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Just read John Hook's article in this weekend's VFL Record. It's nice to have a dream, but with the current structure of this competition, Mr Hook's dream would appear just that.
Hook wants more TAC Cup listed players to play in the VFL. Fantastic. I'd be happy to see that happen. But tell me exactly how it can possibly work without destroying the fabric of VFL clubs and alienating the playing group?
Imagine Brad Gotch walking into Williamstown team selection and telling a group of about 6 or 8 players that they're in the VFL reserves for another week, while they look on as some blow in from the Western Jets steps into the senior side.
VFL listed players get p*ssed off enough with the difficulties in gaining senior selection, and with the favouritism shown to AFL listed players. It sees most VFL listed players journey in the VFL competition last no more than two or three years. And it does little for the credibility of the competition when these guys pot the abysmal treatment they copped from their club during their time in the VFL to anyone who will listen.
What is even more laughable is that some pretty good footballers give the VFL a go, but their club doesnt give them a go. So they stroll away from the VFL at 19 or 20 years of age and play A grade Amateurs or Div 1 EFL and dominate. These are the guys we want to see retained in the VFL system. They are potentially the heart and sole of VFL clubs, and perhaps the next cult figures in VFL footy.
VFL club team selectors will be under even more pressure next year when the AFL rookie lists are expanded by two players per club. Some clubs more than others will be under the pump to play even more of their aligned AFL partners players in the VFL seniors. To throw the thought of opening up VFL senior selection for TAC Cup eligible players seems unmanageable.
Hook's ramble continues on to talk about the "boost the VFL would have had if, for example, Matthew Kreuzer or Trent Cotchin, the No. 1 and No. 2
picks in last year’s NAB AFL Draft, had played in the competition?".
All true. But gimmicky.
He then tries to convince the readers of his (or the office girls) editorial with three fluff lines - "VFL clubs must be more [b]visionary [/b]in this regard. It is the [b]way of the future[/b]. All VFL clubs need to [b]embrace what surely is a winwin situation"[/b].
Perhaps next week he can respond to the abovementioned issues of how VFL clubs will manage to squeeze an U18 kid into a team which has 17 AFL listed players needing a game and has a heap of disappointed VFL listed guys waiting in the wings for those precious last few spots.
I reckon Hook is livin in la la land.
