SeaSide
Team Captain
Should Werribee exit the VAFA to join the WRFL, they will be leaving the Premier metropolitan football competition in Australia to join a competition in which they will become a club going nowhere in a competition which is also going nowhere and has never been anywhere.
Leaving to retain their players so that they can be paid is an excuse, not a reason. What is the real reason, and it isn’t travel? My club joined the VAFA over 30 years ago; travel is part of the Amateur enigma. We have a great club culture and there is an incredible camaraderie amongst the playing group which has a first-rate interaction with our 50+ volunteers. Occasionally we lose players to rival clubs, averaging around 10 annually, rarely to WRFL clubs but mainly due to relocation.
Werribee Districts is well respected amongst all north and western based VAFA clubs as strong, well coached and with sound management. Decisions to leave one competition to join another should not be merely a (current) committee decision, but a decision for only fully paid Club members and life members, not just ego trippers who are here today, make a rash or rushed decision, then head off elsewhere and leave the archaic result to those who follow and try to pick up the pieces.
In the Ammos, clubs have seasonal ups and downs. We play at different levels depending on past rates of success or failure. My club, of which I am a LM has played in all lower divisions and currently poised to (hopefully) promote itself to the Premier divisions. We know that should we get there that local WRFL clubs will pay us a visit and attempt to poach players: they know that the Ammos play an excellent standard of football, albeit complemented by very good footballers. Our club does not, as a club look for instant gratification, loves it when it happens but we are prepared to accept the vagaries of the competition and play at our level.
A club thinking of leaving should be positive and consider the competition alternative for its future players. Former SFL clubs such as Beaumaris, Parkdale and Mentone are examples of successful VAFA clubs surrounded by poachers. Prior to jumping, a few phone calls and perhaps a few cups of coffee with some good heads at those successful clubs should be in order.
I have not volunteered the name of my club as this missive is personal, not Club sanctioned. If anyone can’t work it out, please go to a doctor and take some of those remorseful heads from Rupo with you.
Leaving to retain their players so that they can be paid is an excuse, not a reason. What is the real reason, and it isn’t travel? My club joined the VAFA over 30 years ago; travel is part of the Amateur enigma. We have a great club culture and there is an incredible camaraderie amongst the playing group which has a first-rate interaction with our 50+ volunteers. Occasionally we lose players to rival clubs, averaging around 10 annually, rarely to WRFL clubs but mainly due to relocation.
Werribee Districts is well respected amongst all north and western based VAFA clubs as strong, well coached and with sound management. Decisions to leave one competition to join another should not be merely a (current) committee decision, but a decision for only fully paid Club members and life members, not just ego trippers who are here today, make a rash or rushed decision, then head off elsewhere and leave the archaic result to those who follow and try to pick up the pieces.
In the Ammos, clubs have seasonal ups and downs. We play at different levels depending on past rates of success or failure. My club, of which I am a LM has played in all lower divisions and currently poised to (hopefully) promote itself to the Premier divisions. We know that should we get there that local WRFL clubs will pay us a visit and attempt to poach players: they know that the Ammos play an excellent standard of football, albeit complemented by very good footballers. Our club does not, as a club look for instant gratification, loves it when it happens but we are prepared to accept the vagaries of the competition and play at our level.
A club thinking of leaving should be positive and consider the competition alternative for its future players. Former SFL clubs such as Beaumaris, Parkdale and Mentone are examples of successful VAFA clubs surrounded by poachers. Prior to jumping, a few phone calls and perhaps a few cups of coffee with some good heads at those successful clubs should be in order.
I have not volunteered the name of my club as this missive is personal, not Club sanctioned. If anyone can’t work it out, please go to a doctor and take some of those remorseful heads from Rupo with you.
