AFL RESERVES

[beenreal]

here's a passionate Magpies supporter's view of the merger.

Macca, the merger was the worst possible result for the Magpies. Trust me on that. The Power is a lame duck, and any financial affiliation with it would have sounded a definitive death-knell in the very near future.

As it stands we remain independent, and answerable to no-one, and will live or die based on the actions of our board, members and the latent supporter base over the next 6-10 months.

Had the merger been approved we would have been on our knees, and there are only two things you can do on you knees and neither of them are particulalrly gratifying.

Better to live on your feet than die on your knees.

Sorry to Pipers for dragging this out but the Stalinist everything is great attitude of posters like Beenreal sticks in my craw.

Good, I hope you choke on it.

Interesting you bring up an historical figure like Stalin, because you're one of the biggest history revisionists I've read.

[story of my life]

You dont read Rucci's work then beenreal

[topsywaldron]

What makes pipers view more correct than anyone else's? Apart from you finding one that supports your view. FWIW I completely disagree with what he posted.

I posted it as he's exactly what I'm not, a Port person. My opinion about the Magpies being effectively gone is just that, however it is one that's shared by more than just me.

Plus it's nice to quote sensible Port people's opinions every now and then, reminds us all that they are indeed human.

[RustyCage]

What makes pipers view more correct than anyone else's? Apart from you finding one that supports your view. FWIW I completely disagree with what he posted.

I posted it as he's exactly what I'm not, a Port person. My opinion about the Magpies being effectively gone is just that, however it is one that's shared by more than just me.

Plus it's nice to quote sensible Port people's opinions every now and then, reminds us all that they are indeed human.

he said he was happy for the Magpies to die off rather than do something that would (and ultimately has) proved a saviour. hardly sensible!

[Booney]

here's a passionate Magpies supporter's view of the merger.

Macca, the merger was the worst possible result for the Magpies. Trust me on that. The Power is a lame duck, and any financial affiliation with it would have sounded a definitive death-knell in the very near future.

As it stands we remain independent, and answerable to no-one, and will live or die based on the actions of our board, members and the latent supporter base over the next 6-10 months.

Had the merger been approved we would have been on our knees, and there are only two things you can do on you knees and neither of them are particulalrly gratifying.

Better to live on your feet than die on your knees.

Sorry to Pipers for dragging this out but the Stalinist everything is great attitude of posters like Beenreal sticks in my craw.

Are you suggesting those of us who have commented aren't as passionate?

I'm not going to say it "was the SANFL's fault", but obviously they played a part in the relationship between the Power/Magpies early going AFL days.

Perhaps, I say PERHAPS, if there was a relationship in 99-2002 when both sides were doing well on field both could have prospered off field to make the most of the good times on the ground.

This argument/debate will continue for as long as most of us live and there is and will be not right or wrong answer just opinions of every person to enter into the debate. Be it a Norwood, Port or passionate Magpies supporter none of us are going to be right, unless you're Royal City posting under another alias, of course.

[topsywaldron]

Be it a Norwood, Port or passionate Magpies supporter none of us are going to be right, unless you're Royal City posting under another alias, of course.

You take that back immediately.

Not doubting your passion for the Magpies btw.

[beenreal]

What makes pipers view more correct than anyone else's? Apart from you finding one that supports your view. FWIW I completely disagree with what he posted.

I posted it as he's exactly what I'm not, a Port person. My opinion about the Magpies being effectively gone is just that, however it is one that's shared by more than just me.

Plus it's nice to quote sensible Port people's opinions every now and then, reminds us all that they are indeed human.

You'll happily quote the ones who tow your party line Topsy

[Booney]

Interesting that Sanderson and Harper have both been pretty vocal in their support of a reserves side.

Watch the procrastinating begin.

[topsywaldron]

Interesting that Sanderson and Harper have both been pretty vocal in their support of a reserves side.

Not having a reserves team has killed the Crows this year.

Can you AFL types please just take your 'reserves' players and **** off to the VFL? We'll all be happier.

