As we draw closer to the conclusion of the Foxtel Cup, I find myself asking the same questions: who will win and does it really matter?
The answer to the former is I don’t truly know, although I am fairly certain it won’t be one of the two remaining SANFL clubs. And to the latter, I answer no. It does not matter.
At all.
Of course, the prize money and pride on offer is definitely important for the winning club, and I would love to see my beloved North Adelaide Roosters fill their coffers slightly and win our first trophy since 1991.
But in the grander scheme of things, victory in this ‘Champions League’ means little to the fabric of football.
This league, while interesting to watch, fails on several counts. It does not show which state has the best football league, does not suit the needs of the AFL nor state leagues, and will ultimately be a subject for sporting trivia buffs one day.
For the experiment to have been a success for the AFL, the GWS Giants needed to have made it through to the semi final stages. Some cynics argue that this was the whole point of the league, to give the Giants a taste at some league action and greater exposure.
Regardless of the conspiracy theories, the AFL’s new project has not made the inroads that Andrew Demetriou would have undoubtedly envisioned or hoped.
For the league to have been a success for the respective state leagues, a better scheme of payment to the participating clubs was needed. The meager compensation clubs received for the travel interstate ultimately turned the competition into an expensive footy trip for the lower ranked clubs, and an expensive gamble for the higher ranked.
If North Adelaide, who has suffered in the past from poor economics and nearly folded, or the Port Adelaide Magpies, who are currently undergoing fiscal hardships, do not win, a serious please explain will come from fans and members of the clubs as to the travel costs of these games, especially if either makes the final, not to mention the ire of sponsors who have lost a great chance to advertise to larger markets.
And perhaps most criminal of this league’s failings is it does not definitively prove which state has the strongest league. Should East Perth win, WAFL fans will have a strong argument for theirs being the best, likewise for VFL fans should the Northern Bullants take the cake.
Ultimately, pitting strong clubs against essentially amateur clubs from the lesser leagues proves little to nothing, and the boycott from the strongest state league team in the Central Districts Bulldogs, who chose to concentrate on winning another premiership in SANFL, demonstrates a lack of real gain for the club, and only potential loss.
Footy fans really only want to boast that their state is the best at the game. Lets face it, we’re all hungry for something to fill the void left from State of Origin.
Origin won’t be coming back – that’s obvious – and neither will this costly, deceptive and underwhelming experience.
Get your pens ready future quiz night goers! The winner of the one and only Foxtel Cup is …
Lachlan
Roar Guru
The Cattery, i disagree. I believe the AFL needs to fix these problems: Difference between VFL, WAFL, SANFL, TSL and the rest (which is what this foxtel cup has the partential to do), also we need a Reserves comp, to get rid of AFL players from the foxtel cup. This is what i believe: Reserve Comp: each AFL team has a 1st team and reserves team, each club needs to have enough players to feild 2 teams and if injuries occur, then have state league competition players to fill the spots, not vice versa. Then we can truely have a 3rd division state league competition. Its no good having East Coast Eagles versing a close to full team of top-level AFL players, like northern bullants. the teams from Queensland, New South Wales and ACT are already weak enough. Foxtel Cup: top 3 teams from WAFL, SANFL and VFL, top 2 teams from NEAFL East and North, best team from ACT, NT Thunder and best team from TSL. if NT Thunder or an ACT team finish top two in NEAFL East or North, next on Ladder goes in. NEAFL East: Needs a representative team from Black Diamond and Ovens and Murray, as well as the already announced Sydney Uni. and East Coast Eagles and include Balmain for a 12-team competition. excluding the Swans and Giants reserves teams goes back to 10-team League. NEAFL North: Needs a representative-type team from Cairns and Sunshine Coast, which would keep the League at 10-teams, if Lions and Suns reserves teams were excluded. -Also all state Leagues should be playing the odd game around their respective states, to further the fan base and awarness, Especially in NSW, Qld and ACT.
