Greetings & salutations all,
Sitting on the couch last night enjoying a refreshing beverage when I thought I would give the crystal ball a bit of a polish to try and see what next year has in store for the AFL Victoria State League. This is what appeared.
The time - November 2013. The subject - AFL Victoria House Media release. The title - A Brave New World for the AFL Victoria State League. The Reporter - Leigh Howard.
AFL Victoria have today announced a major revamp of the AFL Victoria State league. "Given that Richmond and the Western Bulldogs have decided not to renew the alignments with Coburg & Williamstown respectively, resulting in a 16 team competition, AFL Victoria is proud to announce a reimagining of the best state league football competition in Australia" AFL Victoria spokesperson Mr Stan Antguts stated. "Season 2014 will see AFL Victoria State League represented by 16 teams across two conferences, the VFL & the VFA" Antguts announced. "The VFL will be represented by the following 8 teams - Geelong, Collingwood, Essendon, Footscray, Richmond, Northern Blues, Box Hill & Casey, whilst the VFA will be represented by - Williamstown, Port Melbourne, Coburg, Frankston, Bendigo, Werribee, North Ballarat & Sandringham". "The creation of two conferences allows for a more equitable draw with each team playing their own conference rivals twice and the other conference once, resulting in a 22 round reason". When questioned about the finals Antguts explained "The top four teams in each conference will play a finals series based on the McIntyre final four resulting in a VFL & VFA Premier who then play for the AFL Victoria Championship". Antguts added "This finals structure also provides flexibility to schedule a VFA/VFL all star game featuring the best players from each conference that aren't involved in the championship game". "This gives VFL & VFA listed players an additional opportunity to impress AFL recruiters leading into the annual combine & draft".
The VFL (the way alignments are headed) needs to be an 8 or 9 club comp, comprising of official (melbourne/geelong) based AFL teams. The VFA then would comprise of the standalone clubs. If that means the Port and Willi, etc would be strong in the VFA then so be it - it would make a benchmark for the other clubs to strive towards.
I've no doubt that the great competition names of the VFA / VFL are on the way out in 2014. In 2013 the VFL shield has been altered, and now also has an AFL logo on it.
Then we have the traditional reserves, now called the AFL Victoria Development League. Surely it's only one more step for the senior comp to be 'rebranded' as
Peter Jackson AFL Victoria State League or something similar.
I hope I am wrong. If anything the competition needs to return to something identifiable like the VFA. Any other name change will surely be something generic, which helps dissolve the identity and history of this great competition.
I'm of the opinion that at AFL level, they want all the state leagues run on a shoe-string budget with it purely as a development structure for the National comp. Any extra media attention at state level doesn't suit them at all.
Thoughts ?
FORD has gone from match balls, replaced by AFL Toyota. It's a wonder Andrew hasn't banned the use of old FORD balls as used in pre-match warm-ups. (I'm glad he doesn't read this.)
Now extinct VFA clubs will never return, but it would be nice to again have a truly independent VFA. Perhaps it could be started by the five 2014 AFL/VFL clubs forming their own AFL Reserves competition and being joined by the two de facto AFL clubs. That gives them seven teams in Victoria, which is enough to have a viable competition.
Box Hill and Preston could then be resurrected into the restored VFA.
North Ballarat and Bendigo Gold to remain to (not exactly) make it "state- wide".
Current alignments could continue where desired, but subject to VFA control.
Of course, the AFL would go all out to cut the already minimal media coverage the existing VFL gets. It is great that a VFL match is now on mainstream radio again.
(RPH and Christian radio have been broadcasting football in other areas for many years).
Oh, well -- dream on!
In reply to I've no doubt that the great by NorthPort
Firstly with the logo, the previous VFL logo has been in use since the 1970's so I think it was time for a change.
As for the name of the comp, well that was really stuffed up in 95. I would like it to be changed back to VFA, but that will never happen.
With the risk of upsetting some of you, I think the name and the logo are trivial matters when it comes to popularity of the competition. Advertising and media coverage are bigger issues when thinking about the long term viability and popularity of this league. Advertise it properly and the people will come no matter what the logo or name may be.
In reply to With the risk of upsetting by MegaA
Strongly disagree.
If it was the 'VFA', the name makes it sound different, independent from the AFL (even if it's controlled by it).
A name like 'AFL Victoria State League' makes it instantly sound inferior to the AFL.
Different is good marketing, inferior is a disastrous and down right stupid marketing strategy.
From memory didn't the afl try to take over the whole vfl comp at one stage? In terms of branding the afl logo is on the vfa jumper.
The thing I've started to understand is for the vfa option to ever happen it needs to breakaway & start a independent comp from the vfl.
The reason I think is because the fees associated with it would make it tough with the current standards.