SANFL competition review

[Panther Pack]

I don't buy this fear about the SANFL being the 3rd best comp, it doesnt worry me at all.

Even if every AFL team lists goes up by 5 players that's 90 players from all over the country that would now play in the AFL reserves and not state league comps. How many would come from the SANFL?

[Magellan]

Back on thread (for a moment), I presume there's some sort of link between this rumour of an AFL reserves comp emerging and the need to undertake a review of the competition? If so, it would very likely lend support to the validity of the reserves comp story.

[Magellan]

I think we should start an ‘Ever Ending AFL in the SANFL Whinge Thread” thread in readiness

Edited for accuracy.

[Magellan]

I don't buy this fear about the SANFL being the 3rd best comp, it doesnt worry me at all.

Even if every AFL team lists goes up by 5 players that's 90 players from all over the country that would now play in the AFL reserves and not state league comps. How many would come from the SANFL?

Yes, agreed.

Again, everyone focuses on the drain of players from the comp, but there's an exit of players as well from the AFL system. The state leagues can play a role in providing an appropriate and meaningful footy environment for them to play. It'll take leadership and good management, but it's certainty achievable to make the SANFL a destination of choice for draftees who never cracked the big time through injury, lack of commitment to a professional footy career, homesickness, or whatever.

[johntheclaret]

My only fear is that the powers that be at SANFL headoffice fail to get off their arses and do something to promote their league when the Reserves finally go. After all they’ve done **** all to promote it whilst the Reserves have been in.

It will be a great opportunity to promote the SANFL as a real alternative to the AFL. It just needs some creativity, commitment and a bit of elbow grease.

23 rounds over 24 weeks. 1 home, 1 away, 1 neutral carnival game

1 mid season bye
GF 1st week October
Big Easter weekend carnival

It’s all been said before

If the SANFL withers away it will be because of the apathetic leadership, not the AFL

Members from all SANFL clubs should be getting together and lobbying their boards for change to pressure the SANFL commission to be more proactive for the SANFL. I know this won’t / can’t happen and that’s a shame as we need something to shake the clubs and the SANFL leadership out of the lethargy that has become endemic of the SANFL

[johntheclaret]

Back on thread (for a moment), I presume there's some sort of link between this rumour of an AFL reserves comp emerging and the need to undertake a review of the competition? If so, it would very likely lend support to the validity of the reserves comp story.

I wondered that. Coincidence ??

[locky801]

Even if every AFL team lists goes up by 5 players that's 90 players from all over the country that would now play in the AFL reserves and not state league comps. How many would come from the SANFL?

thats 90 players the first season and then tops ups continually, would have to think at least 20 to 30 would come from S.A.

[heater31]

Even if every AFL team lists goes up by 5 players that's 90 players from all over the country that would now play in the AFL reserves and not state league comps. How many would come from the SANFL?

thats 90 players the first season and then tops ups continually, would have to think at least 20 to 30 would come from S.A.

They would surely abolish the mandatory list management turn over.....so no players coming out of the AFL apart from retirements.

[Panther Pack]

With Adelaide & Port's reserve teams leaving the SANFL could this open the door for 2 other clubs to enter the competition?

[bennymacca]

Even if every AFL team lists goes up by 5 players that's 90 players from all over the country that would now play in the AFL reserves and not state league comps. How many would come from the SANFL?

thats 90 players the first season and then tops ups continually, would have to think at least 20 to 30 would come from S.A.

You would think most young players that didn’t get drafted would want to play and train under the eye of an afl club - best way to reignite their careers

For ex afl players who don’t hold ambitions of rejoining the afl the sanfl will continue to be a good destination for them

[Jim05]

Even if every AFL team lists goes up by 5 players that's 90 players from all over the country that would now play in the AFL reserves and not state league comps. How many would come from the SANFL?

thats 90 players the first season and then tops ups continually, would have to think at least 20 to 30 would come from S.A.

You would think most young players that didn’t get drafted would want to play and train under the eye of an afl club - best way to reignite their careers

For ex afl players who don’t hold ambitions of rejoining the afl the sanfl will continue to be a good destination for them

Maybe but the opposite could also apply. If the AFL squads are fit and have a good run with injuries where do these excess players go to?
Plenty might decide that getting a game every week in the SANFL is better for their career than getting lost in a AFL system and playing 4-5 games a year in the AFLR

[bennymacca]

Yep that’s a fair point too. I would guess it would operate more like a massive rookie list - so be lots of young lads that didn’t quite make the draft

[JK]

Even if every AFL team lists goes up by 5 players that's 90 players from all over the country that would now play in the AFL reserves and not state league comps. How many would come from the SANFL?

thats 90 players the first season and then tops ups continually, would have to think at least 20 to 30 would come from S.A.

Then also have to include the pool of players that become available by falling out of the AFL system

[Wedgie]

With Adelaide & Port's reserve teams leaving the SANFL could this open the door for 2 other clubs to enter the competition?

No way, a 21 round comp is perfect.

