1 | 1922 |
| Wasleys | | 1924-1963 | 7 | 1927, 1929, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1947 |
| Watchman | | 1964-1974 | 2 | 1967, 1968 |
| Watchman Auburn | | 1975-1983 | 0 | - |
| Wild Horse Plains | | 1919-1920 | 0 | - |
| Windsor | | 1909-1915 | 0 | - | |
Year | A Grade | Reserves | Senior Colts | Junior Colts |
---|
1919 | Mallala 4.8 (32) def. Grace Plains 3.8 (26) | | | |
1920 | Mallala 3.10 (28) def. Two Wells 2.3 (21) | | | |
1921 | Mallala 3.8 (26) def. Long Plains 1.8 (14) | | | |
1922 | Dublin 10.6 (66) def. Grace Plains 5.7 (37) | | | |
1923 | Mallala 6.13 (49) def. Long Plains 6.8 (44) | | | |
1924 | Mallala 6.17 (53) def. Long Plains 4.2 (26) | | | |
1925 | Mallala def. Wasleys | | | |
1926 | Grace Plains def. Wasleys | | | |
1927 | Wasleys 13.13 (91) def. Grace Plains 5.7 (37) | | | |
1928 | Dublin 5.6 (36) def. Grace Plains 5.3 (33) | | | |
1929 | Wasleys 6.12 (48) def. Grace Plains 5.13 (43) | | | |
1930 | Grace Plains def. Mallala | | | |
1931 | Dublin 9.9 (63) def. Wasleys 8.9 (47) | | | |
1932 | Dublin 12.6 (78) def. Grace Plains 7.8 (50) | | | |
1933 | Dublin 12.6 (78) def. Grace Plains 3.15 (33) | | | |
1934 | Wasleys 11.7 (73) def. Grace Plains 10.12 (72) | | | |
1935 | Wasleys 12.12 (84) def. Mallala 7.8 (50) | | | |
1936 | Wasleys 10.15 (75) def. Mallala 6.6 (42) | | | |
1937 | Wasleys 16.6 (102) def. Dublin 11.3 (69) | | | |
1938 | Hamley Bridge 11.11 (77) def. Mallala 11.5 (71) | | | |
1939 | Hamley Bridge 9.14 (68) def. Wasleys 6.6 (42) | | | |
1940 | Long Plains 9.17 (71) def. Wasleys 3.9 (27) | | | |
|
Year | A Grade | Reserves | Senior Colts | Junior Colts |
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1945 | Long Plains 7.4 (46) def. Hmley Bridge 3.10 (28) | | | |
1946 | Long Plains 5.13 (43) def Balaklava 4.4 (28) | | | |
1947 | Wasleys 10.8 (68) def. Long Plains 9.6 (60) | | | |
1948 | Long Plains 9.7 (61) def. Balaklava 6.13 (49) | | | |
1949 | Long Plains 11.10 (76) def. Mallala 7.8 (50) | | | |
1950 | Long Plains 11.8 (74) def. Mallala 8.13 (61) | | | |
1951 | Balaklava 6.8 (44) def. Long Plains 6.5 (41) | | | |
1952 | Hamley Bridge 8.7 (55) def. Long Plains 6.15 (51) | | | |
1953 | Mallala 4.11 (35) def. Long Plains 4.8 (32) | | | |
1954 | Long Plains 7.10 (52) def. Balaklava 6.10 (46) | | | |
1955 | Mallala 13.9 (87) def. Balaklava 10.7 (67) | | | |
1956 | Hamley Bridge 7.12 (54) def. Balaklava 4.10 (34) | | | |
1957 | Balaklava 6.12 (48) drew with Long Plains 6.12 (48) | | | |
| Balaklava 8.7 (55) def. Long Plains 3.9 (27) | | | |
1958 | Balaklava 14.11 (95) def. Mallala 8.9 (57) | Owen | | |
1959 | Mallala 10.8 (68) def. Hamley Bridge 10.2 (62) | Balaklava | | |
1960 | Hamley Bridge 17.13 (115) def. Balaklava 11.8 (74) | Hamley Bridge | | |
1961 | Gawler South 15.20 (110) def. Balaklava 11.10 (76) | Gawler South | | |
1962 | Mallala 13.12 (90) def. Gawler South 3.5 (23) | Gawler South | | |
1963 | Mallala 11.22 (88) def. Balaklava 11.5 (71) | Balaklava | | |
