The 1889 SAFA Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Norwood and Port Adelaide, held at the Adelaide Oval on the 5 October 1889. The match is recognised as "the first ever grand final in Australian football". The game resulted in a victory for Norwood, who beat Port Adelaide by two goals, marking the club's ninth premiership and third in a row.
Photo of the Adelaide Oval grandstands in 1889 by photographer Ernest Gall.
Image: The Express and Telegraph (Adelaide) 5 October 1889 Premiership football match Norwood Port shortened
John Trait was sought out as umpire for the match by the SAFA. At the time he was unanimously considered the best Australian football umpire in the country.
Police were required to clear people from climbing Adelaide Oval's switchback rollercoaster as many in the large crowd were seeking prime vantage points to watch the match.
Norwood Football Club, nicknamed the Redlegs, is an Australian rules football club competing in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) in the state of South Australia. Its home ground is Coopers Stadium, which is often referred to as "The Parade". It is one of the two traditional powerhouse clubs of the SANFL, the other being Port Adelaide, who together have won half of all SANFL premierships. The club has won 31 SANFL premierships and 1 SANFLW premiership.
Exterior view of Norwood Oval, home of the Redlegs since 1901.
Interior of Norwood Oval looking over to the Sir Edwin Smith stand.
Image: Alfred Topsy Waldron
Image: Norwood 1888
