South Australian NATIONAL Football League?

[Rik E Boy]

I know this thread has probably done before BUT...

Could the SANFL live up to its name and invite teams in from other states? The Sydney Swans reserves are currently belting all comers by 20 goals a week in Canberra and Tasmanian football is going backwards in the VFL and they are interested in the SANFL competition. The NT is another interstate option.

As far as I can see there are a couple of benefits of expanding the competition. Firstly, I believe it would raise the standard of the league and secondly a second 'national' competition based in Adelaide would promote the city and the state and SA's football.

If all three sides were to come in that would mean a twelve team comp with a hell of a lot of travel for the newcomers. Perhaps a couple of mergers might need to happen to make it a ten team comp with SA based clubs that can actually afford to travel interstate three times a year.

Perhaps it is Tassie and Sydney in and one merger to make a ten team comp. The merger should ignore geographical position and be included on fiscal position..i.e. the two brokest clubs hook up to join the superleague.

Just a few points.

1. Does the SANFL actually need to expand or is it just an ego trip on behalf of league bosses?
2. If the comp expands, how many?
3. Would the new SANFL be a marketable entity in terms of television rights (ABC2 on FOX for example)
4. Should Port and Adelaide reserves be considered for the comp and should it be based on the alignment model of the VFL.
5. Should the State Government provide financial assistance to help get the expanded league up and running.

Over to you SANFL fans. Perhaps since I've left Adelaide the SANFL has kicked on a bit and all of the above is not necessary. One thing though, you shouldn't just assume that the SANFL is and will always be the second best league in the land and securing the Swannie reserves would be a real coup for the competition IMO. Needless to say, fans are not going to put their hands up for a merger (although the Eagles have prospered with two flags).

Cheers,

REB

[Rucciangelo]

Perhaps it is Tassie and Sydney in and one merger to make a ten team comp. The merger should ignore geographical position and be included on fiscal position..i.e. the two brokest clubs hook up to join the superleague.

Are the two brokest clubs Norwood & Sturt?

[TroyGFC]

Sounds good, maybe will rival that expanded VFL comp too. Would be good to get more TV air time especially interstate games for those of us that won't be able to afford travelling 3 times a year or get time off work / home duties. If they do it hopefully games will be Sat-arvos, supporters and players do work Mondays.

[Wedgie]

I like the concept but perhaps Im being touchy but there's no need to justify "NATIONAL" being in SANFL as its the South Austalian League of National football in this country. It differientiates that its Australian/National football and not soccer, gridiron or rugby.
Just like if we lived in England soccer would be the national football of that country or in America gridiron would be the national football of that country.

[fester69]

Norwood aren't poor anymore!!!

[SnappyTom]

I know this thread has probably done before BUT...

Could the SANFL live up to its name and invite teams in from other states? The Sydney Swans reserves are currently belting all comers by 20 goals a week in Canberra and Tasmanian football is going backwards in the VFL and they are interested in the SANFL competition. The NT is another interstate option.

As far as I can see there are a couple of benefits of expanding the competition. Firstly, I believe it would raise the standard of the league and secondly a second 'national' competition based in Adelaide would promote the city and the state and SA's football.

If all three sides were to come in that would mean a twelve team comp with a hell of a lot of travel for the newcomers. Perhaps a couple of mergers might need to happen to make it a ten team comp with SA based clubs that can actually afford to travel interstate three times a year.

Perhaps it is Tassie and Sydney in and one merger to make a ten team comp. The merger should ignore geographical position and be included on fiscal position..i.e. the two brokest clubs hook up to join the superleague.

Just a few points.

1. Does the SANFL actually need to expand or is it just an ego trip on behalf of league bosses?
2. If the comp expands, how many?
3. Would the new SANFL be a marketable entity in terms of television rights (ABC2 on FOX for example)
4. Should Port and Adelaide reserves be considered for the comp and should it be based on the alignment model of the VFL.
5. Should the State Government provide financial assistance to help get the expanded league up and running.

Over to you SANFL fans. Perhaps since I've left Adelaide the SANFL has kicked on a bit and all of the above is not necessary. One thing though, you shouldn't just assume that the SANFL is and will always be the second best league in the land and securing the Swannie reserves would be a real coup for the competition IMO. Needless to say, fans are not going to put their hands up for a merger (although the Eagles have prospered with two flags).

Cheers,

REB

We could always charge them $24m each, then we'd be covered for travel for many years to come.
I like your concept, REB.

Philisophically it would all come down to whether or not we believe we could form, endorse, initiate and manage the secondary national entity.

Food for thought though.

ST...

[Dog_ger]

I would like to see divisions, as in English football...

The entire country involved....

I think they got it right....

[Rik E Boy]

I would like to see divisions, as in English football...

The entire country involved....

I think they got it right....

Not workable. Australia is just a touch bigger than the old dart.

regards,

REB

[power01]

Sorry REB.........silly idea....

number of reasons....

