History

It was May 1997 and Blackwood Netball Club was looking ahead to what was possible for the future. Then-President, Julie Langham wrote to the South Australian Netball Association (now Netball South Australia) and asked the question, “What were the pre-requisites required to apply for the State League competition?”

Surprisingly, no such document existed.

It was in 1999 when a chance phone call between the former Secretary’s of Blackwood Netball Club and Panthers Netball Club saw the beginnings of a new powerhouse netball club in the Southern Adelaide region.

Woods Panthers Netball Club was officially born.

Original letter sent to the South Australian Netball Association

In 2000, the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) was to join the South Australian State League competition, opening the door for other clubs in the state to present their case for inclusion. Inaugural President of Woods Panthers, Julie Langham and inaugural Vice-President, David Adams presented their case to the State League Committee.

Their work paid off and on 25 February 2000, a letter from Netball South Australia confirmed that Woods Panthers would join the Farmers Union Premier League Reserves competition for season 2000.

Our inaugural team, coached by Barry Seaman, finished a competitive seventh place in their first season. The following year, the team would make the finals series for the first time, finishing third.

On 10 August 2001, Woods Panthers received confirmation that for season 2002, it would be elevated into the Farmers Union State League competition. This signalled a new era for the club, fielding teams in the top two divisions in the state.

In its State League rookie year, Woods Panthers would finish with nine wins, the most wins by a club in its inaugural season. This incredible achievement made news headlines, demonstrating that netball in Southern Adelaide was well and truly on the rise.

In 2003, Mary Ann McKay would take the reigns of the State League team with an aim to climb the ladder in the coming years.

Early years Woods Panthers State League squad in their annual firetruck photoshoot.

After a successful decade in the red, green and white, change was afoot for Woods Panthers. An exciting new chapter for netball in the Southern region started, with Woods Panthers joining forces with South Adelaide Football Club under a new strategic partnership for 2021 onwards.

This partnership would see the club reborn in the famous blue and white of South Adelaide.

South Adelaide Football Club Chief Executive Officer, Neill Sharpe said, “this is an exciting new chapter for South Adelaide and provides the opportunity for us to further enhance our community base and establish an elite sporting pathway for both football and netball throughout the Southern region.”

In 2021 and 2022, under it new blue and white banner, South Adelaide Netball Club would reach the finals race, finishing fourth in both years.

2023 saw Head Coach Jackie Blyth take the reigns of the Premier League team alongside co-captains Eilish McKay and Brenna McKay. They would finish in third position, missing out by 1 goal in the dying minutes of the Preliminary Final.

2021 South Adelaide Premier League squad

In 2023, South Adelaide Netball Club expanded again and welcomed the club’s first ever men’s team who would represent the club in the inaugural Super League competition.

Led by Jackie Blyth and assistant coach Alex Duncan, and including past and present Southern Dragons representatives (the South Australian men’s team), South Adelaide made history by winning the 2023-24 Super League competition in a thrilling match against Matrics Netball Club.

Inaugural South Adelaide Super League team.

In 2024, under Jackie Blyth and assistants Reece Turtur and Scott Fort, the Premier League team would go through the season dropping only one game all season – by one goal.

South Adelaide finished the season as minor premiers signalling a shift in the dominance of the competition by Contax and Matrics. Despite this achievement, South Adelaide entered the finals series as underdogs. After all, Contax and Matrics were seasoned finalists with plenty of experience.

After a disappointing loss in the major semi final against Contax, the team would re-group quickly for the preliminary final, defeating Garville in dominating fashion.

South Adelaide Netball Club would face off against Contax again – this time, in the biggest match of the season.

The 2024 grand final was the clubs first ever appearance in the penultimate match of the year. Despite a galiant effort, the team would miss out on the ultimate glory, falling short by just one goal – in overtime – under somewhat controversial circumstances.

2024 South Adelaide Premier League Grand Final team

The 2025 presents another chapter in South Adelaide’s journey.

Come along for the ride and be #southproud.

Relive the SAFC/SANC Partnership announcement below.