Remove this Banner Ad

VAFA General Discussion

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

Reader mode
Jimmyjack said:
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.
Click to expand...
Jimmy as I suggested on another thread an option could be that once you allow ‘genuine’ 3s and I think Xavs run one thirds as an under 23, then they could have their 5s/6s play in Div 3 as a 1s/2s side.
This approach works in Adelaide with the bigger clubs like Adelaide Uni and with the bigger clubs in Perth like north beach, Wesley curtin, Uni, Whitford etc
 
hansie said:
Jimmy as I suggested on another thread an option could be that once you allow ‘genuine’ 3s and I think Xavs run one thirds as an under 23, then they could have their 5s/6s play in Div 3 as a 1s/2s side.
This approach works in Adelaide with the bigger clubs like Adelaide Uni and with the bigger clubs in Perth like north beach, Wesley curtin, Uni, Whitford etc
Click to expand...
Perhaps limit the number of thirds teams for each club to three, and to accommodate large clubs with a plethora of players, allow a bench of 10 for those clubs, but play them in the top two divisions.
Just a thought, and another thort, perhaps larger clubs could come to an arrangement with struggling clubs to allow their surplus players to don their guernseys, but wear their home team's socks.
 
andoman21 said:
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.
Click to expand...
Agree. Thirds footy is social footy - footy that you play with your mates. If I was turned away from the club where my mates were because the club wasn't allowed to field any more sides and it already had too many players, I wouldn't think "gee, I think I'll go to some club where I have no connection and know nobody. Even better, I'll pick a chronic basket case that gets flogged most weeks". I don't think many other blokes would either. Most would just pack it in and meet their mates at the pub instead. There will little or no benefit to the struggling sides.

Personally, I don't like OX having five thirds teams either, but so long as they are graded appropriately, I don't object to them fielding all the sides they can fill. I certainly can't justify turning blokes away from footy on the grounds that their club is too popular.

Also, like it or not, I think thirds is going to become bigger as it is a better cultural fit (for want of a better term) for players today. Each generation since WW2 (maybe earlier) has been less willing than the one before to go out of their way to fit in with the demands of organizations and more inclined to put their own comfort / enjoyment first. As a result, many organizations - churches, youth groups, service clubs, volunteer groups of all kinds - have declined or folded. If anything, suburban football has held up surprisingly well, but even this is beginning to change: things that would have been frowned upon even ten years ago (going on an extended overseas trip in May and reappearing just before the finals, holding weddings on winter Saturdays so about 10 blokes in the twos take the day off, etc.) are now common. There's no reason to think this trend is suddenly going to stop or reverse. Lots of players like playing footy without the grind of training twice a week and fronting every weekend. The VAFA (and other leagues) can either accommodate this reality, or lose more players.
 

Log in to remove this Banner Ad

random observer said:
Agree. Thirds footy is social footy - footy that you play with your mates. If I was turned away from the club where my mates were because the club wasn't allowed to field any more sides and it already had too many players, I wouldn't think "gee, I think I'll go to some club where I have no connection and know nobody. Even better, I'll pick a chronic basket case that gets flogged most weeks". I don't think many other blokes would either. Most would just pack it in and meet their mates at the pub instead. There will little or no benefit to the struggling sides.

Personally, I don't like OX having five thirds teams either, but so long as they are graded appropriately, I don't object to them fielding all the sides they can fill. I certainly can't justify turning blokes away from footy on the grounds that their club is too popular.

Also, like it or not, I think thirds is going to become bigger as it is a better cultural fit (for want of a better term) for players today. Each generation since WW2 (maybe earlier) has been less willing than the one before to go out of their way to fit in with the demands of organizations and more inclined to put their own comfort / enjoyment first. As a result, many organizations - churches, youth groups, service clubs, volunteer groups of all kinds - have declined or folded. If anything, suburban football has held up surprisingly well, but even this is beginning to change: things that would have been frowned upon even ten years ago (going on an extended overseas trip in May and reappearing just before the finals, holding weddings on winter Saturdays so about 10 blokes in the twos take the day off, etc.) are now common. There's no reason to think this trend is suddenly going to stop or reverse. Lots of players like playing footy without the grind of training twice a week and fronting every weekend. The VAFA (and other leagues) can either accommodate this reality, or lose more players.
Click to expand...
Spot on!
AND well put.
 
