I read that today (there is a second page) and it looks grim for Preston and Coburg and Frankston to a lesser extent to remain competitive in the current environment. The gap between the haves (ie pokies revenue) and the have nots has never been so stark - it appears Werribee is going to become a behemoth in the gaming stakes. Did i also read that Bruce Mathieson is president of Port? If so, how did that come about? I knew of his Carlton connections but didn't know he was involved with Port.
Hard to see how Frankston, Coburg and Preston are going to survive. All three with backs against the wall now. Frankston didnt make any money last year, and there is no money to pay CEO Rocky Lloyd or sign decent players for next year.
Although the AFL say they will support these clubs, the support wont be financial, and they will left to die a slow death, as at the end of the day, its better for the AFL bottom line not to have the expenses they incur with these three clubs and to have less teams in the competition will suit them.
I still believe 100% the AFL will have their own Reserves Comp plus Tassie for a few seasons sooner rather than later so the ex VFA clubs and Sandy should be making plans for this to happen in the not too distant future!
As has been their history from 1897 the VFL now AFL will always look after THEIR Interests first and foremost and not really care about the game of Australian Football overall!
It is totally stupid that a supposed "STATE" league should have teams from NSW and QLD playing in it!
I can't believe the AFL continue to smash the game's heartland. Imagine if you forced the WAFL or SANFL or take teams from other states? As if the playing field wasn't hard enough with 10 AFL reserves teams to contend with?
It's beyond me how the AFL can't see the need for a strong and competitive second-tier league in Victoria. The way things are now, it's more attractive for those just out of the AFL or those just missing out on the draft to play local footy - better money, easier conditions, less travel, less time off work.
The only way a standalone club can remain competitive in this mutant competition is to be socially irresponsible and have poker machines? The future is grim.
I can't believe the AFL continue to smash the game's heartland. Imagine if you forced the WAFL or SANFL or take teams from other states? As if the playing field wasn't hard enough with 10 AFL reserves teams to contend with?
It's beyond me how the AFL can't see the need for a strong and competitive second-tier league in Victoria. The way things are now, it's more attractive for those just out of the AFL or those just missing out on the draft to play local footy - better money, easier conditions, less travel, less time off work.
The only way a standalone club can remain competitive in this mutant competition is to be socially irresponsible and have poker machines? The future is grim.
I can't believe the AFL continue to smash the game's heartland. Imagine if you forced the WAFL or SANFL or take teams from other states? As if the playing field wasn't hard enough with 10 AFL reserves teams to contend with?
It's beyond me how the AFL can't see the need for a strong and competitive second-tier league in Victoria. The way things are now, it's more attractive for those just out of the AFL or those just missing out on the draft to play local footy - better money, easier conditions, less travel, less time off work.
The only way a standalone club can remain competitive in this mutant competition is to be socially irresponsible and have poker machines? The future is grim.
I can't believe the AFL continue to smash the game's heartland. Imagine if you forced the WAFL or SANFL or take teams from other states? As if the playing field wasn't hard enough with 10 AFL reserves teams to contend with?
It's beyond me how the AFL can't see the need for a strong and competitive second-tier league in Victoria. The way things are now, it's more attractive for those just out of the AFL or those just missing out on the draft to play local footy - better money, easier conditions, less travel, less time off work.
The only way a standalone club can remain competitive in this mutant competition is to be socially irresponsible and have poker machines? The future is grim.
The AFL only want guys who are looking to get drafted in the VFL. Their goals for the comp are developing young players who are either already drafted or who have potential to be.
That's one of the reasons they won't be going with a VFA-type suburban competition. As it stands, the standalone teams are providing a good pathway to the draft, taking them away from competing with AFL reserves teams would diminish that significantly.
Oh I know you're right Paul, completely.....what worries and saddens me is the short-sighted and narrow view that is from the AFL. The game needs a strong competition below the AFL in each state as something worth aspiring to, not just as a feeder. Basketball has NBL1, Soccer has the NPL.....those are legitimate competitions with strong clubs and supporter bases. If you take away that second-tier competition as something worth aspiring to, you are hurting the heartland of the game. For all standalone clubs, why bother being in a competition that has no real value other than to feed the elite? I guess the AFL are just biding their time until all the baby boomers and gen Xers are gone and nobody remembers why these clubs were ever important at all. Bloody sad.
