AFL Reserves Discussion...

[JohnnyG]

I'd be interested to see a breakdown on peoples opinions on this issue, grouped by the AFL club they support. Having a quick flick through posts, there seem to be some pretty significant trends.

I'm a Crows member and also a South Adelaide member/supporter since the late 1950s and I go to all Crows games plus have a South home and away season ticket too.

My view is that:
(i) Port (Magpies) should drop their SANFL league, reserves, under 18s etc and lose their zones
(ii) Their zones can be re-allocated amongst the 8 SANFL clubs (along with a state wide rezoning) helping to alleviate the current zoning problems that most clubs are having (eg South, Centrals and the western Adelaide squeeze)
(iii) Port (Power) can then use Port Magpies as their AFL reserves team with Adelaide Crows also having an AFL reserves team with both being topped up by players from ?? (to be determined - imo from places such as the APY etc).
(iv) The Crows & Port AFL reserves teams to play either in the VFL or in the SANFL league as the 9th and 10th sides and if the AFL ever has a dedicated AFL reserves competition in the future, then the Crows & Port reserves can quite readily drop out of the SANFL leaving the 8 clubs.
(v) I cannot understand how a PAFC already struggling financially with both its Magpies and its Power components can sustain running both an AFL and a full SANFL presence and in any case, it would be manifestly unfair for the 8 other SANFL clubs for a Port Magpies to have both all Power players available plus its zoning.

[Dutchy]

(iv) The Crows & Port AFL reserves teams to play in the SANFL league as the 9th and 10th sides and if the AFL ever has a dedicated AFL reserves competition in the future, then the Crows & Port reserves can quite readily drop out of the SANFL leaving the 8 clubs.

After they have destroyed the league, if they come in they have to commit long term.

[JohnnyG]

Sorry, I did mean that either play in the SANFL or the VFL or wherever.

My basic premise is that (regardless of wherever the AFL reserves end up) that the current SANFL Port Magpies should disappear (league,reserves, U18s, U16s,zones).
The SANFL will be better without them and have more integrity as a proper competition.

Where the Crows and Power reserves teams end up is a separate exercise.

[hereselmo1]

the current SANFL Port Magpies should disappear (league,reserves, U18s, U16s,zones).

Ha. You have all been wishing that for years.

Pathetic.

[on the rails]

the current SANFL Port Magpies should disappear (league,reserves, U18s, U16s,zones).

Ha. You have all been wishing that for years.

Pathetic.

Well guess what, we won't have long until our wish is granted! Maybe Kochie and KT will let the AFL Reserves team play in the B&W - personally I think the SANFL should force that "bastard child of a team" to wear the Teal Power jumper and the Magpie can be well and truly buried!

[on the rails]

I fear that the League Directors are going to be swayed by promises of increased crowds and TV exposure and vote to allow both AFL clubs to have their Reserves in our League Comp. Having spoken to those in Power at both my club and 2 other clubs it appears that will be the case based on what I have been told. They agree that playing the PAFC and Crows teams in our Reserves comp will result in 20 goal plus floggings each week is not good for anyone - so they say!

I do know that the only non negotiable is that the PAFC lose their SANFL set up as is at present and both the AFL clubs field one team only in the SANFL. The major stumbling blocks to date are (and there are some other big questions also that need to be answered):
(1) Both the PAFC and the AFC need to come up with a workable option re the top up players issue and where are they actually going to come from? In fact the Crows option so which hasn't been tabled formally only mentioned in brief discussions is farcical from what I have been told.
(2) In line with point one is the Salary Cap issue and how that is going to work re "top up players" for both those clubs?
(3) Neither club wants to pay any sort of compensation or on going fee as is the case in WA. Certainly the AFC believes their own rubbish in the fact that they will bring addtional big crowds, $$$ and interest to the SANFL so that should be enough on it's own!

The NAFC has said publically (read the Virtual Runner responses on nafc.com.au) that the comp has been compromised since 1991 with the birth of the Crows and the current AFL surplus player arrangements so a little more compromise by them fielding Reserves Teams in our League Comp will not hurt the SANFL anymore. It will remove that uncertainty about AFL player availability as we currently have and particularly come finals time.

