Forum topic

Surviving at a lower level of football is better than not surviving at all, so I'd absolute still support Frankston if they returned to the MPNFL. It would be a shame to give up being part of a state-wide competition, but at least we'd still exist. 

As for an affiliation, I'm not really sure how I'd feel. I already have a fairly negative view of affiliations because of how Box Hill and Casey (as well as Preston during their Carlton affiliation) have had their own identities stripped away. I might be more open to the idea if we were able to keep the song, guernsey, and the Dolphins name. If it was a choice between affiliation or disappearing entirely, I think I'd reluctantly choose affiliation. But even then I would worry about any success we have being remembered only as "such-and-such reserves". 

If my team was not part of a State or metro wide competion I would be disappointed. The alignment arrangement has emotionally prepared me for when it happens.  I would probably take up an interest in the local leagues.

Having seen the consumption of Box Hill, Sandy.....and in a different way Springvale/Casey, I have absolutely no interest in following Frankston if they go down that road. If they stepped back and joined the MPNFL I would be disappointed as I have loved my 35+ years of watching them at a high level, but I'd support them all the same, despite having ties at both Karingal and Somerville. 

Yeah I feel the same AJ. It's really hard to feel any connection to Sandy these days despite great memories. Melbourne made a real effort in the alignment, which kept the Zebs alive and relevant, but the Saints have never cared and so the club has become a shell. If Frankston ever aligned it would be a very, very sad day.

I never liked Sandy Paul......but even I have found myself feeling really sad for their supporters. Rivalries aside, that was a very proud footy club with a very distinct identity. To watch it stripped away over the years has been awful. I couldn't bear watching that happen at Frankston, would rather walk away completely.

Ild take a alignment over lower league. Ild doubt ild watch a game if Port played in a local competition, at least not on a regular basis.. Port Melbourne vs Point Cook doesn't have the sane buzz as Port Melbourne v Collingwood. At least with a alignment playing at the top level wouldn't be the same however it would be some consolation and ild probably still watch games on a semi regular basis as long as the club still felt like it was representing Port Melbourne and not its aligned partner.

Fascinating to read people's thoughts on this. 

I (like my father) barracked for Camberwell through to the clubs eventual demise when we left the VFA and joined the VAFA. What few supporters the Cobras had drifted away until it really was a supporter base that you could pretty much count on two hands. It was a depressing end to a club that had good success in the 70s and 80s. I wouldn't wish that on any club or its supporters.

When Camberwell folded we started following Port who had a strong season in '93 and we have followed the Borough ever since.

I would hate to see the Borough drop down to suburban level. I believe it would be the death of the club. 

Although I dislike the idea of an alignment, I will say for the most part I still enjoyed following us during the Swans alignment as the majority of players from the Swans were committed and played their guts out and nearly knocked off a star studded Geelong side. 

The North Melbourne alignment was a mixed bag, both from the buy-in by players and the intrusiveness of the Kangaroos coaching staff and selection/match time etc.

I would prefer to see the SANFL and the genuine VFA/VFL clubs merge or align the two comps so that we are still playing at the elite level. I realise the financial requirements of travel make that somewhat of a pipe dream. 

At a minimum I want to see the QLD and NSW clubs playing in their own state leagues. Develop your own state comps!

Would I still support Port at a suburban level? To some extent perhaps, but I would probably go to less games. 

I've been burnt once with Camberwell dropping down and folding. I'd hate to live through that again. It's soul destroying. 

Agree with NorthPort that the Queensland and NSW teams need to be playing in their own state leagues. If the QAFL isn't up to the standard for AFL reserves (not that I like the idea of AFL reserves being mixed in with standalone clubs) then either put the effort into developing it or considering reviving the NEAFL. I'm sure plenty of players and club staff would prefer that as well instead of being flown in and out of Victoria on the same day. 

As for an alignment, my main concern with the idea is the fact that, in this day and age, alligned clubs generally don't retain any of their own identities during the alignment. Sandringham have been able to keep some elements of it, but Casey and Box Hill are AFL reserves in all but name. Preston went through the same thing during their alignment with Carlton. I think Frankston's status as having always been standalone carries a lot of weight to some supporters, and stripping that away (as well as the Dolphins identity) risks alienating some supporters.

Coburg and Bullants will be around at least next 2 years if not longer. I have spoken to people from both clubs last 2 weeks. Frankston would just die if dropped from state league as MPFNL would not accept them, went through that in 2017. I wish people would stop bringing up this issue.

Port Melbourne have won twice and williamstown once. Werribee looking very good to make it 4 flags for the standalone vfa clubs. Williamstown could be main danger.  As for Preston and coburg they will be there next year and beyond. 

"Frankston would just die if dropped from state league as MPFNL would not accept them."

The AFL wouldn't give the MPNFL a choice, but let's hope it never comes to that.

The MPNFL might have a different stance now, given that they are likely to go to three divisions. Applications are coming in and apparently some of the applicants will likely go into division one. From what I'm hearing some clubs aren't rapt about moving down a division but are reluctantly accepting it as inevitable. I'm still pretty hopeful that it won't come to that, but gee as a club I think we need to know what options are available to us if the worst happens.