How To Fix The Foxtel Cup

[PhilH]

INTRODUCTION

Having followed the Foxtel Cup debate over the past 15 months I have decided to put in writing some personal thoughts on how I think we can better structure the competition so the best teams participate and a better product is provided.

However here are two notes to start this in the correct context.

Firstly these are my personal opinions only. Any attempt to portray them anything resembling the opinion of any club, league or media outlet would be incorrect..

Secondly I am a major fan of interstate football and would love to see nothing more than the profile of state league football lifted.

After all I was only one of four SA media personal who cared enough about interstate football to travel to Perth in 2009 for the SANFL’s last state game against the WAFL.

I think the idea of state league clubs from different leagues competing against each other is a good one but there must be a net benefit to the clubs participating.

However, at least from the perspective of the majority of SANFL clubs, the current structure of the Foxtel Cup and the product it presents is just not good enough for them to participate in.

The following eight recommendations may improve that situation with the exception of financial support which is always a matter of negotiation.


1 - GET OUT INVITATIONS EARLIER
- From memory it was announced in August that the Foxtel Cup would continue for another five years. Yet it has taken three months for local clubs to eventually get the invitations and information required to make a decision. This in turn delays the release of state league schedules.
- The structure of the competition should be announced in August / September with invites being sent out as soon as the Grand Finalists are decided. With this information provided upfront, team involvement & schedule can be decided by mid October.

2 - CHANGE QUALIFICATION
- To play in the Foxtel Cup you need to have played in the Grand Final in your state league competition
(Unless one of those teams declines entry, then the 3rd placed team is invited etc)
- If invites are accepted it ensures that each league is represented not just by good teams but their two best from the previous year.

3 - GET “DEVELOPING LEAGUE” TEAMS TO PLAY EACH OTHER IN THE FIRST TWO ROUNDS
- Last year there were also some major match up issues, especially in the first round.
- In six of those first eight opening games (75%) the losing team failed to kick 6 goals
- Ainslie lost to West Adelaide by 77 points (100-23)
- Clarence lost to Claremont by 71 points (102-31)
- Northern Bullants beat Greater Westen Sydney by 89 points (123-34)
- Port Adelaide defeated East Coast Eagles by 82 points (107-15)
- North Adelaide defeated Labrador by 85 points (107-22)
- My proposal has 8 developing league teams play each other in the first two rounds, this will lead to two wild card sides that will take on the “Elite League” teams in the third round.

4 – “ELITE LEAGUE” TEAMS HAVE BYE UNTIL THIRD ROUND
- Follows England’s FA Cup example
- WA, VIC & SA Grand Finalists have First and Second Round byes
- They will join two “wild card” teams from QLD/NT, NSW, TAS & ACT in the third round
- Reduces maximum games for elite league teams from four to three
- Ensures more even contests as teams at similar levels playing more head to head games
- Gives teams from NSW, TAS, ACT & QLD/NT the chance to better compete and win in the first two round on a national stage and there can be some honor for them in qualifying as a wild card side.
- Under 16 & Under 18 National schedule Division 1 & 2 games so why not here where the difference in quality is probably greater.

5 - ENSURE FINALISTS WOULD GET AT LEAST TWO BYES IN STATE LEAGUE
- Can be done with some forward planning. Start the Foxtel Cup teams off a week earlier than others and ensure they get at least two breaks should allay concerns of players not getting a rest.
- Also because there are only two teams from each league playing there are less clubs that each league needs to accommodate in its scheduling adjustments.

6 - ENSURE COMPETITION FINISHES EARLIER
- Assuming games are on a Saturday and using 2013 calendar
- First Round – 4 weeks – March 16, 23, 30 & April 6
- Second Round – 2 weeks – April 20 & 27
- Third Round – 4 weeks – May 4,11,18 & 25
- Semi Finals – 2 weeks – June 8 & 15
- Grand Final – July 6
- This structure
- allows for a minimum three week between Foxtel Cup games
- ensures event Foxtel Cup Grand Final teams end their commitments 8 weeks before State League finals, plenty of time to focus on the State League premiership and for most injuries (Hamstring’s in particular) to heal before the finals.


7 - GAMES PLAYED AT SUBURBAN OVALS
- Playing curtain raiser games three hours before the AFL in front of a couple of hundred people in a cavernous stadium is a poor presentation of the state league product.
- State League football is about suburban or regional tribal rivalries played on local ovals.
- Playing games at suburban ovals will provide a much better atmosphere and allow the home team to benefit from having some of their signage on national TV and resulting bar / canteen income.
- Clubs should be allowed to have greater exposure of one major club sponsor on their jumper
- Foxtel Cup sponsors can be accommodated by having major signage painted on the ground (something they can't do for an AFL game)and even having Foxtel Cup and sponsors signage at the participating clubs ground during the whole season.
- Having matches at Suburban grounds should also eliminate the need to move matches (as happened twice last year) due to the standard of AFL games.


