VAFA General Discussion

[bedford]

FWIW new vafa president creating a big footy account and the Herald Sun doing a write up on Div1-Div4 recruits, what other nuggets does 2024 have in store? Bedford as the new mod?

Happy to accept fwiw

 

[bedford]

nah

A joke if nothing

 

[God Yeah]

One way to get around the ‘beer’ ban is to allow it within the clubrooms.

This is already in place.

 

[God Yeah]

12 game vfl rule passed tonight.

For those that don't know, is that rule defined as a player who plays 12 or more VFL games is then ineligible for finals with their nominated VAFA side?

 

[Jimmyjack]

Does De La still have 3 x u/19s teams??
I would say every club is under pressure to remain competitive/viable in their own universe. Some are better equipped to handle it than others.
All comps are having issues at the bottom end. The difference is that there is an easy way out for the VAFA clubs - just pay players and move leagues. Other leagues don't seem have that luxury or that "easy" solution. Very few clubs just decide to stop paying players and move the other way.
The fact is - the VAFA turn out more players than any other comp each weekend by a long way. It's not perfect but other leagues would kill to have turn out we do.
I think we tend to view other competitions with rose coloured glasses.....

Two this year is my understanding. Have been very fortunate to generally have good U19 numbers but have worked hard on this for decades. For a small school a good proportion of students make their way to the footy club, and we should never take that for granted. However it sort of proves my point as numbers means nothing in the context of senior results, as evidenced by a winless 2025 season and a % of 40. Reality is that fewer players are transitioning to senior football. The reasons for this are well documented and is not confined to the VAFA. More and more are just giving the game away and fewer are becoming senior players. In our case at least we are also seeing more of the talented kids being lured by money to the paying comps. It is what it is.

There is a place for Thirds but in my view, I think it has gone too far. Provides an easy option for players to just pick and choose when they play without really committing to the club or engaging in broader club activities. It is essentially a social competition and should never be used as a gauge of the relative strength or otherwise of club or competition. I think it is inevitable that the VAFA loses another division either next year or the following year. I would rather see a suburban club survive and have 6 viable divisions of seniors and reserves then Old Xavs enter yet another 3rds team and see further expansion of the Thirds grades. While we have more teams competing then other leagues, the reality is that we are leaking clubs to other comps while others are becoming thirds only or disappearing completely. This is not an issue just confined to the VAFA.

 

[Mr Platinum]

Who cares, get on with the footy.

 

[bedford]

Who cares, get on with the footy.

Many do that aren't at the exclusive top level

 

[Mr Platinum]

Many do that aren't at the exclusive top level

Only 10 teams can be in the top level, footy is footy, get out there and enjoy it and stop bitching and whining that some clubs aren’t going to be in the VAFA.

Are you still president of the South Eastern Football League?

 

[bedford]

Only 10 teams can be in the top level, footy is footy, get out there and enjoy it and stop bitching and whining that some clubs aren’t going to be in the VAFA.

Are you still president of the South Eastern Football League?

Footy southern bayside

 

[10571z]

For those that don't know, is that rule defined as a player who plays 12 or more VFL games is then ineligible for finals with their nominated VAFA side?

Great news NFNL did the same

 

[CARLTON2011]

Player transfers updated. Gone from 19 pages to 37.

 

[10571z]

The VAFA need to introduced player contracts so clubs actually can know their players are secured and not always available to paying clubs.

 

[bedford]

With 2 key staff members gone recently , is all not right at headquarters

 

[Max Leader]

The VAFA need to introduced player contracts so clubs actually can know their players are secured and not always available to paying clubs.

As there is no compensation the standard for an enforceable contract cannot be met. Thus a waste of paper.

 

[10571z]

As there is no compensation the standard for an enforceable contract cannot be met. Thus a waste of paper.

Well clubs need some way to secure their players. The brains trust at VAFA HQ would do well to think of one.

 

[CARLTON2011]

Playing in the VAFA is a year to year proposition. To have "contracts" just would not work in the amateur world.

 

[random observer]

There is a place for Thirds but in my view, I think it has gone too far. Provides an easy option for players to just pick and choose when they play without really committing to the club or engaging in broader club activities. It is essentially a social competition [...]I would rather see a suburban club survive and have 6 viable divisions of seniors and reserves then Old Xavs enter yet another 3rds team and see further expansion of the Thirds grades. While we have more teams competing then other leagues, the reality is that we are leaking clubs to other comps while others are becoming thirds only or disappearing completely [...]

In some ideal world, I'd agree with you. If the choice was just having blokes either (a) play divisional (quality) footy or (b) play thirds (social / 'park') footy, I'd rather they chose (a). But in the real world, blokes have the choices (a) playing divisional footy, (b) playing thirds footy, or (c) not playing at all. And if you restrict / remove thirds football, a lot are going to not play at all. I'd rather see clubs survive as thirds-only than die altogether, shrinking the VAFA still further.

As an observation, a lot of players have good reason for playing thirds. Many have casual work with odd hours that are changed at short notice, making it impossible to commit to training or playing regularly. Against this, amateur footy pays nothing. Paying the rent / mortgage is far more important than playing amateur footy (of any level), so they are going to work instead. That is just inevitable, and probably going to get worse.

