AFL not caring about SANFL

[Bluedemon]

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl ... 6583834131

[Dutchy]

Doesnt surprise, if they help they want it on their terms, included a full takeover like other leagues.

SANFL will have no choice but to help Sturt as they have guaranteed their debts, so if Sturt go under the Bank debt will be the SANFL's responsibility. I dont believe that is the case at West.

[Aerie]

Does the SANFL care about the SANFL?

I would like to see an open discussion and vision formed about what the SANFL wants for the future - for its clubs and the way the game is played and represented. I can't see how a club like Sturt can be battling forever with such a strong supporter base and rich history.

It stinks that a player one level up is on the salary of two whole SANFL teams. It stinks that the debt of a famous club could be wiped with the change that could fall out of the bulging wallet of the bloke who controls the game.

The SANFL needs to stand strong, perhaps demand for an independent football governing body separate from the AFL. If it continues to follow in the footsteps of the AFL it will be stuck in no man's land. What is important about the SANFL? What is important about the game?

[topsywaldron]

It stinks that a player one level up is on the salary of two whole SANFL teams.

Everything wrong about Australian Rules Football in the year 2013 is contained in this one sentence.

Great post Aerie.

[am Bays]

It stinks that a player one level up is on the salary of two whole SANFL teams.

Two?? Try three especially if you have one of those SANFL teams as Sturt and what they plan to pay their players this year.

Agree it is just so wrong and it holds true for the WAFL and VFL clubs too.

If you believe what's true in the local fishwrap, the PAFC fitness coach gets paid more than entire SANFL club and one of the Crow's assistants is barely an 1st year apprentices wage off earning the equivalent of the SANFL salary cap.

Wrong, Wrong, Wrong, Wrong, Wrong!

[UK Fan]

Does the SANFL care about the SANFL?

This is my major concern. !!!

[Pseudo]

There is no reason why the AFL should care about the SANFL and other leagues, per se.

Nevertheless if the administrators of that league had any vision further than next week's pay packet then they'd realise that sucking the talent and market out of these leagues is only going to damage their own league in the long term.

I do not think that the AFL should start doling out charity money to the other leagues; the SANFL clubs must avoid becoming dependent upon the AFL. Nor would I like to see a takeover by the AFL - the day this happens is the day I stop following SANFL. The AFL could better compensate SANFL clubs for the removal of its players.

Note that the ability of the AFL to pay its blinkered administrators more than the salary cap of a SANFL club is made possible only by the fact that so many people keep buying in to the product. The sooner more people wake up to the fact that the AFL is ruining the game and withdraw their support, the better.

[JK]

There is no reason why the AFL should care about the SANFL and other leagues, per se.

Depends how much they value the development the SANFL clubs provide to their future AFL players.

I think this bit "the AFL, which spent $1.4 million on game development in SA in 2012 compared to about $20 million in NSW" shows the AFL can and does, take traditional football states and their premier competition for granted.

[dedja]

Gents, it's all about market share and media rights ... not sure if any has noticed that most people live on the eastern seaboard.

The AFL is raping the tradition footy states and is getting away with it, so why would they spend a cent more.

Yes, we're hard done by but I'm glad I'm not a Tasmanian (apart from the obvious reason).

[JK]

Gents? Are you talking just to Bluedemon and Aerie?

[dedja]

you can listen in on the conversation ...

[mighty_tiger_79]

put a glass to the wall

[dedja]

Can I dare to suggest something to Matt Benson?

Mate, I feel for you and your club and hope it turns out OK but playing out your issues in the media isn't going to get you anywhere.

Talk, hassle and negotiate your arse off but do it behind closed doors.

[mighty_tiger_79]

Can I dare to suggest something to Matt Benson?

Mate, I feel for you and your club and hope it turns out OK but playing out your issues in the media isn't going to get you anywhere.

Talk, hassle and negotiate your arse off but do it behind closed doors.

he wants to be the new Emperor

[Macca19]

There is no reason why the AFL should care about the SANFL and other leagues, per se.

Depends how much they value the development the SANFL clubs provide to their future AFL players.

I think this bit "the AFL, which spent $1.4 million on game development in SA in 2012 compared to about $20 million in NSW" shows the AFL can and does, take traditional football states and their premier competition for granted.

The AFL have said they would substantially improve the dollars they spend on development in SA so long as the SANFL dropped their salary cap in line with other state leagues. The SANFL, as is their right, has refused to do so. The SANFL could easily drop the salary cap - a salary cap that clubs can barely afford - and spend that saving on development, as opposed to relying on AFL funds.

[UK Fan]

There is no reason why the AFL should care about the SANFL and other leagues, per se.

