As Norwood and Port Adelaide finished level on premiership points, the first ever dedicated premiership playoff match in a major Australian rules football competition was held, with Norwood winning to claim the 1889 premiership.
Adelaide merged with North Adelaide, formerly called Hotham and no relation to the current team, after North Adelaide(Hotham) had spent two seasons in the S.A.F.A.
The Norwood vs. Medindie both clubs were short of a full team, the game started late and was also played in a half hearten manner - likely due to teams having to play the day before on the Holiday
Key: P = Played, W = Won, L = Lost, D = Drawn, GF = Goals For, BF = Behinds For, GA = Goals Against, BA = Behinds Against, Pts = Points, Adj Pts = Points adjusted for match ratio, (P) = Premiers
Notes: Medindie played each club 3 times
Gawler only played each Club twice except Medindie (3 times)
due to City clubs only wanting to travel once to Gawler due to the cost of the Special Train
The other 4 senior teams played each other 4 teams.[31]