ilikelollies
Guest
Anyone with there head not stuck 2 ft up there ***** could see this will never work. Interesting to go back and read the usual fundamentalists opinions
Jaceman
Guest
Many reasons More content for pay TV and to get southern subscribers on board before the new TV deal gave more Pay TV content for AFL. Fox executives were impressed with AFL State comp numbers on the ABC. NRL just got past the AFL in total Tv numbers last year for the first time because of the Toyota Cup Under 20. This may put the AFL back in front this year. GWS some exposure State comp players to impress AFL scouts for a bigger player base for 18 teams incl the expansion teams.
Humble Minion
Guest
Surely when the new AFL tv rights deal kicks in next year and foxtel starts up their footy-only channel, they'll be looking for even more live footy content to pad it out. And surely the foxtel cup fits the bill perfectly? You can't play replays of mid 80s hawthorn vs essendon games ALL week, some second-tier stuff would be useful for the new channel to have available, and has the advantage over WFL, VFL etc in that it would get a bit of interest from all states.
Sam el Perro
Guest
Out of curiosity, how will you measure well. 100,000, say? Care to have a stab and put a figure out there? ;)
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
I think we'll see a national AFL reserves comp before that happens.
TW
Guest
The organisers said at the beginning that the 2011 series was a tryout to test the waters and was open to adjustment if it proceeded in 2012. Catterys suggested format is on the mark with increased funding to the clubs as a teaser/.necessity depending on the clubs viewpoints. Speaking of 2nd tier clubs - The nine WAFL Clubs will vote down this time the proposal to admit Eagles and Dockers Reserve teams. However general opnion is it will happen eventually - Cannot see the two clubs sending reserve teams to play in Vic whch also has been speculated.
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
on re-reading that, it comes across as very harsh and arrogant. sorry.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
One potential tweaking: * top four from each of the VFL/SANFL/WAFL, gives 12 teams * add NT Thunder * the best NEAFL/Tassie/NSW sides play off for final 3 spots before the comp proper starts.
Redb
Roar Guru
Many of the games are broadcast on delay and accur well before a crowd arrives for the AFL game. Needs tweaking but a good concept. The final should do very well. Still a nascent competition.
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
Your wrong on every part. For this competition to succeed, all the AFL required was some sort of paytv rating, and for much of the season its been the equivelant of other second tier competitions. Its all about getting more content on the tv, pure and simple. The concept is nice, but needs tweaking, but this was ALWAYS about television.
Charlie
Guest
This competition has huge merit and has seen some excellent matches. The gap between the top sides and the NEAFL sides is there but if anything this competition has proven that it is no where near as big as it once was. The efforts of the NT Thunder in almost running down East Perth a fortnight ago is probably the main example of just what the comp has to offer - let's hope that long term gain for the code outweighs any short term negativity
Good post! As you point out the Foxtel Cup did not generate a whole lot of interest and it's longevity can probably be measured in days rather than years. This is unfortunate as I'm sure a lot of the teams that participated received useful information on how to play (or not) and the players would have appreciated the exposure. Still, the mighty dollar rules all and it's hard to see it continuing in the present format.
The Hand of Fear
Guest
I think if the whole point of the comp was to give GWS more exposure, it'd have been pitted against one of the sides from Qld/NSW/Tas to at least give them a shot of moving into the second round. They were never going to be of VFL standard, let alone the standard of the AFL reserves side they ended up playing.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Disappointments: 1. top SANFL clubs not being involved 2. the quasi-amateur clubs from NSW/Qld/ACT copping a bit of a hiding. Can both of these be rectified for future editions? Yes, I think so. However, with an extra game per season next year (in the AFL), it's possible that the will won't be there to continue with the concept. I'm not sure what the current thinking is. Fox has occasionally hit the 40,000 mark in ratings, and to be honest, that ain't too bad as weekend filler.