According to an article on the NT News website, the AFL is set to create a second tier league comprising teams from NSW, ACT, QLD and NT from 2012. This eastern seaboard league would be on the equivalent level of the VFL, SANFL and WAFL.
According to this article, the teams would include the reserve teams of the Sydney Swans, Brisbane Lions, Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney, with representative teams from the ACT and NT, plus four of the premier clubs in the Queensland AFL (QAFL).
Currently, the Brisbane Lions reserves and NT Thunder are already in the QAFL, along with clubs such as Southport, Morningside, Mt Gravatt, with a total of ten teams.
This would probably be viewed as an expansion and vote of confidence in the QAFL, with the retention of the six current teams and expanding to include teams from NSW/ACT.
I’d imagine the remaining four QAFL teams would form another tier under this league (second Division?)
A couple of weeks ago, a report in the Melbourne AGE suggested the AFL was looking at several options from 2012, which included an expansion of the VFL, which currently hosts the Gold Coast, to include the NSW/ACT teams or a proposed eastern-northern seaboard league like this one.
Currently, the Sydney Swans reserves play in the AFL ACT competition and it was thought GWS would do the same for its reserves after serving an apprenticeship in the TAC Cup and VFL following in the Gold Coast’s footsteps.
It’s great news for the NT Thunder, who only recently joined the QAFL, as it propels them one step closer to the elite competition.
The ACT, it appears, will get a team in its own right in this second tier league. Currently a combined NSW/ACT representative team plays in the Under 16 and 18 junior championships.
Of course, the remnants of the QAFL and ACT leagues will need to be managed carefully. There is no detail at this stage as to what their fate holds.
Although a second division of the QAFL exists, maybe this could be expanded to include an AFL Cairns team as a representative North QLD along with the recently introduced team from PNG that currently plays in the AFL Cairns competition.
At the time of writing there was no official word from the AFL as to the veracity of this report. However, it appears this structure, at the very least ,is being seriously considered at AFL House.
One thing is for sure: the two new AFL teams of GC and GWS are potentially creating significant shifts in the whole structure of the game in NSW, ACT, QLD and NT.
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March 17th 2010 @ 12:21pm
Dogz R Barkn said | March 17th 2010 @ 12:21pm | Report comment
I guess with 2nd Qld and NSW teams, the AFL had to have a good hard look at what underpinned the four teams north of the Murray.
It has to be accepted that neither the QAFL or ACTAFL would ever get anywhere near the quality of the SANFL, WAFL and VFL, so that must mean a small disadvantage to those four teams.
Having the four reserves teams play in the one league makes a lot of sense. Combine that with a NT team, an ACT team, maybe another Sydney team, and a few big QAFL clubs, and you have the makings of a high quality ten team comp, that will bring with it all sorts of development possibilities, especially in support of the new clubs, but for the Lions and Swans as well.
For that reason alone, you can bet the AFL will provide the funding, although I suspect they wouldn’t have too many problem getting a naming rights sponsor.
Maybe the NAB!!
March 17th 2010 @ 12:38pm
Republican said | March 17th 2010 @ 12:38pm | Report comment
Michael C
Mate, I have no worries with the steady as she goes approach to development in off shore places i.e. Oceana.
I do however take great exception to top down growth when it forgoes a demographic i.e ours or any you care to look at in Aust Footy’s case, by going the corporate generic fanfare of plonking franchises in ridiculous locations i.e. NZ.
PNG certainly deserves more consideration and focus at all levels of our game, far moreso than NZ, which only has a commercial carrot to dangle in front of those AFL bankers, as any sort of criteria to bounce the Sherrin on their soil. Sadly today this is more often the criteria that counts.
I stand by my convictions in stating that the Doggies have crossed an ethical line that is to do with duty of care to the game, in doing the dirty on their own and the AFL are complicit in giving them their blessing This is taking the corporate botton line well beyond the Pale as far as I am concerned.
Cheers
March 17th 2010 @ 12:48pm
Republican said | March 17th 2010 @ 12:48pm | Report comment
Redb
Am I on my own?
I don’t believe so. Reb you should have a read of the NZ Herald thread I alluded to also. It may enlighten you to some home truths regarding NZ’s true motives and opinion of us.
It should be compulsory reading for ALL Australians me thinks.
Cheers
March 17th 2010 @ 1:03pm
Redb said | March 17th 2010 @ 1:03pm | Report comment
Just making it clear.
In any case, this article has little to do with NZ other than perhaps offering a second tier entry level for a Kiwi team should that ever happen in the next 50 years.
I thought you would be happy to see a rep ACT team emerge?
March 17th 2010 @ 1:15pm
Hammer said | March 17th 2010 @ 1:15pm | Report comment
It really is all in the perception … I’ve read it with both eyes open and it’s hardly full of mercenary intent – merely an opinion piece giving a summary of a survey and some discussion on Q&A ….
March 17th 2010 @ 12:59pm
Redb said | March 17th 2010 @ 12:59pm | Report comment
Article in the AGE.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/afl-ponders-east-coast-league-20091124-j8bg.html
“AFL ponders east coast league”
March 17th 2010 @ 1:08pm
Dogz R Barkn said | March 17th 2010 @ 1:08pm | Report comment
This quote is the key, and precisely what I was trying to say: “…a vehicle for high-level football for reserve players from all four northern clubs and a shop window for players not taken in the draft. (emphasis mine)
March 17th 2010 @ 1:12pm
Redb said | March 17th 2010 @ 1:12pm | Report comment
It’s really important. Noted the comment that kids dont get recruited out of the SFL due to its lack of playing standard. Doesn’t mean down the track you wouldn’t roll the NSW and ACT teams back out of the league and set up an expanded NSWAFL.
