The National Second Tier Review Thread

[Aerie]

I wrote a really detailed and sensible post about this last night, but when I hit submit I got the "back in a minute" page.

F_cked if I'm going to write it all out again, but in short it said something like this...

How and when did Demetriou and the AFL come to the conclusion that they have custodial rights over the game? The AFL is merely one stakeholder and should be on an equal footing with each of the state leagues when it comes to the structure, operations and administration of the game across the country.

A nationally consistent approach would be preferable, but we haven't got this in law enforcement, tax, health or education, so I very much doubt that football will achieve it.

Hands off the SANFL!

Well said. I would like to know the answer to that question as well. Does anyone know exactly how things work? AFL control everywhere except the SANFL, WAFL and VFL - is that correct? How are decisions made?

[Dirko]

From what I can gather the AFL rules commitee, is effective in ALL AFL competition wether it's SANFL, WAFL, NTFL etc.
This "hand in the back rule" was bought in by the AFL, and passed onto state leagues. However I believe it up to the state
leagues on how they endorse those rules. Similar to the SANFL still giving aways 25's for minor offence, and then rolling out the
odd 50 when required...The SANFL have taken a moderate stand on what the AFL deem inappropriate behaviour and which would
warrent a 50 in the National comp.
I think that's how it works, and will be happy to stand corrected !

Back to the original thread...I still stand by the AFL sides in VIC having a reserves comp. Let the VFA resume as Benchwarmer
says. The advantage for the SANFL / WAFL is that with two sides in the National comp, they can spread the 25 odd players
(AFL list size ??), over 9 teams...say 50 players in total = 5 players per SANFL side. Which say for Glenelg would be Mahoney, Logan,
Douglas, Sellar & Boak who have been our regular AFL listed players. I dare say the same would apply for North, Doggies etc etc.
BUT for a AFL side in Victoria, this would equate to close to 250 players to be spread around 13 clubs which would mean roughly
19 players PER team...managing 5 players compared to 19 is a huge difference, and easy to see why VFL clubs are uneasy with the
fit.

[Benchwarmer]

Sjab, then again the VFL has a no mark rule for backward kicks outside the forward 50 arc. I believe that the AFL uses the NAB Cup as an experimentation ground and anyhting that seems to work could be adopted by the state leagues for trial (very rarely do we see different rules applying in different states apart from the above VFL rule).

[Grahaml]

The AFL have a lot of control of every league bar the SANFL through the fact that the other leagues depend more on the money from the AFL than we do. I think it's good that we do mirror most of what happens in the AFL to limit confusion but it's great we have our own interpretations when appropriate. I think generally the umpires do a great job in keeping things different from the AFL but not too different!

[pipers]

From what I can gather the AFL rules commitee, is effective in ALL AFL competition wether it's SANFL, WAFL, NTFL etc.

Last time I looked, the sport played in the SANFL is Australian Rules Football. I think they also play it in the WAFL too, in fact I think it is in vogue pretty much right across the country.

Saying "I play AFL" is like saying "I play English Premier League", "I play American League Baseball" or "I play Professional Golfers Association"

The only league where they play "AFL" is in the AFL itself. You can easily spot the difference. AFL is the game where the umpires repeatedly stop the play evey 20 seconds for no apparent reason and the average score is something like 75-50 and the players are primmadonnas with no idea about how to get on in society without getting involved in fights, rape allegations, betting scandals or bikie gangs.

Oh, and the supporters are morons and will willingly watch mediocrity as long as they can part with $20+ for the priviledge.

[Benchwarmer]

BINGO! The winner is Fat Alberton!

[pipers]

Oh, and the supporters are morons and will willingly watch mediocrity as long as they can part with $20+ for the priviledge.

btw, I'm not suggesting SANFL is of a higher standard, but it frees up an extra $12 for beer...

[Pseudo]

btw, I'm not suggesting SANFL is of a higher standard, but it frees up an extra $12 for beer...

which would get you two cans, given the ridiculously hyperinflated prices at a typical SANFL ground. At least you don't have to stay in the bar to drink them. In fact on Snout's Hill you can't stay at the bar, 'coz they knocked the bloody thing down and never rebuilt it, contrary to promises made at the time...

[JamesH]

The old VFA was a fantastic comp with great clubs like PM, williamstown, Brunswick, Prahran and Dandenong. Unfortunately only two of those clubs remain - I doubt a stand alone VFL or reformed VFA could survive. Maybe those clubs will have to join the likes of former VFA clubs Waverley and Sunshine in the suburban leagues if AFL reserves returns.

Footy below the professional level is stuffed in Vic and Tas. I just hope it doesnt get stuffed upn here and in WA

[Benchwarmer]

At last something official ... excerpts from this weekend's lead story in the WAFL Football Budget entitled "10th team for WAFL?" by editor Stuart McLea.

There is a chance that the WAFL will have another team next season with the AFLNT keen on joining the local competition. The AFLNT is desperate to field a franchise in either the SANFL or WAFL competition from 2008.

... (the AFLNT) is more attracted to (the WAFL's) lower salary cap.

... A report entitled "New Frontiers" has been made available to all nine WAFL clubs.

... WAFC director of football Grant Dorrington supports the concept in-principle, but said that there were several T's to cross and I's to dot before a 10th team came to fruition. If there is no financial burden on the nine WAFL clubs then Dorrington believes the concept could get the support needed.

... (The) proposal is part of an AFL review into the second-tier competitions around Australia.

... Dorrington said that the AFLNT would have to guarantee that the club would stay around for at least 5-10 years and would be confident that it would not cop the beltings week-in-week-out that Peel Thunder did when it first entered the competition in 1997.

... (The 10th team would mean restructure in the Colts competition) ... with a South West colts team touted under any restructure.

... "It's not something we would rush into", said Dorrington.

[Benchwarmer]

This week's Inside Football reports that AFL Tassie had a meeting on Friday August 3 with Andrew Demetriou but I haven't heard any outcome as yet, though the Devils would prefer to remain in the VFL.

Also the second tier review for Victoria and it was recommended that the AFL alignments remain - which in some cases is unlikely with Carlton and the Northern (Preston) Bullants splitting and another one being a candidate for dissolution ... obviously the AFL and AFLV see it as a case of "if it's broken, let it rot".

[Dogwatcher]

Is it a case of let it rot? Maybe they just don't have an answer....

[Benchwarmer]

I see that Inside Football is reporting that AFLT may put the Devils into recess in 2008 in order to enter the Devils into the SANFL in 2009 - either that or look to restore the statewide league.

The second option is infinitely better as it will save money and also do Tassie footy much more good than plough dollars into airlines and accommodation by using the money to strengthen the game.

The sport has dropped off since the SWL was dismantled in 2000 and this could be the boost the sport needs in the Apple Isle.