SA FOOTY PHILOSOPHY - Article Two Feb 9 2008

[PhilH]

SA FOOTY PHILOSOPHY, By Phil Herden

ARTICLE TWO - DOES THE SANFL NEED A PRE-SEASON COMPETITION?

OK, first things first.

As suspected, after I compiled the first draft schedule of 2008 SANFL trial games a raft of changes then occurred with some TBA's finalised and other matches moved.

So following is the latest update that I have and I emphasise, IT IS SUBJECT TO FURTHER CHANGE.

2008 SANFL TRIAL GAME SCHEDULE
(Version Two - Changes In Italics)

WEEK ONE
Sat March 1- North v Eastlake/Queanbeyan in Queanbeyan NSW
Sat March 1 - Eagles v Sturt @ Thebarton Oval

WEEK TWO
Fri March 7 (N) - Norwood v South @ Coopers Stadium
Sat March 8 - West v Eagles @ Broadspectrum
Sat March 8 - Central v Sturt @ Hamra Homes
Sat March 8 - Port v Glenelg @ Alberton Oval
North Bye

WEEK THREE
Sat March 15 - South v Port @ Hickinbotham
Sat March 15 - North v Norwood @ Max Basheer Reserve
Sat March 15 - Central v Eagles @ Thebarton
Sat March 15 - Glenelg v West @ Chall Rec / TBF
Sturt Bye

WEEK FOUR
Thur March 20 (N) - Sturt v Glenelg @ Marion Football Club
Thur March 20 (N) - Norwood v Port @ Coopers Stadium
Thur March 20 (N) - Central v North @ Hamra Homes
Sat March 22 - West v South @ Broadspectrum
Eagles Bye

As the AFL's NAB cup gets underway this week, it begs an annual question, should the SANFL have its own pre-season competition rather than the current trial game schedule?

This issue has gained greater momentum atfter the WAFL (the closest state league to the SANFL in terms of money & structure) announced it was relaunching a three week pre-season competition for 2008.

This schedule involves 2007 premier Subiaco having the first round bye and the other eight WAFL clubs playing each other based on where they finished in last year (ie 2v9, 3v8, 4v7 & 5v6). From those games the three highest scoring teams join the Lions in the semis wiuth the winners into a week three final.

In regards to prizemoney its all about clubs donating to their favourite charities, the 1st round losers each get $1,000, the semi final losers $2,000 and the two grand final teams $5,000 each.

So how would this structure directly translate to the SANFL?

WEEK ONE
- North (2nd) v West (9th)
- Eagles (3rd) v South (8th)
- Glenelg (4th) v Norwood (7th)
- Sturt (5th) v Port (6th)

WEEK TWO - SEMI FINALS
- Central (1st) v 3rd highest Rd 1 score
- 1st highest Rd 1 score v 2nd highest Rd 1 score

WEEK THREE - FINAL
- Week Two winners

Those eliminated in week one and two would play trial games for the final weeks..

So would this format be better than the current SANFL trial game schedule which has been the norm since th Foundation Cup ended as a pre-season competition in 1993?

Many of us would remember the Escort Cup in its prime during the mid to late 1980's with plenty of TV coverage and country games, followed up with some night finals, often in front of big crowds.

This of course was in a February & March timeslot that back then didn't have a summer NBL, Adelaide United or even the AFL as competition.

Onbviously those days have passed us by but in the never ending battle for public support, crowds and media coverage can the SANFL publicise itself better than it does currently in the vital months leading up to the opening round?

In recent years the SANFL trial games have received minimal coverage with one short article in the Sunday Mail & Advertiser wrapping up all the matches. There is also no radio broadcasts let alone TV coverage.

Then there is an avalanch of publicity the week before the round 1 with the season launch, preview guides plus television, print & radio advertising.

As SANFL clubs battle for media space, sponsor recognition and critically memberships during these weeks why wouldn't they strongly push for a pre-season competition to generate extra exposure, crowds and income?

The answers may surpirse.

