AFL Reserves Discussion...

[Dutchy]

Best footy article of the year...well done Dion

[darley16]

Dion expresses what we on this site feel to a tee, great article. Just to add to this never ending thread i'am quietly confident South will be voting no to the proposal.

[Gozu]

But here’s the problem: can two “reserves” sides be held in the same passionate regard as eight senior club sides?

To field those reserves teams in the SANFL’s League competition is an insult of the highest magnitude that will lead it to its grave.

Integrity is the lifeblood of any sport. Without it, scorn, ridicule, suspicion and apathy flourish. Look at cycling in the shadow of the doping scandal. Or the unsatisfying diet of one-day and Twenty 20 cricket against the backdrop of illegal betting and match-fixing.

People are not stupid. They know when they are being conned. And two reserves teams operating in a League competition will reduce it to a farce, a competition without a soul.

It will be a competition that swings from week to week on the fortunes of two imposters who care not whether they win or lose, who “borrow” players from their rivals to fill their own team and who play all their games away from home just to gain acceptance.

For how long can we expect people to part with their $14 at the gate to stomach this?

Curiously, many of the same men who fought so long and hard to keep South Australian football from the clutches of the old VFL in the late 1980s with the birth of the “Player Retention Scheme”, a scheme designed to keep the state’s best players in Adelaide, are the same men now steering us toward oblivion.

It is not too late.

The oldest surviving football league in Australia need not be sacrificed on the Crows’ optimistic promise of $87,000 per club per season in extra revenue.

It is a figure barely enough to pay the light bill at most grounds and certainly not an amount that will ensure the long-term survival of SANFL clubs who are not capable of spending within their means.

The answer is hard work and good, solid administration. But too many clubs see this money as an easy remedy – a quick fix.

Too many SANFL clubs live in fear of saying “no” to the Adelaide Crows.

Too many fear being left behind, cast adrift and made irrelevant.

But that is what will eventuate if they ignore the pleas of the remaining faithful who represent their membership and match-day support.

What is any club without members and supporters; people who care?

These people are campaigning at local games with their “No AFL in SANFL” placards and gathering signatures in a last-ditch plea to retain the competition they love.

You will find no one at local grounds championing the pro-reserves teams’ cause.

If six of the eight League directors vote “yes” to the Adelaide Crows in the next week, the SANFL is fatally wounded.

And there will be at least six SANFL club directors with blood on their hands.

I hope those men have a heart.

Dion Hayman is Channel 9 Sport producer, a former editor of the Football Budget, and SANFL tragic.

http://indaily.com.au/opinion/2013/07/2 ... -of-sanfl/

[PhilH]

Was about to post the link .... a great piece Dion.

Nice to see a SANFL perspective in the more mainstream media.


BTW - FOOT-e TIMES SA AFL Reserves Survey Results out tomorrow.
gives some food for thought.

[areaman]

I am jealous. I wish I could put my feelings on the topic into words like Dion has done.

I hope every Chairman, Board Member and CEO reads that.

[saintal]

Magnificently articulated.

[pels]

outstanding article, sums up how i feel

[The Sleeping Giant]

Just the one correction to. Dion's article. You will find pro afl reserve people at sanfl games.

[tipper]

Just the one correction to. Dion's article. You will find pro afl reserve people at sanfl games.

i havent noticed anyone spruiking the idea though, not that i have been to games the last few weeks

[Booney]

Just the one correction to. Dion's article. You will find pro afl reserve people at sanfl games.

Yep, you probably would.

I wonder what the authors thoughts on the PAFC proposal are? He makes it pretty clear that he is discussing the AFC proposal.

[on the rails]

Just the one correction to. Dion's article. You will find pro afl reserve people at sanfl games.

Yep, you probably would.

I wonder what the authors thoughts on the PAFC proposal are? He makes it pretty clear that he is discussing the AFC proposal.

The fact the Port proposal was shot to bits early by the Dirctors and endorsed by the Commission, is there any point in him commenting on that? It is only Magpie die hards that want the Magpies to survive (and a very few SANFL diehards) but the reality is that if the PAFC get any AFL Reserves team regardless of what comp it plays in then the Magpies are dead as we know it. No Magpie League Team - that will be the Power wearing a B&W jumper (and in SA only) to appease the diehards and the Magpie Reserves, U18's and U16's etc. all consigned to the dumpster.

[Wedgie]

They'd only wear black and white because their turquoise wouldnt clash with Sturt's turquoise.

[Booney]

Just the one correction to. Dion's article. You will find pro afl reserve people at sanfl games.

Yep, you probably would.
I wonder what the authors thoughts on the PAFC proposal are? He makes it pretty clear that he is discussing the AFC proposal.

