West Coast/Freo Reserves in WAFL proposal

[WAFL Follower]

You guys in SA should be just as worried as us true WAFL supporters are. In the west we have seen our great competition decimated by the introduction of the VFL. When the Wet Toast Egos were introduced they predicted that attendances would only fall by 15% - they were halved immediately. The WAFL took another big hit when the Dorkers came in. The WAFL was abandoned by commercial TV, the press and radio stations. By 2003 attendances had dropped to ave of 1600 per game. In the last few years the comp has improved in standard and attendances have slowly recovered to ave of about 2300.

Now all of the assassins, ie AFL clubs and the press, are conspiring with more false promises to have another go at the WAFL just as it is recovering. Whilst I agree that the AFL are not out to destroy the WAFL or SANFL, they definitely do not want them to be too successful. Start your fight now.

[smac]

Opposition from an unexpected source:

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/ ... erve-teams

Will such an article make our local rag?

[redandblack]

I'd wait to see what happens in WA before manning the barricades.

If the WA clubs get hoodwinked by the lure of cash, then first make it clear to our SANFL clubs that it's just not on here.
They're the ones who will be voting on it if it ever happens here.

After that, it's Pseudo's rally time (and thank God we've got someoine of Pseudo's staure leading this).

[FlyingHigh]

Opposition from an unexpected source:

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/ ... erve-teams

Will such an article make our local rag?

Taking Neil Craig's comments further, with only have 7-8 players available, do these players play in their normal positions?
If there are a couple are key forwards who gets the ball down to them? Or are they played where more of the action is, which could be in defense if the other three or four available are young onballers - imagine Cook and Sloane a couple years ago playing against Cicca, Powell, McKenzie. These forwards either get none of the ball or played out of position, which apparently is part of the problem at the moment Further, the young on-ballers are going to get smashed both physically and in their football, so how is that helping their development?
You don't reckon Luke Thompson's football development and confidence wasn't enhanced by playing along side McKenzie and Greiger in the backlines last year?

[CUTTERMAN]

Not to mention the added costs not only to field these players but to pay other players to make up the numbers. Then you have the insurance and medical costs, extra Physio staff, runners, trainers. Etc etc
At a time when Power are on the edge, Crows are getting a bit tight and some Vic based clubs still aren't really viable I can't see how it's feasible without being a huge burden on the state comps.

[cripple]

Opposition from an unexpected source:

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/ ... erve-teams

Will such an article make our local rag?

Taking Neil Craig's comments further, with only have 7-8 players available, do these players play in their normal positions?
If there are a couple are key forwards who gets the ball down to them? Or are they played where more of the action is, which could be in defense if the other three or four available are young onballers - imagine Cook and Sloane a couple years ago playing against Cicca, Powell, McKenzie. These forwards either get none of the ball or played out of position, which apparently is part of the problem at the moment Further, the young on-ballers are going to get smashed both physically and in their football, so how is that helping their development?
You don't reckon Luke Thompson's football development and confidence wasn't enhanced by playing along side McKenzie and Greiger in the backlines last year?

fantastic argument for the players playing in full strength teams with and against seasoned players when they get the chance. We see every year in the AFL that those juniors who have played senior sanfl, wafl (trengove and rich are the first to come to mind) perform a lot better immediately as a result of being exposed to these pressure situations. by having a stand alone team with a lack of senior players would be detrimental to this happening IMO.

[FlyingHigh]

That's right Cutterman. The options would be to increase lists back to 48 or 52 which would be unpopular with the AFLPA as it would potentially mean lesser payments all round, the AFL clubs getting first choice on AFL de-listed players including those from interstate, which could potentially make these teams unbeatable, or use amatuers or current reserves players who would lessen the team standard and lead to the above and as you said require income protection and rehab costs as these blokes would need outside jobs too.

[FlyingHigh]

Opposition from an unexpected source:

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/ ... erve-teams

Will such an article make our local rag?

Taking Neil Craig's comments further, with only have 7-8 players available, do these players play in their normal positions?
If there are a couple are key forwards who gets the ball down to them? Or are they played where more of the action is, which could be in defense if the other three or four available are young onballers - imagine Cook and Sloane a couple years ago playing against Cicca, Powell, McKenzie. These forwards either get none of the ball or played out of position, which apparently is part of the problem at the moment Further, the young on-ballers are going to get smashed both physically and in their football, so how is that helping their development?
You don't reckon Luke Thompson's football development and confidence wasn't enhanced by playing along side McKenzie and Greiger in the backlines last year?

fantastic argument for the players playing in full strength teams with and against seasoned players when they get the chance. We see every year in the AFL that those juniors who have played senior sanfl, wafl (trengove and rich are the first to come to mind) perform a lot better immediately as a result of being exposed to these pressure situations. by having a stand alone team with a lack of senior players would be detrimental to this happening IMO.

And I would emphasise enhanced, as obviously most would occur at the Crows.

[CUTTERMAN]

Join people and give them your support.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=gro ... 66392&ap=1

[westozfalcon]

I agree 100% with Neil Craig's comments.

In the proposed WAFL scenario, after factoring in injuries, how many actual AFL-listed players from West Coast and Fremantle would feature in for their 'reserve' WAFL sides each week - maybe 7 or 8? Their ALF squad just isn't big enough.

That means the vast majority of players that would take the field would be top-ups made up of current WAFL reserves players who can't get a senior game, blokes coaxed out of country leagues and the odd interstate recruit. This hardly forms a 'high-performance' environment for implementing AFL-oriented structures and game plans. The AFL-listed players are unlikely to derive any more benefit than they currently get at their existing WAFL clubs.

