The Adelaide University Football Club Inc. (AUFC) is a South Australian based amateur Australian rules football club. It is an affiliate of the Adelaide University Sports Assoc. and plays in the Adelaide Footy League (former "South Australian Amateur Football League").The South Australian Amateur Football League Inc. | History The club promotes itself as the largest amateur football club in Australia. The club trains on University Oval located across the river from the University which forms part of Park 12, and Park 10 in the portion of the Adelaide Parklands between the University and North Adelaide. It is one of the most decorated clubs in the university's history. The club has played in every season of the SAAFL competition, won 23 Division 1 premierships, had 8 Division 1 medallists, 48 state players, 4 All-Australian captains (McLeod, Muir, Rofe, J.F. Sangster), and the first AAFC Carnival medallist to play for S.A. (Paul Rofe).
History
Pre 1906: The birth of the club
The Adelaide University Football Club was officially formed on 26 March 1906 and became affiliated with the Sports Association two weeks later on 9 April 1906. Prior to this time, there was no University Football team competing in a regular competition; however, games were arranged on an irregular basis.
The earliest reference to football at the university can be found in the Prince Alfred College School Chronicle of 1885. The report states that Adelaide University could not organize a full side for a Saturday game; however, there were enough players available for a mid-week game. This was arranged for Wednesday 19 June 1885 and several League players and old scholars from PAC comprised the side. University lost this encounter 4.11 to 1.1.
1906-1910: The early years
The first team to truly represent the AUFC began competing in the Adelaide and Suburban Association in 1906 with H.W.D. Stoddart as captain and T.H. Donnelly as vice-captain. This Association was already in existence when joined by the "Varsity", and the other five teams competing at the time were Portland Imperial, Semaphore Central, Norwood II, West Suburban and Prospect. University finished out of the four.
During the year a match was also played against Melbourne's Scotch College on Adelaide Oval and the team was defeated 5.8 to 4.9.
During 1907 the club again competed in the Adelaide and Suburban Association, which now consisted of ten teams (West Torrens II, South Adelaide II, North Adelaide II, Sturt II, and West Adelaide were the new sides with West Suburban becoming non-existent). University finished ninth with only one win after ten of the eleven rounds. West Adelaide finished bottom.
In the programme at this time, with one round off for the SA vs Vic. League match, and one round off for the International Lacrosse tournament, which was then a major sport. Finals consisted of the Minor Premiers playing the third side and the second side playing the fourth side. The winners of these games then played to decide the Premiership, with the proviso that if the ultimate winner was not the Minor Premiers, then a final challenge match could be played.
During the three years 1908–1910, the club existed in name only and, except for the annual match against Melbourne University, did not compete at all. This put the club at a disadvantage in these matches as the team was a "scratch" side whilst Melbourne University was admitted to the VFL in 1908 after being Premiers of their Metropolitan Association for the previous two years.
In 1910 Adelaide University made an application to enter the South Australian Football League, the current day SANFL. This led to players such as Jack Londrigan leaving league clubs such as Sturt in anticipation for a university league team. However the application was ultimately rejected by the competition out of fear a university side would compromise the electorate system, also referred to as zones, introduced to equalise the state competition.
Prominent players of this period were H.W.D. Stoddart, P.H. Donnelly. C.E. Dolling, W.A.V. Drew and C.F. Drew.
1911-1915: The birth of the SAAFL 1911 is an important date in the club's history as it marked the formation of an active club in distinction to a club which had existed in name only for the previous three seasons. It also marked the formation of the South Australian Amateur Football League with which the name "University" has been synonymous ever since.
Over this five-year period, university won two Premierships (1911, 1912) and competed in the Finals each year. 1915 was highlighted by C.E. Pellew's winning of the Naylor Medal for the fairest and most brilliant player in Amateur League.
1912 saw the formation of the club's first 'B' side, and 1914 saw the inauguration of the Adelaide Students' Football Association in which University was the first Premier. Inter-Varsity competition was continued up until 1915 when it was suspended because of the War, and in 1914 the club defeated Melbourne University for the first time.
1916-1919: World War I
The Amateur League went into recess after 1915 for the duration of the War, as many clubs had difficulty fielding sides. Though short at times, university still had enough players to make up one, and occasionally two, teams during these years.
Matches were arranged on an irregular basis against various teams – mainly school sides. Details of games with PAC and SPSC have been found in the Prince Alfred College Chronicle and the St Peter's College School Magazine, and are certain to be contained in other school magazines.
1920-1929: An era of supremacy
The years 1920-1929 can be considered as some of the most successful in the club's history, with the Al team competing in the Finals every year, winning Premierships in 1920, 1921, 1922, 1926 and 1929, finishing runners-up twice and third three times.
During this time the 'B' side also took Premierships in the Adelaide Students' Association in 1920, 1922 and 1924.