The fact the Port proposal was shot to bits early by the Dirctors and endorsed by the Commission, is there any point in him commenting on that? It is only Magpie die hards that want the Magpies to survive (and a very few SANFL diehards) but the reality is that if the PAFC get any AFL Reserves team regardless of what comp it plays in then the Magpies are dead as we know it. No Magpie League Team - that will be the Power wearing a B&W jumper (and in SA only) to appease the diehards and the Magpie Reserves, U18's and U16's etc. all consigned to the dumpster.

I didn't ask what the Directors or the commission think of it, peanut. I was interested what Dion thought of it as he worded his response to the AFC proposal so well.

Why was my post edited, mods? Pretty tame compared to what other posters have used to refer to other people during this debate.

[mighty_tiger_79]

do port want another reserves team?

[areaman]

I wonder what the authors thoughts on the PAFC proposal are? He makes it pretty clear that he is discussing the AFC proposal.

His article was clearly about the concept of having any sort of AFL reserves in the SANFL.

The model of how this would work is irrelevant - a point many people are missing.

At SANFL League level the only difference between the Crows and Port models are where they get the top-up players from.

Yes, I know Port want to keep a zone etc etc. But end of the day it will still be an AFL Reserves team with a few ring-ins to top up the list.

To those who want to keep the SANFL free of AFL teams this is a trivial detail only.

[o five]

Maybe some new signs with " DION FOR COMMISSIONER " should be made up

[MatteeG]

Serene Dion

[UK Fan]

I wonder what the authors thoughts on the PAFC proposal are? He makes it pretty clear that he is discussing the AFC proposal.

His article was clearly about the concept of having any sort of AFL reserves in the SANFL.

The model of how this would work is irrelevant - a point many people are missing.

At SANFL League level the only difference between the Crows and Port models are where they get the top-up players from.

Yes, I know Port want to keep a zone etc etc. But end of the day it will still be an AFL Reserves team with a few ring-ins to top up the list.

To those who want to keep the SANFL free of AFL teams this is a trivial detail only.

Exactly. This isn't a 'Douche and Turd' South Park vote, we don't have to prefer either clubs model.

They are both sheeeeet.

[Aerie]

Great article. I wish that could get a run in the main stream media. I'd happily have Dion campaigning for the No AFL Reserves in SANFL argument.

Has anyone heard what the SA Football Commission recommends? Don't they try and put across what they think should happen to the League Directors? The only groups we've heard from clearly are Port and Norwood. They seem to know what they want. The Crows proposal is so wishy-washy and the response from the other 7 SANFL clubs is along the same lines.

There will need to be give and take, but it not need compromise either the SANFL or the performance of the AFL clubs.

What the AFL teams want:
- A fair stadium deal for Adelaide Oval.
- Reserves teams.
- To own their own licenses.
- Port publicly want the Magpies to remain in SANFL.
- Strong juniors to pick from SA.

What the SANFL should want:
- A strong, respected SANFL competition.
- Financially strong SANFL clubs.
- SANFL use of Adelaide Oval when deemed necessary.
- Two strong SA AFL clubs, to provide income from rent of Adelaide Oval.
- No AFL reserves teams!
- A reasonable income from Adelaide Oval.
- A reasonable income from Crows using West Lakes.
- An injection of cash from sale of licenses.
- An injection of cash from sale of part of West Lakes.
- Development of West Lakes for long term cash flow.
- Strong junior competitions to filter through to AFL and SANFL clubs.

The State Government footing the bill for Adelaide Oval has given the SANFL the biggest kick start they could ever wish for. Yes, they've gone and thrown millions on trying to keep Port afloat, but that may yet come back to serve them well.

Get our AFL Reserves in the VFL and let Port and the Crows have access to Under 20's from SANFL clubs as top ups. The effect on standard of the SANFL will be minimal and we'll be better off if they lift the salary cap and remove restriction on imports so we can get back to bringing in the best players outside of the AFL like we were in the early to mid 2000's. This doubles as potential positives for those young SA boys who miss out on getting drafted to have the opportunity to stay in an AFL system without leaving SA. Or they can try their hand at what would be the best State League competition in the land.

If Port can't sustain Power reserves and Port Magpies then too bad. They need to decide. I hope the SANFL is not hung up on making sure the Magpies survive - I hope they do, but that is up to Port to work out.

You could have footy at Adelaide Oval every Friday night. When there is no Crows/Power game scheduled, you could have AFL Reserves start at 5pm and SANFL league game start at 8pm. If the MCG can handle 3 games a week, so can Adelaide Oval.

My biggest concern all along has been how the SANFL views the SANFL and that hasn't changed. Dion Hayman has it spot on. South Australian football needs to work together to make sure we're firing on all cylinders at both AFL and SANFL level.

[Aerie]

Serene Dion

LOL