From Inside Football Magazine
Reported by Phil Cleary
Source insidefootballonline.com
Is anyone surprised that VFL clubs were seething at the prospect of a new
constitution – constructed by the AFL – that handed the AFL veto rights on
any nominations for the Board of Directors of AFL Victoria?
It’s history now that the AFL’s latest strike for total control of the
former VFA was voted down, but it is surely not the end of the AFL push.
Did the AFL genuinely believe the VFL clubs would roll over in the face of
such an arrogant manoeuvre?
To say that it created bad blood between AFL general manager David Matthews
and the majority of VFL presidents is a gross understatement.
Stories about phone calls from Matthews to a number of presidents advising
them of the consequences of voting down the proposed constitution now abound.
It’s also no secret that passionate speeches by VFL club presidents, one in
particular by Casey’s John Sharkie, fired the meeting.
We really shouldn’t be surprised by the AFL’s latest strategy. From the
moment the VFA surrendered its name the seeds of doubt were sown.
Yes, we’re all well versed in the AFL mantra about VFA clubs being broke at
the time and needing to be saved.
