The never ending No AFL in the SANFL whinge thread

[Jimmy_041]

From the SANFL website:

SA Football Commission approves new structure for SANFL competition
51 seconds ago – October 3, 2024

The South Australian Football Commission has today approved a strategy to enhance the development of talented young players in South Australia following a significant review of the structure of football in SA over the past six months.

The key outcomes of this review include:

Rule amendments to provide Adelaide and Port Adelaide football clubs with greater flexibility to promote local talent on their playing lists
Greater opportunity for young talented players to develop in an AFL environment
Ensuring the long-term sustainability of the SANFL competition and SANFL clubs
Increased investment from the AFL into male and female talent, umpiring, under-18 SANFL club coaching and community coaching in SA
The extensive review process was undertaken under the annual requirement of the two AFL clubs’ licence agreement to play in the SANFL, accelerated by the AFL’s Competitive Balance Review.

A working group was established to oversee the review over a three-month period.

This included representation from the SA Football Commission, SANFL management and SANFL clubs.

Throughout the review process, the views of all SANFL clubs, the two AFL clubs and the AFL were considered in establishing a position to ensure the structure of football in South Australia met the needs of all stakeholders.

”This review focused on the long-term growth of the SANFL competition and the sustainability of the eight SANFL clubs, while considering the AFL clubs and the best overall structure for football in South Australia,” SANFL Chief Executive Officer Darren Chandler said.

“SANFL provided a detailed submission to the AFL, highlighting that it does not support a National Reserves competition and that it believes the best structure for football in South Australia is to have the two AFL Clubs compete in the SANFL competition.

“As the oldest competition in the nation, we are extremely proud of the rich traditions of our State League competition and will ensure this is protected.

“We are also proud of SANFL’s reputation as being the best competition outside of the AFL, as demonstrated throughout the 2024 season, culminating in a grand final attended by over 35,000 people at Adelaide Oval and viewed by more than 130,000 viewers across the Seven broadcast.”

Mr Chandler said providing South Australian players in their Draft year with the opportunity to train with, and play for, Port Adelaide and Adelaide in the SANFL competition was important to give our two AFL clubs the best opportunity to prioritise home-grown talent.

AFL clubs will be able to access top-age SA Under-18 Academy players, post the AFL National Championships, for a period of up to four weeks.

In addition, for players aged 18 to 20 years who missed out in the AFL Draft, the new rules for the SANFL competition enable some of these players with a unique opportunity to be in an AFL environment, an expansion of the current SANFL Rookie Program.

Under the successful SANFL Rookie Program, both AFL clubs were able to access up to four rookies (aged 18-20 years). Under the new rules, Adelaide and Port Adelaide are now permitted to each sign up to six SANFL players under the new Talent Development List, plus two players from interstate.

“The successful promotion of Logan Evans to Port Adelaide’s AFL list, after joining the club from Norwood under the SANFL Rookie Program, highlights the opportunities which will be afforded to more of South Australia’s most talented players overlooked in an AFL Draft,” Mr Chandler said.

AFL clubs will be required to pay SANFL clubs a $2,500 loan payment fee upon signing a Talent Development Listed player, allowing SANFL Clubs to further invest in their own football programs.

Under-18 Father-Son and Next Generation Academy players, such as Tyler Welsh at Adelaide this year, will continue to be provided with an opportunity to join their AFL club for the season, leading into the AFL Draft.

AFL clubs also will be permitted to list up to four players aged over 21 from SANFL clubs, or from interstate competitions such as the VFL, WAFL or AFL, which will replace the current marquee player, 10-year AFL player and interstate player regulations.

However, only one mature-age player can be listed from each SANFL club at any one time across both AFL clubs, with current transfer fees to apply.

AFL clubs can continue to list community club players.

A salary cap will also apply to both AFL clubs, which is proportionate to SANFL Clubs and is in line with both the WAFL and VFL regulations.

The new regulations come into effect immediately as clubs prepare for the 2025 season.

As part of the overall strategy for football in SA, the AFL have committed to additional investment in 2025, while they complete a national talent review.

AFL Executive General Manager Football Laura Kane today said:

“The SANFL is a historic and important part of not only South Australian football, but in the development of AFL and AFLW players. The AFL is pleased to now be closer aligned on key areas of football, including umpiring, diversity, game development and talent with the SANFL and we thank them, Adelaide and Port Adelaide for their ongoing support.

“The growth of football and development of players from South Australia is an important part of the national footprint of the AFL.”

North Adelaide Chief Executive Craig Burton, who was a member of the review working group, said:

“It was important to ensure the integrity of our competition is upheld and to make sure the talent pathway is enhanced and funded appropriately, which is a key outcome of this process.

