National Competition in 1984?

[FlyingHigh]

Okay, so this isn't strictly SANFL history. From 1984:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEDtGUTf2BA

Was this in the SA news at the time, and were the SANFL involved at the time?
A few players came to the SANFL at this time, such as Gibbs and Wayne Henwood. Were there any others and was there any talk they were linked to some of the things Cometti said?

[Adelaide Hawk]

Yep, it was talked about. For memory it resulted in pushes from Victoria towards a national competition from millionaire businessmen such as Dr Geoffrey Edelstein and Richard Pratt who were bidding for private ownership of the Sydney Swans, and it was feared the game would head in this direction. Hawthorn and Collingwood were opposed to the concept but a number of other clubs who were struggling fiancially were smiling on it. SANFL and WAFL clubs were not necessarily in their sights.

There was talk in SA that clubs such as Norwood and Port Adelaide would be encouraged to join but at the time Port Adelaide were running at a $20,000 debt and if was thought nobody would bid for ownership of Port. Besides, neither Norwood or Port (at the time) were interested in being part of it.

The other SANFL clubs became anxious at the thought of losing Norwood and Port to the National League, leaving the SANFL in a very weak position. I think this resulted in a pact being made by all SANFL clubs that if they were approached to join a national league then they would inform the SANFL immediately, an agreement that Port Adelaide choose to over-ride in 1990.

Anyway, that is the crux of it, there's obviously more to it than that. Perhaps others could give some more information.

EDIT: The VFL proposed a 14 team national competition including teams from WA & SA to commence in 1987. As they could not attract an SA team to the competition, they opted for a team out of Queensland instead.

[FlyingHigh]

Thanks AH.
Were those businessmen pushing to establish a break-away comp or for all the teams in the national league to be privately owned by like the NFL in America?

[Adelaide Hawk]

Thanks AH.
Were those businessmen pushing to establish a break-away comp or for all the teams in the national league to be privately owned by like the NFL in America?

I don't know for certain, but I think their aim was to have all clubs privately owned.

[Magpiespower]

John Elliot and Ian Collins, sick of the VFL's 'socialist agenda' to prop up weaker clubs were behind it.

Presidents and GMs representing nine clubs attended a meeting at Elliott's country mansion to hear their pitch.

Plan was for a 12-team comp with only seven based in Victoria.

This was all a few years after SANFL GM Don Roach met with VFL officials about an Adelaide team joining the league.

Didn't wanna know....