An AFL reserves comp seems inevitable

Ever wondered what the big football leagues of Europe do with their squads of 40 when only 15 get picked for first team games each week? If you didn't know, they have reserve team comps. Yes, man u has a reserve team. There are a number of reasons for this all outlined by previous posts. Such points as getting the squad all playing under the same system, keeping players match fit, quality of opposition etc. To keep costs down, a lot of these games are played behind closed doors, at smaller venues and not against every team in the league (& sometimes against reserve teams from bigger clubs that play in the lower division). Not every club puts a team into the reserves division. So basically it's a low cost model in which participation is optional. I can't see why this couldn't work for the AFL. A quick calculation of a 20 round competition in worse case travel scenario (WC or Freo) would mean max 9 interstate matches x 30 players & staff x $600 per airfare + 15 x twin share 4* accommodation $200 = under $200k. Add a few extras like meals, coaches etc and you are just over $200k. Maybe I've missed some other major expenses but in reality if it would cost under $300k in a worst case scenario it's no wonder the AFL teams would be keen on the idea. It is commonly quoted that a $30m budget is required to run an AFL team - a reserves team would cost 1% of this - a drop in the ocean! -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.

I have often wonder why there isn't a stand-alone Reserve AFL comp. I know this is a slightly different topic but why not? Why not have a reserves comp. It should have the same teams as the AFL. And run off the same fixture as the AFL, the only exception would be the games are curtain-raiser matches before the real deal. Start te games a couple of hours before the AFL. The only issue would be money, but, seriously this will take the tension away from the VFL/VFA, SANFL and WAFL and let each AFL team have a reserve team, to themselves and play in a competitive competition as well as have the traditional state league teams play together. Still continue with the Foxtel Cup, which will make it a truely second tier compeition, without the influences of professional AFL players. BTW expand the foxtel cup into country comps, like ovens and murray, and cairns. This would be the perfect opertunity for the AFL to settle things down and have a 18 team competition, a reserve league (call it, AFRL, Australian Football Reserve League), as well as the traditional State Leagues (VFL, SANFL, WAFL, TSL, NEAFL) and the best teams from the previous year to play off in a knockout competition, to find the truely best team in australia. Thoughts?

Hot off the press - The current AFL boss says no to this idea - Too expensive. The VFL will continue on as is. Link-- http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/default.aspx?newsid=119706

If this happened it would decimate the Vfl .True that Geelong and Collingwood have benefitted from stand alone teams but that doesnt guarantee all clubs will.Geelong have the natural advantage of being the only club in a populated area (most of the top up players are locals) and Collingwood have the money to ensure success.Both sides are not going that well in the competition but the young players get to play against a combination of mature aged players and draftees .If a new competition was started young players may lose the advantage of playing against men which may set there development back.Many players drafted via the Sanfl and Wafl in my opinion step up quicker than players from the tac.The only way it would work in my eyes is if the players not aligned in the Vfl joined Afl clubs which would result in many of the old Vfa clubs going to the wall.

yeah they restricted the number of AFL listed players we could play which meant we had to play what were effectively NSW or ACTAFL cast-off players, which did even out the competition. There were a few times where the players didn't even turn up!

I think the reserves will play in their own 2nd tier comp like the Swans & Lions do. Wont travel.

Jaceman You might recall that in Sydney's premiership year (2005), they played the last dozen or so games with zero change to their 22 - simply unheard of before or since, and no doubt that helped immensely with a shot at the premiership. Meanwhile, back in the ACTAFL, with a dozen quality senior AFL players running out in the Swans reserves, they defeated all comers by 20+ goals every week (and that helped usher in new rules).

Sydney's reserve team at least is part of the club. Some years they have bee restricted in the number of AFL listed players they could play in the reserves to bring them back to the field in the ACTAFL but also they have a reasonably good run with injuries so the seconds have had some good players (I think because of NEAFL this year there are no restrictions)...The establishment of academies for GWS and Swans make it an interesting dilemma..

