I believe that for the VFL to prosper these days, the AFL clubs with their 20 million dollar a year turnover should be encouraged to spend more $$ and time developing the VFL.
One incentive would be for all AFL sides that have an affiliation, be able to nominate a player from their VFL affiliate an untouchable in the upcomming draft, in the same way that the Father-Son rule works now.
One thing that would be mandatory is that the player in question would have to have been overlooked in a previous years draft.
When I started reading this, my first thought was that there was some logic here.
Then as I read further it all went pear shaped!
I thought that 2 days at the GP had fuzzed my brain.
[b]Problem One[/b]: Geelong and Essendon are not "unaligned".
Essendon are aligned with Bendigo, and effectively, Geelong are aligned with Geelong.
The 3 unaligned clubs are Ballarat, Tassie & Frankston.
[b]Problem Two[/b]: This seems to all be about helping AFL clubs. This competition needs to have some focus on THIS competition.
Tassie will be fine. Ballarat and Frankston need some help.
This competition is so close to losing its identity completely as a result of allignments that it may soon cease to exist and be known as nothing more than the seconds competition.
How must the old time Port supporters feel when they get along to a game one year and have people cheering on the swans, and the next year cheering for North?? One of the great and iconic clubs of the oldest competition in the country has almost been reduced to a patsy for the AFL allignment partner.
It is only the inner strength of that club that has prevented it from losing its identity.
Coburg, another great club, playing in a Richmond jumper?????
I'm not sledging these clubs, I worry for the competitions identity.
Forget trying to help the AFL clubs, this competition needs to focus on itself to ensure that it survives.
Just a thought!!
Absolutely , totally spot on Dolphin.
I was one of the fortunate ones who saw both their clubs get together and maintain SOME form of integrity for the VFA club. It should also be pointed out that my club ( Box Hill) was dead in the water without this.
However , as time goes on , I'm realistic enough to see where this is heading and the 'degrading' of truly great footy clubs in the name of the games elite competition is sad stuff indeed.
The thing is , usually it's not the fault of individual clubs ( AFL or VFA) but rather the whole concept itself. I thought originally that there was a way through this but I'm becoming more and more disillusioned as time goes on.
In addition to the problems already mentioned , there's the increasing trend of VFL clubs now to mould their reserves teams into development squads. Whilst this might make some sense on the surface , it will eventually lead the ressies to becoming and under age competition ( predominantly developing kids for the AFL ) and we'll lose those 'fringe' players in their early twenties etc who go to making up the 'heart' of a club , having spent 3,4,5 years around the place playing ressies footy with the occasional appearance in the seniors. Under the system I fear is coming , those guys are simply 'not required'. The blokes who are recognisable to supporters , the ones who actually 'know' the supporters , the blokes who run raffles , the blokes who organise player functions , the blokes who have created and nurtured genuine bonds with the club.................the way we're going these blokes are 'not required' !!!!!Fair dinkum , breaks my bloody heart.
All of this is well and good but I'm afraid I dont have any answers......the AFL is certainly not going to give back any ground on this and I fear for the integrity of this competition.
I hate Preston , I hate Coburg , I hate Frankston ( I especially HATE Frankston !!!!!!!! :lol: ) but it's a healthy hate , a footy hate and Jeez I'd hate to lose any of them.........................I'd also hate to 'lose' Port , Sandy or Box Hill to the ever increasing girth of the AFL belly !
Maybe it means a step even further back for dinosaurs like me....back to the suburbs perhaps in the search of a good old fashioned footy club.
I don't think opposition supporters HATE Frankston (Dolphins), I think that they are probably envious, because they have been able to remain a stand alone club in the VFL.
True Shamus , I do envy your club being able to stand alone........but jeez I hate em too mate !!!
:lol: