Open Letter for Foot-e-Times...

[LPH]

No AFL in the SANFL …

Depending on whom you listen or speak to, this issue has the potential to either destroy or enhance our 136 Year competition. Not since the 1980’s & Port Adelaide’s failed bid to join the then VFL, has an issue evoked so much emotion & feeling from football supporters in this state. If we are to believe the ‘Commercial Mainstream Media’, then PAFC & AFC Reserves teams as part of the SANFL, is imperative to the long-term survival of Australian Rules Football in SA.

PAFC CEO Keith Thomas & Club President David Koch not only want the local Magpies to become their Reserves team but also retain their ‘development zones’ (both metropolitan & country) as well as maintaining their underage teams as part of their ‘One Club’ mantra. Club President David Koch has even suggested that this model be adopted by the AFC – that is, the Crows enveloping an existing SANFL Club & doing the same.

AFC Acting CEO Rob Chapman has suggested (without any statistical analysis or data to support his claims) that “a Crows Reserves team would most likely bring an extra 3000 supporters to the SANFL each week, resulting in approx. $40,000 of added income to each SANFL Club, over the course of a season”.

Whether you agree or disagree with these inferences, the facts are that many existing SANFL supporters & Club Members, are likely to simply ‘walk away’ from the competition should the 2 AFL Clubs ‘get their way’ & field teams in the SANFL League competition, from 2014.

What concerns many supporters of the SANFL (Magpie supporters included) is that this decision has the potential to convert our competition into another ‘feeder league’ such as the newly contrived NEAFL. Or worse, destroy the competition as we know it, as appears to have occurred to the former VFA, now the VFL – where it should be noted that when Collingwood play Essendon (the 2 most supported Clubs in the country), less than 1500 spectators attend these games, assumedly due to a lack of interest in a match between reserve grade players & ‘Top-Ups’ from other clubs.

Yet this appears the preferred model SA’s two AFL Clubs subscribe to. Rob Chapman claims that double this amount of spectators will attend games here in SA. I fear he is somewhat optimistic in this assertion. To steal a quote from the iconic Australian Film ‘The Castle’; “Tell him he’s dreaming”.

What many SANFL supporters question about this proposal, is;
“What will happen to the integrity of the competition?”, &
“How will AFL Reserves teams in the SANFL actually benefit the existing Clubs?”.

These are very pertinent questions, although I would contend that the most important aspect to consider in this debate is; “What happens in 2 to 5 years when the AFL decide to have an AFL Reserves competition (mooted for 2016), & South Australia’s 2 AFL teams decide they want to play in that competition, instead?”

Where does that leave the SANFL & it’s member Clubs?

The WAFL have not helped the situation by allowing West Coast Eagles FC to absorb East Perth FC, whilst Fremantle FC have done the same to Peel Thunder FC.

This move appears to be made due to the financial incentives offered by the 2 AFL Clubs in WA & has for all intents & purposes, provided traction for those in support of the AFL Reserves concept, such as Commercial Radio announcers & some former players.

What some Media Commentators & others in favour of the AFL Reserves proposal fail to recognise is that after the current 2013 season is completed, all AFL listed players aligned to other Clubs such as Subiaco, Claremont, etc. will be required to play for either East Perth or Peel. Some argue that this will sound the ‘death-knell’ of the 130 Year competition of the WAFL, as these 2 Clubs are set to dominate the competition & the integrity of the WAFL will be further compromised.

Our Club Officials have endeavoured to ‘ease concerns’ of their Club Members, by emailing what appears to be a deliberately contrived ‘one-letter-fits-all’ response. Many Club supporters respond that this is not acceptable, as it appears somewhat impersonal & dismissive of those Club Members genuinely concerned about the future of the SANFL competition, as a whole.

The wording used in this quickly contrived statement is akin to telling the Members of their Clubs that they (the Club Officials) will make the final decision regarding this issue & we should trust them that they will make the right decision for our individual Clubs & that the supporters have no say in the matter. Excuse my cynicism, but I think I have heard it all before, don’t you?
The question for our ‘League Bosses’ & Club Officials is this:

Are you prepared to put this issue to your Members before making any decision?

Are you prepared to allow ALL the facts to be canvassed to your supporter base before making a final decision or are you simply going to continue to disregard those of us who have contributed to both financial & physical support our local Clubs, since the advent of the AFL & make your decision without our concerns being aired in appropriate forums such as ‘extra-ordinary meetings of your members?

The AFL has successfully ‘re-branded’ OUR National Game, referred to around Australia as ‘AFL’ not Australian Rules Football, as it was conceived. They have been very clever in doing this.

The AFL has been systematic in it’s desire to remove the integrity of ‘2nd tier competitions’ such as the VFA, QAFL, NSWFL, WAFL & NTFL. Is our Football Commission, our Club Directors & the general football loving public of this State going to allow our competition to suffer a similar fate?

To all Club Officials both SANFL & AFL alike I say; “Hands Off Our SANFL … No AFL in the SANFL”

[CENTURION]

brilliant!

[PhilH]

Thanks LEH,

Just to bring everyone else into the loop, Thursday week (July 4) FOOT-e TIMES SA will be running a special AFL Reserves issue.

Part of that is an invitation for all stakeholders to DIRECTLY address our readership (SANFL club members) to make their case without any omission or editing. .. so we invited a submission from the NO AFL IN SANFL "movement"

More information about this issue to follow.

[CENTURION]

I just emailed it to Chris Davies & Kris Grant.

[mighty_tiger_79]

is it worth sending to the 5AA sports show and also triple m show

they may not read it in its entirety on air, but they may raise some points made???

[CENTURION]

send it everywhere!

[LPH]

is it worth sending to the 5AA sports show and also triple m show

they may not read it in its entirety on air, but they may raise some points made???

Have already done so.

[am Bays]

As far as I know, it's never been officailly called Australian Rules Football. Australian Football is the correct name of the game. Source - 1992 Laws of Australian Football.

Nice article though don't agree with all of it but agree with the sentiment.

[mighty_tiger_79]

im a tad slow



well done

[Aerie]

Well done LEH. Well written and well thought out.

I wonder if you/we can also argue clearly against the guiding principles and send in to the SANFL clubs - just in case they need some help!

These guiding principles have been agreed to by all clubs and the SANFL as non-negotiable elements and can be summarised as:

1. Integrity: Any change in competition structure must maintain or enhance the integrity of the SANFL competition;

2. Relevance: Any change in competition structure must maintain or enhance the relevance of the SANFL competition as the best State League in Australia;

3. SANFL & SANFL Club Viability: Any change to the competition structure must improve the long term strength and sustainability of the SANFL and SANFL Clubs; and

4. Game Development: Any change to the competition structure must enhance the development of the game at all levels across South Australia.

[Booney]

I think you would need to start by being able to define integrity and relevance.

Not in a literal sense, from the dictionary, but when dicussing the SANFL and the reserves debate.

If you will.

[Aerie]

I think you would need to start by being able to define integrity and relevance.

Not in a literal sense, from the dictionary, but when dicussing the SANFL and the reserves debate.

If you will.

Yes, absolutely. I can see that both sides could make a solid case because there is no black and white definition of what these terms mean in relation to the SANFL.

This link here is probably a reasonable base for defining integrity in sport - http://www.ausport.gov.au/supporting/in ... _integrity

Relevance is also subjective, as is game development.

It will come down to who can argue their case the best (hopefully they haven't already made up their minds).

LEH asking "Are you prepared to allow ALL the facts to be canvassed to your supporter base before making a final decision..." is crucial to know before proper arguments for and against can be finalised.

[CENTURION]

I have just received The CDFC's Marketing Manager's personal opinion, I know he isn't the CEO but he's in the inner sanctum & his views would pretty much reflect those of the boards.
It appears as though everyone needs to sit back & chill out. We have a loooooong way to go before anything is set in concrete.

