I have created a VFL competition in the future. To put it simply, it is the reserves sides for each of the 10 Victorian AFL teams and four teams to represent the four country Under 18s teams. This will create a league for the reserves of the AFL to play in, enable the country to be represented, and that the history of the VFL will be kept.
The fourteen teams of the VFL will be:
- Albury/Wodonga Twins - Murray Bushrangers Under 18s
- Ballarat Rebels - Greater Western Victoria Rebels Under 18s
- Bendigo Pioneers - Bendigo Pioneers Under 18s
- Box Hill Mustangs- Hawthorn Reserves
- Brunswick Magpies - Collingwood Reserves
- Casey Scorpions - Melbourne Reserves
- Coburg Lions - Essendon Reserves
- Frankston Dolphins - St.Kilda Reserves
- Morwell Power - Gippsland Power Under 18s
- Port Melbourne Borough- North Melbourne Reserves
- Preston Bullants- Carlton Reserves
- Sandringham Zebras - Richmond Reserves
- Werribee Wildcats - Geelong Reserves
- Williamstown Seagulls - Western Bulldogs Reserves
I was trying to create a 12 team competition however, with 10 Victorian AFL teams with Reserves and 4 country Under 18s teams, 14 teams fit better. Currently their are 9 VFL teams that are aligned with AFL teams or are stand alone. Aligning the teams that are not aligned yet. This would leave one team unaligned. The name of a former VFA team in Brunswick could return as the team to have Collingwood Reserves.
The new competition will represent all of Victoria, with four Under 18s teams also represented by VFL teams, Albury/Wodonga, Ballarat, Bendigo and Morwell. The past of the VFA will also be present with teams such as Box Hill, Brunswick, Casey, Coburg, Frankston, Preston, Sandringham and Werribee still present and most importantly the teams that have been present since the 1800's in Port Melbourne and Williamstown.
The image of the old VFL teams will be retained to keep the history of the VFA alive. A charter will be created that will see the identity of each of the former VFA clubs is retained, and the image of the clubs won't be changed just to make the bond between the two teams bigger and better. Casey will still be Casey because the club had relocated before joining with Melbourne. However, the club would be referred to as the Springvale Football Club playing as the Casey Scorpions.
The image of the AFL alignment can be shown in the chase strip but it is important to keep the history of the VFA alive, and also to keep the local connection between the town and team alive without the AFL teams interferring. People support their local VFL side because it is their local side, why destroy this bond between supporters and club just because an AFL team puts their reserve players into that team.