[Booney]

It's an interesting debate as I truly dont believe there is a correct answer for any of the relevant parties.

If Adelaide and Port field the reserves teams in an AFL reserves comp ( why not call that the Foxtel Cup and let Fox have exclusive rights? ) taking all AFL listed players from the SANFL. This, though, would leave the reserves often short, where do they source the players from?

Probably the SANFL/VFL/WAFL and further the drain on the state leagues. Imagine how some of those on here would whinge then.

I dont have the answers and I'm not sure anyone does.

[Ronnie]

It's not really an AFL media conference unless Rucci asks a dorothy dixer about an AFL Reserves team at the moment.
But the AFL official always answers his questions politely and with a straight face.
You could be watching parliament question time. The circus rolls on.

[CUTTERMAN]

It's an interesting debate as I truly dont believe there is a correct answer for any of the relevant parties.

If Adelaide and Port field the reserves teams in an AFL reserves comp ( why not call that the Foxtel Cup and let Fox have exclusive rights? ) taking all AFL listed players from the SANFL. This, though, would leave the reserves often short, where do they source the players from?

Probably the SANFL/VFL/WAFL and further the drain on the state leagues. Imagine how some of those on here would whinge then.

I dont have the answers and I'm not sure anyone does.

Complex isn't it

[whufc]

It's an interesting debate as I truly dont believe there is a correct answer for any of the relevant parties.

If Adelaide and Port field the reserves teams in an AFL reserves comp ( why not call that the Foxtel Cup and let Fox have exclusive rights? ) taking all AFL listed players from the SANFL. This, though, would leave the reserves often short, where do they source the players from?

Probably the SANFL/VFL/WAFL and further the drain on the state leagues. Imagine how some of those on here would whinge then.

I dont have the answers and I'm not sure anyone does.

If the AFL needed top up players in a National AFL reserves why couldnt they have the normal list plus for example 10 under 18 players recruited to the AFL clubs. Similar to the A-League reserves comp.

That isnt really going to drain the states league of its ready made talent while getting more kids into the AFL system which could only be a good thing for them.

The reason the AFL wont create a reserves comp is its more financially beneficial for them to have AFL clubs just play a reserves side in a ready made league. It makes no financial sense for them to run a reserves comp and the AFL is all about money.

[FlyingHigh]

It's an interesting debate as I truly dont believe there is a correct answer for any of the relevant parties.

If Adelaide and Port field the reserves teams in an AFL reserves comp ( why not call that the Foxtel Cup and let Fox have exclusive rights? ) taking all AFL listed players from the SANFL. This, though, would leave the reserves often short, where do they source the players from?

Probably the SANFL/VFL/WAFL and further the drain on the state leagues. Imagine how some of those on here would whinge then.

I dont have the answers and I'm not sure anyone does.

If the AFL needed top up players in a National AFL reserves why couldnt they have the normal list plus for example 10 under 18 players recruited to the AFL clubs. Similar to the A-League reserves comp.

That isnt really going to drain the states league of its ready made talent while getting more kids into the AFL system which could only be a good thing for them.

The reason the AFL wont create a reserves comp is its more financially beneficial for them to have AFL clubs just play a reserves side in a ready made league. It makes no financial sense for them to run a reserves comp and the AFL is all about money.

While I agree with this, and kind of suggested it on the first page, the one negative I see of it is perhaps breaking the SANFL club's bond with the player at such a young age. It might give a young lad a feeling of entitlement, and if he doesn't make the AFL, is the bond still there so that he wants to come back firstly to play footy at SANFL level, and secondly at his SANFL club?
Possibly a fairly minor issue in the whole argument.

[Sojourner]

I remember quite clearly when the story first broke that Port Adelaide were making application to join the AFL, there was a massive media scrum around Alberton and Fos Williams was standing out the front taking questions from the media. He was asked what the future was of Port Adelaide in the SANFL and it was his answer that there would be no Port Adelaide side in the SANFL as they would move across to the AFL when given the licence.

As I recall it was other SANFL clubs that pressured the SANFL Administration to make Port Adelaide retain a side in the SANFL.