[tipper]

The NAFC has said publically (read the Virtual Runner responses on nafc.com.au) that the comp has been compromised since 1991 with the birth of the Crows and the current AFL surplus player arrangements so a little more compromise by them fielding Reserves Teams in our League Comp will not hurt the SANFL anymore. It will remove that uncertainty about AFL player availability as we currently have and particularly come finals time.

i read that on the NAFC site, and i strongly disagree. just because the league has been compromised before, doesnt mean we should compromise further. the SANFL should be holding al lthe cards here. the power and crows want in to our competition, so they should be the ones doing everything to make us happy.

if we (we as in the SANFL) say that they can only join the reserves and they each have to design a new jumper incorporating pink and purple polkadots, they should be rushing to fulfill our requirements. that is if they want in so bad. if they arent willing to join our competition, under our terms, well then i guess they just dont want it badly enough then. why should we bend over to them when they want to join us?

[Macca19]

DOes anyone know what the situation will be in WA next year when all reserves players are at the one club? I mean in terms of top up players. Has this been determined yet? Do Peel and East Perth keep their zones and junior system?

[Barto]

It'll be interesting to see what else the two clubs want if reserves teams dont win them premierships.

[Pseudo]

It'll be interesting to see what else the two clubs want when reserves teams don't win them premierships.

Edited for accuracy.

[RB]

Their zones can be re-allocated amongst the 8 SANFL clubs (along with a state wide rezoning) helping to alleviate the current zoning problems that most clubs are having (eg South, Centrals and the western Adelaide squeeze).

Ooh! Does that mean the Woodville West Torrens Football Club can have Thebarton back in their zone?!?

[Barto]

It'll be interesting to see what else the two clubs want when reserves teams don't win them premierships.

Edited for accuracy.

That's what I should have said, yes. Because when all teams have reserves sides, only one of them can still win it.

[UK Fan]

The NAFC has said publically (read the Virtual Runner responses on nafc.com.au) that the comp has been compromised since 1991 with the birth of the Crows and the current AFL surplus player arrangements so a little more compromise by them fielding Reserves Teams in our League Comp will not hurt the SANFL anymore. It will remove that uncertainty about AFL player availability as we currently have and particularly come finals time.

i read that on the NAFC site, and i strongly disagree. just because the league has been compromised before, doesnt mean we should compromise further. the SANFL should be holding al lthe cards here. the power and crows want in to our competition, so they should be the ones doing everything to make us happy.

if we (we as in the SANFL) say that they can only join the reserves and they each have to design a new jumper incorporating pink and purple polkadots, they should be rushing to fulfill our requirements. that is if they want in so bad. if they arent willing to join our competition, under our terms, well then i guess they just dont want it badly enough then. why should we bend over to them when they want to join us?

Agreed digraceful stance nafc!!!

[Macca19]

If these two teams enter the SANFL reserves, where does the Magpies league side get their back up players from? The under 18s?

[cennals05]

If these two teams enter the SANFL reserves, where does the Magpies league side get their back up players from? The under 18s?

The Magpies won't exist.

[Armytank]

If these two teams enter the SANFL reserves, where does the Magpies league side get their back up players from? The under 18s?

Well most of us would say there shouldn't be a Magpies League Team.......

But that idea might be worth considering.

Power Reserves play SANFL reserves with a bunch of top up NON-AFL listed players.

Magpies League team must be 100% NON-AFL listed players. When Magpies League need players from the reserves, they can only pick from the NON-AFL listed players.

If the Power Reserves need more players the can come form the U18's.

Any NON-listed players in the Reserves must be drafted in the National Draft in order to be AFL listed for the Power.

[Armytank]

This would give us a 10 team reserves comp and leave the League status quo.

This also removes all AFL players from the SANFL LEAGUE competition.

[UK Fan]

If these two teams enter the SANFL reserves, where does the Magpies league side get their back up players from? The under 18s?

The Magpies won't exist.

X2


Players who have played SANFL reserves: Platten Bradley kernahan Jarman wanganeen Mcintosh Robran kerley ebert cornes.

Kane cornes played SANFL reserves for woodville then won a b&f 18 months afterwards .

But playing reserves is beneath the crows/power 24th best player ?????

[Macca19]

If these two teams enter the SANFL reserves, where does the Magpies league side get their back up players from? The under 18s?

The Magpies won't exist.

Why would that be the option?

If the Magpies league team has a bad injury run and has to make up its squad with a stack of not ready Under 18s players, then I dont see how this is any less damaging to the integrity of the competition.

[Armytank]

You Port blokes really want to have your cake and eat it too don't you.

You blokes got in to this mess by joining the AFL.

You should be the ones to compromise, not the SANFL.

If you can see how the Magpies League side would be compromising the SANFL then you can see why we don't want you in the League competition if you are to be a Power reserves side.