On Showdown day you can tell which half of Adelaide someone belongs to before they open their mouth. Navy, red and gold scarves on one side of the train carriage, teal, black and white on the other; a family of four split two-all at the breakfast table; fifty thousand people crossing the Riverbank footbridge in the late afternoon, still arguing. Two clubs, one stadium and a city that takes it all very personally: that, in a sentence, is AFL Adelaide.
This guide is for visitors who want to see a game and understand what they are watching. It covers the Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide, why the Showdown matters so much, how and when to get tickets, what the 2026 season looked like and what to expect in 2027, a beginner’s guide to the game, and the cheaper, closer-to-the-action alternatives in the AFLW and SANFL. Details were checked in October 2026, just after the season ended; the 2027 fixture had not been released, and ticket prices are set match by match, so check the clubs and Ticketek before you plan around a game.
AFL in Adelaide at a glance
| What | The short answer |
|---|---|
| The clubs | Adelaide Crows (formed 1990, in the AFL since 1991) and Port Adelaide (founded 1870, in the AFL since 1997) |
| Home ground | Adelaide Oval, on the river just north of the city centre, for both clubs |
| Season | March to late August, finals in September, Grand Final at the MCG in Melbourne |
| The big one | The Showdown, Crows v Port, twice every season |
| Tickets | Ticketek is the only authorised agent for Adelaide Oval; members get first access |
| Hardest tickets | Showdowns, finals and Gather Round games |
| Easiest tickets | Standard home games against interstate clubs, especially on Sunday afternoons |
| 2026 | Crows sixth, won an elimination final, lost a semi-final; Port fifteenth |
| Women’s footy | AFLW runs from late winter into spring, with the Crows recently at Norwood Oval and Port at Alberton Oval |
| Gather Round | Every club plays in South Australia over one April weekend; 9 to 12 April in 2026, 8 to 11 April in 2027 |
The two clubs
Adelaide Crows
The Crows are the younger club and, for most of their history, the bigger one. They exist because of a fight. In 1990 Port Adelaide, the dominant club in the local South Australian National Football League, tried to accept an invitation to join the national competition on its own. The SANFL, horrified at the prospect of losing its strongest club, responded by creating a new composite team to represent the whole state, and the Adelaide Football Club entered the AFL in 1991. Port were left behind, and the grudge has never entirely gone away.
The Crows won back-to-back premierships in 1997 and 1998 under Malcolm Blight, reached the 2017 Grand Final and lost it to Richmond, and spent a long stretch after that rebuilding. Their club song, “The Pride of South Australia”, is sung to the tune of the United States Marines’ Hymn, which surprises Americans in the crowd. The women’s team has been one of the AFLW’s strongest, with premierships in 2017, 2019 and 2022.
The 2026 season was the Crows’ best in years. They finished sixth, then beat the Western Bulldogs by 22 points in an elimination final at Adelaide Oval on 5 September, 14.6 (90) to 9.14 (68), the club’s first finals win since 2017. A week later they ran into Brisbane at the Gabba and lost a semi-final by 53 points. Captain Jordan Dawson was named vice-captain of the All-Australian team, and won the AFL Players’ Association’s best captain and most courageous player awards; Wayne Milera also made the All-Australian side, and Rory Laird played his 300th game late in the season.
Port Adelaide
Port is the old club. Founded in 1870 in the working port suburb that gives it its name, it dominated the SANFL as the Magpies, winning more state premierships than anyone, before finally entering the AFL in 1997 as the Power. It won the AFL premiership in 2004, beating Brisbane, and has been a regular finalist since without adding a second flag. Port’s identity is fiercely local and fiercely historical: its black-and-white “Prison Bars” heritage guernsey is a point of pride and a long-running argument with the AFL, and its club song is “Power to Win”.
The 2026 season was a hard one. Josh Carr, a member of the 2004 premiership side, took over as coach from Ken Hinkley, and an injury-hit team finished fifteenth with seven wins and sixteen losses, though it was rarely thrashed: five of those losses were by five points or fewer. At the end of the season star midfielder Zak Butters, a three-time winner of the club’s best-and-fairest award, told the club he wanted a trade to a Victorian team. The club has also said it intends to withdraw its reserves team from the SANFL when its current agreement ends in 2028.
