Williamstown are decent odds and could be worth a punt. Werribee deserve to be favourites, Frankston if they can roll Southport the odds would tumble in to single figures. The self belief would be sky high and anything will be possible.
Southport never in danger against Geelong. The sharks should continue their run by beating Footscray next week to advance to gf. Werribee will clean up Brisbane to set up grand final where no afl or afl aligned clubs are involved. Will be great to see if eventuates.
Ordinarily I'd agree with your thoughts on AFL clubs not being in the grand final Bearsman, but I personally hope Footscray kick the living crap out of Southport. That club has no place in our state league, and they definitely are nothing like the other standalones. The conduct of some of their players is the icing on that cake.
I'd rather Southport than any AFL club. I would never barrack for any AFL club over a stand alone clubs especially the VFA clubs. Werribee with a week's rest should be in top shape to end Brisbane's campaign. Hopefully Werribee can atone for last seasons GF loss to Gold Coast. Southport are flying and will beat Footscray. Would be ironic the past two runners up stand alone clubs meet in this years GF.
AJ, Its not our state league anymore - even though the league is ridiculously named the VFL, its for the eastern states. Not sure why you think Southport has no place in it, they didnt have many options when Gilligan decided to finish the NEAFL. I'm with VFA, I will always go for a standalone over an AFL club - I will be hoping for a Werribee vs Southport GF.
I personally can't get behind Southport even if they are technically standalone. Putting aside our loss to them, the financial resources they have blow other standalones out of the water. Southport reported a surplus of nearly $8 million in their 2023 annual report, which is up there with Werribee's profits and well surpasses Port Melbourne's 2022 profit of $2 million according to a Herald Sun article on the VFL last year. The league is virtually a financial free-for-all and the presence of a club like Southport makes it worse. The presence of the northern AFL clubs is a frustration of its own but at least tracks with the AFL's treatment of the VFL as a development league. But why do Southport - a Queensland club with no historical ties to the VFL - deserve to be here?
Having clubs with revenue sources like this just makes it harder for the remaining standalone clubs to even compete, let alone see any real on-field success. Unless these clubs somehow manage to find income sources comparable to these powerhouses (which may very well be an impossible, especially if they take the moral stance and decide not to exploit gambling addicts) then I have a very sick feeling none of them have any realistic hopes of survival.
After the Wilcard Round
Odds improved by $100? I'll take that.
Williamstown are decent odds and could be worth a punt. Werribee deserve to be favourites, Frankston if they can roll Southport the odds would tumble in to single figures. The self belief would be sky high and anything will be possible.
Damn, knew I should have put my money down last week ;)
...
Just checked odds for tomorrow's games. Southport $2.25 and Williamston $3. Looks like a good double to me.
Southport never in danger against Geelong. The sharks should continue their run by beating Footscray next week to advance to gf. Werribee will clean up Brisbane to set up grand final where no afl or afl aligned clubs are involved. Will be great to see if eventuates.
Werribee keep winning and their odds are getting longer, 2.40 is overs, should be even money or less.
Ordinarily I'd agree with your thoughts on AFL clubs not being in the grand final Bearsman, but I personally hope Footscray kick the living crap out of Southport. That club has no place in our state league, and they definitely are nothing like the other standalones. The conduct of some of their players is the icing on that cake.
I'd rather Southport than any AFL club. I would never barrack for any AFL club over a stand alone clubs especially the VFA clubs. Werribee with a week's rest should be in top shape to end Brisbane's campaign. Hopefully Werribee can atone for last seasons GF loss to Gold Coast. Southport are flying and will beat Footscray. Would be ironic the past two runners up stand alone clubs meet in this years GF.
AJ, Its not our state league anymore - even though the league is ridiculously named the VFL, its for the eastern states. Not sure why you think Southport has no place in it, they didnt have many options when Gilligan decided to finish the NEAFL. I'm with VFA, I will always go for a standalone over an AFL club - I will be hoping for a Werribee vs Southport GF.
I personally can't get behind Southport even if they are technically standalone. Putting aside our loss to them, the financial resources they have blow other standalones out of the water. Southport reported a surplus of nearly $8 million in their 2023 annual report, which is up there with Werribee's profits and well surpasses Port Melbourne's 2022 profit of $2 million according to a Herald Sun article on the VFL last year. The league is virtually a financial free-for-all and the presence of a club like Southport makes it worse. The presence of the northern AFL clubs is a frustration of its own but at least tracks with the AFL's treatment of the VFL as a development league. But why do Southport - a Queensland club with no historical ties to the VFL - deserve to be here?
Having clubs with revenue sources like this just makes it harder for the remaining standalone clubs to even compete, let alone see any real on-field success. Unless these clubs somehow manage to find income sources comparable to these powerhouses (which may very well be an impossible, especially if they take the moral stance and decide not to exploit gambling addicts) then I have a very sick feeling none of them have any realistic hopes of survival.
Nobody is exploiting gambling addicts, clubs don’t force or encourage anybody to gamble, the gamblers themselves chose how often and how much to play.
Southport would have unrivalled dominance in any other competition other than the VFL, You can’t blame them for having an exceptional set up.
That big Port Melbourne surplus was due to including a large grant in the financials, in reality most financial gains have been modest.
17 PREMIERSHIPS, 19 X Runners up
THE VFLS MOST SUCCESSFUL CLUB - THE MIGHTY PORT MELBOURNE BOROUGH!
I'M PORT MELBURNE BORN, I'M PORT MELBOURNE BRED, I'LL BE PORT UNTIL I'M DEAD!!!