SANFL's 2011 Challenge

[CK]

This week's Sportsbeat article is a bit different. It looks at a potential problem looming for SANFL player resources in the next two years. It is not available directly online, but with the permission of the mods, I'm happy to reprint it here for discussion.

THE 2011 CHALLENGE FOR SANFL
The SANFL has been slowly rebuilding the strength of the competition, both on and off-field, since 1991. The introduction of the Adelaide Football Club, followed by the entry of the Port Adelaide Football Club in 1997, slowly eroded at attendances, membership numbers but more critically, the standard of the competition on-field. Losing so many players from the league to the AFL system undoubtedly hurt the on-field standard, which caused the flow-on effect to the numbers of fans attending and financially supporting their clubs.

In 2011, the AFL has committed to a team from the Gold Coast entering the league. Each AFL club will potentially lose one uncontracted player to the new franchise. The initial list will comprise 48 players;
- Twelve 17 year olds (born between January 1 and April 30, 1992 – selected in 2009 draft)
- Up to 16 uncontracted players from AFL clubs
- Selections one through to five of the 2009 Rookie Draft
- The first pick of each round of the 2010 draft, plus picks two, three, five, seven, nine, eleven, thirteen and fifteen

In addition, they will have the right to sign up to five Queensland players for the 2010 – 2012 drafts, as well as three Northern Territory players prior to the 2010 AFL Draft.
Some of these will not directly affect the SANFL at this point, particularly the last list. Many of these, however, should be sending a chill through the blood of many SANFL clubs already. Starting this year, a number of players could be immediately lost to the Gold Coast (GC17) in the 17 year old draft. On that, players are not immediately bound to leave their home state – they can remain in their home state if they wish, while still being tied to GC17. Logically, however, many will choose to leave so they can start to build their ties, both emotional and football, with their new club and state. Add to this, the initial selections in the 2009 Rookie Draft, and it could be possible, in a worst case scenario, South Australia could lose up to ten players immediately at the end of 2009 (which assumes that no other AFL club takes any other players)

Even while tied to their AFL clubs, the loss of two uncontracted players – one per SA club – will also take more talent from SA. This does not even begin to look at the 2010 scenario, when a number of players currently entering the Under 18 system, would be looked at very carefully by GC17. Not forgetting also – this will be in addition to the standard draft selections for the existing 16 AFL clubs. Past history suggests that SA could lose over ten players in the 2010 draft to those 16 clubs. In the above, worst case scenario, South Australia could lose over ten players to the other 16 clubs, and over ten to GC17 – taking over twenty highly talented youngsters straight out of the SANFL by the end of 2010.

Is this starting to concern SANFL fans? Like the old ad says – but wait, there’s more. The AFL appears hell bent on ensuring that a franchise from Western Sydney is the next cab off the rank in 2012. It is nearly impossible to think that this club will get any worse recruiting concessions than Gold Coast. Let’s say, for argument state, that the concessions are identical. If the new club is to commence in 2012, then it’s safe to say the draft concessions, selections etc will commence in 2010. Potentially, for argument sake, let’s say that five less players are taken from SA by West Sydney. This still results in over fifteen players leaving SA to go interstate.

By the end of 2011, over forty players could have now departed South Australia, to play with either GC17, WS18 or any of the other 16 clubs. While many of these will be younger players, it is highly possible that players who are currently 18 or 19 years old will be among those leaving – players currently playing senior or Reserves football, or in the Under 18 competition. Nearly two full teams of players, gone to SANFL.

The potential massive loss of these players should be starting to ring massive alarm bells to the SANFL right now. The contingency plans need to start being placed for this within months. This situation is not pie-in-the-sky – it is a reality. This could potentially be another major on-field crisis facing the SANFL, not dissimilar to the entries of Adelaide and Port. How the clubs respond to this is of paramount importance to the on-field health of the competition for the next five years. It is time NOW to prepare the response – or start watching the hard work of rebuilding slowly go down the drain.

[Wedgie]

lol, the one time this year I go to a pub on a Thursday night and read the sportsbeat only to have you go and copy it on here!

PS A good read and it raises some very important and concerning issues, well done.

[drebin]

....and if the SANFL or more importantly the 9 clubs don't stand up to changes being talked about (fuelled of course by the AFL) re reducing the salary cap and limiting imports, as well as the expanded AFL comp and that drain, then the SANFL will die as we know it and turn into a U18 TAC type feeder / development league for the AFL.

Leigh Whicker (and some others at West Lakes) have already bent, over dropped their strides and are within reaching distance of the vaseline. A bit more "flute"' playing from the AFL and Andy D can finish the job!