Depends how much they value the development the SANFL clubs provide to their future AFL players.

I think this bit "the AFL, which spent $1.4 million on game development in SA in 2012 compared to about $20 million in NSW" shows the AFL can and does, take traditional football states and their premier competition for granted.

The AFL have said they would substantially improve the dollars they spend on development in SA so long as the SANFL dropped their salary cap in line with other state leagues. The SANFL, as is their right, has refused to do so. The SANFL could easily drop the salary cap - a salary cap that clubs can barely afford - and spend that saving on development, as opposed to relying on AFL funds.

So your advocating the afl holding sanfl clubs to ransom ????? And trying to apportion the blame on our overspending Macca.??

[JK]

There is no reason why the AFL should care about the SANFL and other leagues, per se.

Depends how much they value the development the SANFL clubs provide to their future AFL players.

I think this bit "the AFL, which spent $1.4 million on game development in SA in 2012 compared to about $20 million in NSW" shows the AFL can and does, take traditional football states and their premier competition for granted.

The AFL have said they would substantially improve the dollars they spend on development in SA so long as the SANFL dropped their salary cap in line with other state leagues. The SANFL, as is their right, has refused to do so. The SANFL could easily drop the salary cap - a salary cap that clubs can barely afford - and spend that saving on development, as opposed to relying on AFL funds.

Yep, and the SANFL is trying to maintain a stance of being the next best league in the country .. Which (IMHO) it was for a while, not sure these days.

However, if we drastically reduce the cap as the AFL wants, let's say halve it to $180k or thereabouts, what hope does the competition have of attracting anyone, or even retaining anyone when they can all earn shedloads more in Ammos?

No disrespect intended Macca, but Im not surprised a one club fan has pointed that out.

[Macca19]

There is no reason why the AFL should care about the SANFL and other leagues, per se.

Depends how much they value the development the SANFL clubs provide to their future AFL players.

I think this bit "the AFL, which spent $1.4 million on game development in SA in 2012 compared to about $20 million in NSW" shows the AFL can and does, take traditional football states and their premier competition for granted.

The AFL have said they would substantially improve the dollars they spend on development in SA so long as the SANFL dropped their salary cap in line with other state leagues. The SANFL, as is their right, has refused to do so. The SANFL could easily drop the salary cap - a salary cap that clubs can barely afford - and spend that saving on development, as opposed to relying on AFL funds.

Yep, and the SANFL is trying to maintain a stance of being the next best league in the country .. Which (IMHO) it was for a while, not sure these days.

However, if we drastically reduce the cap as the AFL wants, let's say halve it to $180k or thereabouts, what hope does the competition have of attracting anyone, or even retaining anyone when they can all earn shedloads more in Ammos?

On the flip side, it should become a self serving prophecy where if we allow clubs to spend that extra $200k on junior development, it should create higher levels of juniors, creating more draftees and a higher standard of 'left over' juniors to play league. This creates more money from AFL draftee payments and the circle continues.

No disrespect intended Macca, but Im not surprised a one club fan has pointed that out.

My club is at just as much risk of discontinuing as Sturt & West and I dont want to lose any club because of SANFL stubborness about being 'the next best league in the country' which in reality, how many people care about? Are we all going to stop supporting our club just because we didnt pick up 1 or 2 players a year who spend 5 years on an AFL list for 10 games?

Benson keeps going on about how the SANFL is a great resource for the AFL in terms of junior development, well how put we sink more money into that and raise the bar in terms of draftees coming out of this state.

[Macca19]

So your advocating the afl holding sanfl clubs to ransom ????? And trying to apportion the blame on our overspending Macca.??

No I think its poor to withhold development funds because the SANFL wants to keep its individuality. But I have no qualms with the AFL telling Whicker to "grow the pie" and look elsewhere for financial aid if they wish to persist with a salary cap thats significantly higher than any other state league in the country of which a number of member clubs probably cant afford. The fact that Sturt are running a bare bone operation and will have to run well under the salary cap this year isnt right and certainly wont help them improve.

[JK]

Benson keeps going on about how the SANFL is a great resource for the AFL in terms of junior development, well how put we sink more money into that and raise the bar in terms of draftees coming out of this state.

"The SANFL produced 25 per cent of all national draft selections in 2012, with 17.
A further two SANFL players were taken at the pre-season draft, five made rookies lists and four former SANFL players earned rookie upgrades.
Despite the buckets of money being poured into game development in NSW, not one player from the state was taken at last year's National Draft."

Commensurate?

"the AFL, which spent $1.4 million on game development in SA in 2012 compared to about $20 million in NSW"