"Hello Gazz,
In regards to the below letter I will try and find out if the Members and Supporters get a say/will have a chance to speak/be surveyed etc. or get to see all the pros and cons of the argument. I have no doubt the SANFL faithful feel very passionately about this issue.
I think the media (many of whom only have AFL interests these days) are trying to make it sound like a decision is close but I believe there is heaps to happen yet. No doubt the strong views of passionate supporters will be considered. And have already been noticed.
(And Scott is right we don’t even see 3,000 Norwood, or Port or Glenelg supporters at Elizabeth as it is now so I doubt 3,000 Crows supporters will be coming here to watch their 5 emergencies, 6 blokes in development roles and 10 top up players run around on a day when the Crows play on TV, or the day before the actual Crows play at home. That’s my thoughts.)
David’s speech on Saturday at the lunch was basically saying “don’t believe or listen to the media as they are simply reporting on guess work, inuendo and basically making stuff up”. At the meeting last week at the SANFL there was a vote, which went the way of the SANFL Clubs agreeing to “at least have a look at what the Crows and Power are proposing”. It wasn’t a vote on letting them in as reported in some media. It was just a vote to have a look at what they are proposing. Still to happen is the Crows and Power coming out to each Club and presenting what they want and how they think it can work. From there the Club Boards will consider and may well say “get stuffed” or “how about changing to this or this” or “what about this compromise”. Then the Clubs still have to meet altogether with the SANFL and talk about it all at length, putting all pros and cons and spin off effects on the table to discuss. So basically still a lot to happen and many many meetings to be had I’m led to believe.
(And that’s not even counting on whether a Power Reserves push spells an end for the Magpies. You could imagine that debate being a very long one on its own, as even Port as a Club will be split on that one.)
… So that is my mail from Sat. (Don’t believe the media > still plenty to happen before it even gets close to decision time)
I think the problems with letting them in are obvious for all to see. On the other side of the coin I think some SANFL Clubs may be scared that if Crows/Power go to Amateur League the Amateur League may become very powerful. And maybe also end up with more media coverage than us. Also by doing this or going to VFL (eg Crows and Power having nothing to do with our comp) it means we may not control where their top up players come from. Which may mean they offer Waldhuter, Schiller, Glenn and Guilhaus $$$$ to play with them, raping and pillaging us further weakening our standard. But if they somehow were affiliated with us we could control where the “top up” players come from and it doesn’t become an AFL v SANFL thing (coz in money terms they will win) but best working together for the whole of SA footy. I’m led to believe there are heaps of pro’s and con’s to be weighed up and heaps of discussion to come. I have no doubt the Board will consider every single point as what is best for our Club and SA Footy and wont take any part of the decision making process lightly. On pure emotion I think all SANFL board members (as loyal passionate SANFL supporters, sponsors and members themselves) with SANFL priority feel the exact same way as an SANFL Club Member or supporter emotionally. But they are having a look at the details to make sure they’re not missing anything, or at least have some say in what happens so the SANFL doesn’t end up worse off long term.
That’s my thoughts, but officially I believe David is drafting a letter to Members himself as we speak so I’ll load that up onto the website when its ready. It may explain more about the process that is still to take place.
Kind regards,
Kym Jarman."

[Booney]

It appears as though everyone needs to sit back & chill out. We have a loooooong way to go before anything is set in concrete.

Hoo ******* ray! I've been saying this all along. I doubt any of the parties ( AFC and the PAFC ) actually think this will be up and running in 2014.

I would suggest 2014 may be a year of transition to the revised model, whichever way it goes. I cant see all parties being ready to agree to terms, sign off and implement them in 4 months from now.

( Come October clubs are looking to next year already )

[Big Phil]

It appears as though everyone needs to sit back & chill out. We have a loooooong way to go before anything is set in concrete.

I doubt any of the parties ( AFC and the PAFC ) actually think this will be up and running in 2014.

I get the impression the Crows preference is to have it finalised and ready to roll with a Reserves team in the SANFL League competition, next season...

[CENTURION]

I get the impression The Crows & The Power will find it very difficult to achieve what they want.

[Booney]

It appears as though everyone needs to sit back & chill out. We have a loooooong way to go before anything is set in concrete.

I doubt any of the parties ( AFC and the PAFC ) actually think this will be up and running in 2014.

I get the impression the Crows preference is to have it finalised and ready to roll with a Reserves team in the SANFL League competition, next season...

That may be their preference, sure. But it would,IMO, be a long way from reality and I would think they know that.

[Big Phil]

It appears as though everyone needs to sit back & chill out. We have a loooooong way to go before anything is set in concrete.

I doubt any of the parties ( AFC and the PAFC ) actually think this will be up and running in 2014.

I get the impression the Crows preference is to have it finalised and ready to roll with a Reserves team in the SANFL League competition, next season...

That may be their preference, sure. But it would,IMO, be a long way from reality and I would think they know that.

So, if they 'should know about it' in terms of not being realistic, why are they pushing it so hard to happen?

[Booney]

I'd assume like many business deals when one party is put under duress with what appears to be a generous offer they accept it. Even though it might not be as generous as they first thought.

[Aerie]

So, if they 'should know about it' in terms of not being realistic, why are they pushing it so hard to happen?

How long is Sanderson's contract? If he is adamant a Reserves side is needed, then they can't hang around forever waiting for the SANFL to make a decision. Same goes with Port. If the Reserves side is so important there is no reason they can't have one in place, somewhere, for 2014.