 

[bedford]

In some ideal world, I'd agree with you. If the choice was just having blokes either (a) play divisional (quality) footy or (b) play thirds (social / 'park') footy, I'd rather they chose (a). But in the real world, blokes have the choices (a) playing divisional footy, (b) playing thirds footy, or (c) not playing at all. And if you restrict / remove thirds football, a lot are going to not play at all. I'd rather see clubs survive as thirds-only than die altogether, shrinking the VAFA still further.

As an observation, a lot of players have good reason for playing thirds. Many have casual work with odd hours that are changed at short notice, making it impossible to commit to training or playing regularly. Against this, amateur footy pays nothing. Paying the rent / mortgage is far more important than playing amateur footy (of any level), so they are going to work instead. That is just inevitable, and probably going to get worse.

Doesn't mean a club should have more than 2

 

[Jimmyjack]

In some ideal world, I'd agree with you. If the choice was just having blokes either (a) play divisional (quality) footy or (b) play thirds (social / 'park') footy, I'd rather they chose (a). But in the real world, blokes have the choices (a) playing divisional footy, (b) playing thirds footy, or (c) not playing at all. And if you restrict / remove thirds football, a lot are going to not play at all. I'd rather see clubs survive as thirds-only than die altogether, shrinking the VAFA still further.

As an observation, a lot of players have good reason for playing thirds. Many have casual work with odd hours that are changed at short notice, making it impossible to commit to training or playing regularly. Against this, amateur footy pays nothing. Paying the rent / mortgage is far more important than playing amateur footy (of any level), so they are going to work instead. That is just inevitable, and probably going to get worse.

I did say in my original post that Thirds has its place. And the reasons you mentioned for playing at a social level have always existed, e.g. work commitments. But when one club has 5 x Thirds teams and several nearby senior clubs are now Thirds only due to lack of players, I personally think the balance has tipped too far.

 

[andoman21]

Always better to have young men playing than not playing. The mental health benefits post covid are significant. There seems to be this assumption that if a xavs went from 5 to 2 teams that these players would somehow be reallocated to other clubs? the vast majority just wouldn't play imo and this overall outcome isn't desirable. To somehow think 90 odd players would find another club is just wishful thinking. I wonder if it was a St Mary's or Therry with three thirds teams if the protest would be as loud.

 

[GerryG]

Always better to have young men playing than not playing. The mental health benefits post covid are significant. There seems to be this assumption that if a xavs went from 5 to 2 teams that these players would somehow be reallocated to other clubs? the vast majority just wouldn't play imo and this overall outcome isn't desirable. To somehow think 90 odd players would find another club is just wishful thinking. I wonder if it was a St Mary's or Therry with three thirds teams if the protest would be as loud.

You made good sense .. until your last sentence..

 

[Jimmyjack]

Always better to have young men playing than not playing. The mental health benefits post covid are significant. There seems to be this assumption that if a xavs went from 5 to 2 teams that these players would somehow be reallocated to other clubs? the vast majority just wouldn't play imo and this overall outcome isn't desirable. To somehow think 90 odd players would find another club is just wishful thinking. I wonder if it was a St Mary's or Therry with three thirds teams if the protest would be as loud.

Clubs are folding or moving competitors to remain viable. Unlike smaller country leagues the VAFA has the capacity to do something to reverse the trend or at the very least stabilise the competition. I’m making no assumptions at all about players relocating but perhaps it is time to try something different. I know HQ would have no appetite for this but maybe trial capping the Thirds at a maximum 3 per club. If this makes no discernible difference then change it back. What do you have to lose? And with respect your last comment is bizarre. On what planet do St Marys or Therry have 5 Thirds teams? This is not an attack on Xavs. They are an outstanding club but not sure having 5 Thirds teams does much for the fabric of the competition.

 

[andoman21]

Clubs are folding or moving competitors to remain viable. Unlike smaller country leagues the VAFA has the capacity to do something to reverse the trend or at the very least stabilise the competition. I’m making no assumptions at all about players relocating but perhaps it is time to try something different. I know HQ would have no appetite for this but maybe trial capping the Thirds at a maximum 3 per club. If this makes no discernible difference then change it back. What do you have to lose? And with respect your last comment is bizarre. On what planet do St Marys or Therry have 5 Thirds teams? This is not an attack on Xavs. They are an outstanding club but not sure having 5 Thirds teams does much for the fabric of the competition.

Please read what I wrote...i said what if St Mary's/ Therry with THREE teams not five. St Mary's on the verge of two under 19 teams this year in addition to a thirds, so potentially not that fanciful-it was just an example. Not sure how capping teams helps unless you think players will relocate to other vafa? Seriously, of the 90 guys who wouldn't have a team, how many would go to other clubs? 10-15? Xavs have 5 thirds teams means lots of young men being engaged.

 

[eth-dog]

Please read what I wrote...i said what if St Mary's/ Therry with THREE teams not five. St Mary's on the verge of two under 19 teams this year in addition to a thirds, so potentially not that fanciful-it was just an example. Not sure how capping teams helps unless you think players will relocate to other vafa? Seriously, of the 90 guys who wouldn't have a team, how many would go to other clubs? 10-15? Xavs have 5 thirds teams means lots of young men being engaged.

Who's told you that?

 

[bedford]

Who's told you that?

Jon Anderson who is surely outdated defending headquarters again , needs to retire from the media

 

[andoman21]

Jon Anderson who is surely outdated defending headquarters again , needs to retire from the media

Wrong on both counts..i am not defending headquarters just stating a point of view