Tomorrow VFL club presidents will meet to start chatting to AFL about what the 2021 VFL season will look like
My thoughts are
1. VFA name will never return (that is dead)
2. No AFL Reserves competition as it is too expensive especially given current COVID circumstances.
Insteresting things to look at we have 14 VFL teams effectively going forward, we could add the following
1. one or both Carlton and Northern Blues (Preston) participating
2. 4 AFL aligned teams from Northern Australia (Brisbane Lions, Sydney Swans, GWS Giants & Gold Coast Suns) also have asked to participate.
This could take us back to 2000 when 20 teams were in the league then add to the Mix Tasmania being included in VFL in 2022 to make it possibly a 21 team competition.
I understand they hope to make a decision by the end of August
Would like to hear other people's thoughts on this?
I have got those games bearsman. Lou Milner had a great leap.
Louie 'The Fly" Milner. Cult figure at the Bears. Everytime he launched himself for a mark the crowd would roar 'Flyyyy....the noise was deafening lol
He grew the big beard. Sure did have a cult following Mick Hawking I know petty well. Played with North Melbourne then Caulfield. Played with Dandenong later on. Was president of the Dandy cricket association.
A bit of trivia for you when Ray Ball ex Caulfield bears played with South Melbourne reserves he was reported for flashing a brown-eye. A mate of mine Ian Bennett was umpire. I remember Ernie Baker was a great rover for the bears. John Einsedel legend in the VFA and great bloke off the field. Keith Hillier the racing journalist was a mad bears supporter.
I saw John and his brother Paul late last year. He's well in his sixties now and still as fit as a fiddle, and still riding his push bike delivering letters for Aust Post. No one gave more to a football club anywhere than John. Played for 10 or 11 games for Richmond in 1978 but wanted to come back to Caulfield,played for nothing and coached them for nothing when they didnt have enough money to pay someone. Absolute legend.
Keith gave the Bears plenty of free publicity and was a stalwart. Saw him at Warnambool races a few years back. Had a new young wife and a baby.
Micky Gayfer was another Bears legend. Played Noth Melb under 19's on a Saturday and Caulfield on Sunday. North asked him to go with them full time but he stayed loyal to the Bears. Great bloke and one of the most popular players ever at Caulfield.
Footy clubs were great places to be in those days.