Are these top-up players going to train with the main AFL player group? I doubt it.

The Eagles and Dockers point to Geelong and Collingwood who have 'reserve' teams in the VFL and say that is what underpins their recent success. But the current system of having squad members outside the top 22 playing in the WAFL each week didn't stop the Eagles winning three AFL premierships!

It seems the WA AFL clubs are happy to jeopardize the future of 126-year old competition just to gain some perceived competitive advantage for themselves. Very selfish and short sighted.

[CUTTERMAN]

I've always been impressed with Niel Craigs stance on this. At least he is able to look at the bigger picture instead of a blinkered opinion for the Crows

[Barto]

I've always been impressed with Niel Craigs stance on this. At least he is able to look at the bigger picture instead of a blinkered opinion for the Crows

He raises many valid points that haven't been addressed in the WA proposal. It seems to be all about "need to keep the players together" without looking at the bigger picture. It seems the only way to do the latter without too much upheaval is a return to the host club arrangement.

[FOURTH ESTATE]

We need to be concerned at all levels. The flow on to SANFL if a AFL reserves sides are put in place. As the Crows & Power seconded players from the SANFL the SANFL will have to supplement their reserves sides with players from the SAAFL.
We may be further down the food chain but the effect is just as much. We all play to win the flag but this could all be put in jeopardy
Currently my club has at least 7 players at SANFL clubs playing reserves at the moment.


This would mean we would lose more players to the SANFL which also damages our brand survival and the very life blood that supplies the AFL.

It is true that Dimwitreiou cares very little about the SANFL & WAFL and any other league that is not the AFL.

They are trying to pull the rug out of the very leagues that supply their players.

We must stand and fight this subversive and hostile take over of our leagues or we will die!!!!!!!!!!

[Barto]

I've noticed a few WAFL players in that Facebook group.

[PhilH]

A lot of these "surplus" AFL players that cant get an AFL game are going to be 17-19 year olds just out of the TAC Cup or other Under 18 program.

Many of them when they start are not up to SANFL league standard ... we see that through a few that start out in the SANFL reserves.

How is putting them in a standard of competition that are not ready for going to help their development?

[sjt]

Why do Freo care about the concept? A couple of weeks ago we were told they only had 25 players fit to choose from.

[Pseudo]

Ayn Rand had the right idea:

Then I saw what was wrong with the world, I saw what destroyed men and nations, and where the battle for life had to be fought. I saw that the enemy was an inverted morality—and that my sanction was its only power. I saw that evil was impotent—that evil was the irrational, the blind, the anti-real—and that the only weapon of its triumph was the willingness of the good to serve it. Just as the parasites around me were proclaiming their helpless dependence on my mind and were expecting me voluntarily to accept a slavery they had no power to enforce, just as they were counting on my self-immolation to provide them with the means of their plan—so throughout the world and throughout men’s history, in every version and form, from the extortions of loafing relatives to the atrocities of collectivized countries, it is the good, the able, the men of reason, who act as their own destroyers, who transfuse to evil the blood of their virtue and let evil transmit to them the poison of destruction, thus gaining for evil the power of survival, and for their own values—the impotence of death. I saw that there comes a point, in the defeat of any man of virtue, when his own consent is needed for evil to win—and that no manner of injury done to him by others can succeed if he chooses to withhold his consent. I saw that I could put an end to your outrages by pronouncing a single word in my mind. I pronounced it. The word was “No.”

[Footy_Rulz]

The problem is "Generation Y" and the "New Silent Generation" have grown up following just the AFL and 90%+ do not even care about the SANFL. In 15 years time these generations will be the ones that will influence decisions....yes most have SANFL clubs however if the scenario of an AFL reserves team possibly helping the Crows/Power its pretty clear they would do anything to get an AFL Premiership.

[Barto]

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/ ... -wafl-bid/

Peel president John Ditchburn has launched a stinging attack on the AFL reserves proposal in a clear sign that the WAFL clubs are hardening their resolve against it.

And the clubs are set to tell the WA Football Commission by the end of the week that they will not support the plan.

The negative club response is likely to trigger the formal WAFL vote required under the WAFC constitution dealing with a potential expansion of the State league.

Describing West Coast and Fremantle's compensation offer as "dismal" and a "pittance", Ditchburn asked why an issue deemed so critical was sold so cheaply.

"The AFL clubs have told us that this is the most important issue they are facing at the moment yet they have only offered us a pittance in compensation," Ditchburn said. "It is a dismal offer."

[sjt]

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/a/-/afl/9600009/peel-sinks-boot-into-eagles-dockers-wafl-bid/

Peel president John Ditchburn has launched a stinging attack on the AFL reserves proposal in a clear sign that the WAFL clubs are hardening their resolve against it.

And the clubs are set to tell the WA Football Commission by the end of the week that they will not support the plan.

The negative club response is likely to trigger the formal WAFL vote required under the WAFC constitution dealing with a potential expansion of the State league.

Describing West Coast and Fremantle's compensation offer as "dismal" and a "pittance", Ditchburn asked why an issue deemed so critical was sold so cheaply.

"The AFL clubs have told us that this is the most important issue they are facing at the moment yet they have only offered us a pittance in compensation," Ditchburn said. "It is a dismal offer."

A very interesting article. No doubt Rucci will put up a similiar article showing the resistance to the reserves proposal in a balanced manner.