Stale WAFL: Time to turf AFL players from the finals

The reason they only won 12 was the injury toll. Some of their losses were when they could only field 4 AFL list players plus 2 rookie listers (about 3 games when the numbers were that low). Peel, before the alignment, was out of its depth because it could not buy players like Subi and South can. The alignment brought it into a WAFL level of competitiveness. The finals were how it should be because some players returned to fitness. It would only be a problem if players like Fyfe and the Hills suddenly played finals. The players who played were comfortably qualified. There was no stacking or loading in any way. It's a funny argument where some argue that Peel won too many games because of the alignment and you complain that they lost too many games.

I'm anti-alignment and a Dockers supporter. Peel won 12 out of 20 games in the home and away season. Subi won 19. Doesn't that say there is something wrong with the system? I don't think opponents of the alignment are necessarily 'anti Peel'. We simply want to see a WAFL competition where all 9 teams have a reasonable chance of winning a premiership. Many of us grew up before the expansion of the VFL in 1987 and have strong allegiances to the other 8 WAFL clubs.

Would have been the same players and the same team. They would have all qualified with 7 or 8 games (apart from Ryan who missed the first half of the year with injury (just in case folk don't know that happened).

WCE,Subiaco is a complete blight on the WAFL and as you can see right through the comments most people think this. The anti Peel brigade I believe is from people who are also from the anti dockers brigade using Peel for some free hits.

So, in fact, no different to having 15 players that haven't quite made AFL level at Peel. My point exactly. Fair contest, Subi just fell short. By the way, if it is all so unfair, explain East Perth's absence from the finals series. WC had far less injuries than Freo. They had far more AFL listed players available. It is easy to argue that alignment is a disadvantage because the team doesn't train together with a full complement at all times.

Don, an ugly summary without fact is hardly good reading. The Subiaco FC has an abundance of drafted players from allocated WAFL zones including of course the amateur grade footballers. name me a single WAFL club that doesn't have an ex AFL player current or last year ??? there isn't one. So to allude a fact that Subiaco is the only club to accrue a Victorian player is ludicrous. Also Subiaco's financial agreement with Subiaco oval is purely a commercial agreement that has nothing to do with the players success on the field. I personally commend the Subi football club for being the only club to take on an AFL side in 2 grand finals. Well done Subi

There were not 15 AFL players in that Peel side. There were 15 AFL listed players. Subiaco had at least 15 players they had bought from Victorian clubs or from poorer WA clubs. $ubi were the cellar dwellers of the AFL forever until the Eagles started and the commercial benefits around Subi then enabled them to buy AFL rejects and poach WAFL stars from other clubs. When they were “per$auded” by the WA Footy Commission to vacate Subi and take over Leederville, they were drowned in dollar$ and have continued to buy success. They have hardly any of their own developed youth in the side. So, now explain where Freo’s second tier players play if it is not in the WAFL. That’s the next level down. Remember, if Sandilands, Bennell, Ballantyne, Walters, Blakely, Balic, Langdon, Grey, Clarke, Spurr or Apeness were not out injured, some of those young GF players would have played no AFL games. They are fill ins. Then players like Dawson, Pearce, Sheridan, Suban and Sutcliffe are not first 22 players…just fill ins also. None of them were or are dominant at WAFL level so they were hardly an advantage. Subi just choked. Shepherd has the wood on Schofield as a coach.

The crowd of about 40,000 in 2017 is actually quite consistent with SANFL Grand Final crowds ever since Adelaide joined the AFL in 1991. Grand Finals played between 2 of the bigger supported clubs such as Port, Norwood & Sturt have pulled about 40,000. Grand Finals between 2 of the lower supported clubs such as Woodville-West Torrens & Central District have pulled about 25,000. Grand finals between one largely supported club and one lower supported club, for example Sturt v. Woodville-West Torrens last year, pull about 30,000. All things considered, the SANFL has remained a well supported league.

.......does Swan Districts exist?

........dont they exist anymore? One of my cousins in the West was a big fan. Im an old Claremont man myself despite being from Canberra via Melbourne. One of my cousins played for them briefly but many moons ago now, while that branch of the fan were all Claremont supporters bar the Perth defector.........

......40k apparently at the SANFL GF last weekend!

Gloucester park/WACA is basically where the footbridge across to the Perth stadium is, the WAFL should play there, but playing there takes away from home grounds some a hell of a long way away from the WACA and in the middle of the burbs where their core base is.

Nailed it, Smithy. I've got no issues with the eligibility criteria for AFL-listed players in finals being tweaked, but Subiaco complaining of unfairness is just galling.

I think you need to remember that the prime objective of bringing Peel into the WAFL back in 1997 was to give young footballers living in the rapidly developing Peel region their own WAFL club. This change gave the competition nine teams, hence the need for a bye every week. It really upset the apple cart! Twenty years on, how many local Peel boys played in Sunday's premiership team? Very few. Heaps of the local lads are playing country footy instead as they've been forced out by the Fremantle squad members. I also say, with respect, that it is ridiculous that Fremantle Football Club is aligned with a team located in Mandurah (72 km south of Perth) when we have East Fremantle and South Fremantle in the WAFL. Surely footy fans outside of WA also think this is a ludicrous situation?

If Subiaco had kicked straight they would have won....not a lot between the two teams . 5 games should be 7-8 to Qualify seems fairer.

+10 ;-)

The crowd of 38,900 was because Port Adelaide was in it (compare last year). Some of my Adelaide friends (usually Norwood or Genelg people) are always complaining about the 2 AFL clubs being in the SANFL. The crowd last Sunday shows that the SANFL needs Port Adelaide, as it has for over 140 years.

Over here in VIC on Sunday, Port Melbourne knocked off Richmond which had NINETEEN AFL-listed players on the park, so it can be done. Williamstown did it two years ago against Box Hill/Hawthorn, so its not impossible.

The SANFL didn't let the AFL clubs run anything. They fleeced the two clubs in the AFL for all they could get. When the AFL took the licences back off the SANFL for gross missmanagement the clubs were finally able to be sustainable. Port nearly went under when they were owned by the SANFL. Since getting the SANFL monkey of their back Port's finances have been good and the SANFL has not collapsed. Even the Crows have done better without the SANFL hands in their pockets stealing money. Also the SANFL teams get to truly test where they are at against the AFL reserves sides. This gives players in the next tier a true indication of where they need to be to take the next step.

spot on Smithy. Peel final are successful an the snobs at the rich club can't handle it. Suck it up subi