Should the VFL consider changing the name of the reserves compeition, to try to help raise its profile?
The quality of football hasen risen dramatically in recent seasons, with many quality footballers playing in it, due to AFL-listed players coming back into their aligned VFL sides.
Would there be any benifit in VFL reserves sides playing occasional AFL curtain-raisers? Would that increase the likelyhood of clubs with an AFL alignment being more flexible about their players playing at VFL reserves level?
I don't know about that onslaught, but I do know they need to do something to help the reserves competition.
Its hard to expect outside exposure when the VFLs official publication, the VFL record, has incorrect team lists (or in some cases when a different ressies team plays theres no team list at all), no reserves fixture (why not just a small box with "Next Week's Matches"?) and very little match discussion or player articles.
Maybe they need to make the 2s an Under 21 competition. Maybe they need to create some system where AFL clubs can select one VFL or VFL 2s player in the draft as a 'zone' selection or upgrade one automatically during the year. I don't know what the answer is, but it needs a lot of thought by the people in the right places. The issue with AFL listed players flooding senior VFL teams needs to be fixed as well. At the moment too many players stick around a VFL club for a year and then go.
I would hate to see the reserves become an age restricted competition, and it wouldn't work as players out of form and not playing in the seniors would need to be dropped back to the two's.
At Port this year, we people like Adrian Newman, who at (about) 28 years of age, is spending his first year on the list since 1997.
He may yet get promoted into the seniors, and despite being an "older" player, still looks like he is improving and learning.
I still think playing a few VFL reserves games as AFL curtain-raisers, would take some of the pressure off AFL loaded VFL senior sides. It would not be such a negative playing in the reserves, as the team would be playing in front of reasonable crowds and AFL supporters could get a look at some of their listed-players.
If a player at the age of 28 years, cannot make a senior VFL list, he should try another competition, where he can play competitive football, or perhaps take up umpiring. Placing an age limit on VFL reserves, to cater for late developing TAC U/18 players, say 24 years (maximum age for AFL rookie draft), would be a good idea.
I think leave the VFL reserves as is. It's "unoffically" an under 25 competition as you'd be hard pressed to find many players over 25 playing on a regular basis.
By bringing in age limits it would impinge on the comebacks of older players recovering from long term injuries. Even the best local comp's are a notch below VFL 2's.