1964 | Hummocks United 11.13 (79) def. Mallala 10.13 (73) | Balaklava | | |
1965 | Hummocks United 11.10 (76) def. Mallala 6.9 (45) | Mallala | | |
1966 | Hummocks United 9.17 (71) def. Mallala 8.9 (57) | Mallala | United | |
1967 | Watchman 10.7 (67) def. Mallala 6.14 (50) | Mallala | Owen | |
1968 | Watchman 10.8 (68) def. Hummocks United 8.16 (64) | Balaklava | Mallala | |
1969 | Hummocks United 14.10 (94) def. Watchman 8.3 (51) | Mallala | United | |
1970 | Mallala 11.17 (83) def. Hummocks United 11.9 (75) | Two Wells-Virginia | Two Wells-Virginia | Two Wells-Virginia |
1971 | Hummocks United 13.9 (87) def. United 11.9 (75) | Mallala | Balaklava | Mallala |
1972 | Hummocks United 18.18 (126) def. Mallala 14.10 (96) | Balaklava | Two Wells-Virginia | Balaklava |
1973 | Hummocks United 15.9 (99) def. Mallala 14.6 (90) | Mallala | Mallala | Two Wells-Virginia |
1974 | Mallala 13.10 (88) drew with United 13.10 (88) | Hummocks United | Mallala | Balaklava |
| Mallala 15.8 (98) def. United 7.7 (49) | | | |
1975 | Hummocks United 27.13 (175) def. United 14.11 (95) | Balaklava | Watchman-Auburn | Mallala |
1976 | Hummocks United 22.13 (145) def. United 12.11 (83) | Pt Owen Hawks | Watchman-Auburn | Balaklava |
1977 | Balaklava 8.13 (61) def. Hummocks United 7.11 (53) | Hummocks | Balaklava | Balaklava |
1978 | Mallala 16.8 (104) def. Hummocks United 15.13 (103) | Watchman-Auburn | Balaklava | Balaklava |
1979 | Mallala 15.8 (98) def. Hummocks United 7.11 (53) | Balaklava | Mallala | Balaklava |
1980 | Hummocks United 19.14 (128) def. United 5.8 (38) | Balaklava | Balaklava | United |
1981 | Hummocks United 16.11 (107) def. Balaklava 9.8 (62) | Balaklava | Balaklava | Balaklava |
1982 | United 14.13 (97) def. Hummocks United 8.10 (58) | Balaklava | Balaklava | Balaklava |
1983 | Balaklava 11.16 (82) def. Mallala 8.21 (69) | Balaklava | Mallala | Balaklava |
1984 | Port Wakefield 16.22 (118) def. Mallala 11.9 (75) | Balaklava | Balaklava | United |
1985 | Balaklava 21.7 (133) def. Hamley Bridge 13.13 (91) | Hamley Bridge | United | United |
1986 | Balaklava 22.11 (143) def. United 8.10 (58) | Balaklava | United | Balaklava |
1987 | Two Wells 9.11 (65) def. Mallala 6.6 (42) | Hamley Bridge | Two Wells | United |
1988 | Hamley Bridge 18.16 (124) def. Mallala 8.12 (60) | United | Two Wells | Hummocks-Watchman |
1989 | Hamley Bridge 14.15 (99) def. Mallala 12.10 (82) | Mallala | Two Wells | Hummocks-Watchman |
1990 | Mallala 21.18 (144) def. Two Wells 12.13 (85) | Two Wells | Two Wells | Hummocks-Watchman |
1991 | Balaklava 16.8 (104) def. Hamley Bridge 13.14 (92) | Mallala | Balaklava | Mallala |
1992 | Port Wakefield 13.14 (92) def. Two Wells 12.5 (78) | Two Wells | Hummocks-Watchman | United |
1993 | Mallala 14.8 (92) def. United 11.8 (74) | Mallala | Hamley Bridge | Balaklava |
1994 | Balaklava 14.8 (92) def. United 10.8 (68) | Two Wells | Mallala | Two wells |
1995 | United 16.17 (113) def. Hamley Bridge 11.11 (77) | Mallala | HW Eagles | HW Eagles |