[oldfella]

Given i am having a terrible friday some whimsical thoughts that while logical are unlikely to be even discussed

1. The clubs use thier power as a group to change sanfl constitution so that commisioners can only serve 2 or 3 terms maximun with at least two terms off the commision in between and that president of commision also can only serve in that role 2 terms maximun.

2. The clubs use thier powers to ensure that all appointments to sanfl board must be approved by clubs and that person must have had previous experience on a senior football club board

3 the clubs direct the sanfl commision that they and all employees must put the sanfl competition and clubs needs in front of placating or ensuring future jobs with the afl

4. If the power and crows go then the sanfl must (for once) insist that both clubs honour or buy out with no discount thier 15 year commercial agreement with the sanfl.

5. The SANFL Commision be directed by the clubs as a group to act immediately to amend player contracts so they commercialy bind player for entire season and only can leave sanfl at end of season draft. Players who chose not to sign the new contract are not to be registerred to play in the sanfl further any player who signs the contract and then tries to break it is to be imediately suspended for the length of his contract preventing him from playing anywhere consistent with the rules of the game.

6. If power and crows leave then neither has a team or leaves a team eg new port in the sanfl ----- given the limited sponsorship money now available the clubs direct the sanfl commision that it is to be an 8 team competition with all discussion or movements for additional teams by the sanfl commision or sanfl senior staff to be strictly banned with strong penalties if broken.

7. Unless the afl is willing to place big big dollars with sanfl the the clubs direct the sanflcommisioners that u/18 football takes a secondary role to sanfl league and reserves competitions -- further whilst still attending state games the present situation where players are unavailable for league or reserves club games due to u/18 state trial games be ceased! -- lets start developing players for sanfl league and let the afl worry about itself, those good enough will still make afl but why screw the entire senior competition for a few juniors.

8. Perhaps clubs should remove the sanfl commision and run the sanfl themselves utilising the present sanfl club delegates ( existing one per club)

As i said at start know none will get a gurnsey but all are aimed at putting the priority back where it belongs --- rouns 2 sermon will be produced next time i have a down day lol

[oldfella]

With Adelaide & Port's reserve teams leaving the SANFL could this open the door for 2 other clubs to enter the competition?

No way, a 21 round comp is perfect.

Top comment mate imo

[Grenville]

I don't buy this fear about the SANFL being the 3rd best comp, it doesnt worry me at all.

Even if every AFL team lists goes up by 5 players that's 90 players from all over the country that would now play in the AFL reserves and not state league comps. How many would come from the SANFL?

Yes, agreed.

Again, everyone focuses on the drain of players from the comp, but there's an exit of players as well from the AFL system. The state leagues can play a role in providing an appropriate and meaningful footy environment for them to play. It'll take leadership and good management, but it's certainty achievable to make the SANFL a destination of choice for draftees who never cracked the big time through injury, lack of commitment to a professional footy career, homesickness, or whatever.

Leadership and good management, unfortunately those words have no correlation to the current crop of individuals running the SANFL at the moment.

[LMA]

I think the AFL reserves comp if it goes ahead would decline the standard of the SANFL even further. You would think eventually there would be less money coming in from the AFL clubs to the SANFL, less money from the SANFL to the state clubs, less money to pay players, more players leaving to play Country or Amateurs, players leaving to top up an AFL club where they will probably earn more and get seen on the national stage. The SANFL would have to promote their brand spectacularly to draw in new fans especially if the AFL reserves precede the main game as I suspect would happen and gets televised nationally

[Aerie]

Bring in the AFL Reserves comp to be played as curtain raisers to AFL games. No Saturday afternoon AFL footy to be played in SA.

Leave elite junior pathway programs to the AFL. SANFL underage teams to filter back to local junior competitions (i.e. Eagles play in metro west, South play in Southern League etc.) Scrap all zones and salary caps - although a percentage of player salary could be taxed to support all football in the state.

Have a Greater Adelaide Regional SANFL competition made up of two divisions with promotion and relegation (league and reserves for each division). One club drops down and one club gets promoted each season. Played Saturday afternoon.

Initially:
SANFL Div 1 - 10 teams which consist of 8 SANFL teams and 2 Adelaide Footy League Teams
SANFL Div 2 - 10 teams which consist of next 10 best Adelaide Footy League Teams

Have all other leagues complete their season by end of August.

2 Grand Finalists of Adelaide Footy League plus winners of Hills Div 1, Adelaide Plains League, BLG League, RMF League, GSF League and Southern League play in an 8 team, 3 week knockout comp (during September at same time as SANFL Finals) to determine who gets promoted to SANFL Div 2 the following season. Bottom placed SANFL Div 2 team drops back to local league.

So essentially the TS Hill Cup is opened up to hundreds of clubs in the Greater Adelaide Region if they're good enough and a safety blanket is afforded to all clubs in the form of lower divisions or leagues if they can't keep up with demands. No more unrealistic expectations about keeping up with professional standards.

[oldfella]

With Adelaide & Port's reserve teams leaving the SANFL could this open the door for 2 other clubs to enter the competition?

NO WAY in my personal opinion

The sponsorshipdollars for sanfl clubs has shrunk significantly and the league needs to be a maximun of 8 teams --- more teams will not bring in additional supporters