The 1922 season was the most successful during this period, with both the 'A' and 'B' sides winning Premierships, the Adelaide side defeating Melbourne in the Inter-Varsity match for only the second time ever, and H.G Prest winning the Naylor Medal.
1923 saw the formation of the club's third side competing in the Students' Grade and although it was not an immediate success, the future strength of the club was assured. Other highlights in this period were the effort of W.R. James to be the first full forward to kick over one hundred goals in Amateur League (1927), the beginning of the Gunning Medal for the 'A' grade best and fairest (1927), the formation of the A2 grade in Amateur League (1928), and the Hone Medal awarded to C.B. Sangster in 1929.
1930-1941: A period of contrast
The years 1930-1941 were ones of great contrast for the club. During the early 1930s, the club kept its position as one of the pacesetters in the Amateur League, contesting all the Finals from 1930 to 1935. It was undefeated Premier in 1932, second in 1930, 1933 and 1934 and fourth in 1931 and 1935.
These years are remembered for the club's great rivalry with Underdale, which produced some remarkable Finals matches. The team lost the 1931 semifinal to Underdale; defeated them in the 1932 Final; defeated them in the 1933 Final; drew the challenge match and then lost the challenge replay; defeated them in the 1934 Final but lost the challenge match; and lost to them in the 1935 semifinal. These were truly memorable games.
The club suffered a decline over the years 1936–1940, which climaxed in the Al team almost being relegated in 1939. Fortunately the team rallied in the crucial games and with a little bit of luck was able to finish eighth, which is the lowest position that the Al team has ever occupied. 1941 saw the club improve its standing and, once again, contest the Finals series, finishing fourth.
Despite the lack of success in the local competition, the period 1930-1941 was one of the most successful with regard to Inter-Varsity competition, with matches against Melbourne University being won in 1932 and 1936 – only the third and fourth occasion that these matches had been won in twenty-eight attempts.
The club's 'B' and 'C' sides did not do well during this period as they had the ever-present problem of trying to maintain stable sides. After finishing near the bottom from 1929 to 1932, the A2 side was dropped back to the Students' Association from 1933 to 1937 before competing in A2 again during 1938–1940.
In 1941 there was a shortage of players due to the war, and the club only fielded an Al team in Amateur League and a 'B' side in the Students' Association.
Amateur League matches were suspended after 1941 due to the war.
1942-1945: World War II
Because of World War II, the Amateur League went into recess for the years 1942–1945.
Although University ranks were depleted due to war service, there were many fine footballers studying in reserved occupations and still looking for that Saturday game of 'footy'.
A competition evolved on a week to week basis where matches were arranged with Service teams and the League Reserves. Looking at the SANFL records, one can see that in those years the eight League Clubs combined to form Norwood/North, Port/Torrens, Sturt/South and West/Glenelg.
After the League teams had been chosen for Saturday, each combination would nominate six players to constitute the League Reserves for that week, which made the competition almost up to League standard.
"Varsity" played a high percentage of matches against the League Reserves, but players of that era may remember RAAF teams from Port Pine, Mallala, Springbank and the School of Technical Training, (stationed in the old Exhibition Building, North Terrace).
Competition was pretty keen and the Air Force would pull out all stops to win. One memorable event included a train trip to Mallala Base, the hospitality of the RAAF, and experiencing the thrills of a LINK TRAINER at the hands of the opposing team. "Varsity" still took out the honours in the afternoon on the local Mallala Oval.
During the Final Round, "Varsity" often gave a League team match practice whilst having a bye prior to the Grand Final. On the day of the 1944 Preliminary Final, "Varsity" played the Norwood/North combination on Adelaide Oval No. 2. It was a very close game, "Varsity" was proud of their narrow defeat as Norwood/North went on to win the Grand Final the following week.
Old players on leave from the Services were always welcome for a game, Norm Shierlaw and Peter Dalwood once displayed their former skills by playing without training, and in Army boots.
Maybe it was only a makeshift competition, but it definitely kept the game alive and fulfilled the aims and objects of the AUFC at the university during those years when the club could easily have gone into recess, as did the other Amateur Clubs.
1946-1949: Postwar recovery
The SAAFL had ceased to run a regular competition from 1942 to 1945 due to World War II. In 1946, when life was returning to normal again, the Amateur League recommenced its competition with two grades, Al and A2. The club was represented in both these grades and performed quite well in the years immediately after the War. Although Premierships eluded 'the Blacks' in these years, the Al side played in the Finals in all but one season and was most unfortunate to be disqualified in 1947 when a Premiership looked a possibility.
On the administrative side, 1949 saw the retirement of Dr. N.S. Gunning from the club presidency after a long association with the club that dated back to the early 1920s. His place was taken by Dr. C.B. Sangster who had been an outstanding player with the club in the late 1920s and early 1930s.