SA FOOTY PHILOSOPHY - Why we should back the big red!
Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 10:42 pmSA FOOTY PHILOSOPHY - WHY WE SHOULD BACK THE BIG RED.
By Phil Herden
In the weeks surrounding the Victoria v Dream Team match, we have heard plenty about the lack of the South Australian jumper in the celebrations.
It was almost as if the whole state was insulted that we had been overlooked in the 150th anniversary of the sport.
Well this Saturday that famous big red guernsey is back, as the SANFL take on the VFL at Adelaide Oval, but does anyone care?
As someone who remembers with great fondness those epic interstate games in the 1980’s I am often bemused that so little passion has carried over into what is the highest level of representative football we have left.
The most common response is that these games lose impact because of the number of non-South Australians representing the SANFL.
That’s probably because this match is often portrayed as a pseudo State Of Origin battle, ie it’s labeled as SA v VIC when in reality it’s SANFL v VFL.
After all I wonder what Tasmanian Devil players Cameron Thurley, Nathan Street & James Charlesworth think when they labeled as playing for Victoria.
There is nothing wrong with calling this match what it is, a state football league versus a state football league.
This is not State of Origin Football, so what?
The history of Interstate Football dates back almost 130 years, to Tuesday July 1st 1879 when the SAFA (as the SANFL was called then) journeyed to Melbourne to take on the VFA at the East Melbourne Cricket Ground. It was a humbling experience, SA going goalless (0.3) losing to VFA (7.14) although we soon got our revenge winning at the Adelaide Oval in 1890 & 1891.
Since then the SANFL has been represented in 280 state games, only 23 (8%) of those under a State of Origin format.
In other words a State League v State League format has comprised over 90% of South Australia's Interstate Games.
And isn't the SANFL, as a league, worth supporting this Saturday?
This SANFL team not only represents the league and its 132 year old history but within it also its 9 clubs with over 1030 years of combined history and tradition.
This team on Saturday will represent and carry on the history of the tens of thousands of players who have competed in the league and the tens of millions of fans who have gone to SANFL matches over the years.
It matters little where these players in the SANFL squad have come from, the simple fact is that on Saturday they will represent the league they have chosen to play in, the best state sporting league in all of Australia.
Do not be mistaken, there is plenty of stake on Saturday for the SANFL & VFL have very different philosophies on what a state league should be. The winner of this clash will be able to claim, theirs is they way for state league football into the future.
The VFL is what the AFL would like a state league to be, subservient to it’s national agenda, it’s main purpose to be the “reserves” competition for AFL listed players unable to get a senior match.
What little mainstream media coverage they receive is almost fully focused on the performances of AFL players and the “reserves” tag is used widely by these outlets to portray the competition.
Very little homage is paid to the VFA roots it arose from, indeed the very name change from VFA to VFL has over time eroded the image of the competition to the point where the league this year does not have a naming rights sponsor nor does it publish its crowd figures.
The SANFL meanwhile, is the closest of any state league competition to what we enjoyed back in the 1980’s
The league, more than any other, has maintained its teams (bar Woodville & West Torrens who still have a link through the merged Eagles), its tradition, its venues and to some extent its media coverage and supporters.
It is a competition in its own right, its relationship with the AFL clubs is one of mutual agreement. After all the SANFL owns the licenses of the Power & Crows and the stadium they play in, ensuring an annual dividend of over $400,000 to each of its member clubs.
This relationship is not always perfect, nor is the competition held in the same light as it was pre-AFL but it is streets ahead of what occurs interstate.
The media never refers to the SANFL as a reserves competition and the coverage it receives is the envy of every state sporting competition in the country.
South Australia is unique in all of Australia for having the ability to strongly support its national league football sides yet still maintain a strong and passionate interest in the state competition.
That is something we should be proud of and on Saturday celebrate.
As a final thought if you are still having trouble getting fired up for Saturdays State League clash look no further than this comment currently headlining the front page of the VFL web site
"There is no doubting that by whatever criteria you care to use, the VFL is the best Australian Football Competition outside the AFL."
"Whatever criteria you care to use", what like history, tradition, integrity of competition, crowds or media coverage, let alone recent records against other state leagues?