Despite not being a PAFC sympathiser in any way shape or form, I still have to agree with the intention that was stated by Fos Williams for the club. I dont think what Port Adelaide said originally was at all unreasonable. Port would be far better served to focus their intent on the AFL side.

Perhaps another solution to the problem would be for Port Adelaide to have a complete break from the Magpies in the SANFL and to allow the Port Districts FC assume ownership of the colours and logo and then enter their own side in the SANFL as the Magpies, if not Port then another SAAFL side? Port have had a long association with Port Districts over the years and many players have gone between the two clubs and plenty of Magpies supporters seem to barrack for them anyway. It would be a good way of freeing Port Adelaide up to be what they intended to be yet at the same time allowing Magpies supporters to retain something of the club they love in the SANFL, by merging the Magpies and Port then the history then continues on which is I suspect one of the hardest things for people to give up and understandably so.

Fire away!

[Booney]

Very important to the argument.

What if, say, Darren Pfeiffer circa 2011 had the option of playing for Norwood or playing for an AFL clubs reserves, under the nose of the people who may well recruit him. Where do you think he would play?

[whufc]

Very important to the argument.

What if, say, Darren Pfeiffer circa 2011 had the option of playing for Norwood or playing for an AFL clubs reserves, under the nose of the people who may well recruit him. Where do you think he would play?

AFL for sure!!!

Thats why i think for the best of ALL football leagues if the AFL needs to extend AFL lists it could be done with an age restriction.

[topsywaldron]

Very important to the argument.

What if, say, Darren Pfeiffer circa 2011 had the option of playing for Norwood or playing for an AFL clubs reserves, under the nose of the people who may well recruit him. Where do you think he would play?

He'd have more chance of being drafted by playing well in a meaningful competition, ergo he should play for Norwood.

What makes no sense here is that no weight is ever given to the level of competition a player is playing in except by the recruiters themselves. Pfeiffer is a great example. Went to Southport and played well in an inferior league, didn't get drafted. Came back to Norwood, played well in a strong, semi-professional competition and got drafted. The fact that the SANFL is at the level it is has to stand for something at least until it's destroyed by the reserves concept.

It makes less than zero sense to me for the AFL to talk up mature age recruits on one hand, and the clubs to benefit from them, yet systematically try and gut the leagues these guys came from. Surely if we turn the SANFL 100% into a feeder league the game will lose players who, if given another few years at a decent level, could have gone on to careers at the higher level?

I think the thing is that the AFL don't actually care about Australian Rules football, they care about the AFL. That's sad.

[RustyCage]

It's a situation where there is no perfect answer for everyone involved. Maybe the Crows can feed Sturt some money, have all their interstate recruits go to them while local recruits stay at their club. Would give Sturt a lifeline and give the Crows some more control over the development of their players.

I think it's a myth to think that all the Crows recruits going to one club and Ports recruits going to the Magpies will make those teams much stronger and give them an unfair advantage. There are enough hacks drafted in the main and rookie drafts to ensure this wouldnt be the case.

[PhilH]

It's a situation where there is no perfect answer for everyone involved

And that is the crux of it ... there is no perfect solution for anybody.

ie is an SANFL club better off having some access to its locally drafted players that it developed
or it it better off not having to worry about possible late changes to its lineup every week.
BECAUSE IT CAN'T HAVE BOTH

is an AFL club better off having all its surplus players together in one group
or is it better to have experienced players playing SANFL league and with kids in SANFL Reserves best suited to their current level of ability.
BECAUSE IT CANT HAVE BOTH

Here are the not negotaibles for mine

- All teams competiting in the SANFL League competition must have winning the SANFL League premiership as its #1 goal.
& the SANFL clubs have the right to decide which teams compete in their competitions.

- Crows and Power have the right to decide if it is better to have their surplus players
- spread across the various SANFL clubs playing at the best possible level of competiton
or
- in one group in a Reserves (read SANFL Reserves, VFL or AFl reserve) standard competition
they then need to find a competition that will accept them.