There are some clubs that treat trial game results most seriously in particular those that finished at the bottom end of the ladder. However many more clubs do not wish to be distracted from the only prize that matters, the SANFL premiership.

A few years ago when Sturt proposed a revamped Champions of Australia series involving state league premiers, one of the strongest opponents was Central District, the SANFL's most likely representatives.

Having worked a full year at a SANFL Club the weeks leading up to round one are certainly the busiest. From about six weeks prior to the first game its is close to chaos as memberships are sent out, sponsosrships serviced, seasons launched and things like ticketing, volunteers and fundraising finalised.

For the SANFL there are similar pressures plus the hosting of NAB Cup games at AAMI Stadium.

With the league and most clubs very thinly resourced, especially in administration type roles, could they cope with any extra workload this revamp would require.

Some clubs could benefit from hosting "bigger" games in March with grounds like Hamra Homes, Hickinbotham, Coopers Stadium, Broadspectrum, Thebarton, Coopers Stadium & Alberton available.

But with North, Sturt and Glenelg sharing their home facilities with cricket & thus not having a venue to host these games how would they benefit?. And without financial benefit why would they waste resoruces on it?

Then there is the mismatch of marketing & football goals that these pre-season competitions present. One need only look at the NAB Cup to see there are some AFL teams that are having a real crack and others that are looking at September more than March.

From what I observed last year most SANFL clubs use trial games to try new players or place current players in different roles. Bottom lime, the result is secondary to the bigger picture of being fully ready for the minor round.

If some clubs wouldn't take the pre-season cup seriously why would a sponsor, the fans or the media?

After all once Round One starts who remembers anything from the pre-season competition. If you don't beleive me try and name the last five NAB Cup Grand Final sides.

In the end it may all come down to money. Previously sponsored by Escort and then replaced by Foundation SA, this state government support has evolved to having naming rights to the main competition the "be-active league".

Now if there was a sponsor with a spare $20,000 to $40,000 to be involved then it may be a different story but until then there appears to be little pressure from the league or clubs to change the status quo.

So don't expect any pre-season competition in the near future.

INTRODUCING THE "PHILOSOPHY CRUSADES"

Part of my Philosophy for 2008 is to use these articles to highlight areas where the SANFL is not getting its due coverage or by stealth that coverage is slowly being eroded. By "naming & shaming" and encouraging readers to be active it will put pressue to maintain if not grow the critical media publicity the SANFL receives.

Expect regular Crusader updates during the course of the season. Who knows, as passionate SANFL supporters our proactive and vocal combined voices just many make a difference.

More in the next article.

Regards
Phil Herden

[Thiele]

Phil H Glenelg vs West is now at Challange Recruiment Stadium

[TroyGFC]

All in for a proper pre-season tournament, cash prize money for top 2 teams, maybe coca cola or West End could sponsor it. Surely any SANFL team would be happy for any type of cash prize to boost profits. Better still have a travel agent such as Phil Hoffman travel sponsor it with cash towards player's end of year trip. (that way the players will take it very seriously).

[Dutchy]

How about the SAFooty.net Preseason Cup!

[am Bays]

How about the SAFooty.net Preseason Cup!

We'll have to find an appropriate trophy though.....

Maybe a big *

[Dutchy]

That would be appropriate...

Go Glenelg

[Hondo]

WEEK ONE
- North (2nd) v West (9th)
- Eagles (3rd) v South (8th)
- Glenelg (4th) v Norwood (7th)
- Sturt (5th) v Port (6th)

WEEK TWO - SEMI FINALS
- Central (1st) v 3rd highest Rd 1 score
- 1st highest Rd 1 score v 2nd highest Rd 1 score

WEEK THREE - FINAL
- Week Two winners

An alternative it to have 8th v 9th as a "round 1" to eliminate 1 team and leave us with 8. Then go with:

1st v Winner of 8th&9th
2nd v 7th
3rd v 6th
4th v 5th

That means that as long as you win you get through to the next round. In the WAFL system one of the winners from round 1 doesn't go any further.