random observer said:
Agree. Thirds footy is social footy - footy that you play with your mates. If I was turned away from the club where my mates were because the club wasn't allowed to field any more sides and it already had too many players, I wouldn't think "gee, I think I'll go to some club where I have no connection and know nobody. Even better, I'll pick a chronic basket case that gets flogged most weeks". I don't think many other blokes would either. Most would just pack it in and meet their mates at the pub instead. There will little or no benefit to the struggling sides.

Personally, I don't like OX having five thirds teams either, but so long as they are graded appropriately, I don't object to them fielding all the sides they can fill. I certainly can't justify turning blokes away from footy on the grounds that their club is too popular.

Also, like it or not, I think thirds is going to become bigger as it is a better cultural fit (for want of a better term) for players today. Each generation since WW2 (maybe earlier) has been less willing than the one before to go out of their way to fit in with the demands of organizations and more inclined to put their own comfort / enjoyment first. As a result, many organizations - churches, youth groups, service clubs, volunteer groups of all kinds - have declined or folded. If anything, suburban football has held up surprisingly well, but even this is beginning to change: things that would have been frowned upon even ten years ago (going on an extended overseas trip in May and reappearing just before the finals, holding weddings on winter Saturdays so about 10 blokes in the twos take the day off, etc.) are now common. There's no reason to think this trend is suddenly going to stop or reverse. Lots of players like playing footy without the grind of training twice a week and fronting every weekend. The VAFA (and other leagues) can either accommodate this reality, or lose more players.
Click to expand...

This is exactly my point and counters all those calling for the VAFA to limit clubs teams.
 
random observer said:
Agree. Thirds footy is social footy - footy that you play with your mates. If I was turned away from the club where my mates were because the club wasn't allowed to field any more sides and it already had too many players, I wouldn't think "gee, I think I'll go to some club where I have no connection and know nobody. Even better, I'll pick a chronic basket case that gets flogged most weeks". I don't think many other blokes would either. Most would just pack it in and meet their mates at the pub instead. There will little or no benefit to the struggling sides.

Personally, I don't like OX having five thirds teams either, but so long as they are graded appropriately, I don't object to them fielding all the sides they can fill. I certainly can't justify turning blokes away from footy on the grounds that their club is too popular.

Also, like it or not, I think thirds is going to become bigger as it is a better cultural fit (for want of a better term) for players today. Each generation since WW2 (maybe earlier) has been less willing than the one before to go out of their way to fit in with the demands of organizations and more inclined to put their own comfort / enjoyment first. As a result, many organizations - churches, youth groups, service clubs, volunteer groups of all kinds - have declined or folded. If anything, suburban football has held up surprisingly well, but even this is beginning to change: things that would have been frowned upon even ten years ago (going on an extended overseas trip in May and reappearing just before the finals, holding weddings on winter Saturdays so about 10 blokes in the twos take the day off, etc.) are now common. There's no reason to think this trend is suddenly going to stop or reverse. Lots of players like playing footy without the grind of training twice a week and fronting every weekend. The VAFA (and other leagues) can either accommodate this reality, or lose more players.
Click to expand...
Have been discussing this with other parents in my young fella’s side (efnl). For reference, I have coached a clubbies/3s in vafa previously (and have been trying to get a vets side up where I am involved now) - the latter for the primary reason stated by this post - I’d rather play for the local club than some random over 50s putting the call out for players where I know no one - footy clubs should be an extension of your home! And the conversation was around the potential benefits of a thirds comp in the efnl to assist with player retention when the bottleneck of 19s to 2s occurs