1996 | Balaklava 14.22 (106) def. United 8.17 (65) | Virginia | HW Eagles | Mallala |
1997 | Mallala 10.14 (74) def. Virginia 8.3 (51) | Mallala | Balaklava | Virginia |
1998 | Virginia 13.21 (99) def. United 11.15 (81) | Balaklava | Virginia | Virginia |
1999 | Balaklava 21.11 (137) def. United 12.12 (84) | United | HW Eagles | Two Wells |
2000 | Balaklava 18.18 (126) def. United 14.5 (89) | Hamley Bridge | Virginia | Mallala |
2001 | HW Eagles 14.14 (98) def. Balaklava 5.14 (44) | HW Eagles | Two Wells | Hamley Bridge |
2002 | United 15.15 (105) def. Balaklava 5.8 (38) | Two Wells | Two Wells | Two Wells |
2003 | HW Eagles 12.8 (80) def. Hamley Bridge 8.10 (58) | Virginia | Mallala | Two Wells |
2004 | Hamley Bridge 20.13 (133) def. HW Eagles 10.4 (64) | Virginia | Two Wells | Two Wells |
2005 | HW Eagles 16.6 (102) def. Hamley Bridge 13.4 (82) | United | Two Wells | United |
2006 | HW Eagles 11.10 (76) def. Balaklava 9.14 (68) | Virginia | Mallala | Balaklava |
2007 | Mallala 13.13 (91) def. United 7.8 (50) | United | United | Balaklava |
2008 | HW Eagles 7.10 (52) def. Mallala 6.9 (45) | Hamley Bridge | Two Wells | Balaklava |
2009 | Mallala 16.7 (103) def. Two Wells 9.10 (64) | Two Wells | Balaklava | Two Wells |
2010 | Mallala 6.15 (51) def. Virginia 7.8 (50) | Mallala | Balaklava | Two Wells |
2011 | Balaklava 15.15 (105) def. Virginia 9.4 (58) | Balaklava | Two Wells | Mallala |
2012 | Two Wells 15.7 (97) def. Virginia 11.11 (77) | Virginia | Two Wells | Balaklava |
2013 | Mallala 10.11 (71) def. Two Wells 6.9 (45) | United | Two Wells | Mallala |
2014 | Hamley Bridge 16.13 (109) def. Mallala 17.5 (107) | Two Wells | Mallala | Balaklava |
2015 | Virginia 15.13 (103) def. Mallala 12.12 (84) | Virginia | Mallala | Balaklava |
2016 | Mallala 12.23 (95) def. Virginia 8.8 (56) | Virginia | Mallala | Two Wells |
2017 | Two Wells 11.8 (74) def. Mallala 9.7 (61) | Virginia | Angle Vale | Two Wells |
2018 | Two Wells 12.11 (83) def. Balaklava 6.7 (43) | Mallala | Two Wells | Virginia |
2019 | HW Eagles 9.12 (66) def. Two Wells 4.7 (31) | Two Wells | Two Wells | Angle Vale |
2020 | Mallala 17.7 (109) def. Virginia 10.9 (69) | Two Wells | Mallala | Two Wells |
2021 | Two Wells 9.14 (68) def. Balaklava 9.10 (64) | Mallala | Virginia | Angle Vale |
2022 | Two Wells 16.13 (109) def. Balaklava 11.6 (72) | Balaklava | Angle Vale | Angle Vale |
2023 | Two Wells 8.12 (60) def. Mallala 6.7 (43) | Balaklava | Angle Vale | Angle Vale | |
54 Mail Medals were awarded in Adelaide Plains from 1933 to 1940 and 1949 to 1988. There were tied results in 1953, 1963, 1973, 1977 and 1987. The Mail Medal was augmented in 1987 with the Plains Producer Medal, which has been donated by the Balaklava Weekly Newspaper. The Plains Producer Medal has adapted the same voting system. Both medals were given in 1987/88. Two Wells midfielder Cecil Rowe won the first Medal from Dublin’s Alan Webb. This Medal was one of only 16 given throughout the state.