A new chapter in SA football’s biggest rivalry will see Adelaide and Port Adelaide’s AFL and AFLW teams compete for the same shield thanks to the partnership with prominent children’s charity, Variety.

To be presented for the first time at Adelaide Oval on Thursday night, the new Variety Showdown Shield will be the centrepiece of the biggest game on the SA football calendar across both men’s and women’s competitions.

The new design which aims to unite the community regardless of team allegiance, features Variety’s core values of equality, joy, community and action as well as handprints symbolising the thousands of children Variety supports each year.

Thursday night will be Showdown 55 in the AFL with both teams tied on 27 wins each since their first meeting in 1997. It will also be the first Showdown played on a Thursday night and is a standalone game broadcast on national free-to-air TV.

The Crows have won the only two AFLW Showdowns held since 2022.

Crows CEO Tim Silvers said the Club was proud of the partnership with Variety which this year would enable an additional 4000 South Australian students to participate in the Crows’ Open Parachute program which focuses on improving child and youth mental health.

“There is nothing quite like the Showdown rivalry which is the biggest and best in the AFL, and as we have seen over the past two years, that now extends to the AFLW competition as well,” Silvers said.

“To have a new shield that reflects the modern landscape of SA football and celebrates both men’s and women’s competitions is not only appropriate but exciting.

“However, as fierce as the on-field rivalry with Port Adelaide is, both clubs are united off the field in supporting the amazing work Variety does in the community and the Showdown is a great opportunity to highlight that on various occasions throughout the year.

“Variety plays a crucial role in supporting young people in need across the state and we are very proud of the partnership it has had with the Showdown since 2018.”

Variety supports kids and families who are facing many challenges through sickness, disadvantage or living with disability. Its work allows kids to gain mobility and get out and about in the community, as well as communicate, achieve independence and increase their self-esteem.

Variety SA CEO Mark McGill said the charity was proud of its ongoing work in the community and association with the Showdown.

“As we enter into our seventh year of this partnership, we are incredibly proud of the impact created for children in need in SA,” McGill said.

“The investment made is the catalyst for change for these kids and we remain indebted to our generous and kind supporter base as their hard work allows this to happen.”