Great article by Sam Landsberger
I read that today (there is a second page) and it looks grim for Preston and Coburg and Frankston to a lesser extent to remain competitive in the current environment. The gap between the haves (ie pokies revenue) and the have nots has never been so stark - it appears Werribee is going to become a behemoth in the gaming stakes. Did i also read that Bruce Mathieson is president of Port? If so, how did that come about? I knew of his Carlton connections but didn't know he was involved with Port.
Bruce Matheison has been the number 1 ticket holder for a number of years, but I didn't realise it was still the case.
It sounds like there needs to be an equalisation fund to assist clubs that are backed by pokies money.
* It's time to restore the VFA name.
Hard to see how Frankston, Coburg and Preston are going to survive. All three with backs against the wall now. Frankston didnt make any money last year, and there is no money to pay CEO Rocky Lloyd or sign decent players for next year.
Although the AFL say they will support these clubs, the support wont be financial, and they will left to die a slow death, as at the end of the day, its better for the AFL bottom line not to have the expenses they incur with these three clubs and to have less teams in the competition will suit them.
I still believe 100% the AFL will have their own Reserves Comp plus Tassie for a few seasons sooner rather than later so the ex VFA clubs and Sandy should be making plans for this to happen in the not too distant future!
As has been their history from 1897 the VFL now AFL will always look after THEIR Interests first and foremost and not really care about the game of Australian Football overall!
It is totally stupid that a supposed "STATE" league should have teams from NSW and QLD playing in it!
I can't believe the AFL continue to smash the game's heartland. Imagine if you forced the WAFL or SANFL or take teams from other states? As if the playing field wasn't hard enough with 10 AFL reserves teams to contend with?
It's beyond me how the AFL can't see the need for a strong and competitive second-tier league in Victoria. The way things are now, it's more attractive for those just out of the AFL or those just missing out on the draft to play local footy - better money, easier conditions, less travel, less time off work.
The only way a standalone club can remain competitive in this mutant competition is to be socially irresponsible and have poker machines? The future is grim.
I can't believe the AFL continue to smash the game's heartland. Imagine if you forced the WAFL or SANFL or take teams from other states? As if the playing field wasn't hard enough with 10 AFL reserves teams to contend with?
It's beyond me how the AFL can't see the need for a strong and competitive second-tier league in Victoria. The way things are now, it's more attractive for those just out of the AFL or those just missing out on the draft to play local footy - better money, easier conditions, less travel, less time off work.
The only way a standalone club can remain competitive in this mutant competition is to be socially irresponsible and have poker machines? The future is grim.
I can't believe the AFL continue to smash the game's heartland. Imagine if you forced the WAFL or SANFL or take teams from other states? As if the playing field wasn't hard enough with 10 AFL reserves teams to contend with?
It's beyond me how the AFL can't see the need for a strong and competitive second-tier league in Victoria. The way things are now, it's more attractive for those just out of the AFL or those just missing out on the draft to play local footy - better money, easier conditions, less travel, less time off work.
The only way a standalone club can remain competitive in this mutant competition is to be socially irresponsible and have poker machines? The future is grim.
I can't believe the AFL continue to smash the game's heartland. Imagine if you forced the WAFL or SANFL or take teams from other states? As if the playing field wasn't hard enough with 10 AFL reserves teams to contend with?
It's beyond me how the AFL can't see the need for a strong and competitive second-tier league in Victoria. The way things are now, it's more attractive for those just out of the AFL or those just missing out on the draft to play local footy - better money, easier conditions, less travel, less time off work.
The only way a standalone club can remain competitive in this mutant competition is to be socially irresponsible and have poker machines? The future is grim.
The AFL only want guys who are looking to get drafted in the VFL. Their goals for the comp are developing young players who are either already drafted or who have potential to be.
That's one of the reasons they won't be going with a VFA-type suburban competition. As it stands, the standalone teams are providing a good pathway to the draft, taking them away from competing with AFL reserves teams would diminish that significantly.
Oh I know you're right Paul, completely.....what worries and saddens me is the short-sighted and narrow view that is from the AFL. The game needs a strong competition below the AFL in each state as something worth aspiring to, not just as a feeder. Basketball has NBL1, Soccer has the NPL.....those are legitimate competitions with strong clubs and supporter bases. If you take away that second-tier competition as something worth aspiring to, you are hurting the heartland of the game. For all standalone clubs, why bother being in a competition that has no real value other than to feed the elite? I guess the AFL are just biding their time until all the baby boomers and gen Xers are gone and nobody remembers why these clubs were ever important at all. Bloody sad.
Can't argue with any of that mate.