Body:
With all the talk of a restructuring and a review for next season.
Here is a simple solution.
TAC CUP to merge into the VFL and become the VFL Thirds
Eastern Ranges to become Box Hill thirds
Western Jets to become Williamstown thirds
Geelong Falcons to become Werribee thirds
Northern Knights to become Northern Bullants/Preston
Gippsland Power to become Casey Thirds
Calder Cannons to become Coburg thirds
Oakleigh Charges to become Port Melbourne thirds
Sandringham Dragons to become Sandringham thirds
Dandenong Stingrays to become Frankston thirds
North Ballarat Rebels to become North Ballarat thirds
Bendigo Pioneers to become Bendigo thirds
Murray Bushrangers to become Murray Kangaroos thirds
Tasmania Mariners to become Tasmania Devils thirds
14 team TAC CUP comp
in the VFL comp for next season
Collingwood/Williamstown to split
Carlton/Northern Bullants to split
Western Bulldogs/Werribee to split
Tasmania to stand alone
North Ballarat to stand alone
North Melbourne to re invent Murray Kangaroos
That makes an 17 team comp for the VFL
Geelong will be joined by Collingwood, Carlton, Western Bulldogs as stand alone AFL clubs. Williamstown, Northern Bullants, Werribee, Tasmania and North Ballarat to be stand alone VFL clubs.
Maybe Sydney reserves can join and be based at Wagga Wagga or even Canberra. Other alternatives is if St Kilda and Casey split or a reformed Prahran joining ??
If the Swans did join they could also have the NSW/ACT rams as there thirds team which could play in the TAC Cup.
They could alternate their matches between Canberra, Wagga Wagga and other areas in NSW riverina area.
Thoughts ???