I dont like the idea at all, I am from WA and support the sharks in the WAFL as my dad did, I wouldnt like to see two new teams, dockers reserves and eagle reserves aligned with the big clubs. If that happens we will get a lop sided comp where every grand final will be dockers res v eagles res. how dull. as for the national reserves that will never work, to expensive to fly them everywhere and who is going to go watch them when they can see an AFL game.

From an Essendon point of view, the Bendigo partnership hasnt worked, the clubs train 120 km's apart and there is little unity between Bendigo and Essendon as a group. That's no-ones fault. I think there is always a tendency to adopt the Premiers and top teams structures. So with Coll & Geel they have reserves teams and can manage the transition between VFL and AFL better improving their depth despite injuries. When players step up they fit into the team structures and coaching regime far easier.

What adam says is correct, and we can see the benefits with Geelong and Collingwood, but it comes as a price - it would cost them each about $500,000 extra to field a stand alone team in the VFL (no big deal for Collingwood I might add). If you start talking about a national reserves league, the costs are far too high to justify. I can see the SANFL's perspective (and the WAFL's would be the same) - it's great for the local leagues that the blokes not in the best 22 are turning out for local clubs to maintain match fitness. Similarly with the VFL (basically the former VFA), most Victorian footy fans would want to maintain links with grand old clubs like Port Melbourne and Williamstown. Allow some clubs to go it alone, fair enough, but try and keep the VFL together as much as possible.

One of the real values the AFL clubs with strong ties to 2nd tier clubs (either their own reserves or aligned VLF clubs) have is they are able to model that teams play, structures, strategies and motives towards that of the "senior" team to ensure players are ready to step straight in if they're called up. Being a Geelong fan, I've been able to see similar game styles in their reserves team as those in the AFL team and players are able to trialled in positions where they could potentially play when called up. The execution of the game plans are not the same because the ability of the players are lessened but the VFL players are all singing off the same song book as the AFL team. Teams without the control over the feeder clubs do have control over their own AFL listed players so maybe they could instruct their players all to swap to a specific team so it's easier for to control them. Restrain of trade, maybe? Massively PO the rest of the teams in the state based comp, definately! But logistically possible and this may be a cheaper alternative to having a their own reserves team.

Seems a sensible suggestion to me that would benefit all clubs. The extra costs would need to be factored into clubs' football budgets, but it should only encompass extra travel and accomodation - all the other expenses are already there. Perhaps with the increased revenue from the TV deal, this is actually a real possibility?

The obvious problem, which you touched on, is finances. It would be expensive enough for clubs to get there own stand alone team let alone having to fly them interstate every few weeks, though the AFL could lessen the expenses/logistics by mirroring the senior draw so that both sides travelled together (hence sharing staff etc.) Maybe the AFL can use some of the cash from the new broadcast deal to help underwrite a reserves league. You certainly wouldn't have too many objections from the interstate teams, especially those from NSW and QLD. The NEAFL is nowhere near AFL standard (though sadly a bit better then the old Canberra league.) When you can kick 10 goals 2+weeks in a row and still not be considered worthy of an senior call up you know the standard's not that great! Having said that the Lions reserves are last in the "Northern Section" of the NEAFL so maybe the QLD teams aren't as bad. Actually maybe it says more about the state of the Lions.

But the question is do AFL reserves make money, and can they be financially viable. very expensive to have a reserves comp that no one watches, travelling all around Australia, so expensive in a big country like australia to pay for flights and 5 star hotels. You can't put elite athletes into backpacker hostels in Bondi beach or cheap dodgy motels in 2011. State league is financially more viable, and cheaper and less complicated. I would have a set up like the SNAFL i think where the Adelalde AFL players from the 2 team there play for the SANFL team of there choice. all that extra money the AFL has to spend on creating a quality reserves comp will help develop talent but will cost a fortune and eat into player salaries of the 1st players.