Australian Football

The Tanunda Football Club was officially established in 1908, but teams representative of the town had been engaging in informal scratch matches for almost two decades by that time. The club’s formation coincided with that of the Barossa and Light Football Association, of which Tanunda became a foundation member.

For many years Tanunda struggled to make an impact in the competition and it was not until 1926 that it even managed to reach a grand final. Angaston proved too strong on that occasion, as would be the case six years later when the same two teams contested the premiership decider. Tanunda’s breakthrough premiership finally arrived in 1934 thanks to a 15.6 (96) to 12.9 (81) grand final defeat of Kapunda.

Overall, the Magpies’ time in the Barossa and Light Football Association was moderately successful, but their tally of ten senior grade flags was eclipsed by four other clubs. In contrast, since commencing in the Barossa Light and Gawler Football Association Tanunda has been the competition’s most successful club, earning seven senior grade premierships to date, including a competition record equalling four in succession at one point.[1] Moreover, the Magpies have also finished second on four occasions , further emphasising their claim to being the competition’s pre-eminent force. Certainly that was the case in both 2008, when Barossa District was overcome in the grand final by 33 points, and 2009, when Tanunda defeated Angaston 13.12 (90) to 10.8 (68). In 2010 the Magpies' dominance was even more pronounced as not only did they claim a third straight flag thanks to a 16.10 (106) to 6.11 (47) grand final defeat of Barossa District they earned the title of "champions" as they won all 18 matches contested for the year.

The 2011 season brought a fourth consecutive premiership for the Magpies who comfortably accounted for Willaston on grand final day by 60 points, 11.30 (96) to 5.6 (36). A year later Tanunda were hot favourites to make it five flags in a row after they qualified for the grand final with a 20.13 (133) to 10.7 (67) trouncing of Kapunda in the second semi. The Magpies' grand final opponents turned out to be Barossa District who were not expected to provide much in the way of opposition given that Tanunda had thrashed them in both minor round clashes for the year by margins of 91 and 55 points. Grand finals, however, are a case apart, and after a closely fought first half the Magpies pulled away to win with relative comfort by 26 points, 13.11 (89) to 8.15 (63).

Since 2012 the Magpies have continued to perform quite strongly in the main but only once made it through to the grand final. That was in 2018, and opponents Nuriootpa proved too strong to the tune of 21 points.