Sound’s like someone needs to learn a lesson on Saturday.
I hope to see you there.
By Phil Herden
In the weeks surrounding the Victoria v Dream Team match, we have heard plenty about the lack of the South Australian jumper in the celebrations.
It was almost as if the whole state was insulted that we had been overlooked in the 150th anniversary of the sport.
Well this Saturday that famous big red guernsey is back, as the SANFL take on the VFL at Adelaide Oval, but does anyone care?
As someone who remembers with great fondness those epic interstate games in the 1980’s I am often bemused that so little passion has carried over into what is the highest level of representative football we have left.
The most common response is that these games lose impact because of the number of non-South Australians representing the SANFL.
That’s probably because this match is often portrayed as a pseudo State Of Origin battle, ie it’s labeled as SA v VIC when in reality it’s SANFL v VFL.
After all I wonder what Tasmanian Devil players Cameron Thurley, Nathan Street & James Charlesworth think when they labeled as playing for Victoria.
There is nothing wrong with calling this match what it is, a state football league versus a state football league.
This is not State of Origin Football, so what?
The history of Interstate Football dates back almost 130 years, to Tuesday July 1st 1879 when the SAFA (as the SANFL was called then) journeyed to Melbourne to take on the VFA at the East Melbourne Cricket Ground. It was a humbling experience, SA going goalless (0.3) losing to VFA (7.14) although we soon got our revenge winning at the Adelaide Oval in 1890 & 1891.
Since then the SANFL has been represented in 280 state games, only 23 (8%) of those under a State of Origin format.
In other words a State League v State League format has comprised over 90% of South Australia's Interstate Games.
And isn't the SANFL, as a league, worth supporting this Saturday?
This SANFL team not only represents the league and its 132 year old history but within it also its 9 clubs with over 1030 years of combined history and tradition.
This team on Saturday will represent and carry on the history of the tens of thousands of players who have competed in the league and the tens of millions of fans who have gone to SANFL matches over the years.
It matters little where these players in the SANFL squad have come from, the simple fact is that on Saturday they will represent the league they have chosen to play in, the best state sporting league in all of Australia.
Do not be mistaken, there is plenty of stake on Saturday for the SANFL & VFL have very different philosophies on what a state league should be. The winner of this clash will be able to claim, theirs is they way for state league football into the future.
The VFL is what the AFL would like a state league to be, subservient to it’s national agenda, it’s main purpose to be the “reserves” competition for AFL listed players unable to get a senior match.
What little mainstream media coverage they receive is almost fully focused on the performances of AFL players and the “reserves” tag is used widely by these outlets to portray the competition.
Very little homage is paid to the VFA roots it arose from, indeed the very name change from VFA to VFL has over time eroded the image of the competition to the point where the league this year does not have a naming rights sponsor nor does it publish its crowd figures.
The SANFL meanwhile, is the closest of any state league competition to what we enjoyed back in the 1980’s
The league, more than any other, has maintained its teams (bar Woodville & West Torrens who still have a link through the merged Eagles), its tradition, its venues and to some extent its media coverage and supporters.
It is a competition in its own right, its relationship with the AFL clubs is one of mutual agreement. After all the SANFL owns the licenses of the Power & Crows and the stadium they play in, ensuring an annual dividend of over $400,000 to each of its member clubs.
This relationship is not always perfect, nor is the competition held in the same light as it was pre-AFL but it is streets ahead of what occurs interstate.
The media never refers to the SANFL as a reserves competition and the coverage it receives is the envy of every state sporting competition in the country.
South Australia is unique in all of Australia for having the ability to strongly support its national league football sides yet still maintain a strong and passionate interest in the state competition.
That is something we should be proud of and on Saturday celebrate.
As a final thought if you are still having trouble getting fired up for Saturdays State League clash look no further than this comment currently headlining the front page of the VFL web site
"There is no doubting that by whatever criteria you care to use, the VFL is the best Australian Football Competition outside the AFL."
"Whatever criteria you care to use", what like history, tradition, integrity of competition, crowds or media coverage, let alone recent records against other state leagues?
Sound’s like someone needs to learn a lesson on Saturday.
I hope to see you there.
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