Import Rule

[JK]

Apologies if there's a thread on this somewhere already that I couldn't find (vaguely remember something which mentioned the WA system).

Caught only a few mins of the Cornesy/Rowey show last night, but they had Leigh Wicker on as a guest and while discussing the SANFL, he seemed to intimate that an "Import" rule wouldn't be too far away.

This rule would be something like the NBL has, limiting all clubs to only 2 imports on their list ... With a naturalisation trigger (ie 5 years or 100 games).

The impression I got, was that the SANFL would be pushing pretty hard for this, ie, a matter of when not if .. And given the change in structure to U/18's and the aim of creating elite junior acadamey's I guess this was always part of their plan.

How do people feel about this?

[Adelaide Hawk]

I haven't really thought this through. but my immediate reaction is a club should be allowed to import as many players as it loses in the AFL draft. Seems unfair a club can lose 6-7 promising juniors in the draft but only be allowed to recruit 2 in return.

My other reaction is that we should be trying make the SANFL as strong as possible and if it means recruitment from other states then so be it. If a local lad is good enough, he will make it.

[darley16]

Constance i also heard this and my blood boiled as this confirmed to me that the old brigade Whicker, Payze etc continue to bow-down to the AFL at the cost of our SANFL. This is all about the u/18 being the focus and reducing the league level to bunch of duffers over time. It's also about lowering the salary cap which the AFL already have too much say thereby making sure every available footy dollar is spent in the AFL system, my spies tell me the AFL were somewhat concerned by 12k people attending a SANFL match last year and crowds of 8k at Norwood, they see that as revenue that should all be at the AFL. The import rule will help only the VFL as our salary cap invovement has attracted some wonderful players to the SANFL (think of your own club and some stars that would have never played for you otherwise) which has made our comp the best outside the AFL. Limit this and our comp is poorer for it. All the old buggers at the SANFL want is what the AFL tell them, development of u/18 for the national recruitment and small salary cap at league level reducing our comp to parklands footy.

[JK]

Constance i also heard this and my blood boiled as this confirmed to me that the old brigade Whicker, Payze etc continue to bow-down to the AFL at the cost of our SANFL. This is all about the u/18 being the focus and reducing the league level to bunch of duffers over time. It's also about lowering the salary cap which the AFL already have too much say thereby making sure every available footy dollar is spent in the AFL system, my spies tell me the AFL were somewhat concerned by 12k people attending a SANFL match last year and crowds of 8k at Norwood, they see that as revenue that should all be at the AFL. The import rule will help only the VFL as our salary cap invovement has attracted some wonderful players to the SANFL (think of your own club and some stars that would have never played for you otherwise) which has made our comp the best outside the AFL. Limit this and our comp is poorer for it. All the old buggers at the SANFL want is what the AFL tell them, development of u/18 for the national recruitment and small salary cap at league level reducing our comp to parklands footy.

I must admit mate, my initial concerns were exactly along these lines

[ca]

I'd hate to see this happen for the reasons given above. I think clubs will pull back a bit on player spending in coming years anyway. The NBL points system has a lot of problems with it there is really no fair rway to do it.

I see no benefit for the competition if this happens with great benefits for the rest of the leagues around Australia.

[Bluedemon]

I think also the transfer fee for a player is about $20k from the VFL, someone will be able to update the correct value for us. If the club can afford it, they should be able to recruit who they want. Most clubs keep there recruits to a small amount of 3-4 players anyway. A club like West have to recruit a few more of those as the AFL tend to take there junior players away from them before they get the chance to play League. If you limit the amount that can put clubs under pressure. SANFL should have a system to allow a club to recruit more players without cost with if there player has been picked up by an AFL club, that should allow them to get a replacement player above the limit of the import rule.

[Ronnie]

Silly stuff, bit like the move to u18 comp

[Harry the Horse]

Not in favour of the proposed rule either although I wonder whether it's a back door way of applying the salary cap.
Since the SANFL has spectacularly failed to police its own salary cap, this new rule may make clubs' recruiting a little more transparent.

