The other thing that surprised me when reading that was Adelaide & Port Adelaide could be part of the VFL as early as next season especially given the SANFL competition is going fine as it is and would significantly dilute / destroy the fabric of that competition in South Australia while that this would also bump the VFL competition to 23 clubs unless they decide to bump a non-affiliated VFL team out of the system (most likely going to be Northern Bullants).
Hilarious the author didnt include Southport as one of the pokie driven clubs.Not targeted specifically at our club, but all AFL club’s 2nds sides might be part of a new expanded national reserves competition, which is said to be in place by start of 2027 season, replacing the current VFL system.
AFL-wide reserves comp or VFL going national flagged by Eagles boss in potential massive change
AFL-wide reserves comp or VFL going national flagged by Eagles boss in potential massive changewww.foxsports.com.au
A national AFL reserves competition, or expanded VFL, could be on the cards in the coming years as West Coast flagged concerns over the club’s options in the west.
Code Sports reports Eagles CEO Trevor Nisbett fronted the WAFL club presidents on Tuesday after his struggling club was granted list concessions following a winless season and third wooden spoon in a row.
He told the presidents West Coast had the possibility of following Adelaide and Port Adelaide in abandoning their state leagues and either joining an expanded VFL or full AFL reserves competition to develop their young players.
The move would cost the WAFL $600,000 a year in license fees and $1 million if Fremantle did the same and abandoned their partnership with Peel Thunder.
The other options floated by Nisbett, to align with a WAFL club (most likely Perth Demons but this would be very hard to get across the line) or spreading their players across the league (which would be difficult to run and out-of-line with all other AFL clubs), were viewed as much more unrealistic by the presidents which is why they took the AFL reserves competition threat so seriously.
The Western and South Australian clubs are the only ones not involved in the expanded VFL, which holds the historic name despite featuring clubs in New South Wales and Queensland, including 2023 premiers Gold Coast.
Adelaide and Port Adelaide could be involved in an expanded VFL as soon as next season, according to the report, and a full AFL reserves comp is viewed as a possibility for 2027 - as long as the arrangements with AFL airline partner Virgin are changed so all team flights can be chartered.
The VFL currently features a whopping 21 clubs - 11 reserves sides for Gold Coast, Brisbane, the Western Bulldogs (Footscray), Collingwood, Richmond, North Melbourne, Carlton, GWS, Geelong, Essendon and Sydney, plus aligned sides Casey (Melbourne), Box Hill (Hawthorn) and Sandringham (St Kilda).
There are also seven stand-alone sides - Werribee, Williamstown and Port Melbourne who have financial advantages through pokie machines, plus Southport, Frankston, Northern Bullants and Coburg.
The uncompetitiveness of the latter three became a major concern last season with Coburg going winless while Northern Bullants finished with a percentage of 40.4.
Veteran
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now ask how many southport members have had a slap on the pokies!
We had to many talls in the team at times last year so I am happy enough that he has moved on.
Also signed from Wilston Grange, Bailey Gordon, Joel Budarick and returning is Zack Derksen.
port melbourne legend will martyn
Yeah, what happened there? Not a good fit I'm guessing.
I think he just decided he wanted to head back home to queensland
Can a QAFL club really pay more than a VFL club?? I'm not sure Grange are as flush for cash as people think.
yes, nearly every league can pay more than a VFL club
VFL salary cap $110k for about 10 players.
Brisbane probably have the highest paid players because of how they set up their program but yes, the best of the QAFL get big bucks the rest get * all.
I’m pretty sure any players under age of 21 /22 can only be paid a set amount of $200 or $250 per game at VFL level from my understanding. So Lions low ball the younger top ups and pay overs to ex AFL type players or delisted players.
Great to see Reville get a go, a story of persistence.
