MAIN STORY – REP FOOTBALL IN A STATE
I feel that I might be in a minority among all SA football fans but I’m starting to get excited about the state game next weekend, the chance to travel to Perth with some good friends and call South Australia back to both a home and world wide audience.
It brings back memories of the SA Cheer Squad’s trip to Melbourne for the 1989 State of Origin clash against Victoria. The ten combined cheer squads filled 6 buses sending 300 SA mad supporters to the MCG for the big clash. History will show that the Croweater’s recent run of wins came to a shuddering halt (like Tony Hall’s knee) in the Melbourne mud watched at the ground by over 90,000 fans.
Despite the result, this for mine was the zenith of state v state competition, one year later Port made their move to join the AFL and South Australian football was never the same, the once a year game that united our state as one, replaced by weekly contests in a national league, supporters divided into two very large camps with plenty of smaller groups.
In tough economic times it will be interesting to see how many main stream media outlets gives the match next week the due coverage and respect it deserves.
It will be easy to point at the lack of South Australians in the SANFL squad forgetting that over 90% of interstate games in our history have been league v league not State of Origin (how else could Malcolm Blight end up wearing the Big V?).
Indeed the attraction of the SANFL to those from interstate as the state league of choice should be a source of pride not derision. After all where else in any other industry do people want to come to Adelaide ahead of any other city in Australia?
Alas with the Crows hosting Carlton almost simultaneously at AAMI Stadium and our opponents the respected Western Australians way over in Perth rather than the hated Vics it will be easy for this match to slip into the background.
Whatever the coverage state football receives in 2009 it will be mammoth compared with what will occur in 2010 when South Australia is not scheduled to play anyone, this the year for a WAFL v VFL clash in the triangular schedule.
For those waiting for a home state game to support, don’t hold your breath. Under the current structure it’s the next game v Western Australia this time in Adelaide in 2012.
Personally I would love to see the three power states (WA, SA, Victoria) play each other once each year, each state hosting one home and travelling away once. For example next year we would travel to Melbourne to take on the VFL, whilst hosting the WAFL, with the VFL travelling to Perth.
So each year there would be a road trip and a home game to promote to local fans. Most importantly the tri-series would produce an official state league champion each and every year rather than the current one off battle.
Of course expanding one game into a three match series and doubling the commitment required by each state side would see a cost blowout and an increased disruption to the state league competition.
However given the WAFL, VFL & SANFL sides should display almost 70 of the best players not on AFL lists and the match conditions in an interstate game are the closest thing you could get to AFL level, why would it not be in the interest of the recruiting departments of the 16 AFL clubs to have these players competing together over 2 games at this higher level. This should especially be the case given the need for another 80 odd players to fill the lists of the two new expansion franchisers.
Of course age is probably a major issue with many of the best state league players well beyond AFL careers, maybe an age criteria where a certain number need to be Under 23 would be a way to compromise.
Having allocated so many resources into the various Under 18 leagues and national championships which now extend over a five week period to find the talent of the future, would it not be too unreasonable to invest a small portion of that money into funding just three matches to seriously test the best current state league stars ready to step up.
Also expanding a season by one week to incorporate a second state game, would give the SANFL a chance to kick off their season in that non-footy window between the NAB Cup and opening AFL round plus still have the grand final in October. Given the structure is already in place to organise a team to play one game, adding a second would not mean a doubling of effort just extending what is already in place for another week or two.
It should be mentioned that a similar format has been played in the amateur leagues in recent years so it’s hard to believe that state leagues lack the ability to replicate.
However, in lieu of this happening, the league should give serious consideration to playing someone in 2010, possibly travelling to play the winner of Queensland and Tasmania who meet in Hobart in June 8.
Of course there is some revenge due to Tasmania for that shock loss in 1995 and with the AFLQ competition now involving the Northern Territory Thunder a representative side from that league would be more competitive than in years past.
Yes, it would not have the glamour of an SANFL v VFL encounter but it keeps State League football as an annual event and rewards the best players in the SANFL that year with a state jumper.
