VFL 2026

[Spiny Norman]

He wasn't retiring , they had a better deal than the Swans

Interesting, the Giants' own report of his signing claims he'd announced his retirement. Suppose there's only so much accuracy that can be expected. Even if he had, they and Sydney would have been foolish to not try to get him.

 

[Flyingleslieskite]

Interesting, the Giants' own report of his signing claims he'd announced his retirement. Suppose there's only so much accuracy that can be expected. Even if he had, they and Sydney would have been foolish to not try to get him.

Hooper was never retiring from VFL
He just announced he was leaving port due to relocating to Sydney.

 

[bedford]

Hooper was never retiring from VFL
He just announced he was leaving port due to relocating to Sydney.

He never said when he was leaving Port that he was going to GWS , it was a delicate situation with his employment

 

[AussieNick1999]

If the above is the plan, it begs the question on what they will do with the new Tasmania team coming into the VFL next year? It's not like they can drive to Melbourne grounds and vice versa; do they get back to the Tassie leagues.

That said consistency is not a word the AFL understand.

Tasmania is probably fine. We had a Tassie Devils team in the VFL in the 2000s. Flying between Hobart and Melbourne is easier logistically than flying between Melbourne and Brisbane or Sydney.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Is financial sustainability not already a requirement? Frankston's license was stripped when we went into administration and Preston were booted out due to their debts. Or will the AFL be setting a new criteria to determine if a club is "sustainable?"

We'd better not be required to play them. At the end of the day these clubs exist to compete for and win premierships for their community. That's what people pay their membership fees for. The AFL should not be imposing rules that prevent clubs from fielding their best possible teams.

I think we can be confident that people paying their VFL memberships will be at or near the bottom of the AFL’s priorities.

 

[emuboy]

In the case of Tasmania I would think not. The two clubs might share a name (and home grounds, temporarily) but are still different entities. The modern Tasmania Devils are a new club built from scratch. It's not unlike the Moorabbin VFA club that existed in the 80s - they took the name and colours of the original Moorabbin Football Club (which had been booted from the VFL and folded in 1965) but were a different club built from the ground up rather than a continuation.

Wow, I never knew that the Moorabbin team that played in VFA Div 2 from 1983-1987 was treated as a different club from the original one that played from 1950-1964, especially given they wore the same blue and white jumpers and were both known as the Kangaroos. I always thought they were the same club, mind completely blown.

 

[AussieNick1999]

I think we can be confident that people paying their VFL memberships will be at or near the bottom of the AFL’s priorities.

Do you think about anything other than what the AFL wants?

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Do you think about anything other than what the AFL wants?

I just try to reside mostly in reality.

 

[AussieNick1999]

I just try to reside mostly in reality.

Then consider the reality of being a standalone club supporters who wants their club to succeed. Maybe then you'll understand why so many supporters would be ticked off by how dismissive you come across.

 

[bedford]

Wow, I never knew that the Moorabbin team that played in VFA Div 2 from 1983-1987 was treated as a different club from the original one that played from 1950-1964, especially given they wore the same blue and white jumpers and were both known as the Kangaroos. I always thought they were the same club, mind completely blown.

Correct , even the great Fred Cook , Sammy Kolt and Bob Profitt played for them

 

[MegaA]

He never said when he was leaving Port that he was going to GWS , it was a delicate situation with his employment

Similar to spiny I do remember a report saying he was retiring from vfl - may have been on our website when announcing he wasn’t playing for port in 26

 

[bedford]

Similar to spiny I do remember a report saying he was retiring from vfl - may have been on our website when announcing he wasn’t playing for port in 26

That's it

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Then consider the reality of being a standalone club supporters who wants their club to succeed. Maybe then you'll understand why so many supporters would be ticked off by how dismissive you come across.

I’m not saying it’s necessarily a good thing, but it’s just reality. The AFL has stripped licenses from standalone VFL clubs when given the chance. They’re not gonna blink at imposing rules on who they need to recruit or play.

 

[Innovativefwd]

He wasn't retiring , they had a better deal than the Swans

Correct, hearing the introduction came from a former assistant coach who had worked with both Hooper at Port and Giants coach Dennis Lane at Sandy.

Giants presented better and coordinated some work opportunities as a project manager.

Great get for the Giants!

 

[Spiny Norman]

Correct, hearing the introduction came from a former assistant coach who had worked with both Hooper at Port and Giants coach Dennis Lane at Sandy.

Giants presented better and coordinated some work opportunities as a project manager.

Great get for the Giants!

According to the Giants' announcement, his former coach Robbie Chancellor will be at the Giants as well, not sure in exactly what role (the announcement of Hooper's signing doesn't specify):

GIANTS VFL Lands Gun Midfielder

The GIANTS are delighted to announce a major signing for its VFL side.

www.gwsgiants.com.au

 

[AnUltimateRessie]

Tasmania is probably fine. We had a Tassie Devils team in the VFL in the 2000s. Flying between Hobart and Melbourne is easier logistically than flying between Melbourne and Brisbane or Sydney.

hahaha trust me, no it is not. Hobart is not set up for football teams.

 

[bedford]

Ben Hobbs to the Borough

 

[Flyingleslieskite]

Ben Hobbs to the Borough

Can they even afford him

 

[Dogs till i die]

VFL CLUBS TO BE HANDED BLUEPRINT ​

Expect the AFL to set out a clear pathway over the next three years for stand-alone teams and interstate sides in the VFL.

The cost of an eastern seaboard competition is prohibitive and in an ideal world the NSW and Queensland-based teams would play in their own leagues.

The six stand-alone teams in Victoria are likely to be given a blueprint as to what is required of them over the next three years.

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www.codesports.com.au

Am guessing the stand alones will be required to fund their own interstate travel for starters.

 

[Flyingleslieskite]

Am guessing the stand alones will be required to fund their own interstate travel for starters.

What makes you say that

 

[AnUltimateRessie]

Am guessing the stand alones will be required to fund their own interstate travel for starters.

There is no way AFL clubs will be able to do this within the soft cap let alone stand alones in general. Not going to happen.

 

[AussieNick1999]

Am guessing the stand alones will be required to fund their own interstate travel for starters.

No ****ing way they go down this path unless their plan is to actively cull most of the standalones. If this became a requirement then Frankston, Sandringham, Coburg, and probably Port Melbourne would have to drop out.

 

[CFC1995]

No ****ing way they go down this path unless their plan is to actively cull most of the standalones. If this became a requirement then Frankston, Sandringham, Coburg, and probably Port Melbourne would have to drop out.

They won't do that

 

[MortlockWatcher]

They won't do that

Daring the AFL to do something is a challenge you don't want them to take up.

 

[Walshawk]

Time for a 20 game season surely.