AFL Reserves Comp could challenge State Leagues

[Sojourner]

Enjoyed reading this post on Ronnies blog this morning also, its been said before that they way that the current VFL is run has seen a drift away to the VFA instead which is an issue that needs to be dealt with for the VFL to move forward. Along with seeing the premier of the WAFL face off against the SANFL premier, it would be interesting to see how Port Melbourne would go against an SANFL side that did not have any AFL listed players playing as is the case at Port Melbourne, I think Port Melbourne would probably do quite alright.

[RedMagpie]

This is the only way forward. That way, one team, one structure, two sides, the kids will play with one and other and not be forigen to each other come Debut time! it wont happen how ever, The AFL will realise how much stronger this would make the non Victorian teams and they will disband the idea with haiste!

[gadj1976]

I actually think someone should bite the bullet and propose a national reserves comp including SANFL, WAFL, VFL and (maybe) Tas teams.

The SANFL competition will more than likely deteriorate under the new 18 team competition and players may see the SANFL as a substandard way (in comparison to the VFL) of re-entering the AFL.

So why not revolutionise the entire system. The AFL would obviously need to fund it, but it would be a consistent standard throughout the country whereas now we are seeing the salary cap decreasing almost yearly at SANFL level.

The players could become semi professional and earn a decent quid from the game at the secondary level and sponsorship would all of a sudden have national exposure.

Yep, there are many problems with the idea as well, but given it would be the secondary comp in the country, the AFL could back it to the hilt and ensure the local comps thrive rather than struggle as clubs currently are (some self inflicted I agree!).

Thoughts?

[Psyber]

I'd rather see football go back to being a sport, not mass entertainment, and the strength go back to the local leagues as a result, but it won't happen.
I'd also like to see the money going into paying entertainers diverted to funding something productive like scientific research, but that won't happen either.
The mass market for entertainment is where the money is for the promoters/investors...

[on the rails]

I actually think someone should bite the bullet and propose a national reserves comp including SANFL, WAFL, VFL and (maybe) Tas teams.

Who out of the other states would propose this?

The AFL would obviously need to fund it

It will cost a fortune and in all seriousness not fincially sustainable. Look at the prohibitive cost estimates put on 1 team from the NT to join the SANFL when we flirted with that idea a few years back.

seeing the salary cap decreasing almost yearly at SANFL level.

Well that is the fault of Whicker and "blinded fools" like Chandler who allow the AFL to dictate to our comp. Lowering the cap and capping the number of imports was ridiculous. I'm not advocating an unlimited cap but certainly it should be at least $50K (maybe even 100K?) more than it presently is and clubs should be able to recruit who they like to improve their lists.

[nuggety goodness]

if they were to have a reserves side m thought is that it should be an under 20 or under 18 comp, rather than take the older talent away from the SANFL, look at developing the young blokes who have a chance to be the future of the clubs.

i think they could make a promotion relegation system work which includes the SANFL as was mentioned before.

if there were serious ramifications for sides finishing bottom/bottom two in the SANFL then there would be more desperation throughout the year, plus the incentive of sides in Div 1 getting into the SANFL would push them harder...

how would, for example, Goodwood go against South/Norwood/Port league sides? competitive?

[robranisgod]

if they were to have a reserves side m thought is that it should be an under 20 or under 18 comp, rather than take the older talent away from the SANFL, look at developing the young blokes who have a chance to be the future of the clubs.

i think they could make a promotion relegation system work which includes the SANFL as was mentioned before.

if there were serious ramifications for sides finishing bottom/bottom two in the SANFL then there would be more desperation throughout the year, plus the incentive of sides in Div 1 getting into the SANFL would push them harder...

how would, for example, Goodwood go against South/Norwood/Port league sides? competitive?

Would not get within 30 goals.

[Barto]

It aint going ahead. West Coast are still pushing for a team in the WAFL.

[FOURTH ESTATE]

The VFL clubs who are aligned are made up predominantly of AFL players who tend to look after their own self interests rather than those of the team and often the VFL players in the squad are used sparingly or not at all.

The better VFL clubs are those that can manage the AFL and VFL players best and promote some passion amongst them.

My nephew plays for the Northern Bullants joining them last year from Claremont in the WAFL.
Coming back from injury he won the clubs B Grade B&F and made his way back into the seniors only to be dumped for the GF to make way for the Carlton players who they are aligned to. He was not ther only one as up 5 Carlton players came into the side. Result? they lost the GF to North Ballarat. This type of setup does not help the club grow and only alienates your own players.

Lets not throw the baby out with the bath water and leave just the way it is.

State leagues are going to be that drained over the next few years with the introduction of the Gold Coast and West Sydney let alone a AFL reserves comp. This also has a flow on effect to all other grass roots levels of football which in then weakens the standard overall.

[Big Phil]

Who's your nephew FOURTH ESTATE ?

[The Panther]

I was talking to a saints official on saturday and he told me the reserves comp will be up and running for the 2012 season.
As a massive fan of the SANFL this was not good to hear. Do we really believe that the AFL supports grass roots football, because all i can see the reserves comp doing is killing local football.
This decision is to suit the AFL clubs so they can control what is going on with their players not playing in their league side. Add to this decision the massive money available in the country leagues and things are starting to look fairly bleak for the SANFL.