There are too many teams in the AFL to create and foster a healthy competition at the elite level, and cuts need to be made.
In the past, I wrote about how Canberra should have a men’s A-League team, but a discussion with some mates about how the W-League has the same amount of teams as the USA women’s soccer got me thinking about how the number of teams in a competition is related to the quality.
As it stands, there are 18 teams in the AFL, each with a list of approximately 40 players and six rookies. That makes 720 active roster players and 108 rookies – more than 800 people playing elite Australian Rules.
The problem is that the quality of footballer in the bottom 250 players would be better suited to SANFL, VFL or WAFL.
Teams such as St Kilda (my team) and now Carlton are basically just factories for giving kids – who wouldn’t have got a game if the contest for spots was more fierce – a run at AFL level.
An example of why the contest for spots improves the quality of the team is the Australian Test cricket team.
Michael Hussey had to wait before getting a game, and is still widely regarded as a great player. Adam Voges is getting compared with Sir Donald Bradman, and our wicketkeepers have to master their craft at state level before even getting an injury fill-in spot at Test level.
The team is better for it, producing series win after series win.
So which six AFL teams should be put on the chopping block? Greater Western Sydney, Gold Coast, Carlton, North Melbourne, St Kilda and Western Bulldogs get scratched.
The two Western Australia and South Australian teams are needed to keep rivalries and interest in heartland states. Brisbane and Sydney are taking on the NRL heartland, a difficult task at the best of times. In Melbourne, I would love to kick out Eddie McGuire’s team, but they bring in the cash. The Essendon faithful are committed, while Geelong is a necessary regional centre.
For arguments sake, let’s say the starting 22 players of each of those teams cut would be able to get a game at another club easily. That would mean 132 players at the remaining clubs would get cut, for an average of 11 per team.
In all honesty, there is enough fat to trim on the lists to lose some of those players to the state system.
The flow-on effect of cutting 276 players back to the state competitions is it would strengthen the quality of football. When I was growing up, the SANFL was considered second only to the AFL (even after the Adelaide Crows entered the AFL). That level of quality would likely be achieved again, with fringe AFL players now working their butts off at state level.
Roarers, what are your thoughts? Am I wrong, and expansion is key? Or is there some merit in reducing the competition?
Sean
Roar Rookie
Its not about expansion, the growth or quality of the game etc etc. Its about how much $$$ can the AFL make by flogging games to the Networks so that they can sell more Betting Apps, fast food or car ads. The AFL would stick a team on Norfolk Is if they reckon they could make a buck or two. Thats still going to be modus operandi when we all pop out of our holes post-virus.
The Original Buzz
Roar Rookie
True, maybe we should do that then.
Wayne
Roar Guru
With the heat I got on this one, a Pros/Cons of kicking each Victorian team would be nuclear
The Original Buzz
Roar Rookie
Disregarding the fact that it won't happen because of the reasons given, if 6 teams go, shouldn't they be Victorian teams? Surely it would be logical if it were to remain a national competition with two teams from each state. Not sure which six at this stage, they all have reasons for and against. Something to look at this week maybe.
Brian West
Guest
People like Wayne who make this call give no evidence only subjective comment. They confuse the reduction in the spectacle of the game with the quality of the game and the quality of players. The quality of players is ever increasing and coupled with the huge increase in defensive tactics has led to crowding and a reduction in the free flowing game. In fact one way to to improve the game as a spectacle would be to INCREASE the number of teams to allow a greater differential between players similar to the "good ol' days" when natural champions dominated over lesser likes.
Ian_W
Guest
It takes a mind-boggling amount of stupid to be able to believe that, and call for the gutting of the AFL down to 12 teams.
Ian_W
Guest
If it's as stupid as this one, dont bother.
Wayne
Roar Guru
See previous comments, where I state this article is about provoking thought and discussion. My mental health is not relevant
VivGilchrist
Guest
PC gone mad. The money would be better spent in a national reserves comp. Why don't we start up a national men's netball league? .... because no one cares. A female AFL comp is for political point scoring.
Tricky
Guest
Don't want to be nitpicky Steve but the AFL is an expansion of the then VFL. The WAFC threw in the dollars for West Coast to join the then VFL and Ross Oakley had a vision of more expansion teams to create a "National" comp. (IMV it is still not national) In short the expansion teams joined the VFL to make the AFL not the other way around.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Geography probably has a bit to do with that. Might be different if you merged two Melbourne based clubs, but I don't see the urgency or need to do that anyway.
Tricky
Guest
"merging wouldn’t be out of the question" If you look at the Bears / Fitzroy take over - there are very few if any Fitzroy supporters following Brisbane. IMO mergers , takeovers - call them what you will do not work. Was tried with Hawks and Dees in the 90's and was outvoted by members from both clubs.
Tricky
Guest
Stop fishing Wayne, if you're serious you need to see a psychiatrist.
Biased_Cats_Fan
Guest
Here's my two bob.. Main Comp of 11 Teams each playing twice.. all usual arguments for this one. B Grade Comp of around same number clubs (or what ever AFL decides will make most $$$). At end of each season top 3 (as example) B Grade clubs move up to main comp & bottom 3 Main clubs move to reserves. Everyone still gets to watch their team and hopefully a more even main comp.
Alicesprings
Guest
The Territory being the Northern Territory...ha i should have clarified.
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
Oh yeah great, now that we're finally coming good you want to kick us out. And now that your team, the Saints, are crap again, you want to cut and run. Kick-out ESSENDON for drug cheating, MELBOURNE for tanking, CARLTON for tanking, salary cap cheating and recruiting Bulldogs / GWS rejects, kick-out GWS for playing in a crap part of Australia (and stealing Callan Ward), HAWTHORN coz we're sick of them winning unsociably and finally COLLINGWOOD just to fire-up Eddie for a bit of fun.
Parra
Guest
I've said this about rugby league and I believe it also applies to afl. Promotion relegation. Two divisions of 10 teams. This will cater for expansion, smaller clubs who cannot compete against the bigger clubs, improved more competitive games, the excitement of who gets promoted and relegated etc. I think a rationalisation of Australian sport is needed as there are not enough players, corporate dollars etc to support all codes in their current format. You also get to keep all clubs in the game.
Samantha
Roar Rookie
Actually Franko, VFA records are not currently counted though clubs are credited to have existed since then.
Wayne
Roar Guru
Culled team fans are likely lost to the sport. If not it in entirety, then they downgrade from diehard to casual. Can't argue that point, if St.Kilda weren't in the league, after supporting them for a lifetime, I don't just pick another team
Col from Brissie
Guest
Also don't know where you get your attendance figures from either. Last year Port came in seventh behind Richmond, Collingwood, Hawthorn, Essendon, Adelaide and Carlton.