AFL Reserves Discussion...

[bulldogproud2]

I do agree with one of the Port supporters thoughts on one of the previous pages. The crows are to blame in this also. Sanderson keeps pushing the reserves agenda, Neil Craig was of the opinion, a reserves team would be detrimental to a players development. I'm now beginning to dislike both clubs more and more (after being a crows member for a few years).

Yes, but at least they have not asked to necessarily compete in the SANFL League nor have they asked to have a developmental zone allocated to them.
My wish is that the AwFuL never formed though and that the SANFL was still the competition that mattered to all in this state.
Cheers

[Booney]

Pseudo also gave us the vasectomy thread.

I didn't start that one, did I?
Just for the record, I'm still intact down below....

No, you hadn't, but you did contribute....how do I put it, in a small way.

[SANFLnut]

It's lovely of Keith to assure us SANFL fans that if we allow all of the Power players to go and play in the Magpies league team then they will each actually play in any finals series and will try from now on. I find it disappointing though that for the last 10years or so they have not felt the need to show due respect to SANFL clubs by instituting a similar policy.

[mick]

I do agree with one of the Port supporters thoughts on one of the previous pages. The crows are to blame in this also. Sanderson keeps pushing the reserves agenda, Neil Craig was of the opinion, a reserves team would be detrimental to a players development. I'm now beginning to dislike both clubs more and more (after being a crows member for a few years).

Yes, but at least they have not asked to necessarily compete in the SANFL League nor have they asked to have a developmental zone allocated to them.
My wish is that the AwFuL never formed though and that the SANFL was still the competition that mattered to all in this state.
Cheers

A black day indeed when that crap came to SA

[beenreal]

I do agree with one of the Port supporters thoughts on one of the previous pages. The crows are to blame in this also. Sanderson keeps pushing the reserves agenda, Neil Craig was of the opinion, a reserves team would be detrimental to a players development. I'm now beginning to dislike both clubs more and more (after being a crows member for a few years).

Yes, but at least they have not asked to necessarily compete in the SANFL League nor have they asked to have a developmental zone allocated to them.
My wish is that the AwFuL never formed though and that the SANFL was still the competition that mattered to all in this state.
Cheers

A black day indeed when that crap came to SA

I remember feeling exactly the same way when the automobile arrived in SA. I remember thinking, "a black day indeed, all those poor horses out of work"

[mick]

I do agree with one of the Port supporters thoughts on one of the previous pages. The crows are to blame in this also. Sanderson keeps pushing the reserves agenda, Neil Craig was of the opinion, a reserves team would be detrimental to a players development. I'm now beginning to dislike both clubs more and more (after being a crows member for a few years).

Yes, but at least they have not asked to necessarily compete in the SANFL League nor have they asked to have a developmental zone allocated to them.
My wish is that the AwFuL never formed though and that the SANFL was still the competition that mattered to all in this state.
Cheers

A black day indeed when that crap came to SA

I remember feeling exactly the same way when the automobile arrived in SA. I remember thinking, "a black day indeed, all those poor horses out of work"

Funnily enough so did I, we do have something in common

[BrekkyDJ]

BrekkyDJ, would you be able to give us a rough estimate what Port Melbourne's average home crowds were

1) In the 1980s
2) Now vs AFL Reserves teams
3) Now vs non-AFL Reserves teams
please?

1) In the early 1980s a good Port Melbourne crowd would be around 8,000. Some blockbusters (like against Williamstown or Sandringham) could draw 10,000 to 15,000.
The numbers really started to drop off from the mid 1980s when South moved to Sydney (a number of Port VFA fans followed the Swans in the VFL/AFL) and the VFA lost exclusivity to Sundays.

2) Against an AFL Reserves team, it could be as low as 600-700 to maybe 1,000. That's at Port Melbourne, where we found AFL reserves fans simply don't travel. Strangely, you play it at their ground (Victoria Park for example) when it doesn't clash with the AFL side and you could have 2,000 show up.
Geelong is an interesting case. Fair crowd at Kardina Park is on a Sunday, but as low as 300-400 is played on a Saturday (due to a strong local league). If you're playing at home to an AFL reserves side and they're AFL team is playing at the same time... well, you could count all their supporters on one hand.

3) Against Traditional (VFA) teams, it generally looks a lot better. We played against Williamstown at Point Gellibrand on Sunday (1st v 2nd) and I think a crowd of around 2,500 to 3,000 showed up.
On a good day, we'll get close to 2,000 for games against Sandringham, Frankston or Box Hill.
Some of the weaker clubs (Coburg) we might get 1,200 to 1,500.

