The Glenelg Football Club, nicknamed the Tigers or the Bays, is an Australian rules football team which plays in the South Australian National Football League. Their home ground is Stratarama Stadium (formerly Glenelg Oval), located in the southern coastal suburb of Glenelg East, South Australia.
Club history The inaugural meeting of the Glenelg Football Club was held at the Glenelg Town Hall on Wednesday, 10 March 1920, to form a club for players west of South Road to play in the B Grade. It was decided that the club colors would be red, yellow and black with white knickers.
The Club participated in the B Grade (Reserves) Competition in 1920 and entered the South Australian League in 1921. At the Annual meeting on Thursday 3 March 1921 the club decided its colours to be black and gold, the guernsey to be black with a gold hoop around waist and arms, black socks with gold band, and white knickers. It was not until 2 May 1925 that the club saw its first league victory, a 12.6 (78) to 10.10 (70) win over West Torrens at Glenelg Oval.
"The Bays", as they are sometimes known (due to the club's proximity to Holdfast Bay), won their first SANFL premiership in 1934 with an 18.15 (123) to 16.18 (114) victory against , by now wearing a jersey which was gold with a black V; first introduced in 1927. The 1935 season saw them slump from first to last.
Until 1948, the team jersey remained gold with a black V. Following the appointment of Allan "Bull" Reval as coach in 1949, the club adopted the now familiar black with gold sash design. Since 2021, the team has revived and adopted the 1927 – 1949 jersey as an alternate strip for away games.
In total the club has won 7 premierships – 1934, 1973, back to back flags in 1985/1986, 2019 and back to back flags in 2023/2024 – Glenelg's first back to back premierships since 1985/1986.
Glenelg amalgamated with West Adelaide Football Club during the war years 1942 to 1944.
Glenelg was a foundation member of the SANFL Women's competition in 2017. The Tigers won their first SANFLW Premiership in 2021.
Home grounds Glenelg Oval (Stratarama Stadium) (1921–90, 1992–present) Football Park (1991)
Since the club first entered the SANFL they have used Glenelg Oval as their home ground. The only year this did not occur was in 1991 when Glenelg used Football Park (along with new team Woodville-West Torrens) under the SANFL's ground rationalisation scheme. This arrangement only lasted for the 1991 season as Glenelg moved back to The Bay while the Eagles moved to Woodville Oval.
In 2012 Glenelg Oval became one of five suburban SANFL grounds to have lights installed for night games.
The ground record crowd for Glenelg Oval was set on 20 July 1968 when 17,171 saw Sturt defeat Glenelg by just one point, 13.13 (91) to 13.12 (90). The record night attendance was set on 25 April 2014 (Anzac Day) when 9,245 saw Glenelg defeat the Adelaide Crows reserves 17.21 (123) to 13.8 (86) for the Tigers first win of the 2014 SANFL season.
Glenelg Oval also saw the highest score in SANFL history in 1975 when Glenelg defeated Central District 49.23 (317) to 11.13 (79): the winning margin of 238 is the 2017 the SANFL record, and remains the club's record win. Glenelg's champion full-forward, the 1969 Magarey Medallist Fred Phillis, kicked 18 goals for the game, including his 100th for the season.
Club song The Glenelg Tigers have the same club song as that of the Richmond Tigers based on "Row, Row, Row". Oh we're from Tigerland A fighting fury, we're from Tigerland In any weather you'll see us with a grin Risking head and shin If we're behind then never mind We'll fight and fight and win For we're from Tigerland. We never weaken till the final siren's gone Like the Tiger of old, we're strong and we're bold For we're from Tiger (yellow and black) we're from Tigerland.