“Playing every week against quality opposition is what will keep the SANFL competition as the best outside of the AFL.”

The SANFL will now work with the AFL and two AFL Clubs to put in place the best structure for SANFL Academy programs, male and female, in preparation for the 2025 season and AFL National Championships.

KEY AFL CLUB LIST REGULATIONS FROM 2025

Talent Development List (up to 8 players) introduced for both AFL clubs:
* Players must be aged under 21 on January 1
* 1 per SANFL club at any time (per AFL club)
* 6 players total from SANFL clubs (per AFL club) and 2 from interstate

Access to U18 Father-son or NGA players

Open Age List (up to 4 players) introduced for both AFL clubs:
* Players aged 21 or over on January 1
* 1 per SANFL club at any time across both AFL clubs

Community List remains – both AFL clubs can continue to access community club players

AFL CLUB LIST REGULATIONS IN 2024

1 Marquee Player (no age restriction, all players eligible)

10 Contracted Players allowed but could not come directly off an AFL list or SANFL list

10-year AFL player at both AFL Clubs permitted

Up to 4 interstate players allowed (could not come off an AFL list)

SANFL Rookie Program – access to up to four 18-20 year olds from NGA-aligned SANFL clubs

Access to U18 Father-Son or NGA players

And the SANFL clubs get ........ SFA.

But the SA(N)FL appear to be very proud of themselves in every possible way

[Dogmatic]

It's not the beginning of the end for the SANFL but the fast tracking of it.

[knowledge]

I'll stand corrected, but, I believe each of the 8 clubs are getting an additional $50K in development funding. Be interesting to see exactly where that goes, though......

[daysofourlives]

Weak as piss
Lets just hope for serious injuries now

The beauty of this is, is they have 23 extra players that are a chance to get injured that effects their SANFL team. Hence why they are so shit sometimes.
The same reason SANFL clubs reserves can be wildly fluctuating in performance.
This is the whole problem with the system and nothing will change this

[Hazydog]

Once again those pulling the strings at the SANFL and on the Commission prove they can still easily touch their toes…although they emphasise that the clubs are all hunky dory as well…
I guess we will wait and see how the farce continues to grow

[Jim05]

Weak as piss
Lets just hope for serious injuries now

I, with no hesitation whatsoever, say you're a prick.

What a shit thing to say, let alone type.

Couldn’t give two **** what you think.
The two scum teams must never be allowed to win a flag so if that mean we need injuries then bring it on

[Booney]

Weak as piss
Lets just hope for serious injuries now

I, with no hesitation whatsoever, say you're a prick.

What a shit thing to say, let alone type.

Couldn’t give two **** what you think.
The two scum teams must never be allowed to win a flag so if that mean we need injuries then bring it on

Says more about you than it does me. Pea heart with your own clubs, little wonder you wish ill on others.

[DOC]

Weak as piss
Lets just hope for serious injuries now

I, with no hesitation whatsoever, say you're a prick.

What a shit thing to say, let alone type.

Couldn’t give two **** what you think.
The two scum teams must never be allowed to win a flag so if that mean we need injuries then bring it on

Your club in Victoria has done exactly the same thing to the VFA/L in Victoria.

Your club in South Australia has sold out the league at every opportunity.

Your club in South Australia has also announced that they wish to join the AFL. Where would you say they would plan to play their reserves?

[Jim05]

Weak as piss
Lets just hope for serious injuries now

I, with no hesitation whatsoever, say you're a prick.

What a shit thing to say, let alone type.

Couldn’t give two **** what you think.
The two scum teams must never be allowed to win a flag so if that mean we need injuries then bring it on

Your club in Victoria has done exactly the same thing to the VFA/L in Victoria.

Your club in South Australia has sold out the league at every opportunity.

Your club in South Australia has also announced that they wish to join the AFL. Where would you say they would plan to play their reserves?

I said right from the start and even before Port joined that if Norwood joined the AFL then I would no longer support them and I maintain that now even though Norwood are zero hope of joining the comp.
Yep, we sold out and I wish nothing but pain and suffering for that snake Tripodi and anyone on the Norwood board that caved in.

[Aerie]

I think it makes a fair bit of sense regarding the top up list being players in the SANFL system and the more opportunities for the younger players just out of U18's to have a chance to train in an elite AFL environment and maintain a link with their SANFL club, the better.

I think they've got these list changes correct. It maintains the SANFL as the pathway to the AFL for the individual players. It's also good the AFL are providing more funding. It just sucks the two clubs are still playing in the SANFL. Let them aim to play in a VFL GF in front of 6000 people.

[mighty_tiger_79]

Conflict of interest, anyone?