8 - HAVE A STATE LEAGUE FOCUSSED COMMENTARY TEAM
- As a passionate supporter of state league football I was regularly upset listening to the Foxtel broadcast team when they would venture “off game” with their commentary.
- On many occasions they seemed to talk about anything with an AFL link instead of focusing on what is a state league competition.
- Each week the ABC TV manages to focus on the state league they broadcast with a commentary team that are experts on the competition they cover.
- Fox Sports should show the Foxtel Cup and it’s participating clubs the same respect and do the same. Some solid background research about the participating clubs, their history, current state league form and the state league they represent would be a good start.
- As an extra the local media that is heavily focused on state league football should also be engaged more to promote the competition.


SO HOW WOULD THIS WORK

14 TEAMS QUALIFY FOR THE FOXTEL CUP
These are the grand finalists from the
- SANFL, VFL & WAFL (all have bye until third round)
- AFL NSW, AFL ACT, AFL QLD (inc NT) & AFL TAS

FIRST ROUND
(Drawn so premiers from each comp do not play each other in this round)
1) NSW 1 v TAS 2
2) QLD/NT 1 v ACT 2
3) TAS 1 v QLD/NT 2
4) ACT 1 v NSW 2

SECOND ROUND
5) Winner 1 v 2 - winner becomes Wildcard 1
6) Winner 3 v 4 – winner becomes Wildcard 2

THIRD ROUND
(Drawn so SA/WA/VIC premiers do not play each other in this round)
(Teams from same state in different half so cannot meet in semi)
7) SANFL 1 v WAFL 2
8 ) VFL 1 v Wildcard 1
9) VFL 2 v SANFL 2
10) WAFL 1 v Wildcard 2

SEMI FINALS
11) Winner 7 v Winner 8
12) Winner 9 v Winner 10

GRAND FINAL
13) Winner 11 v Winner 12





RESULTS

- Teams get plenty of notice of participation, allowing for each state league the time to prepare an optimal schedule to accommodate and clubs time to prepare a pre-season schedule to suit.

- Maximum commitment from elite clubs is minimized from four to three games and blowouts in early matches are minimised as weakest opponent they may face is a wildcard team. This team will at least come into the game with two wins already.

- Competition finishes early enough so they do not conflict with finals preparation.

- More even matches than current structure especially in early rounds.

- Chance for clubs from developing state leagues to compete against each other to be one of the two wildcards that go into the third round.

- Freed from playing as AFL curtain raisers, it is very unlikely games will be moved interstate at late notice.

- Chance for competing clubs to benefit financially through hosting games at their grounds.

- Better presentation of games through more event contests, better atmosphere and dedicated commentary team.


Together with a financial package that gives clubs a net benefit for competing I believe these changes would lead to a better Foxtel Cup in the years to come.

[beenreal]

No initiative is ever going to be put in place without teething problems.

Most of the writings make sense. Point 7 is a definite sticking point as an advantage of curtain raisers is the Broadcast facilities are already there.

And while local commentators would be good, yes in the early games the commentary was ordinary/amateurish, I thought they got their act together as the season moved on.

[baggy8]

Brilliantly conceived and well-expressed Phil. Won't happen of course. Worries me that you spent so much obvious time and effort on this proposal. Seen the wife and kids lately?

[FOURTH ESTATE]

Agree with what you are saying Phil but the broadcast set up is the only problem as AFL / Foxtel want these games played before an AFL game.

Thought it strange when Claremont went to Tassie to play Clarence and it was a stand alone game.

More ridiculous was the match up between Claremont (WA) and the Northern Bullants (VIC) on the Gold Coast.

Like the idea of the matches being played at suburban ovals.

But as we know any logical solution will not be followed by the AFL as they did not think of it first.

[Harry the Horse]

This will never get a look in. It makes far too much sense.

[Big Phil]

This will never get a look in. It makes far too much sense.

Exactly.

Well thouhgt out PhilH.

[MightyEagles]

How about putting up the prize money.

[Big Phil]

How about putting up the prize money.

Problem is, where is the extra money going to come from?

[Magpies96]

How about putting up the prize money.

I think they did.

How to fix the Foxtel Cup? Don't have SANFL Clubs, the only ones in the country boycott it because they think they are bigger than the game itself.

[Big Phil]

How about putting up the prize money.

I think they did.

