by scarlet pimpernel » Tue Aug 04, 2009 8:38 pm
my 2010 SANFL wishlist in no particular order
a) no country games. As a passionate supporter of a sanfl club I like watching 2 if not 3 games my club plays each weekend. I am not interested in travelling hundreds of kilometres just to watch my club play. That is for the afl devotes, they enjoy travelling to victoria every second week. The sanfl is a metropolitan competition and should remain so. None the less I repect all country leagues and what they mean to their local participants
b) adelaide oval is the best venue for football, although I am not convinced it will ever comfortably accomadate any afl crowd, ie greater than 25000. I am absolutely against any football matches being progammed to be played at adelaide oval. The adelaide oval must be managed by an independent trust for the benefit of all sports that play at the facility. The saca must be removed from any decision making and there needs to be a long term plan that significantly upgrades spectator comfort but maintains the aesthetic landscape we all have known and loved. The lights are too low, everybody dislikes the stands on the eastern side and the bradman stand is now to be demolished it would seem. The saca does not own adelaide oval and they dont own football. If the saca is looking for a project, look no further than the redbacks.
c) More friday night games particularly early and later in the season when temperatures are warmer. I like a mix of friday night, saturday afternoon and sunday afternoon fixtures.
d) I vote strongly for the 9 team competition to remain. Traditional clubs with long term loyal supporters is the way it should be. I like an occasional bye. The biggest problem I see with the bye is afl players playing for a sanfl club having a bye being force to play for the lowest ranked reserves team
e) The sanfl competition to be of no lesser standard or quality. There should be no reduction in salary cap. The sanfl should remain the second highest standard competition in the land regardless of the afl's plans. We love to watch the current quality of player and clubs competing strongly for premiership flags, we do not want a under 23 years competition purely for potential afl draftees
f) I would like to see all clubs financial and competitive on the field. I want south adelaide to be a competitive and winning games. There is talk that clubs are spending too much on there football departments and that this causes clubs to making financial losses each year. From what I see it is that clubs keep spending and borrowing large amounts of money to make their gaming facilities more attractive and profitable that is causing the financial losses.
g) I prefer being able to watch league, reserves and u18's all play at the same ground on the same day and that the draw is the same for all three competitions
h) No to any afl curtain raisers. I have no interest in the afl and that money corrupted game
i) Have not heard much about this but I preferred the sanfl website the way it used to be. Open access to all the information and no registration.
j) crazy idea, but would anyone like to see lightning carnivals of amateur clubs or even womens leagues between the league and reserves or half time breaks