Expense wise it is hard to see it being any more expensive that what it will cost this year to send a side to Perth.
Also consider that stars like Luke Crane and Ian Callinan have come from these states in recent years who knows what new talent will emerge from such a clash.
Besides, it would be another excuse for a road trip ……….
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STATISTIC OF THE WEEK
Coming into Friday Night’s clash with Norwood, Glenelg are yet to kick more goals than behinds in a game this season. Despite sitting in outright second they have a percentage of 48.8% conceding 29 points more than scoring thus far this season.
This led me to the thought of what might the SANFL ladder would look like of all scoring shots had the same value … ie points and goals each counted as 1 on the scoreboard
POINTS = GOALS LADDER AFTER ROUND 7
1) Central 6-0 12pts +188 -114 62.25%
2) Glenelg 5-2 10pts +185 -160 53.62%
3) Sturt 4-2 8pts +149 -115 56.44%
4) Eagles 4-3 8pts +159 -169 48.85%
5) North 3-3 6pts +142 -136 51.08%
6) Norwood 3-3 6pts +145 -144 50.17%
7) Port 1-5 2pts +134 -158 45.89%
West 1-5 2pts +120 -164 42.25%9) South 1-5 2pts +109 -171 38.93%
Results changed if goals = points
Rd 1 – West d South
Rd 2 – Eagles d West
Rd 5 - Norwood d West, South d Eagles
Near seasons end I will update this ladder.
COMING UP
- Don’t expect South and Sturt to play a close game, since that start of 2006 they have played 8 times with the AVERAGE winning margin being 85pts. South have won 3 of these clashes, Sturt the last 5.
- The other matches also have trends, Glenelg have won 4 in a row against Norwood, the Eagles haven’t lost to West in their last 5 encounters and Central have won 5 straight against the Magpies
MEDIA WATCH
The next round of SANFL broadcast allocations have now been done. The excellent news is that all games from rounds 9-12 are covered in some format. This allocation also sees 891 ABC Adelaide involved, broadcasting some games during the AFL mid-season break.
STATE GAME
- Sat 23/5 – WAFL v SANFL @ Perth – ABC TV / LifeFM
ROUND 9
- Fri (N) 29/5 – Norwood v Sturt @ Coopers (RPH)
- Sat 30/5 – Eagles v Central @ Woodville (ABC TV)
- Sat 30/5 – Port v West @ Alberton (RPH)
- Sat 30/5 – South v North @ Hickinbotham (LifeFM)
ROUND 10
- Sat 6/6 – Eagles v Norwood @ Woodville (RPH)
- Sat 6/6 – West v North @ City Mazda (ABC TV)
- Mon 8/6 – Glenelg v Port @ Gliderol (RPH)
- Mon 8/6 – Sturt v Central @ House Brothers (LifeFM)
ROUND 11
- Sat 13/6 – Glenelg v West @ Gliderol (LifeFM)
- Sat 13/6 – North v Sturt @ Prospect (ABC TV / 891 ABC Adelaide)
- Sat 13/6 – South v Norwood @ Hickinbotham (RPH)
ROUND 12
- Fri (N) 19/6 – Sturt v Glenelg @ Adelaide Oval (RPH)
- Sat 20/6 – Port v Norwood @ Alberton (ABC TV / RPH)
- Sat 20/6 – Central v North @ Hamra Homes (LifeFM / 891 ABC Adelaide)
- Sun 21/6 – South v Eagles @ Hickinbotham (RPH)
ONE FINAL THING ..
This Saturday, South Adelaide is hosting it’s Hall of Fame night, the first for the Panthers since 2005. Despite it’s well noted lack of on field success many loyal servants have still served the club with both distinction and unflappable loyalty. For those who will receive recognition at this event be it Hall of Fame Induction, Life Membership or something else, congratulations on the achievement and I hope the night is one to remember.
Until next week .... reporting live from Perth
Phil Herden
