News emerging that Essendon will cut ties with their Bendigo affiliate after season 2012 in order to enter its own reserves team, a la Collingwood and Geelong, seems to strengthen the argument for the same model to emerge in the SANFL.
At the time of the Port Adelaide merger between the SANFL-based Magpies and the AFL-based Power, the discussion in SA football circles centered on reserves teams.
The basic argument was that two reserves teams – one for the Power, one for the Crows – would help the two AFL teams in developing their younger players, while also stopping the problem of players being taken from the SANFL teams’ line-ups week to week, while also removing the hated bye round.
Those arguing this case used the VFL as an example, with several Melbourne-based clubs using VFL teams as ‘affiliate’ clubs, such as Carlton with the Northern Bullants, and Essendon with Bendigo.
This topic is a controversial one among diehard SANFL fans, many of whom argue the move would ‘trivialize’ the competition, turning it into nothing more than a draft or reserves pool, rather than the strong and proud state-based competition it has always been.
The benefits for the Crows and Power would be the luxury of being able to play their developing players in any position and for as long as needed, without having to endure the needs of another coach using their player.
They will also be able to keep their full squad in a single club, something Neil Craig was publicly in favor of during his time at the Crows, using the example of Taylor Walker.
Craig once stated a reserves team would allow him to (if he chose to) play Walker at centre half back, which may increase his defensive capacity, a trait lacking in his game, and something which saw him out of Craig’s favor.
The only benefits apparent to SANFL fans are stable line-ups, with all the AFL recruits being based in either the Port reserves (Magpies) or the Crows reserves, and no more byes with the new Adelaide team making up the tenth club.
And really, that’s about it for the fans and SANFL.
Another team would mean an end to the dreaded bye, but would probably cost more to establish than it would make; really, how many fans would turn up at West Lakes to watch a Crows’ beta team when they could watch the A team?
Perhaps the team could play in ‘curtain-raiser’ matches prior to AFL games, but these have always been unpopular with SANFL fans as they would need to pay AFL prices to see their team play.
Remember, not all SA footy fans follow the Power or Crows, especially in the state the two teams are currently in.
The Magpies have one of the strongest and most passionate supporter-bases outside the AFL, and will never be lacking for crowds, but the Crows draw their support from across the other eight SANFL teams.
Expecting people to break their tribal allegiances for a reserves team is unrealistic, perhaps even arrogant.
Perhaps the best option for increasing SANFL attendance and removing the bye is simply introducing a tenth team into the competition.
Every so often, a new candidate emerges, but the problem of assigning drafting zones and compensating the other clubs is usually too large.
The best solution to this issue is introducing a regional team, from either the south coast (Victor Harbor) or river land areas, which would need to travel a fair distance for games but draw strong local support.
In my opinion (and South Australians will best understand the area I refer to) it is the North East, the Tea Tree Gulley, Golden Grove and Modbury areas.
Across this region, there are (depending how far the drafting zones would extend) up to five strong amateur clubs, and has been a happy hunting-ground for AFL scouts for many years, with current players including up and comers Ryan Shoenmakers, Daniela Menzal, and Adelaide’s Matthew Wright, who have all come out of this zone. Sydney stalwart Heath Grundy has also come out of the North East.
The problem apparent with this plan would be the halving of Norwood’s current draft zone, and a complete realignment of that club’s drafting zones.
If this could be managed, it would serve as a better option for fans and the SANFL than a VFL-style reserves and affiliates model.
Andyc
Roar Rookie
Going back to 2006 after many years of non victorian clubs winning AFL premierships, many Victorian AFL supporters were encouraged to think that the VFL was a poor standard in comparison to the SANFL and WAFL, clearly this wasn't the case and only in the past few years are we starting to see the VFL being acknowledged as a high standard of second tier football. Since the demise of the AFL reserves, the AFL premiers have had several different 2nd tier models associated with their club, so nobody can clearly identify that one model is better than the other. Adelaide, Port Adelaide, West Coast Eagles have all won premierships without reserves teams St Kilda have had a shaky alignment with Sandringham but can anybody really say that they would have been premiers with their own VFL side, i think not. Only essendon has grounds to really look at its VFL alignment as a hinderance as the arrangement with Bendigo has been farsical and doesn't benefit both anybody. Now that the Crows and Power are struggling they are looking to deflect the analysis away from their own clubs and looking for an easy target. Looks like the 'downward envy' has crossed the border.