The Showdown
The Showdown is what the city calls the Crows v Port derby, played twice every season, once as a Crows home game and once as Port’s. It began in 1997, when Port finally joined the AFL, and the history behind it, the SANFL fight of 1990 and a century of suburban rivalry before that, gives it an edge that most AFL fixtures lack. The best player on the ground receives the Showdown Medal, and families genuinely split down the middle.
For a visitor, a Showdown is the single best sporting experience in Adelaide. The crowd is huge and loud, both sets of supporters are mixed through the stadium rather than fenced off in separate ends, and the noise when a late goal goes in is something you feel in your chest. The 2026 pair showed why: the Crows won the first by a single point, with Brayden Cook kicking the winning goal with ten seconds left, and Port, bound for the bottom four, won the return match by 26 points in what one report called one of the great Showdown upsets.
The catch is getting in. Showdowns often sell out to members, and few tickets reach the general public. If a Showdown is the reason for your trip, watch the club websites for the fixture and the on-sale date, consider a membership package that guarantees a seat, and use only Ticketek’s official resale service if you miss out.
When the season runs
The AFL season starts in March with an Opening Round, runs through the autumn and winter, and finishes its home-and-away rounds in late August. The leading clubs then play finals through September, ending in the Grand Final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, traditionally on the last Saturday of September. Adelaide only hosts finals when one of its clubs earns a home final, as the Crows did in 2026.
The 2027 fixture is usually released late in the year. Until then, plan on the pattern: every weekend from March to August, each club plays roughly every week, alternating home and away, so in most weeks there is a game at Adelaide Oval. Night games in June, July and August are cold, with temperatures in single figures by the final siren, so dress for it.
Gather Round
Since 2023, the AFL has held Gather Round in South Australia: one April weekend when all eighteen clubs play in the state, with nine games over four days at venues across South Australia and a free fan festival in the city. The 2026 edition ran from 9 to 12 April, and the 2027 dates are already set: Thursday 8 to Sunday 11 April. It is the best weekend of the year for a footy-loving visitor and the hardest to book for, so plan early; our events and festivals calendar shows what else is on that month.
Our Gather Round guide covers the venues from Adelaide Oval to Barossa Park, the free Footy Festival at Elder Park, how tickets work and how to plan a trip around the weekend.
A footy calendar for visitors
| When | What is on |
|---|---|
| March | AFL Opening Round and the first home games at Adelaide Oval |
| April | Gather Round, with every AFL club in South Australia; the SANFL season starts |
| May to August | AFL home-and-away rounds most weekends, including both Showdowns; SANFL at suburban ovals |
| September | AFL finals (home finals in Adelaide only if a local club earns one), the Grand Final in Melbourne, and the SANFL grand final at Adelaide Oval |
| Late August to November | The AFLW season, including the AFLW Showdown |
| December to February | No footy; Adelaide Oval switches to cricket |
How to get AFL tickets in Adelaide
Where to buy
Ticketek is the only authorised ticketing agent for Adelaide Oval. Buy through Ticketek directly or through the links on the Crows and Port websites, which both list upcoming home games and on-sale details. If you need to buy or sell a ticket second-hand, use Ticketek’s official resale marketplace rather than an unofficial reseller: tickets bought elsewhere may be cancelled, and fake Showdown tickets are a perennial problem.
Members first, then the public
Both clubs have large memberships, and members get first access to tickets and often fixed reserved seats. General public tickets for each game go on sale afterwards. For a standard home game against an interstate club, there are usually plenty of seats; for Showdowns, finals and blockbusters, there may be almost none. Membership packages range from a handful of games to the full season, but for a visitor they only make sense if a specific sold-out game is the point of your trip.
What tickets cost
Prices are set game by game and depend on the match, the seat and the category, with separate prices for adults, concessions and children, and family options. As a rule, the cheaper seats are higher up and further from the centre, and premium seating and hospitality cost considerably more; Adelaide Oval’s Stadium Club, on Level 3 of the Eastern Grandstand, is the premium end. Check the price for your game on Ticketek; it will be far cheaper than a Showdown on the resale market.
Tips for choosing a game
- Sunday afternoon games against interstate teams are the easiest and most relaxed introduction, and good for families.
