An Aussie Rules Community Clubs Championship?

Submitted by Number11 on
I think there is merit in staging an annual knock-out competition, featuring the top 4 teams in the VFL (but not Tas), the WAFL, SANFL, along with representative sides from Sydney Metro, Brisbane Metro, Tas and the NT. This competition could run alongside the regular comps through the year. Sure would beat the tired Wizard Cup for my money. Other sporting codes provide examples of successful peak competitions featuring community based teams. These competitions serve to complement an ongoing elite competition. In the USA, the NCAA is one of the highest TV rating sports. In England, the FA cup provides a great focus of interest for communities with teams in divisions below the Premier League. There will be obstacles to staging such a comp. I'm sure. But I think such a comp would heighten community interest in the code, and maintain interest in the Aussie Rules code in areas at times when the local AFL team maybe struggling. Clubs like Port Melb, Sandringham, Claremont, Subiaco, Norwood etc have proud historical traditions and bring something certain AFL teams these days lack - character. They deserve a chance to play on a national stage.
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Victorian Football League - General Discussion
NorthPort Mon, 28 Mar 2005 - 10:32
I'd love to see VFL clubs involved in this sort of competition. A chance to see a Norwood v Williamstown, or Coburg v East Perth would be terrific. The AFL should throw their support behind such a concept. However, I don't think we will see it happen for some time to come.. 3 reasons I can think of are: 1. funding - Football Victoria seem to run on a very tight budget. 2. The AFL - It seems to me that the AFL are only interested in promoting their highest level competition, and are determined to see State competitions purely reduced to "feeder" comps. 3. Player availability - Due to most VFL footballers working a traditional 9 to 5 job, it might be difficult for them to get the time off work.
Number11 Topic starter Mon, 28 Mar 2005 - 12:49
Thanks for your supportive comments Onslaught. BTW I love this website. I agree with the 3 obstacles you mention. To me, the key phrase you mentioned was "I'd love to see...". If the concept of a national stage for community based teams is attractive and generates excitement, then given time, the obstacles may just fall away. AFL administrators are likely to see signs that Aussie Rules is losing its allure for youngsters to other sports. An adequate response to this development involves 2 aspects. First, having in place an elite level comp like the AFL is necesary to secure high value corporate sponsorship, and to produce an entertaining exhibition. It is difficult to see the regreneration of English soccer without the super clubs of Mancester United, Arsenal or Liverpool The second part of the response involves maintaining a sense of connection with community and the individual fan. This can be a bit difficult to achieve. The process of consolidating teams into the AFL and corporatising the game has come at cost here. I lived in Perth in the late 80s, and early 90s at a time when the WC Eagles were very strong on the field. Yet it struck me how many people in Perth were either turned off by that team or were just plain indifferent. And there was real sadness that the creation of the WCE significantly retarded the quality of the WAFL comp. The team was said to lack a soul. It was contrived. I think that Nth Melb - sorry the Kanagaroos - need to watch out.
vfa Mon, 28 Mar 2005 - 20:15

In 1992 Victoria ran a pre season competition called the Victoria Premiers Cup. The top two teams from the Victorian Football Association being Werribee (runners up in 1991) premiers Dandenong, prmiers in the VAFA, Vermont Premiers in the Eastern District F.L, as well as premiers in the othr main competitions DVFL (lalor), O & M F L plus a few other leagues. There was 16 teams involved during February and March with Werribee playing North Ballarat (then in the BFL) playing off in the Grand. I tried to revive this format in 2000 but was too close to the Olympics. I will send an email to all leagues including Football Victoria with the following plans. * 8 teams from the metropolitan and 8 teams from the country to take part. Premiers and runners up from the Eastern Football League, Premiers and runners up in the DVFL. Premiers in the VAFA, Southern FL, Essendon District FL and Western Region Football League. From the country premiers from the O&MFL, Ballarat, Bendigo, Goulbourn FL, Geelong FL, Mornington Peninsula FL, Yarra Valley Mountain District Football League and premiers in one of the other country leagues depending on the country Championships results. Games to be on a knockout format. Week one- 8 games with winners to progress to following week Week two- 4 games with winners to progress to following week week three- 2 semi finals with the two winning teams to play in final the following week. week four- final Week one matches to be held in mid February with the final in mid March. Games to be played on a home ground or nearest ground in home area (depending on availability due to cricket). Week one will be decided by toss a few weeks prior or when draw is available. If team play at home for first week and progressed will be away in week two. If two winning teams both play at home in first week and are due to meet the following week toss will decide the venue. Organisers to look for major and many sponsors to allocate huge or decent prizemoney to winners and runners up in comp. If this competition took off it would build up a huge rivalry and create big following and general interest. There would be some teams that would have players unavailabale due to cricket commitments as would some grounds. As those teams progress further some of the players would be available as some of those cricket grounds would. I wouldn't include the VFL teams (old VFA) as they would be better playing aaginst the SANFL and WAFL teams. They use to have a comp in 1977/78/79 called the NFL Ardath Cup and was televised by Channel 9. I did see Coburg beat East Perth and the old Lakeside Oval in anight match. I also watched Dandenong flog Central Districts by about 10 goals also at the old South game on a Sunday arvo. Port Melbourne was best of the VFA teams losing in the Semi's where South Adelaide beat Port Adelaide in the Final. They could allocate maybe a weekend in May and the Queens Birthday weekend for the top 2 teams in the VFL, top 2 teams in the SANFL and top 2 in the WAFL and top team in the QAFL and either the Sydney FL or ACTFL. VFA George
Number11 Topic starter Mon, 28 Mar 2005 - 23:55
What a post VFA George! In my post I was thinking more on the lines of a VFL/VFA Vs WAFL, SANFL, Tas, Brisbane & Sydney Metro, the ACT that you mention in the latter half of your post. I am curious about your thoughts on a couple of issues. The NFL Ardath comp you mention - was it considered prestigious, or just another adjunct comp? Also there is a matter of scheduling. Experience suggests it is easier to schedule the series around Easter or in October. Personally I'm not a big fan of this as spectators can take some time to get into the swing of the footy season at the start of the year, and many are somewhat jaded the day after the GF! In my view spectator interest will be greater if high profile games take place through the regular season. One alternative is to crop/extend the regular season by - say two/three weeks, allowing the time for the representative teams to compete.
Dolphin Tue, 29 Mar 2005 - 14:35
Dale61 wrote:A good concept, but you have to consider that NT (Darwin, at least) has just finished their season, and most of the better players head off for southern commitments.
That should make it easier to get a side together then!