The crowds in general are about 1/4 of what they use to be in years gone by, that because a number of clubs have folded, we've lost Sunday footy and the competition has lost it's identity.

Instead of being an 'alternative' to the AFL, we are now seen as a reserves comp.

Once the crows are admitted to your competition, the traditional SANFL will see a decline in membership that won't be able to be stopped.

Currently the SANFL is an 'alternative' to the AFL, once the Crows come in, you (like us) will be a reserves competition.

[whufc]

I would also be interested to hear what supporters who genuinely follow both an SANFL club and the Crows would do if their teams were to meet for League premiership points?

I couldnt imagine going to watch Centrals reserves versus Eastern Park in a game that seriously counted. I would be bored out my brain, the number one reason i go to watch any sport is to follow my team versus the other team.

Would i clap hitting my left hand on my left thigh for Centrals and hitting my right hand on my right thigh for Eastern Park.

[whufc]

Sam Colqhourn gave a good insight on the players thoughts about heading back to SANFL clubs in his after match ABC interview from Saturday.

Question- How do you find obviously a couple of AFL games this year then coming back and going forward and obviously trying to promote yourself to some extent as well with the AFL side of things, how do you feel about coming back to this group of boys and being in and out over the last few weeks?

Sam Colqhourn- Personally i love coming back here, obviously its a bit dissapointing to be dropped but i love this bunch of blokes, i mean Centrals focus on the areas that i really need to improve in my game, so its a good oppurtunity for me to come back here and put those things into practise.

[Booney]

I would also be interested to hear what supporters who genuinely follow both an SANFL club and the Crows would do if their teams were to meet for League premiership points?

It is an interesting question, as it differs immensly from that of Power/Magpie supporters.

Would I clap hitting my left hand on my left thigh for Centrals and hitting my right hand on my right thigh for Eastern Park.

Dont miss your thighs.

[Booney]

Sam Colqhourn gave a good insight on the players thoughts about heading back to SANFL clubs in his after match ABC interview from Saturday.

Question- How do you find obviously a couple of AFL games this year then coming back and going forward and obviously trying to promote yourself to some extent as well with the AFL side of things, how do you feel about coming back to this group of boys and being in and out over the last few weeks?

Sam Colqhourn- Personally i love coming back here, obviously its a bit dissapointing to be dropped but i love this bunch of blokes, i mean Centrals focus on the areas that i really need to improve in my game, so its a good oppurtunity for me to come back here and put those things into practise.

Obviously.

I know he's young and perhaps hasn't been interviewed too often, but I would like to hear him expand upon this a little more.

[heater31]

Sam Colqhourn gave a good insight on the players thoughts about heading back to SANFL clubs in his after match ABC interview from Saturday.

Question- How do you find obviously a couple of AFL games this year then coming back and going forward and obviously trying to promote yourself to some extent as well with the AFL side of things, how do you feel about coming back to this group of boys and being in and out over the last few weeks?

Sam Colqhourn- Personally i love coming back here, obviously its a bit dissapointing to be dropped but i love this bunch of blokes, i mean Centrals focus on the areas that i really need to improve in my game, so its a good oppurtunity for me to come back here and put those things into practise.

Think you will find similar responses with the interstate recruits.

Josh Jenkins actually wrote an article for the crows website last season that playing in front of a decent crowd wanted him to improve and perform.

[Ecky]

I would also be interested to hear what supporters who genuinely follow both an SANFL club and the Crows would do if their teams were to meet for League premiership points?

I couldnt imagine going to watch Centrals reserves versus Eastern Park in a game that seriously counted. I would be bored out my brain, the number one reason i go to watch any sport is to follow my team versus the other team.

Would i clap hitting my left hand on my left thigh for Centrals and hitting my right hand on my right thigh for Eastern Park.

I reckon it would be a similar feeling to watching an internal trial, and we all know what sort of crowds those matches get!

[areaman]

I would also be interested to hear what supporters who genuinely follow both an SANFL club and the Crows would do if their teams were to meet for League premiership points?

Honest answer is that I'd hate this to occur and want to make sure I'm never put in this position in the first place.

If it were to happen it would always be the Eagles who'd have my support. However - and this is the heart of the matter - I think by then I'd feel the SANFL comp had taken such a hit that the passion I have now would probably be greatly diminished anyway.