- Friday and Saturday night games have the best atmosphere under lights, but dress for a cold night.
- Away fans are welcome anywhere in the stadium. You can sit in a Port scarf among Crows members and nothing bad will happen beyond some banter.
- Single seats are often available even when a game looks sold out for groups.
Match day
Adelaide Oval sits on the north bank of the River Torrens, a short walk from the city centre. Most people walk: from Adelaide Railway Station or North Terrace, the Riverbank footbridge takes you straight to the stadium in around ten minutes, and the walk across with the crowd is part of the ritual. The free city tram runs along North Terrace and King William Street, and buses and trains bring fans in from the suburbs. Arrive early for a big game, as queues at the gates build in the last half hour.
Inside, the stadium has bars and food outlets on every level, and the pre-game crowd spills into the Riverbank precinct beforehand. Bag sizes and permitted items are restricted, so check the stadium’s conditions of entry before you go. If you want to see behind the scenes on a non-match day, the stadium runs guided tours and the RoofClimb over the stands, which we cover in our Adelaide Oval tours guide. And if you want to stay close, North Adelaide is a pleasant walk away; see our North Adelaide accommodation guide.
From Football Park to Adelaide Oval
Adelaide Oval has not always been the home of big-time footy. The SANFL played its major games there for most of the twentieth century, including grand finals that drew enormous crowds, but in 1974 the league moved them to its own new stadium, Football Park, out at West Lakes. That was where the Crows played from 1991 and Port from 1997, in a windswept suburban bowl that older fans remember with a mixture of affection and frostbite.
The move back to the city came in 2014, after a redevelopment that turned Adelaide Oval into a shared football and cricket stadium with new stands on three sides and the heritage scoreboard and Moreton Bay figs kept on the other. It transformed match day: instead of a drive and a car park in the western suburbs, fans now walk from the city across the river, and the stadium routinely fills to more than 50,000 for big games. Many visitors who have been to stadiums around the world rate it among the best places anywhere to watch sport, and it is hard to argue.
Footy for first-timers
If you have never seen Australian rules football, here is what you need to enjoy your first game.
- The basics: two teams of eighteen players on an oval field, with four posts at each end. Kick the ball between the two tall middle posts for a goal, worth six points; between a tall post and a short outer post for a behind, worth one. Scores are written as goals, behinds and total, so 14.6 (90) means 14 goals and 6 behinds for 90 points.
- The game: four quarters of 20 minutes, plus time added on for stoppages, so each quarter runs around half an hour, with a longer break at half-time. A whole game, with breaks, takes close to three hours.
- Marks: cleanly catch a kick that has travelled at least 15 metres and it is a “mark”, which earns a free kick. Spectacular leaping marks are the highlight reel of the sport.
- The noise: the crowd yells “ball!” when a player is caught holding it, groans at the umpires, and the loudest roar of the day comes when the home team kicks a goal in a close final quarter.
- After the siren: the winning team’s song plays. If the Crows win, you will hear “The Pride of South Australia”; if Port win, “Power to Win”. Learning the chorus is optional but appreciated.
Barracking is passionate but footy crowds are famously mixed and family-friendly. You will see children in the front rows, grandparents in the members’ stands, and rival supporters sitting side by side for the whole game.
AFLW and SANFL: footy closer to the action
AFLW
The women’s competition runs from late winter into spring, filling the gap after the men’s finals. Both clubs field teams: the Crows have recently played home games at Norwood Oval, and Port play at Alberton Oval, the club’s historic home in Port Adelaide. Tickets are cheap, the grounds are small enough to hear the players, and the atmosphere is friendly. The AFLW Showdown is a highlight; in October 2026, Port’s remaining home games at Alberton included West Coast on Saturday 10 October at 2:35pm and Collingwood on Friday 23 October at 6:45pm. If you are in Adelaide in spring, an AFLW game is the easiest way to see live footy.
SANFL
The South Australian National Football League is the state competition, older than the AFL itself, and both AFL clubs field reserves teams in it alongside the traditional suburban clubs. SANFL games are played at suburban ovals from April to September, entry is inexpensive, and you can stand on a grassy bank with a pie and watch future AFL players at close range. The SANFL grand final is played at Adelaide Oval. For a feel of the city’s footy culture, it is hard to beat.