How to fix the Foxtel Cup? Don't have SANFL Clubs, the only ones in the country boycott it because they would rather focus all their footballing efforts on winning the SANFL Premiership.

Edited for accuracy.

[Country Cousin]

How about putting up the prize money.

Problem is, where is the extra money going to come from?

No disrespect Phil, but you must be joking. Foxtel just paid $1.253 billion for the TV rights. The total prize pool for this year's Foxtel Cup was $180 thousand. About 1/3 of what the AFL wasted on this year's so called pre-match "entertainment" at the Grand Final.

[Big Phil]

How about putting up the prize money.

Problem is, where is the extra money going to come from?

No disrespect Phil, but you must be joking. Foxtel just paid $1.253 billion for the TV rights. The total prize pool for this year's Foxtel Cup was $180 thousand. About 1/3 of what the AFL wasted on this year's so called pre-match "entertainment" at the Grand Final.

Yeah, understand what you are saying, I guess I meant that for the top 3 clubs to realistic look at competing in the Foxtel Cup, I think the prizemoney would have to considerably increase and I wonder whether or not sponsors or Fox themselves would want to contribute to this.

[mighty_tiger_79]

good ideas, but who is going to listen??

i hope someone listens.....but it appears any sensible ideas fall on deaf ears

[redandblack]

How about putting up the prize money.

I think they did.

How to fix the Foxtel Cup? Don't have SANFL Clubs, the only ones in the country boycott it because they would rather focus all their footballing efforts on winning the SANFL Premiership.

Edited for accuracy.

Didn't bother Claremont, won the WAFL.

Didn't bother Williamstown, 2nd to the unbeaten Port Melbourne.

[Sojourner]

Your ideas are good Phil and several of them should be looked at and who knows, with the benefit of hindsight maybe they may well take some of it on board.

SANFL clubs and their supporters should have the option of participating or not participating, like it or lump it the AFL and the various State competitions are evolving and changing at a rapid rate. Globally across various competitions, club based competitions that cross durastictions are the way of the future. Manchester United did not go cry and hide when challenged by Real Madrid in the Champions league, instead it became about the club and its colours when they went on to prove that they were the best when it counted.

As R&B pointed out it likely made no difference to the result for Claremont and Williamstown. Clearly they simply train and are coached at a level where the club has the capacity to take on any challenge accordingly. The SANFL will either develop the same capacity or continue to struggle when challenged by interstate leagues with an increasing standard as is the case in the WAFL-VFL.

[redandblack]

Very good summary, Sojourner.

Although I favour participation, I have no problem with clubs declining an invitation.

I'm not impressed with the argument that clubs who participate aren't serious about winning a premiership.

[Pseudo]

Didn't bother Claremont, won the WAFL.

Didn't bother Williamstown, 2nd to the unbeaten Port Melbourne.

Didn't bother West Ad..... oh, scratch that

<serious>
Perhaps part of the reason it didn't bother Claremont/Willy is that their immediate rivals also participated, thereby negating some of the disadvantage?
</serious>

[PhilH]

Thanks for the feedback

Agreed I am not holding my breath to see this adopted but to see the best teams competing the commitment from them to compete needs to be less, the means of benefiting needs to be greater and the product presented needs to be better.

What I don't understand is this

Last year the Foxtel Cup was clearly a content filler to test the Saturday twilight timelsot.

You could see the in the lateness of the cups formation, its lack of input from participating states and the scheduling of games.

But now Foxtel has a live AFL Game in this Saturday twilight timelsot and will be showing a triple header of AFL games all through Saturday so why does it need to telecast a state league football competition and when will it be played / broadcast?

Will it be a content filler on say a Monday Night as some VFL games were for Optus Vision about 10 years ago?

I await the 2012 Foxtel Cup schedule with interest to find out, it also means the 2012 SANFL draw won't be far away.

[robranisgod]

Manchester United did not go cry and hide when challenged by Real Madrid in the Champions league, instead it became about the club and its colours when they went on to prove that they were the best when it counted.

Hate to be pedantic (and probably off track) but Manchester United have by no means proved they are the best as far as the Champions League is concerned. They have won it twice, 1999 and 2008 which puts them behind Barcelona, Real Madrid and A.C. Milan and if you add the forerunner of the European Cup they are then only the seventh most succesful and trail Real Madrid 9 titles to 3.

[csbowes]

I agree with prelim rounds for the lesser leagues...

... but the problem of allowing teams to decline an invitation is it makes a mockery of the whole competition. The top sides from the SANFL not being in it ruins it.

As for whether it stuffs your season, I disagree. Teams play 20 games now, we used to play 22 with less professional players, geez harden up.

Plus Sturt declining, I think, hurt our season.