As BrekkyDJ said - put the Crows in the SANFL and it just becomes like a reserves comp.

The SANFL has a place in this state's DNA that goes well beyond just the people that go to the matches each week.

Some people will only realise what it means once it's gone - or in this case been reduced to glorified practice matches.

[whufc]

Sam Colqhourn gave a good insight on the players thoughts about heading back to SANFL clubs in his after match ABC interview from Saturday.

Question- How do you find obviously a couple of AFL games this year then coming back and going forward and obviously trying to promote yourself to some extent as well with the AFL side of things, how do you feel about coming back to this group of boys and being in and out over the last few weeks?

Sam Colqhourn- Personally i love coming back here, obviously its a bit dissapointing to be dropped but i love this bunch of blokes, i mean Centrals focus on the areas that i really need to improve in my game, so its a good oppurtunity for me to come back here and put those things into practise.

Obviously.

I know he's young and perhaps hasn't been interviewed too often, but I would like to hear him expand upon this a little more.

Yeah they did expand on it a tad.

Question- Coming out of the under 18's there was a little bit of critismn about your defensive side of the game is that what your continuing to work on, you have the speed, you have the agility, you got the ball skills is it the defensive side of the game your trying to work on.

Sam Colqhourn- Yeah definatly, each week just trying to lock down, beat my opponent defensively and hopefully a little bit of offensive stuff will come from that.

[beenreal]

I would also be interested to hear what supporters who genuinely follow both an SANFL club and the Crows would do if their teams were to meet for League premiership points?

Honest answer is that I'd hate this to occur and want to make sure I'm never put in this position in the first place.

If it were to happen it would always be the Eagles who'd have my support. However - and this is the heart of the matter - I think by then I'd feel the SANFL comp had taken such a hit that the passion I have now would probably be greatly diminished anyway.

As BrekkyDJ said - put the Crows in the SANFL and it just becomes like a reserves comp.

The SANFL has a place in this state's DNA that goes well beyond just the people that go to the matches each week.

Some people will only realise what it means once it's gone - or in this case been reduced to glorified practice matches.

"The SANFL has a place in this state's DNA that goes well beyond just the ever dwindling number of people that go to the matches each week."

Edited for accuracy.

[Ecky]

"The SANFL has a place in this state's DNA that goes well beyond just the ever dwindling number of people that go to the matches each week."

Edited for accuracy.

Ever dwindling???

You really have no idea - SANFL crowds have been remarkably stable (averaging around 3000 in minor round games for at least the last 12 years), with the fluctuations around this largely explained by the form of the various teams.

[Ian]

I remember feeling exactly the same way when the automobile arrived in SA. I remember thinking, "a black day indeed, all those poor horses out of work"

Funnily enough so did I, we do have something in common

I can vouch for Mick, he really is old enough to remember that

[areaman]

I would also be interested to hear what supporters who genuinely follow both an SANFL club and the Crows would do if their teams were to meet for League premiership points?

Honest answer is that I'd hate this to occur and want to make sure I'm never put in this position in the first place.

If it were to happen it would always be the Eagles who'd have my support. However - and this is the heart of the matter - I think by then I'd feel the SANFL comp had taken such a hit that the passion I have now would probably be greatly diminished anyway.

As BrekkyDJ said - put the Crows in the SANFL and it just becomes like a reserves comp.

The SANFL has a place in this state's DNA that goes well beyond just the people that go to the matches each week.

Some people will only realise what it means once it's gone - or in this case been reduced to glorified practice matches.

"The SANFL has a place in this state's DNA that goes well beyond just the ever dwindling number of people that go to the matches each week."

Edited for accuracy.

And that my friend is why your posts on here are just irrelevant to the debate.

Why are you even on here - a site dedicated to the SANFL - when you clearly do not care for it or understand it.

[Pseudo]

"The SANFL has a place in this state's DNA that goes well beyond just the ever dwindling number of people that go to the matches each week."

Edited for accuracy.

Ever dwindling???

You really have no idea - SANFL crowds have been remarkably stable (averaging around 3000 in minor round games for at least the last 12 years), with the fluctuations around this largely explained by the form of the various teams.

Go easy on him Ecky, he only goes to Magpies games. He's seen crowds of 7000 (pre Power) dwindle to a couple of thousand as the Magpies have inexorably slid into incompetence and irrelevance, and the concept of the diehard Port supporter has been exposed as a myth. Can't blame him for thinking crowds are down.