Current league & reserves playing list for 2025
Club achievements PremiershipsCompetition LevelWinsYears won South Australian National Football LeagueMen's Seniors71934, 1973, 1985, 1986, 2019, 2023, 2024Women's Seniors12021Men's Reserves91967, 1981, 1982, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2021, 2023, 2025Women's Reserves (2022–2025)12025Under 19s (1937–2008) / Under 18s (2009–present)111959, 1967, 1969, 1979, 1992, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2016, 2023, 2026Under 17s (1939–2008) / Under 16s (2010–present)101958, 1959, 1960, 1975, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2026 Other titles and honoursStanley H Lewis TrophyMultiple111969, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1981, 1990, 2009, 2010, 2019, 2021, 2023SANFL Night SeriesSenior41959, 1982, 1990, 1992 Finishing positions South Australian National Football LeagueMinor premiership (men's seniors)81969, 1973, 1981, 2008, 2009, 2019, 2021, 2023Grand Finalists (men's seniors)221934, 1950, 1969, 1970, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1992, 2008, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025Wooden spoons (men's seniors)201921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1935, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1946, 1954, 1960, 1966, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2013, 2014Grand Finalists (women's seniors)12021Wooden spoons (women's seniors)22018, 2026
Club records Home Ground: Glenelg Oval (Stratarama Stadium) (1921–90, 1992–Current) Previous Grounds: Football Park (1991) Record Attendance at Glenelg Oval: 17,171 v Sturt on 20 July 1968 Record Attendance at Glenelg Oval since Adelaide Football Club formation (1991): 11,827 v Sturt, 28 June 2008 Record Night Attendance at Glenelg Oval: 9,245 v Adelaide, 25 April 2014 Record Attendance: 58,113 v Sturt at Football Park, 1974 SANFL Grand Final Record Attendance since Adelaide Crows formation (1991): 42,242 v at AAMI Stadium, 1992 SANFL Grand Final Record Attendance since AFL entry (1997): 39,105 v , 2019 SANFL Grand Final Most Games: 423 by Peter Carey (1971–88)All figures for games and goals refer to premiership (home-and-away and finals) matches only. Most Goals: 842 by D.K. "Fred" Phillis (1966–78, 1981) Most Goals in Match: 18 by D.K. "Fred" Phillis v Central District in 1975 Most Goals in a Season: 137 by D.K. "Fred" Phillis in 1969 Most Years as Coach: 10 by Neil Kerley (1967–76) Most Years as Captain: 8 by Nick Chigwidden (1993–2000) Highest Score: 49.23 (317) v Central District 11.13 (79) at Glenelg Oval in Round 17, 23 August 1975 Greatest Win: 238 points v Central District in 1975 Longest Winning Run: 18 in 1973–1974
Post–World War II coaches
Ray Curnow (1945) Norm Betson (1946) Ray Curnow (1947–1948) Allan Reval (1949) Johnny Taylor (1950–1952) Pat Hall (1953–1954) Charlie May (1955–1957) Neil Davies (1958–1959) Marcus Boyall (1960) Stan Wickham (1961) Doug Long (1962–1963) Len Fitzgerald (1964–1966) Neil Kerley (1967–1976) John Nicholls (1977–1978) John Halbert (1979–1982) Graham Campbell (1983–1984) Graham Cornes (1985–1990) Kym Hodgeman (1991–1992) Mark Williams (1993–1994) Tony Symonds (1995–1996) Wayne Stringer (1997) Tony McGuinness (1998–2000) Brenton Honor (2001–2002) David Noble (2003–2004) Peter Simmons (2005) Tony Burgess (2005) Mark Mickan (2006–2011) Kris Massie (2011–2013) Nick Stevens (2014) Matthew Lokan (2015–2017) Mark Stone (2018–2020) Brett Hand (2021–2022) Darren Reeves (2023–2025) Matthew Clarke (2026– )
Post–World War II placings
1945 – 7th 1946 – 8th 1947 – 7th 1948 – 6th 1949 – 5th 1950 – 2nd 1951 – 3rd 1952 – 5th 1953 – 3rd 1954 – 8th 1955 – 6th 1956 – 6th 1957 – 7th 1958 – 7th 1959 – 3rd 1960 – 8th 1961 – 7th 1962 – 5th 1963 – 7th 1964 – 4th 1965 – 6th 1966 – 10th 1967 – 4th 1968 – 5th 1969 – 2nd 1970 – 2nd 1971 – 6th 1972 – 6th 1973 – 1st 1974 – 2nd 1975 – 2nd 1976 – 3rd 1977 – 2nd 1978 – 4th 1979 – 7th 1980 – 4th 1981 – 2nd 1982 – 2nd 1983 – 7th 1984 – 3rd 1985 – 1st 1986 – 1st 1987 – 2nd 1988 – 2nd 1989 – 5th 1990 – 2nd 1991 – 6th 1992 – 2nd 1993 – 4th 1994 – 5th 1995 – 7th 1996 – 7th 1997 – 8th 1998 – 9th 1999 – 4th 2000 – 9th 2001 – 9th 2002 – 9th 2003 – 8th 2004 – 7th 2005 – 8th 2006 – 6th 2007 – 4th 2008 – 2nd 2009 – 3rd 2010 – 4th 2011 – 5th 2012 – 6th 2013 – 9th 2014 – 10th 2015 – 9th 2016 – 7th 2017 – 7th 2018 – 6th 2019 – 1st 2020 – 4th 2021 – 2nd 2022 – 4th 2023 – 1st 2024 – 1st 2025 – 2nd 2026 - 4th