[dedja]

Weak as piss
Lets just hope for serious injuries now

I, with no hesitation whatsoever, say you're a prick.

What a shit thing to say, let alone type.

Couldn’t give two **** what you think.
The two scum teams must never be allowed to win a flag so if that mean we need injuries then bring it on

Not your best work Jim.

Understand the angst, but surely the beef is with the organisations, and whilst there are some individuals in those organisations who are weak as piss, we shouldn't wish any physical harm on anyone.

[Doddy]

So the best of our youth might get pinched by the AFL reserves teams, for what purpose? Sold as if it's giving them the best chance of progressing to AFL , but how is that to be achieved? Is it excellent coaching? The coaching that got them the wooden spoon this year?

[dedja]

Conflict of interest, anyone?

We're all conflicted ...

[Wolf Pack]

What an absolute joke.

I could be wrong but a club could have their best under 21 and best over 21 player plucked out at any time???

[DOC]

I think it makes a fair bit of sense regarding the top up list being players in the SANFL system and the more opportunities for the younger players just out of U18's to have a chance to train in an elite AFL environment and maintain a link with their SANFL club, the better.

I think they've got these list changes correct. It maintains the SANFL as the pathway to the AFL for the individual players. It's also good the AFL are providing more funding. It just sucks the two clubs are still playing in the SANFL. Let them aim to play in a VFL GF in front of 6000 people.

As an aside, this system has the ability to.cripple a club.

As an example, The Crows lose a ruckman leaving the cupboard bare. So they take the Eagles ruckman as an over 21 player which the club recruited as their ruck stocks were low.

Gives the next in line an opportunity I guess.

But they take him as well as their under 21 player which leaves the Eagles crippled. Good for the two players. Devastating for the club.

[Panther Pack]

What is the deadline for Adelaide and Port picking these top up players or can they just grab them from a SANFL club during the season?

[mots02]

I may be proven wrong, but I feel this might hit the lower SANFL Clubs harder, first. Which obviously would limit their case for improving.

A player with a chance to play in a Premiership for 2025 - likely linked to either Glenelg, Norwood, Centrals or Sturt is probably less likely to take the opportunity up than someone currently playing at perhaps South or West.

it might be too simplistic a view, but that's my fear.

[Aerie]

I think it makes a fair bit of sense regarding the top up list being players in the SANFL system and the more opportunities for the younger players just out of U18's to have a chance to train in an elite AFL environment and maintain a link with their SANFL club, the better.

I think they've got these list changes correct. It maintains the SANFL as the pathway to the AFL for the individual players. It's also good the AFL are providing more funding. It just sucks the two clubs are still playing in the SANFL. Let them aim to play in a VFL GF in front of 6000 people.

As an aside, this system has the ability to.cripple a club.

As an example, The Crows lose a ruckman leaving the cupboard bare. So they take the Eagles ruckman as an over 21 player which the club recruited as their ruck stocks were low.

Gives the next in line an opportunity I guess.

But they take him as well as their under 21 player which leaves the Eagles crippled. Good for the two players. Devastating for the club.

I presume those players would need to be uncontracted and most of these decisions for their top up players would need to be made in the period before pre-season starts? Making it slightly easier to stomach. But yes, the double effect of it crippling your club and then having to play against them as well is a kick in the guts to the diehards who love their SANFL club.

[Mr Fuller]

Based on these changes I’m trying to work out what the absolute worst case scenario could be for a club. From what I can gather it would be the loss of:

- one open age player (Aged over 21)
- two players from the Talent Development list (Aged under 21)
- An unlimited number of players who are U18, Father-Son or Next Generation Academy (access to U18 players will be for a maximum of four weeks only)

Is the Rookie Program player the same as the Talent Development List player? Or are they different? If different, that is potentially another eight players from the one club that could be taken.

What happens to these players if they Crows/Power have a healthy list with not a single injury such that they can’t fit them all into the team? Do they then go back and play for their SANFL team?

Does the SANFL clubs get ‘first rights of refusal’ if the Crows/Power nominate someone from the Talent Development List but the SANFL club views that player as crucial?

What happens at the AFL mid-season draft when the Crows/Power draft in players not currently on the list. Does that mean AFL Clubs would need to jettison some existing players on their squad back to their SANFL Club? Conversely, if they use the mid-season draft to draft an existing player on their list – such as an open age player – does that give the AFL clubs the right to then pinch a replacement player from other SANFL teams midseason to fill the gap?

This is a horrendous decision by the SANFL boffins who appear to have sold out the competition for an unspecified amount of development funding that the AFL have dangled in front of their noses. Basically each of the Crows and Power could pick, for instance, two of the best players in the competition for their needs in addition to the existing AFL talent on their lists.