Watching the game in a pub
If you cannot get a ticket, Adelaide’s pubs show the footy on big screens, and on Showdown day the city’s sports bars are packed. Our guide to Adelaide’s pubs and gastropubs has places to start. Just be aware that during a Showdown, choosing a pub can feel like choosing a side.
Which team should a visitor support?
Locals will tell you it is not a choice you make lightly, but for a weekend, here is a rough guide. Pick the Crows if you like a big, state-wide club with recent momentum, a strong women’s team and a 2026 finals win to talk about. Pick Port if you like history, working-class roots, black-and-white stripes and supporting the underdog in a rebuilding year. Or do what many neutral visitors do: buy a ticket to a Crows game and a Port game in the same week, and decide which crowd you liked better.
Is it worth going to an AFL game in Adelaide?
- International visitors: yes, absolutely. It is one of the most distinctively Australian things you can do, Adelaide Oval is one of the best stadiums in the country, and it is a ten-minute walk from the city.
- Interstate footy fans: yes, especially for a Showdown or Gather Round; Adelaide crowds are among the most passionate in the league.
- Families: yes, choose a Sunday afternoon game and seats out of the sun or wind, depending on the season.
- Visitors in spring: the men’s season is over, but the AFLW is on and tickets are easy.
What is not worth it: paying several times face value for a Showdown from an unofficial reseller, or buying the cheapest seat for a July night game without a warm jacket.
AFL in Adelaide FAQ
Where do the Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide play?
Both play their home AFL games at Adelaide Oval, on the north bank of the River Torrens next to the city centre.
How do I buy Adelaide Crows or Port Adelaide tickets?
Through Ticketek, the only authorised agent for Adelaide Oval, either directly or via the club websites. Members get first access, and general public tickets go on sale afterwards.
What is the Showdown?
The derby between the Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide, played twice every AFL season since Port joined the league in 1997. The best player wins the Showdown Medal.
Can I get tickets to a Showdown?
It is difficult. Showdowns usually sell out to members. Watch for the general public on-sale, consider a membership package, and only buy resale tickets through Ticketek’s official marketplace.
When is the AFL season?
From March to late August, with finals in September and the Grand Final at the MCG in Melbourne. Gather Round, in April, brings every club to South Australia.
How did the Crows and Port go in 2026?
The Crows finished sixth, beat the Western Bulldogs in an elimination final at Adelaide Oval and lost a semi-final to Brisbane. Port Adelaide finished fifteenth with seven wins.
Is there women’s AFL in Adelaide?
Yes. Both clubs have AFLW teams, playing from late winter into spring, with the Crows at Norwood Oval and Port at Alberton Oval. The Crows have won three AFLW premierships.
How long is an AFL game?
Four 20-minute quarters plus added time, so close to three hours including the breaks.
Related Adelaide Guides
- Sport in Adelaide — every sport and venue, from footy to cricket and golf.
- Adelaide Events & Festivals — the year’s calendar, from Gather Round to the Fringe.
- Adelaide Oval Tours — guided tours and the RoofClimb.
- North Adelaide Accommodation — stay a walk from the Oval.
- Adelaide Pubs & Gastropubs — where to watch if you cannot get a ticket.
- River Torrens — the Riverbank walk to the stadium.
- Best Time to Visit Adelaide — the year, month by month.
- Things to Do in Adelaide — the city’s best experiences.
Photo Credits
Half-time at a Showdown, 2015: “Football 2 (16731424274).jpg” by Alan & Flora Botting, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.
Port Adelaide’s 2004 premiership cup: “Port Adelaide 2004 Trophy.jpg” by Thejoebloggsblog, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
A goal at a night Showdown, 2015: “Football 8 (17166097838).jpg” by Alan & Flora Botting, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.
The Crows Hall of Fame wall, 2022: “Adelaide Crows Hall of Fame wall at Adelaide Oval.jpg” by DaHuzyBru, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
An AFLW Showdown at Norwood Oval, 2025: “AFLW round 11 2025, Adelaide vs. Port Adelaide – 10.jpg” by Yu Chu Chin, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Adelaide Oval at a Showdown (featured image): “Football 1 (17353924985).jpg” by Alan & Flora Botting, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.
