A marquee Round 1 schedule – including Norwood hosting Sturt under lights in the season-opener – will be centred around the Easter weekend.
Four matches will be played on Good Friday, complemented by a huge Easter Thursday night clash to be played between neighbouring rivals, the Redlegs and Double Blues, at The Parade.
Start times on an action-packed March 29 will be staggered throughout the afternoon before reigning premier Glenelg unfurls its 2023 Premiership flag before it meets Port Adelaide at Stratarama Stadium from 4.40pm.
Anzac Day looms as another exciting feature, including the traditional Grand Final rematch between Glenelg and Sturt at Stratarama Stadium on Thursday April 25.
The Tigers and Double Blues attracted a massive crowd of 7,285 to the Bay on the King’s Birthday holiday this year, ensuring similar excitement will surround a standalone clash next season.
“We are really excited about the marquee match-ups, particularly in the opening rounds,” SANFL Head of Football Operations Sean Toohey said.
“It promises to be an intriguing start to the Hostplus SANFL League season while maximising the potential for significant attendances amid the milder weather.
“We are also really excited to be showcasing the competition in South Australia’s regional areas, providing our country followers with a chance to watch their favourite teams up close, in familiar locations.”
SANFL will hit the road again in 2024 with four regional matches, including the second-coming of the Neil Kerley Memorial Match, to be played between West Adelaide and Adelaide in Murray Bridge in Round 17.
South Adelaide will host North Adelaide at Victor Harbor in Round 14 as part of the Think Road Safety! SA Country Championships while Norwood will again play the Bloods in Port Lincoln after its successful venture to the Eyre Peninsula in the past two seasons.
West Adelaide will again host Port Adelaide in the Riverland in Round 2 for the Russell Ebert Tribute Match, with the location still to be confirmed.
Following last season’s innovative measure, First Nations Round will again be held across two weekends, Rounds 7 and 8, aligning with National Reconciliation Week and allowing both the men’s and women’s competitions to celebrate this round together.
This also allows each SANFL club the opportunity to host a First Nation-themed match to recognise the enormous contribution First Nations people make to Australian Football in South Australia.
As revealed earlier in the week, the West End State team will have the opportunity to play twice in 2024 as it hosts the VFL for the first time since 2016 as part of the Gather Round weekend on April 4-7.
The Croweaters will then set their sights on retaining the Haydn Bunton Junior Cup on Sunday May 19 at Optus Stadium in Perth, as a curtain-raiser to the West Coast v Melbourne AFL match.
A four-week finals series starting on Sunday September 1 will be played at Adelaide Oval, culminating with the 2024 Hostplus SANFL League Grand Final on Sunday September 22.
Start times and match days for Rounds 12 to 19 will be confirmed later in the year, once the AFL finalises its full minor round fixture.
Sturt home matches were not scheduled at Thomas Farms Oval (Unley) across the opening four rounds due to major remediation works on the ground.
SANFL broadcast partner Seven Network will continue to broadcast a Match of the Round live and free on Seven and 7plus each weekend.
The Hostplus SANFL League and Hostplus SANFLW League will again be showcased live and on demand via its popular streaming platform, SANFL Now.
SANFL is encouraging fans to sign up for a club home match membership in 2024, with this being the most cost-effective way to support their team at games this season.
SANFL club memberships can be purchased via the SANFL website here.
The full 2024 Hostplus SANFL League fixture can be viewed here.
