The 1891 SAFA season marked the height of interest in South Australian football attendance wise during the 19th century with average attendances not being surpassed until the following century.
The competition was reduced to five clubs when before the season commenced the Gawler Football Association notified that it had no intention of joining for the season i.e. it was withdrawing the Senior Club from the SAFA. It continued its own local junior competition with three local teams, the predecessor of the current Barossa Light and Gawler Football Association.