VFL Teams in SANFL ?

[Vic Spy]

There are some rumours floating around VFL circles that at least 3 or 4 VFL clubs would seriously look at the prospect of joining the SANFL if the AFL heavyweights try to bring in an eastern seaboard league in the near future.
There are a few posts on VFLFOOTY.COM for those intersted but i'm more interested in getting the SANFL fans views on such a move. Would or could it work ?
There are probably only 4 clubs financial enough to explore such an option.
North Ballarat,Port Melbourne,Williamstown and Frankston.
Would it help or make worse the SANFL ?
All pie in the sky stuff at this stage, but interesting none the less.
Any thoughts ?

[bosvit]

Waste of money IMO

What do the ressies do? Have a bye or fly over as well?

The costs would be huge and no VFL club could afford to come to SA every second week

[CUTTERMAN]

If so, the AFL would have to fund it in a big way and then they'd demand that it wasn't the called the SANFL anymore and want more control also.

[Mickyj]

Doesn't something like this come up every year .
But wouldn't a Port Adelaide V Port Melbourne game at Alberton confuse the locals .You couldn't cheer come on Port

[Sojourner]

I think its unlikely to work for four VFL clubs, yet it might well work for one if they could be cashed up enough and have the support to maintain it.

The SANFL was founded with a side from Victoria simply called "Victorian", so their is precedent if they want to explore the idea.

I would be more in favor of seeing us get Mt Gambier involved in the SANFL first though!

[LPH]

Oh the IRONY !!!!

Victorian clubs joining an expanded SA competition !!!!

Who is running the VFL club's bids???

Bruce Webber???

Here's an idea... why doesn't the VFL produces a 'player retention scheme' to stop their players being poached over the border !!!

To quote a famous tennis player: "You can't be serious!!!"

[Barto]

I remember a banner at the '88 interstate carnival "How about the Vics join our league?".

What do we want to be? A second tier national comp or the local league?

Expansion has been talked about for the last decade but at least a couple of Vic based clubs would work out cheaper than the NT or Tas option.

*FWIW: I don't think it will happen. Ever.

[Dogsbody]

A lot of people wanted the Champions of Australia concept re-activated... but all year round would be interesting. Would be nuts, but cash is short in these tough financial times.

[bayman]

if it were viably (alledgedly) disasterous for both the nt & tasmania why would it work in this case ? unless they buy a bus & bus it over when they're playing here, also the vic teams would have to change colors like port melbourne are red & blue they'd have to change because of it being the same colors as norwood

i doubt it would happen

but i'm not against having a pre season competition against the vfl clubs (probably too expensive to have the wafl clubs as well) as i'm sure putting it on the abc & more so on fox would heighten the image , exposure etc of both competitions & some of their players

could you imagine the foxsports cup
sandringham v central districts
glenelg v port melbourne
nth ballarat v sturt
etc etc etc

[Ingall]

Regarding costs, how is it that the SEABL can survive with teams from all over the place? I guess their teams are a lot smaller so less transport costs, but it would still cost a bit I would have thought. And many of their teams are from regional areas so may have a fairly small supporter base.

I don't have a problem with any team joining the league if it can be proved to be viable. I was hoping Tassie would eventually put one in so I could see the Bays down here once in a while.

[Hondo]

How many times does the SANFL need to get used as a negotiating pawn when there's a bun fight with the AFL?

First, Tassie were going to join but it turned out to be nothing more than a threat to help their negotiations.

Now this ...? Keep us out of your battles! If we know it's never going to happen chances are the AFL do to. In fact, it only puts the AFL's spotlight on our comp even more and there's enough going on already by the sounds.

[heater31]

How many times does the SANFL need to get used as a negotiating pawn when there's a bun fight with the AFL?

First, Tassie were going to join but it turned out to be nothing more than a threat to help their negotiations.

Now this ...? Keep us out of your battles! If we know it's never going to happen chances are the AFL do to. In fact, it only puts the AFL's spotlight on our comp even more and there's enough going on already by the sounds.

exactly right, grow some balls and say we want to join or keep your pipe dreams to yourself and leave us alone we don't need you.

[Wedgie]

How many times does the SANFL need to get used as a negotiating pawn when there's a bun fight with the AFL?

First, Tassie were going to join but it turned out to be nothing more than a threat to help their negotiations.

Now this ...? Keep us out of your battles! If we know it's never going to happen chances are the AFL do to. In fact, it only puts the AFL's spotlight on our comp even more and there's enough going on already by the sounds.

exactly right, grow some balls and say we want to join or keep your pipe dreams to yourself and leave us alone we don't need you.

Ditto

[therisingblues]

I think Hondo is right about being used as a negotiation pawn, but then the SANFL has done well to maintain their position throughout it all. Nothing wrong with allowing the interested parties to throw their hands out on the table. I trust the SANFL never to rush in unless all the bases were covered in any case.
Agree with Cutterman also. It would need some big money to prop it up. And given the likely source of that cash and the localities of these sides, the AFL would have a lot more influence over the SANFL, so probably not such a good thing if it pans out like that.
I enjoy the gap that exists between the AFL and SANFL, and I don't like their meddling with everything.

[CUTTERMAN]

That's right Theri, "What we don't need is a great big melting pot"

[haloman]

Look at what Victorians have done to the "so called" AFL. Do we really want then involved anyway? Why do we need them? The SANFL competition IMO sh*ts all over the hybrid netball/basketball crap they are currently playing in the AFL. The Umpiring is better in the SANFL and the standard of football is pritty bloody good. I'm with the other bloke.........bring in a Mt. Gambier or an Eyre Peninsula or Riverland before looking at those Victorian shmucks who have stuffed their own comp and now need a new project. P*SS OFF VICTORIA LEAVE OUR FOOTY ALONE!!!!!!

[am Bays]

I wouldn't be adverse to it but I can't see it ever happening as the AFL would torpedo it. The want pleayers growing up and developing in their own states and then returning to play in their own states. An enhanced 2nd tier competition would jeopardise their Eastern seaboard reserves competition for media exposure and could even grow to be an alternative league if other media and coprorate sponsors got on board.

Nup teh AFL would can it straight away.

[Dogsbody]

Look at what Victorians have done to the "so called" AFL. Do we really want then involved anyway? Why do we need them? The SANFL competition IMO sh*ts all over the hybrid netball/basketball crap they are currently playing in the AFL. The Umpiring is better in the SANFL and the standard of football is pritty bloody good. I'm with the other bloke.........bring in a Mt. Gambier or an Eyre Peninsula or Riverland before looking at those Victorian shmucks who have stuffed their own comp and now need a new project. P*SS OFF VICTORIA LEAVE OUR FOOTY ALONE!!!!!!

Those that are in the current VFL aren't the same people that we dealt with back in the day. They're a different mob, they had the responsibility of being the premier state competition of Victoria put on them when the original VFL decided to go national. Those in the VFL of today haven't stuffed up their competition really... the AFL swooped in thinking they know what's best and they stuffed it up.

[Aerie]

Hmm, it's interesting to think of the possibilities... Clearly the strong VFL stand alone clubs (Port Melbourne and Frankston) are rightly concerned at the goings on over there. Could it be wise for their future to join the SANFL so they can stand on their own two feet and maintain their identity? Could it be wise for the SANFL to expand their competition on the strength of clubs and community? Melbourne is as big a market as you can get - even if it is the secondary Melbourne market.

From a VFL clubs perspective, if an Eastern Seaboard AFL reserves competition was brought in, these clubs would be reduced to third tier level. Too low for a proud club such as Port Melbourne?

So what does the SANFL and its clubs get out of it? The SANFL has talked about expansion for years, but I never hear of why they want/need to (or don't want to) expand? What is the vision for the SANFL?

I don't think people or the clubs would want to become just a feeder to the AFL? Is this what is happening with all energies focused on making the Crows and Power money making machines to keep our clubs afloat? Doesn't this just make us bend over even more to the AFL if we rely on this? Is the SANFL sustainable as it is now?

If it isn't, maybe it would be wise for the SANFL and our clubs to look at joining forces with other clubs around the country who are of the same mindset? Maybe this will be our only way of keeping football "real". Maybe there is a market for it?

[SABRE]

If the AFL is against it, then I'm 100 percent for it !!!