1/ Cost??????.............whos going to wear it..
2/ revenue????.............of lack of it..
3/Facilities??.................once again lack of them..
4/Interest???........in a perfect world it would be nice but the AFL are the national League and it hopeless trying to compete..the crowds of lack of them would be a telling factor...
5/Why??........whats the real benefit.....i cant see it..........

i think we should concentrate on consolidating the local league........

[MightyEagles]

I like the concept but perhaps Im being touchy but there's no need to justify "NATIONAL" being in SANFL as its the South Austalian League of National football in this country. It differientiates that its Australian/National football and not soccer, gridiron or rugby.
Just like if we lived in England soccer would be the national football of that country or in America gridiron would be the national football of that country.

The National in the SANFL comes from when there was a NFC (National Football Conference).

[Rik E Boy]

Sorry REB.........silly idea....

number of reasons....

1/ Cost??????.............whos going to wear it..
2/ revenue????.............of lack of it..
3/Facilities??.................once again lack of them..
4/Interest???........in a perfect world it would be nice but the AFL are the national League and it hopeless trying to compete..the crowds of lack of them would be a telling factor...
5/Why??........whats the real benefit.....i cant see it..........

i think we should concentrate on consolidating the local league........

Think big or stay small little Magpie. Thinking big has got you two clubs to follow instead of one.

regards,

REB

[power01]

Sorry REB.........silly idea....

number of reasons....

1/ Cost??????.............whos going to wear it..
2/ revenue????.............of lack of it..
3/Facilities??.................once again lack of them..
4/Interest???........in a perfect world it would be nice but the AFL are the national League and it hopeless trying to compete..the crowds of lack of them would be a telling factor...
5/Why??........whats the real benefit.....i cant see it..........

i think we should concentrate on consolidating the local league........

Think big or stay small little Magpie. Thinking big has got you two clubs to follow instead of one.

regards,

REB

i agree with your sentiments REB, but it the initial and ongoing cost which could really determine the comps real viability....

[Jimmy]

I like the concept but perhaps Im being touchy but there's no need to justify "NATIONAL" being in SANFL as its the South Austalian League of National football in this country. It differientiates that its Australian/National football and not soccer, gridiron or rugby.
Just like if we lived in England soccer would be the national football of that country or in America gridiron would be the national football of that country.

well said.

the idiots over the border have selective hearing about this topic.

wankers.

[Benchwarmer]

... and they'd have you change your name to AFLSA (just like they did with the AFLQ, AFLNSW, AFLACT, AFLNT and AFLT ... though the WAFL resisted their pressure earlier this year with the hair-brained idea for an "AFLWA"!) at the drop of a hat in exchange for a bit more of the folding stuff out of the AFL coffers!!!

[smac]

Watch for the SANFL to change to AFLSA in the next few years.

The competition that our teams play in will remain the SANFL, however everything else will be badged AFLSA, to fall in line with other states and gain closer to our share of coinage from the AFL.

[Sojourner]

Dont have a problem with Tassie / NT comming into the competition, would prefer to see the SANFL deal with the issue of there being no SANFL representation of the Tea Tree Gully and Mt Barker areas first though.

[TaurusSirius]

For what it's worth, this week the Hobart Mercury published some results of a survey of players in the (southern Tasmanian) Premier League. Only 20% want to go with the SANFL. Of course, AFL Tasmania may have a different view since they have to pay tens of thousands a year for the privilege of having the Devils in the VFL, whereas supposedly the money would be flowing in the other direction were Tasmania in the SANFL.

My opinion: as an expat South Australian I'd like nothing better than to be able to ride my bike to Bellerive Oval to see Centrals play, but geographically it's insane - nearly mad as the recently reported (by Charlie King in an interview on ABC Radio a few weeks back) preference by AFLNT to have a team in the WAFL rather than the SANFL because the former is 'more vibrant'! From what I see on ABC2, they're absolutely kidding themselves.

[BPBRB]

My opinion: as an expat South Australian I'd like nothing better than to be able to ride my bike to Bellerive Oval to see Centrals play, but geographically it's insane - nearly mad as the recently reported (by Charlie King in an interview on ABC Radio a few weeks back) preference by AFLNT to have a team in the WAFL rather than the SANFL because the former is 'more vibrant'! From what I see on ABC2, they're absolutely kidding themselves.

I saw that and laughed too - the NTAFL are kidding themselves! I think the WAFL is more appealing because it is a cheaper league re salary cap etc to play in. The NT players overall would not cope with the pressure and tackling etc of the SANFL where as the WAFL is played on bigger grounds and more open running style similar to the NTFL comp which has some very gifted and skillful players - they are smaller bodied and don't cope with the tackling man on man pressure the SANFL has. The NTAFL would never admit this though but that's the present reality!

[pipers]

well said.

the idiots over the border have selective hearing about this topic.

wankers.

Idiots over the border? In NJ?

[Jimmy]

well said.

the idiots over the border have selective hearing about this topic.

wankers.

Idiots over the border? In NJ?

them too!