[darley16]

You're correct Dreb, many of us should have great fear for our SANFL comp, not only loss of players and therefore reduction in standard resulting in falling attendences, falling club sponsorships, less takings at the clubs as fewer people move through the club all this while the majority of clubs have substantial debt to be serviced. A drop in revenue while your creditors still demand their obligations equats to real and dangerous outcomes for all our clubs.

Resulting in the AFL intentions, u/18 feeder comp with bugger all else left on the footy landscape, let the nassing of teeth begin.

[Chambo100]

To me it seems that the league's directors (one from each club) need to be committed to the same cause, so that a divide and conquer doesn't happen.

It maybe that closer scrutiny and direction to the sanfl commission is needed, so that the afl can't get further the toe-hold with that group.

The SANFL is our competition to run as the 9 clubs see fit. Not as a sub-ordinate entity to Andrew Demitriou's vision of its role.

It looks like it is time for the clubs to rise up and offer their collective 2-pennies worth to the commission and afl. North has started the process, but the est of the clubs need to become actively involved.

The pressures from the AFL expansion are going to hit clubs, however, the SANFL needs to act to minimise this impact, not bend over (as was colourfully described above).

[doggies4eva]

I've had my say about the SANFL commision on another thread so I would like to look at this issue in a more positive way.

The positives of this is there will shortly be another 2 AFL clubs creating employment opportunities for players, coaches, administrators etc. If handled properly this could attract more potential athletes and allow the sport to grow.

The problem seems to be that if you are a talented under 18 who just misses the draft and then ti=urn 18 it seems that you football career is over in most cases. So its either mega-bucks playing AFL or the scrap heap.

This is where the value of the second tier, state leagues are of value - if there is a consolation prize of a reasonable living playing in a comp where of a good quality then there is less risk for the 16 or 17 year old considering a career in footy.

Looked at in this light the SANFL, WAFL et al are partners in the same business. The SANFL needs to sell this message better to the AFL so that it realises that cutting the SANFL salary cap and other strategies designed to disempower the other leagues are ultimately not in its own best interests.

[Sojourner]

Leigh Whicker (and some others at West Lakes) have already bent, over dropped their strides and are within reaching distance of the vaseline. A bit more "flute"' playing from the AFL and Andy D can finish the job!

Elegantly put Drebin!

Sadly I totally agree and I do think its time for a changing of the gaurd if we are to take on the AFL takeover of the SANFL. I think its quite clear that the intention is for the SANFL to become AFLSA and I think its time a line was drawn and the battle begun!

[Mark_Beswick]

About time the SANFL, WAFL and VFA look at the drip system payment for drafted players. When was the last time the amount fro a drafted player was raised? With so much talent going interstate with the new teams, and more bucks for the AFL with TV sponsorship - its about time clubs get more dollars for talent they lose. The players leaving could be a financial boon for some struggling clubs as well!

Does anyone know the value a drafted player gets per tier

I know on drafting there is a payment
First game is a payment
Second Year/post 10 games I think is a payment and then over 50 games....

Does anyone know the actual tier system and payments for each level?

[baysman]

the SANFL will die as we know it and turn into a U18 TAC type feeder / development league for the AFL.t

Which is EXACTLY what the AwFuL wants to happen. They all pray for it over here.

[Hondo]

I think it's an important watch point for the SANFL clubs but I don't think the impact of these 2 new AFL teams will be as big as the SANFL faced in 1991 and 1997. There's another 80 players across the country to be found for these new teams. SA is but one of the recruiting grounds. A % of this 80 will come from existing AFL players extending careers beyond what they can now. Players will stay on lists longer and there'll be more recycling of existing players. Another %, over time, will come from an increasing talent pool in QLD and NSW as more kids start playing AFL.

Even if we only had 12 AFL teams, the same number of our elite juniors (Cooney, Hartlett, etc) will still go. It's the next tier of young talent that could be picked up and there'll be less ex-AFL players available to recruit. I think it's a credit to our SANFL that it's weathered the storm of the last 19 years and still remains the second best comp in the country. So I have confidence the SANFL clubs will keep on keeping on despite the new teams. We lose on average 8-15 players each year to the AFL draft? This might increase to 12-20 (?) which I am confident the SANFL clubs can handle the extra 5-10 players across the 9 teams, even though it's not the ideal scenario.

I agree with the posters regarding the SANFL salary cap. It should be set based on what's best for the SANFL, not the AFL. If reducing the cap helps stop a few SANFL clubs from going to the wall, in the opinion of the 9 clubs, then reduce it. Otherwise leave it as is.

[Pseudo]

I agree with the posters regarding the SANFL salary cap. It should be set based on what's best for the SANFL, not the AFL. If reducing the cap helps stop a few SANFL clubs from going to the wall, in the opinion of the 9 clubs, then reduce it. Otherwise leave it as is.