Can anyone post the link to the story yesterday in the paper where that Parkinson dick said how good the reserves sides are for the comp
Edit found it
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/sanfl-working-perfectly-for-crows-power/story-fni5ezdm-1227484988551
below is a brilliant response to this ^^^^ article, by fellow Bulldog supporter, Pluto, posted on the CDFC forum.
Interesting article gentlemen. Couple of points I'd like to raise. You haven't said whether or not it is in the interests of the 8 SANFL teams to have the AFL Franchise teams in this competition. Nor do the opinions of the SANFL club CEO’s get a mention only …” Andrew and Keith they’re happy with how it’s working as well…”.
Further, I take it that when you state ..” And the majority of people who go to SANFL football are really enjoying it, want to continue to enjoy it and are really proud of their club, its tradition and its rivalries..” here you are talking about the Adelaide Crows and the Port Adelaide Power AFL franchise teams supporter bases and not the 8 SANFL teams!
You state that …“Certainly all the conversations that I’ve had say that the best solution as it stands is that it is the best solution for the (AFL) clubs in South Australia. Certainly it’s the right solution for having AFL players play in the SANFL….”.
I would respectfully ask who you had these conversations with? Did they canvass all Club CEO’s and Directors, Coaches, players and supporter groups (SANFL club supporter groups) etc? If so can you please provide dates, audience numbers/participants and discussion points mentioned. I’d be fascinated to hear who said what on this matter. Great for the AFL Franchise Players? Thought your brief was to support SANFL and it's clubs players?
Have you consulted with the SANFL players themselves about their welfare? To compete with the professional athletes employed by the 2 AFL Franchise teams, training requirements of the sub – professional SANFL players has increased substantively for little or no reward. Indeed you reduced the salary cap. Longer hours on the training track, larger impact on home, work and social life will have a telling effect on them individually and will ultimately affect the standard of our game and makes it all the more tempting to quit league footy and play in the country for a lot more money and a better quality of life! Lucky there’s not a player’s collective in the SANFL guys or you’d be in real trouble!
Inequities in the current playing conditions are ridiculous. The Adelaide Crows top up players get $400 per match for training 1 night a week. If they don’t play for them they return back to their assigned clubs on even higher wages or they play twice over the weekend and make significantly more money than do other players with the traditional SANFL teams. Where’s the fairness in this? What salary cap? Players who opted out of the SANFL system due to time and training commitment requirements are gifted League games. Makes a mockery of what players at other clubs are doing. Don’t get me started on the Port Adelaide Power debacle. How can you possibly allow them access to the competition with another different set of condition? At the very least Power academy side must go and they get their top-up players as per the Adelaide Crows franchise!
It would appear to me from the wording of the story that there will be no changes to the competition as it stands over the next few years which disappoints me. I would like to extend an offer to you both to come down to the Central Districts FC Annual General meeting late October this year where you both can stand up and explain to me and the “minority” just what you mean by …“And this year, I again think that on all measures apart from one the SANFL has more interest in it”. I’d also like you to be able to demonstrate the research you have that supports the prognosis that it’s“…Certainly there’s a minority of people who don’t like the structure as it is at the moment…”
As a loyal follower of this completion for over 60 years it would be really nice if just once someone from the hierarchy of the SANFL would address an audience of loyal SANFL football followers, players, officials etc. and explain the benefits of the current arrangements to us. Give all the 8 SANFL Club financial members the opportunity to view the pro’s and cons of the argument and let us have a vote on whether the 2 franchise teams are to remain in the SANFL. Explain to us why you allowed the misconception that both AFL Franchise teams would pay the SANFL existing teams $50,000 each per year to continue? If you’re right and it is only …” a minority of people who don’t like the structure as it is at the moment..” what have you got to lose? It can even be a non-binding vote.