May 21, 2007
From Ballarat Courier
AFL Victoria chief executive Peter Schwab believes North Ballarat's status in Australia's top state-based football competition is under threat.
Schwab said with some AFL clubs wanting to return of an AFL reserves competition, the survival of the Victorian Football League was far from secure.
AFL Victoria chief executive Peter Schwab believes North Ballarat's status in Australia's top state-based football competition is under threat.
Schwab said with some AFL clubs wanting to return of an AFL reserves competition, the survival of the Victorian Football League was far from secure.
Schwab said AFL Victoria wanted the VFL to retain its status, but admitted it would not be without change - a view shared by the Roosters.
"The biggest issue Victorian football has got at the moment is the second tier review," Schwab explained.
"The VFL is under extreme pressure because the AFL clubs are looking at whether they should revamp the reserves competition," he said.
"That decision will have huge ramifications, not only for the VFL, but for how they restructure the TAC Cup (under-18) system as well.
"AFL clubs want total control of their players and the only way they believe they can get that control is if they run their own team.
"One of the alternatives being mooted is a return to an AFL reserves competition and that has huge consequences for the VFL if the AFL wants to set up a reserves competition for its group of 10 Victorian clubs."
Schwab said he was hopeful the VFL would survive, and may do so with more stand-alone AFL teams like Geelong involved.
"I'm not saying that that (taking away the VFL's role as a feeder to the AFL) will happen, but we need to let people know it is a huge item on the agenda for Victorian football at the moment."
The AFL reserves were abolished in 1999 as clubs attempted to reduce costs.
However, with more money available to AFL clubs, the cost associated with running a reserves team no longer exists for most.
In Ballarat on Saturday as a guest of the Ballarat Football League, Schwab admitted that regardless of the views of the rest of the football community, if AFL clubs demand a return to an AFL reserves competition they would get their way.
"If the (Victorian-based AFL clubs) want to do something with their reserves, the AFL will do it.
"The league is consulting with AFL Victoria and the VFL clubs, but the AFL clubs will have the greatest influence on the decision makers. That's the reality."
