AAMI Talent League to kick off in 2026

27 January 2026

SANFL’s elite underage football pathway competitions have a new naming rights partner and new name in 2026, with longstanding SANFL partner AAMI extending its support of football in South Australia to all SANFL talent programs.

The AAMI Talent League for Under-18 girls, kicking off its inaugural season in February, and Under-18 and Under-16 boys, commencing in March, will continue to feature the best underage players from the eight SANFL Clubs.

SANFL announced the new partnership with Australia’s leading insurer today with the release of the full 2026 fixtures for the AAMI Talent League.

In addition, AAMI will support the Under-16 and Under-18 boys and girls State teams as naming rights partner in 2026, as well as the SANFL under-15 and under-17 intrastate youth carnivals held in July and October.

AAMI also will continue its support of the State Leagues and South Australian community football clubs in 2026 through the AAMI Rookies program and will remain an official partner of the THINK! Road Safety SA Country Football Championships, to be held in the Barossa in July.

The talent partnership announcement comes on the back of South Australia’s successful AFL Draft result in 2025 which saw a record seven SANFL players selected by AFL clubs in Round One. This also followed the SA Under-18 boys winning the AFL National Championships title and the SA Under-16 girls team claiming its third consecutive national AFL Championships title.

SANFL Chief Executive Officer Darren Chandler said the expansion of AAMI’s partnership with SANFL was an enormous boost for talent development in South Australia.

“AAMI has been a proud supporter of football at all levels in South Australia and we are absolutely thrilled to have them come on board to support our talent development programs and the AAMI Talent League,” Mr Chandler said.

“The new partnership is set to take the AAMI Talent League to a new level in 2026 and further strengthen our premier underage competitions.

“The AAMI Talent League provides the best possible talent pathway for boys and girls, as well as coaches and umpires, giving them the best opportunity to participate at either SANFL or AFL level in the future.”

AAMI’s Executive Manager for South Australia & ACT CTP, Curtis McKay, said:

“Supporting South Australia has always been incredibly important to AAMI — whether that’s on the field, at home or on the road.

“We’re proud to back footy nationally through the AFL, and our partnership with SANFL allows us to share that passion locally in a state that lives and breathes the game.

“Over the past five years, we’ve helped strengthen community football across South Australia by funding local clubs to upgrade facilities, purchase new equipment and invest in player development programs.

“This year, we’re excited to expand our support even further — taking on the AAMI Talent League alongside our continued commitment to SANFL men’s and women’s competitions, local clubs and the broader South Australian community.”

The 2026 AAMI Talent League Girls, which replaces the SANFLW Development League, launches on February 28 and is a major step forward for girls and women’s football development in South Australia.

The seven-round home and away season concludes on Saturday April 18, followed by a two-week finals series between the top four teams.

The AAMI Talent League Boys starts with Round One on the evening of Wednesday March 18 and Thursday March 19 with the 18-round home and away season concluding on August 15.

The AAMI Talent League Under-16 boys season begins on Friday March 27.

The grand finals for both boys’ leagues will be played as curtain raisers to the Hostplus SANFL League preliminary final at Adelaide Oval on September 13.

All AAMI Talent League matches and Hostplus SANFL U14s matches will be streamed live and on demand on SANFL Now at sanflnow.com.au