Magarey Medallists The Magarey Medal is awarded to the "fairest and most brilliant" player in the League during the Home and Away season. Glenelg has ten Magarey Medalists: 1928 – Jim Handby 1934 – George "Blue" Johnston 1940 – Mel Brock 1941 – Marcus Boyall 1949 – Allan Crabb 1969 – D.K. "Fred" Phillis 1978 – Kym Hodgeman 1982 – Tony McGuinness 2006 – Brett Backwell 2019 – Luke Partington
SANFL Leading Goalkickers (Ken Farmer Medalists) The SANFL leading goalkicker award is presented to the competition's leading goalkicker at the end of the home-and-away season. Since 1981, it has been known as the Ken Farmer Medal. Glenelg players have won the award on 20 occasions:
1927 – Jack Owens (80 goals) 1928 – Jack Owens (83) 1932 – Jack Owens (102) 1948 – Colin Churchett (88) 1949 – Colin Churchett (72) 1950 – Colin Churchett (105) 1951 – Colin Churchett (102) 1969 – D.K. "Fred" Phillis (137) 1970 – D.K. "Fred" Phillis (107) 1971 – D.K. "Fred" Phillis (99) 1975 – D.K. "Fred" Phillis (108) 1976 – D.K. "Fred" Phillis (98) 2010 – Todd Grima (58) 2015 – Clint Alleway (47) 2019 – Liam McBean (46) 2020 – Liam McBean (38) 2021 – Liam McBean (51) 2023 – Lachlan Hosie (61) 2025 – Lachlan Hosie (79) 2026 – Lachlan Hosie (66)
Fos Williams Medalists The Fos Williams Medal is awarded to the best player during State of Origin games for South Australia. Glenelg has seven Fos Williams Medalists, including one dual medalist: 1981 – Peter Carey (v WA) 1982 – Stephen Copping (v Vic) 1982 – Paul Weston (v WA) 1984 – Stephen Kernahan (v Vic) 1987 – Chris McDermott (v Vic) 1988 – Stephen Kernahan (v Vic) 2003 – Brett Backwell (v WAFL) 2025 – Corey Lyons (v VFL)
Jack Oatey Medalists The Jack Oatey Medal since 1981 is awarded to the best player during Grand Final. Glenelg has five Jack Oatey Medalists: 1985 – Stephen Kernahan 1986 – Tony Hall 2019 – Matthew Snook 2023 – Lachlan Hosie 2024 – Liam McBean
Glenelg Hall of Fame The Glenelg Football Club set up its Hall of Fame in 2001, when it inducted 25 of its greatest players. There have since been 14 induction ceremonies, the most recent taking place in 2021, as the club marked its League centenary celebrations. Glenelg's Hall of Fame divides players into five main historical eras for the club: 1) 1921–1939; 2) 1940–1960; 3) 1961–1976; 4) 1977–1990; and 5) 1991–2021.
Players with names in bold are also in the South Australian Football Hall of Fame Players with an asterisk* next to their names are also in the Australian Football Hall of Fame
+ Glenelg Hall of Fame Members Name Inducted Career span Glenelg games (goals) Notes 1921 – 1939 Era Jack Hanley (#1) 2021 1921–1924 54 (36) Inaugural captain-coach 1921 Club captain 1922–1923 Club leading goalkicker 1922 3 state games Arthur Link 2011 1929–1939 167 (280) 1940 – 1960 Era Ray Hunt (#193) 2001 1936–1952 206 (36) Allan Crabb (#271) 2001 1942–1956 236 (177) Magarey Medallist 1949 Colin Churchett (#278) 2001 1943–1954 186 (556) Neil Davies (#368) 2001 1951–54, 1956–59, 1961–63 144 (97) 1961 – 1976 Era Fred Phillis (#530) 2001 1966–1978 275 (869) Premiership Player 1973 Magarey Medallist 1969 Club Record Goal Kicker 869 Goals Most goals in a season 137 (1969) Most goals in a match 18 (vs Centrals 1975) Peter Marker (#547) 2001 1967–1978 239 (170) Premiership Captain 1973 Wayne Phillis (#548) 2004 1967–1977 218 (90) Premiership Player 1973 Rex Voigt (#550) 2001 1967–1979 257 (258) Premiership Player 1973 Graham Cornes * (#553) 2001 1967–1982 317 (347) Premiership Player 1973 Dual Premiership Coach 1986-1986 1977 – 1990 Era Peter Carey * (#580) 2001 1971–1988 448 (521) Triple Premiership Player 1973, 1985, 1986 Dual Premiership Captain 1986-1986