There will always be the issue of good players taking the easier road or preferring to play less serious/with less talented or committed mates this was going on 20 years ago and won’t change!
And while I am a footy head and traditionalist I’m also pragmatic enough to realise that the system as it is doesn’t work anymore. Back in the 90s Vermont would have in excess of 100 train pre season hoping to land a spot - when they didn’t some went back to their old club and some spilled over to local clubs in the area but that doesn’t seem to happen any more and perhaps clubs need to be bigger as a means to keep younger blokes in the game…
 
andoman21 said:
This is exactly my point and counters all those calling for the VAFA to limit clubs teams.
Click to expand...
100%.
Zero chance the 70 add blokes from the 3 Xavs teams cut would turn around and say "lets go play at Hawthorn Ammo's or Swinburne..."
I'd love to see the Box Hill Norths and Chadstone's of this world thrive. A few at those clubs work their arse off just to survive. I really don't see limiting the teams at the strong clubs will have any effect on the fortunes of above mentioned clubs.
I do like the idea of playing Xavs 4th and 5ths in the D3 comp as seniors and reserves. This year would be perfect chance to trail it. What do they have to lose??
The biggest criticism I have of VAFA HQ is that they don't think outside the box. As an avid VAFA supporter, I would rather see innovation at the lower end rather than all the time and focus they put into rep football. Find the balance. You can do both well.
 
Last edited:

Remove this Banner Ad

Mounzer11 said:
100%.
Zero chance the 70 add blokes from the 3 Xavs teams cut would turn around and say "lets go play at Hawthorn Ammo's or Swinburne..."
I'd love to see the Box Hill Norths and Chadstone's of this world thrive. A few at those clubs work their arse off just to survive. I really don't see limiting the teams at the strong clubs will have any effect on the fortunes of above mentioned clubs.
I do like the idea of playing Xavs 4th and 5ths in the D3 comp as seniors and reserves. This year would be perfect chance to trail it. What do they have to lose??
The biggest criticism I have of VAFA HQ is that they don't think outside the box. As an avid VAFA supporter, I would rather see innovation at the lower end rather than all the time and focus they put into rep football. Find the balance. You can do both well.
Click to expand...
Great call
 

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

Therry Subs are $550, $380 for students
All Women & Under 19’s play for free

Get a training & pre game warm up tee with it. Decent value for money.

Most EDFL clubs around us are $700-$900
 
bedford said:
Great call
Click to expand...
Mounzer11 said:
100%.
Zero chance the 70 add blokes from the 3 Xavs teams cut would turn around and say "lets go play at Hawthorn Ammo's or Swinburne..."
I'd love to see the Box Hill Norths and Chadstone's of this world thrive. A few at those clubs work their arse off just to survive. I really don't see limiting the teams at the strong clubs will have any effect on the fortunes of above mentioned clubs.
I do like the idea of playing Xavs 4th and 5ths in the D3 comp as seniors and reserves. This year would be perfect chance to trail it. What do they have to lose??
The biggest criticism I have of VAFA HQ is that they don't think outside the box. As an avid VAFA supporter, I would rather see innovation at the lower end rather than all the time and focus they put into rep football. Find the balance. You can do both well.
Click to expand...
Good post. I think we all would like to see the Box Hill Norths and Chadstone's thrive but this won’t happen unless things change. Unless we try something different we will never know but as referenced in your post the VAFA are not big on innovation. I have said many times that Thirds has it place but personally (and it’s just my view) I think the balance is going too far. 15 years ago we had 7 senior and 2 Thirds grades. It's now 6 and 5 with D3 on its last legs. In five years time are we happy having the VAFA as a 4 or 5 division senior/reserves comp while we have a 7 Divisions of Thirds?

As I understand it we have lost 4 clubs to divisional football this off season alone with a 5th in peril. Having a 5 team division is not ideal so keep the lower division viable I think your suggestion that clubs with multiple Thirds teams consider playing against senior and reserves teams in D3 has merit.
 
Last edited:
Reader mode

Remove this Banner Ad

Similar threads

Mr Platinum
    • Haha
A Section VAFA Premier 2026
10 11 12 13 14
Replies
339
Views
38K
XXXXAFL
X
Mr Platinum
    • Like
GoFundMe For VAFA footballer Michael Pisker
Replies
1
Views
7K
AM
A

Remove this Banner Ad

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

Back
Top Bottom