March 17th 2010 @ 1:27pm
Republican said | March 17th 2010 @ 1:27pm | Report comment
Hammer
‘Closer Economic Relations’ you mean?
There seems to be some abiguity in the discussion over there as to how much Kiwi identity will be compromised to this end.
I surmise that it would not take NZ very long at all, once exposed to our game to misappropriate it as being theirs as is their want.
While NZ spend an inordinate amount of collective energy defaming this country, paradoxically they seem to crave more than just CER but also CCR, Closer Cultural Relations, but are just far too conceited to admit it.
Strange cattle
Cheers
March 17th 2010 @ 1:33pm
Hammer said | March 17th 2010 @ 1:33pm | Report comment
I don’t think you have to worry too much about your game being misappropriated – the only kiwis that show more than a token glance are those that have spent a considerable time in Aust – and of those I’d wager the majority would probably be from a football background
March 17th 2010 @ 1:52pm
Black Diamonds said | March 17th 2010 @ 1:52pm | Report comment
Great idea.
Needs to be done. Call the comp “AFL2″ which will give it credibility as being close to the AFL in terms of association. The strong links between the 4 Northern AFL teams and this comp will also help foster that identity and closeness.
Also from 2012 onwards it allows for the possibility of a NATIONAL 2ND TIER PLAYOFF.
The Premiers of each of the 4 AFL Regional Leagues – WAFL, SANFL, VFL, AFL2 play off for two weeks to determine the “Champioins of Australia”
(The AFL Premiers being of course the “World Champions” (Tongue in cheek guys, but why not? haha)
The 2 Semi-Finals are played at the grounds of the higher ranking Premiers (Rank all teams across all 4 leagues all season – by Match Ratio and % if necessary).
The Grand Final is then played at the home ground of the highest ranking Semi-Final winner.
Would work very well and really give credibility to the AFL’s 2nd Tier across the whole country.
March 17th 2010 @ 2:02pm
Redb said | March 17th 2010 @ 2:02pm | Report comment
Good comments, albeit I’m not sure the SANFL and WAFL will take to AFL2
I think the EAFL has been mooted.
March 17th 2010 @ 2:07pm
Dogz R Barkn said | March 17th 2010 @ 2:07pm | Report comment
EAFL fits the bill quite well (or NEAFL)
March 17th 2010 @ 2:10pm
Redb said | March 17th 2010 @ 2:10pm | Report comment
yeah NEAFL works.
March 17th 2010 @ 2:45pm
Michael C said | March 17th 2010 @ 2:45pm | Report comment
NEA(nder)FL(s)……..
March 17th 2010 @ 1:58pm
allblackfan said | March 17th 2010 @ 1:58pm | Report comment
ie Hammer, none at all!
BTB, Kevin Sheedy has confirmed that Team GWS will play two games a season in Canberra and that he thinks there’s room for a third AFL team in Sydney. He also confirmed that the Sydney Showground (think easter show) at Homebush will be Team GWS home ground (except for marque games).
As far talk of NZ joining Aust — I reckon that was started by ARU boss John O’Neil. He needs a world class team and a strong, viable domestic rugby comp.What easier way than to make NZ a state of Aust?
You know I make sense!
March 17th 2010 @ 2:04pm
Redb said | March 17th 2010 @ 2:04pm | Report comment
The article has nothing to do with NZ.
March 17th 2010 @ 1:59pm
Republican said | March 17th 2010 @ 1:59pm | Report comment
I am cautiously happy about the ACT rep idea Redb.
It has alot to do with NZ considering recent AFL forays there, courtesy of Hawthorn and now the W.B..
It’s called commercial benefit mate and NZ is definately on their radar in this respect.
What is interesting about all this is that PNG have been the talk of the town for some time in development terms yet the AFL are focusing their attention an NZ, why, corporate clout, simple as that.
Canberra has lost out in a number of codes to NZ due to this scourge – Netball, Soccer, Mens Basketball, Cricket now being discussed since NZ has long coveted our domestic cricket comp.
I believe all Canberrans have every right to be sceptical and pro active in exposing the potential for our game to take this soft option, despite a total lack of footy culture in that country.
The Nations capital symbolically MUST have an elite indigenous footy presence before ever going off shore, after which time if local obligations are fulfilled, by all means, lets have a look at what is practicably feasible beyong these ‘fatal shores’.
Cheers
March 17th 2010 @ 2:17pm
Redb said | March 17th 2010 @ 2:17pm | Report comment
I dont think you could be more wrong about PNG.
http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20100226153157305
“AFLPNG’s Coca Cola Talent Path model has again delivered with six new signings to AFL Clubs under the international recruitment drive.
Richmond, Essendon, and the Brisbane Lions did not let the opportunity slip when attending PNG’s Coca Cola Talent Camp late in 2009, signing players to International Scholarships”
Far more significant than anything happening in NZ.
Also a rep PNG team currently plays in the Cairns AFL Comp. Queensland is undoubtably the platform to the Pacific.
March 17th 2010 @ 2:31pm
Hammer said | March 17th 2010 @ 2:31pm | Report comment
Netball – really ? … I’ll give you the other 2 – to a point – but not netball .. think you’ll find Australian netball actually coveted the NZ competition … and as far as the HAL concerned can you really blame the FFA – given how the Cosmos travelled during their stint in the NSL …
March 17th 2010 @ 2:03pm
Republican said | March 17th 2010 @ 2:03pm | Report comment
allblackfan
Yep, you do make sense.
I guess Qld and NSW might cross over, but you can forget the rest.
Cheers
March 17th 2010 @ 2:16pm
Black Diamonds said | March 17th 2010 @ 2:16pm | Report comment
Actually, having looked at http://www.afl2.com (Do so at your peril) they might want to call this new competition 2AFL instead.