By ZAC MILBANK
A bumper Round 1 schedule littered with marquee match-ups is poised as the perfect start to the 2024 Hostplus SANFL League season.
Set to be a standalone round of matches on the Easter Weekend before the AFL’s Gather Round, the season-opening celebration will feature one match on Easter Thursday and four staggered across Good Friday.
Traditional rivals Norwood and Sturt will kick things off under lights at The Parade on Thursday March 28 as the Redlegs look to avoid last year’s disappointing start while the Double Blues begin their campaign to go one step further after losing last year’s Grand Final.
Regular Good Friday combatants North Adelaide and Central District will begin the action on Friday March 29 at Prospect Oval before South Adelaide hosts Adelaide at Flinders University Stadium.
Woodville-West Torrens will start life under new coach Sam Jacobs against West Adelaide at Maughan Thiem Kia Oval before reigning premier Glenelg unfurls its 2023 premiership flag as it faces Port Adelaide in a twilight encounter at Stratarama Stadium.
The Hostplus SANFLW League begins under lights with two matches – Norwood v Central District and West Adelaide v South Adelaide – on Friday March 1 before two games are played on Saturday March 2.
For the first time, the Eagles will host Sturt at their alternate venue at Eastern Parade, Ottoway, before North Adelaide clashes with Glenelg at Thebarton Oval from 6.30pm.
The entire Hostplus SANFL League, SANFLW League and underage fixtures will be released on the SANFL website tomorrow.
After a weekend off as the West End State team renews its rivalry against the VFL during Gather Round, the Hostplus SANFL League season will resume on Friday April 12 with an exciting Round 2 schedule.
Thursday March 28
Norwood v Sturt (Coopers Stadium) – 7.40pm
Friday March 29
North Adelaide v Central District (Prospect Oval) – 1.40pm
South Adelaide v Adelaide (Flinders University Stadium) – 2.10pm
Woodville-West Torrens v West Adelaide (Maughan Thiem Kia Oval) – 2.30pm
Glenelg v Port Adelaide (Stratarama Stadium) – 4.30pm
Friday March 1
Norwood v Central District (Coopers Stadium) – 7.40pm
West Adelaide v South Adelaide (Thebarton Oval) – 7.40pm
Saturday March 2
Woodville-West Torrens v Sturt (Eastern Parade Reserve) – 1pm
North Adelaide v Glenelg (Thebarton Oval) – 6.30pm