The first official record of football being played in South Australia dates back to 1843.

The South Australian Football Association was formed in 1877, changing its name to the SA Football League in 1907 and later to the South Australian National Football League (SANFL).

The first State game was played between South Australia and Victoria in Melbourne in 1879.

The first Premier team was South Adelaide in 1877 and the first person to win the Magarey Medal as the competition's fairest and most brilliant was Norwood rover Alby Green in 1898.

Premiership matches were suspended during World War 1 and not resumed until 1919. During World War 2 the League teams combined as Port -Torrens, Norwood-North, South-Sturt and West-GleneIg to play in a reduced match programme.

After a series of differences with the SA Cricket Association, the SANFL decided to move its playing headquarters away from the Adelaide Oval and commissioned the building of Football Park on reclaimed land at West Lakes, On October 31, 1972 the first seeds were sown at Football Park and the first match was contested between North Adelaide and Central District on May 4, 1974 with victory going to the Bulldogs. The lighting issue of the stadium became a political football in 1978 and it was not until 1984 that Football Park finally staged its first match under lights.

Over the years we have seen many changes to the face of South Australian football. The addition of two teams in 1964 being the Central District Football Club and the Woodville Football Club and in 1991, the competition saw a new side grace the field - the amalgamation of Woodville and West Torrens Football Clubs to form the Eagles, which recorded its first Premiership two years later.
The local football scene also changed dramatically in 1991 with the entry of the Adelaide Football Club -the Crows - into the AFL. The Club's impact on football on all levels, helped ensure the continued healthy development of young footballers in this State.

In 1994 the Port Adelaide Football Club was selected for the second AFL Licence by the SANFL and subsequently joined the AFL competition in 1997 after 127 successful years in the SANFL. Their entry into the national arena has assured the South Australian football public of an AFL minor round game being played at Football Park every week.

On Tuesday 26th of September 1995 the SANFL announced plans to construct 33 premium Corporate Suites on the southern roof of Football Park at a cost of 6.6 million dollars. Eighteen months later on Wednesday 26th of March 1997 the 33 Park Pavilion Suites were opened for business.

In 1997 the Adelaide Football Club ("Crows") took out the most coveted prize in the AFL-the 1997 Premiership. Adelaide was the first team in the AFL to win all four finals, two in Adelaide and two in Melbourne. AFL Grand Final Day, Saturday 27th of September 1997, Adelaide 19.11 (125) defeated St. Kilda 13.16 (94).

In December 1997 Panasonic was awarded the contract to provide the Superscreen at AAMI Stadium. The screen was commissioned for operation in mid 1998.

In February 2001, a joint initiative between the SANFL and the State Government was completed which saw a new bus terminal commissioned at Football Park (as it was known) in time for the opening of the 2001 season. The bus service known as ‘Footy Express’ in it first year delighted both the SANFL and the Passenger Transport Board with a 300% increase in patronage in the first year.

July 2001, marked the completion and the opening of the new 7000-seat Northern Grandstand at Football Park. At a cost of $12.5 million the project was jointly funded by the Government of South Australia & the South Australian National Football League. The Australian Football League contributed the remaining $1.5 million to the project. As part of this Grandstand redevelopment achieved in partnership with the government, the SANFL acquired 4.1 hectares of land and warehouses through the sale of the State Supply building, which accommodated the extra car parking associated with the new grandstand. The State Supply building as part of this purchase was soon to become the Crows Shed. The establishment of the Crows Shed was done so by the SANFL for the Adelaide Football Club at no cost.

Season 2002 marked 125 years of football in South Australia. On April 30, 1877 - 125 years ago at the Adelaide Town Hall in the Prince Alfred Room, the official papers constituting a football association were signed. The SANFL celebrated this 125-year achievement, by staging its 2002 Season Launch at the Adelaide Town Hall in the exact same room where the papers were officially registered.

In July 2002, Football Park was renamed AAMI Stadium as part of a long-term significant investment in Australian Football by leading Australian car, home and compulsory third party insurer, AAMI South Australia. The agreement with AAMI South Australia is for five years (from July 2002) with an additional five-year option on the naming rights contract.

On Tuesday, 13 August, 2002 the South Australian National Football League inducted 114 people into the South Australian Football Hall of Fame. The induction occurred at the 'West End South Australian Football Hall of Fame Inaugural Presentation Dinner' in the Park Convention Centre at AAMI Stadium. The role of the South Australian Football Hall of Fame is to recognise and enshrine players, coaches, umpires, administrators and journalists who have made a most significant contribution to the game of Australian Football in South Australia since its inception in 1877.

In May 2003, the SANFL announced at a cost of $3 million, the introduction of individual seating into all areas of AAMI Stadium in readiness for the beginning of the 2004 football season. It was promised in July 2002 upon the announcement of the AAMI Stadium sponsorship, that football patrons attending AAMI Stadium would be the major beneficiaries of AAMI ’s significant investment with the seating just one of a number of upgrades for the stadium.

On the 24th July 2003, Mr Max Basheer AM retired as League President and Commission Chairman after serving for a record 25 year term as SANFL President.

The renovation of the Crows Social Club now known as the Crows Tavern was completed on 25th July 2003. The SANFL and the AFC have entered into an arrangement, which has resulted in the refurbishment and increased the attractiveness of the facility.