Greetings & salutations all,
Sitting on the couch last night enjoying a refreshing beverage when I thought I would give the crystal ball a bit of a polish to try and see what next year has in store for the AFL Victoria State League. This is what appeared.
The time - November 2013. The subject - AFL Victoria House Media release. The title - A Brave New World for the AFL Victoria State League. The Reporter - Leigh Howard.
AFL Victoria have today announced a major revamp of the AFL Victoria State league. "Given that Richmond and the Western Bulldogs have decided not to renew the alignments with Coburg & Williamstown respectively, resulting in a 16 team competition, AFL Victoria is proud to announce a reimagining of the best state league football competition in Australia" AFL Victoria spokesperson Mr Stan Antguts stated. "Season 2014 will see AFL Victoria State League represented by 16 teams across two conferences, the VFL & the VFA" Antguts announced. "The VFL will be represented by the following 8 teams - Geelong, Collingwood, Essendon, Footscray, Richmond, Northern Blues, Box Hill & Casey, whilst the VFA will be represented by - Williamstown, Port Melbourne, Coburg, Frankston, Bendigo, Werribee, North Ballarat & Sandringham". "The creation of two conferences allows for a more equitable draw with each team playing their own conference rivals twice and the other conference once, resulting in a 22 round reason". When questioned about the finals Antguts explained "The top four teams in each conference will play a finals series based on the McIntyre final four resulting in a VFL & VFA Premier who then play for the AFL Victoria Championship". Antguts added "This finals structure also provides flexibility to schedule a VFA/VFL all star game featuring the best players from each conference that aren't involved in the championship game". "This gives VFL & VFA listed players an additional opportunity to impress AFL recruiters leading into the annual combine & draft".
I like it. It's the logical choice. You should send this through to someone at vfl victoria.
It's viable on both counts. Pies v ess game twice. Only issue between the 2 leagues is
Whitten oval windy hill & victoria park can not charge a admission fee
You will find that there will be a sixteen team comp in 2104.
Footscray will play some of their games in the bush.
In the 2000 vfl season there was quite a few teams back then.
At least in the 16 team comp you don't make finals for finishing in the bottom third on the ladder. Punt Road I am not sure if Richmond will play there in 2014. Too small/narrow for spectators at the moment. Maybe they will play a game or two there but I would reckon that they will use Craigieburn for the majority of their games.
In 2000 Richmond used punt road. In 2014 I do think sandy will stay with the saints for next year. The allignment still seems to be going ok.
So yes 16 teams in 2014
I do wonder what Richmond will do. I think they will try & play there vfl games in conjunction with the afl game.
For example is the tigers play at 2:10 at the g they will try & gets c/r at punt road starting at say 10:30.
Craigieburn in my opinion is not a viable vfl ground. In terms of public transport it's worse than casey.
Punt rd Woud have more shelter than high gate.
I do think the afl/vfl clubs could go with the double header format at visy park at some stage next year.
Because really the afl clubs are not generating much funds from the vfl games besides on food.
Can you even buy a beer at vic park?
I hope a format is settled for 2014 as I would rather be playing coburg or williamstown twice than play at geelong.
In reply to I like it. It's the logical by Borough1874
Who cares? they are only AFL seconds teams and we keep getting told how much money the AFL has.
I like the idea of two conferences - and also the idea that each sides plays the same sides the same number of times which is fair and equatable for all rather than the way it is now where yuo play some sides twice (who could be strong sides) and some sides only once.
AFl 2nds sides should realy play their games before the AFL matches to allow spectators to see up and coming players of their clubs. That way people come earlier, spend more money as they are at the ground for longer as well.
I'm not certain all is rosy at the Beach Oval - I keep hearing rumors St Kilda would abandon the alignment in a second if they can scrape the cash together to field their own team. Would be interesting to see the old Moorabbin ground get a run again - no way they'd use the Seaford venue.
Either way something has to be done before too long - AFL clubs are starting to get very serious about the VFL and it could spell doom for the old VFA stand alones!
You're all dreaming if you think the AFL would consider anything like that. Any move that would promote or encourage any kind of return to the VFA as we knew it will never ever be part of their agenda.....sadly.
For a conference model to work they have to be equal. For mine this model is the slippery slope towards 2 divisions and if that happens some clubs will be under pressure to survive.
Very good point Bullant
I think there should be more concern with straightening out the VFL development league draw than trying to fit in AFL curtain raisers.
The Development league fixture is a mess and needs to have less stand alone games. All games should be curtain raisers to VFL seniors. It must stretch a VFL teams resources to have their 2 teams playing different locations on the same day or on different days.
Hopefully this can be addressed in a 16 team comp. Also a proper Development league finals system would be good with the GF before the VFL seniors.
Also the SANFL and WAFL play 20 games in the home and away season yet the VFL only play 18?
Why is that?
I think the VFL really should be 20 match season. It's then a step up from the usual 18 game season in local footy and just below the 22 games at AFL level. It seems like the right number of games for the second best comp in the state.