As you say, in Feb/March the SANFL is now competing with Cricket, Soccer finals, basketball finals and the AFL's NAB Cup. So I fear that any money spent by the SANFL on promoting and running a formal pre-season comp (when not all teams will be fair dinkum .. understandably) will be wasted with minimal returns. Scarce money that would be better spent attracting people to the real stuff.

A compromise is to simply attach points to the trial games and then play a night grand final of the 2 top teams after round 4 or so of the regular season (like the SANFL used to). But will the clubs agree to playing a 'final' mid-week of the regular season like they used to? And, again, what would be the point anyway?

So I agree with you Phil, I don't think a pre-season comp will ever happen. Great article BTW!

[MightyEagles]

Although we use Thebby for pre season training and trials, Woodville Oval is also unavailable due to cricket.

[CUTTERMAN]

Hondo I think that's a pretty sensible and simple format, so if any then that one. However I don't see the point of a pre-season comp, the trial games suffice. Surely the cost of security etc would be prohibitive, we struggle at some minor round games already.
I am all in favour for a Champions of Oz tournament but only if it was very serious and I don't think it could then be pre-season, so therefore mid-season but that's getting off topic. I think a tournament like that would add alot of pride of the jumper that any player is wearing wherever they were from. Also it may give a bit of life to some comps, get people back to the local footy and provide something that the AFL refuses to take seriously. Absloutely all for it!
State leagues need to be more dynamic, this would help as would NT playing, but that's getting off topic again.

[sturtpeter]

Cent v Sturt day or night game?

[PhilH]

Last time I talked to Central it was a day game
Like all of these I am sure it us subject to change.

[Dutchy]

Last time I talked to Central it was a day game
Like all of these I am sure it us subject to change.

Day game although our cricket club would love it to be changed to Friday night!

[sturtpeter]

Thank you!

As long as the Train doesn't inappropriately stop the game 10 mins early like about 5 years ago at that ground.

[Brucetiki]

I would be all for a pre-season competition

[eaglehaslanded]

I know this one's been done to death but considering we're just around the corner from our pre-season trials I thought it was an opportune time to bring it up again. I definately beleive instead of playing a bunch of meaning less trials the sanfl should bring back a proper pre-season competition. With that idea in mind the first component would see each team play 4 games in round robin format the top 4 teams from this format playing off in semi-finals with the 2 winners playing each other in the grand final. What are others opinions on this ?

[eaglehaslanded]

This would obviously need to be a 10 team format to work so I would invite the top amateur side from the previous season to compete as the 10th side. The 10 teams then get split into 2 divisions of 5 and play each other once before the semi-finals stage. The top 2 from each division playing in semi's.

Div A (1) vs Div B (2)
Div B (1) vs Div A (2)

Winners play grand final

[G]

I think a pre-season comp is a complete waste of time as who cares about winning it.
A bigger joke would be to involve the previous seasons A1 premier as they wouldnt beat the bottom Seconds side.

[MightyEagles]

I think a pre-season comp is a complete waste of time as who cares about winning it.
A bigger joke would be to involve the previous seasons A1 premier as they wouldnt beat the bottom Seconds side.

It wasn't a waste of time back in the day. Not a waste of time if your team wins is it.

[G]

I repeat - WHO CARES
Winning in round 1 is more important than being pre-season Premier.

[HeartBeatsTrue]

WEEK ONE
- North (2nd) v West (9th)
- Eagles (3rd) v South (8th)
- Glenelg (4th) v Norwood (7th)
- Sturt (5th) v Port (6th)

WEEK TWO - SEMI FINALS
- Central (1st) v 3rd highest Rd 1 score
- 1st highest Rd 1 score v 2nd highest Rd 1 score

WEEK THREE - FINAL
- Week Two winners

What if one of the top 3 highest scorers in week 1 was actually a loser involved in a high scoring match? Surely it needs to be the 3 highest scoring winners.