[JK]

Not in favour of the proposed rule either although I wonder whether it's a back door way of applying the salary cap.
Since the SANFL has spectacularly failed to police its own salary cap, this new rule may make clubs' recruiting a little more transparent.

IF the cap remained the same ..
IF this rule were introduced ..

Whats to stop the clubs throwing $$ at two recruits that exceeded the minimum AFL wage? Can't see the AFL ever allowing that to happen.

TBH I agree with Darley, I think this is a cowtowing idea to placate the AFL, and would likely not be the last as they (AFL) force the SANFL into moulding our comp into effectively, AFLSA.

[whufc]

The SANFL as we know it is getting killed off

- Higher transfer fees
- U/18 Competition
- Import rule
- Lower Salary Cap
Purely feeder competition here we come.

And when this league becomes nothing more than a feeder comp and my team worries more about how many players get drafted than how many premierships they have won thats when i go and find another sport to follow.

[JK]

The SANFL as we know it is getting killed off

- Higher transfer fees
- U/18 Competition
- Import rule
- Lower Salary Cap
Purely feeder competition here we come.

And when this league becomes nothing more than a feeder comp and my team worries more about how many players get drafted than how many premierships they have won thats when i go and find another sport to follow.

Breaks your heart to even contemplate it coming to that, but I think a few people would feel the same way mate

[whufc]

Just another thought, would an import rule apply for both the VFL and WAFL as well?

IMHO in a couple of years this import rule will be in effect, then by 2012 there will probably be a rule saying each squad of 21 must have 5 players under the age of 21 or something like that.

Also would an import rule have to be passed by the 9 SANFL clubs, if so i couldn't imagine they would vote it in.

This is a very scary time for us die hard SANFL fans.

[Harry the Horse]

Agreed, It's time for the clubs to stand up and show some balls and tell the SANFL what they think.
Oh, that's right, five of them failed to do that on the Under 18 vote.

[Adelaide Hawk]

And when this league becomes nothing more than a feeder comp and my team worries more about how many players get drafted than how many premierships they have won thats when i go and find another sport to follow.

I see this comment a lot on various forums, I know I've used it myself. A lot of us older supporters are becoming increasingly disenchanted with all the changes the game has made over the years and it is becoming barely recognisable to the game we loved as kids.

It's a pity people have been allowed to pervert a great game just so they can make a few dollars for themselves.

[Dogwatcher]

Don't kid yourself that it hasn't happened with most sports since the professional era started.
However, I don't disagree that the game ain't the same.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Don't kid yourself that it hasn't happened with most sports since the professional era started.
However, I don't disagree that the game ain't the same.

I haven't kidded myself about that, but the only sports I really care about are Aussie Rules and Cricket ... and I don't like the direction either sport is taking these days. I actually find myself not bothering to watch a lot of the time, and I never thought I'd see the day.

[redden whites]

Bloody hell do we have anyone worthy for the bench of our state team WE will be short on numbers if this happens

[Macca19]

If its only having 2 imports on your list then thats a ridiculous notion that will kill the standard of the SANFL and therefore, the SANFL itself.

I kind of agree about some sort of limit of imports per season but it has to be realistic. Does it include VFL/WAFL imports?

All its going to do is raise the standard of other leagues.

[Strawb]

Time to get rid of the pro AFL board and put in a pro SANFL board. We need a board that is willing to put money back into clubs support the league and above all tell the AFL to go and F*** up their own comp and leave ours alone.

[LBJ8]

I can understand a new rule only allowing two or three interstate recruits a year but as mentioned if a club losses a player in there best 21 to an interstate league or the AFL then they should be allowed to recruit as many players as they've lost. I can't see what benefit lowering the salary cap would have for us and should not be allowed to happen, this should not even be discussed, the cap should be more then what it is not less, most clubs are said to be paying over the cap already, not good news and hopefully the SANFL stands up for football lovers in this state.......