Benchwarmer
Guest
Here is the article that explains it. http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/a/-/wafl/10161548/wafl-reserves-compromise/
Lachlan
Roar Guru
This is what must happen before the next TV rights in 2017: -Reserve League. For all AFL clubs to have their own reserve team play other AFL clubs reserves teams. Play games before every AFL match if possible, if not in rural areas, where they won’t normally see that level of footy. -Expand State-League competitions. Have teams from all over the state and if an area/town can’t get their own team, give them a game or so a year. -Expand Foxtel Cup. 32-teams? (6-VFL, SANFL, WAFL, 2-NEAFL North, East, 4-TSL, 1 Ovens and Murray, 1 Black Diamond, 1 AFL Cairns, 2 Country Victorian Teams and 1 NTFL) -20-Team Competition. Drop/Relocate 2 Victorian Teams, Western Bulldogs and North Melbourne? Create Tasmanian Team and either a Canberra team or Northern Territory team. -Bring Back State of Origin. 8-teams (Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, Queensland, New South Wales, ACT, and Northern Territory) have a relegation and promotion type competition. 4 Divisions (1, 2, 3, 4) to start off with VIC vs. WA, SA vs. TAS, NSW vs. Qld, NT vs. ACT. Each year the losing teams go down a division and winning teams move-up, unless the team that wins in division 1 or the team who loses in division 4. (It’s simple, yet such a good idea, by someone a while back, not sure who though) Play it after round 11. First week two divisional games are played on a Friday and Saturday night and same for the next week. Then begin round 12. Also should make it that no head AFL coaches can coach any team, only assistant coaches or anyone else. Gives them a chance as well. -Mid-Season Trade Week/s. goes for the duration of State of origin and the two-week break for players who aren’t selected. That’s pretty much it, it gives players who can’t get a game during the first half of the season a chance to play in a team that needs someone else, due to injury or etc. -Video Replay. This must occur, from next year, it takes pressure off goal umpires and umpires and allows for officials to get it correct. Cheers.
stabpass
Guest
News to me, their is only one bye per week in the WAFL, so unless something different is going to happen, one AFL team will miss out on a game. Does not sound right to me.
Johnno
Guest
I to be honest after watching sport for a reasonable amount of time now prefer local derbies and conference style competitions with a champions league incorporated into it. in other words have a a state title and a national title in an ideal world. GAA sports in Irleand do that with Gaileic football and Hurling. they have a county title then an all irleand final. I would do that with AFL,NRL, and soccer have state titles then a a intermittent national champions league , like the euro soccer. And incorparte NZ into it and make it a trans tasman super series. Fans in AFL and NRL and soccer only watch local derbies anyway. No one in afl in melbourne watches the lions, the docker, west coast, port power, the crows , or sydney, or the suns when tha novelty wears off. Same in NRL no sydney teams watch the titans or cowboys those matches mostly get switched to the central coast and counted as a home game. Same with super 15 it has moved into aocnferecne style system to have more local derbies. Fans like local derbies and they make more money per match. I would make the QAFL SANFL WAFL VFA/VFL ACTNSWAFL TASAFL all full time then have conference stlye champions league where top 20 teams in oZ into like 4 groups of 5 , then have a finals knockout Q/F series big pay days. And have state tits. Same with NRL Have NSWRL and QRL, NZRL
Benchwarmer
Guest
I believe West Coast and Fremantle both have reserve teams now. However, they will not be playing in the WAFL. They will play against WAFL bye teams in a separate comp. Merely the next step towards accepting them in the WAFL I think. Would the WAFL rather have AFL reserves playing under West Coast and Fremantle in the competition, or no AFL reserve players at all.
John Hunt
Guest
Rucci in Adelaide called for Whyalla to have a team. SANFL has pursued a 10th team for a while (Tasmania, NT etc.) but to no avail. Recently the WAFL rejected the same idea for the Eagles and Dockers. As long as the WAFL doesn't allow reserves the SANFL will not either
Timmuh
Roar Guru
Agreed. The VFL has lost its soul. Some clubs have lost their own identity, having been usurped by teh AFL one. Bendigo is the most obvious example, though they were struggling for survival. It was refreshing to see the independent Port Melbourne win the flag, a club that is itself and not run as the off-shoot of an AFL club. The more powerful AFL clubs simply dominate their VFL aligned club, to the point of dictating to the VFL club who can play where. A lot of the time the majority of players in a VFL game don't want to be playing for the club they appear for, they want to be playing for the AFL club they are listed under. That can't build good understanding and morale among the group. Half a dozen players main aim for the year is to gain a VFL premiership, the rest of the side want a crack in the AFL. At least in the SANFL/WAFL systems its the other way around, most players want to win flag with their state club and the clkubs are strong enough to pull anyone else into line or sump them to their true reserves (AFL players referring to their state league, usually VFL, club as the reserves is sckening and shows how much the old VFA has been undermined - it shows they have no respect for their club of alignment).
stabpass
Guest
I dont like the idea of AFL clubs having AFL reserves teams in the VFL, SANFL or has been a talking point in the west, the WAFL, who incidentally voted against the move recently, although they were offered a big load of cash from the WAFC (owners of Dockers,Eagles). Every Eagles and Dockers players, are allocated/drafted to a WAFL team, at the beginning of the year, if MarK Le-cras has some poor form, he goes back to his original WAFL club in West Perth, and so-on and so-forth, interstate draftees are also allocted a WAFL club. Keep the AFL out of the 3 big state comps, as far as NSW/QLD goes, whats done is done, and it suits there domestic comps, which are now the NEAFL, with southern and northern divisions.
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
The VFL model isnt even right for the VFL.
Kasey
Guest
The SANFL clubs already 'suffered' twice in 1991 and 1995 for the entry of the 2 VFL teams, why should a proud club like Norwood(or someone else) give yet more to a souless entity like the Crows, just so they can continue to pillage the local comp?
Tom
Guest
Oops my mistake. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Tom
Guest
Sorry but how would entering two new teams stop the bye? Wouldn't it just mean an extra game a week? -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.