EDFL Premier Discussion 2025

[Nepotism]

Yes, self-interest is the only things that drive these Comps. Usually, an ex-President of one of the bigger clubs in the league is running the show or is the power behind the throne at the league administration level.

And if Melbourne had one suburban league structure across the city and a well-run salary cap, it would be great to see Deer Park play Heidelberg or Rowville play Dingley and you would get massive crowds.

 

[Sth Melb Hellas]

Why would I want to watch Heidelberg play Deer Park when neither are my teams.

 

[Nepotism]

Possibly to determine who is the premier local footy club in Melbourne.

 

[Del231899]

Why would I want to watch Heidelberg play Deer Park when neither are my teams.

Wouldn't that be the same for any clubs who isn't your team, maybe it'd create more outside interest and bigger crowds to watch a Keilor v Heidelberg

 

[Nepotism]

Wouldn't that be the same for any clubs who isn't your team, maybe it'd create more outside interest and bigger crowds to watch a Keilor v Heidelberg

Yes, yes, yes MB, I was just using those two teams as an example. We can use Keilor v Heidelberg if you want as another example. The point being there should be one suburban league across the whole of Melbourne.

 

[The 5th Quarter]

Yes, yes, yes MB, I was just using those two teams as an example. We can use Keilor v Heidelberg if you want as another example. The point being there should be one suburban league across the whole of Melbourne.

You have the VFL or the VAFA.
You’d also get players potentially wanting more money to cover the cost of travel, ie fuel, vehicle maintenance, citylink, etc.

 

[Nepotism]

We are only talking about just 2 or 3 of the top teams from each league around Melbourne so presumably they would be the ones who would make up the combined Div 1 of this superleague and as we know a lot of those teams have major backers as well. They would consistently get higher crowds for these games and therefore more turnover. Don't you sometimes wonder who is the best local level league team in Melbourne?

 

[BlueJet]

Yes, yes, yes MB, I was just using those two teams as an example. We can use Keilor v Heidelberg if you want as another example. The point being there should be one suburban league across the whole of Melbourne.

Keilor v Heidelberg/Balwyn matchups aside. What is the point?
You're killing off local rivalries & adding additional overheads in the scenario put forward with no clear benefit & placing more hurdles between your average club and success just so those that treat community sport as a dick measuring contest have a better platform to do so.

 

[Epictetus]

One thing is for sure... what's currently happening isn't working.

 

[Nepotism]

Maybe or maybe not, you are putting clubs closer to those teams who are predominately the same standard.

Local leagues where one team consistently beats another by over 10 gaols isn't really a rivalry.

And pretty soon, new rivalries will be forged.

 

[NorthernBastard]

Rivalry doesn't need to be with the team who is the closest to you in the Melways - As it stands clubs often don't play against their closest geographical rival as they're in different divisions, but we don't complain.

 

[The Longblow]

Why would I want to watch Heidelberg play Deer Park when neither are my teams.

Because your team doesn't play ussie rules Hellas

 

[Del231899]

Maybe or maybe not, you are putting clubs closer to those teams who are predominately the same standard.

Local leagues where one team consistently beats another by over 10 gaols isn't really a rivalry.

And pretty soon, new rivalries will be forged.

You could have all finals teams this year in each premier league, play in the top division, so there will still be rivalries there, at the moment we've got Keilor with a winning average close to 200 points against two teams that would think they are a chance of playing finals, and that's been sanctioned for this year. They could even up the salary to 200k for that division.

We've got metro clubs complaining about possible extra travel, maybe have a look how much hay footy club have travelled each year for 40 years

 

[BlueJet]

Rivalry doesn't need to be with the team who is the closest to you in the Melways - As it stands clubs often don't play against their closest geographical rival as they're in different divisions, but we don't complain.

Of course.
Obviously Heidelberg to Montmorency, Greensborough, Bundoora, North Heidelberg or Keilor to Strathmore, Abers, Paco makes sense from both a rivalry & logistical standpoint, moreso than driving to Balwyn, Noble Park etc though.

 

[Sth Melb Hellas]

Keilor v Heidelberg/Balwyn matchups aside. What is the point?
You're killing off local rivalries & adding additional overheads in the scenario put forward with no clear benefit & placing more hurdles between your average club and success just so those that treat community sport as a dick measuring contest have a better platform to do so.

Maybe they should volunteer at a club before making league decisions.

 

[Sth Melb Hellas]

Wouldn't that be the same for any clubs who isn't your team, maybe it'd create more outside interest and bigger crowds to watch a Keilor v Heidelberg

Because your team doesn't play ussie rules Hellas

You need your eyes checked.

 

[Dogs till i die]

Keilor v Heidelberg/Balwyn matchups aside. What is the point?
You're killing off local rivalries & adding additional overheads in the scenario put forward with no clear benefit & placing more hurdles between your average club and success just so those that treat community sport as a dick measuring contest have a better platform to do so.

Well BJ, one good point of this proposal is that it could actually improve each of the local leagues given the growing gulf between the big and powerful and the rest.

It's become obvious that each of the comps are now dominated by a few clubs with the rest not able to compete.

Look at season 2024 - in the EDFL the premiers beat the bottom side by 126 & 109 pts in the H&A, in the EFL by 102 & 84, the SFNL by 111 & 124, the WFNL by 25 & 138 whilst the NFNL was the closest, 36 & 81.

I'd suggest this has been the pattern for a decade or more and I don't think that's a good thing.

 

[Calmdowngoldy]

Word from the Cougars den is that the person who posted the story of money being misappropriated at committee level is an ex player now playing at Deer Park

 

[Sth Melb Hellas]

The one league model will be no different. The top Division will just be filled by different teams. Keilor, Vermont, Balwyn, Deer Park, Noble Park, Heidelberg etc.

I just see a replication of the English Premier League. The rest of us eating the scraps.

240 teams in Melbourne. 40 would probably disappear. That's a big league.

 

[Del231899]

Of course.
Obviously Heidelberg to Montmorency, Greensborough, Bundoora, North Heidelberg or Keilor to Strathmore, Abers, Paco makes sense from both a rivalry & logistical standpoint, moreso than driving to Balwyn, Noble Park etc though.

Maybe they could even do divisions like North and south and you only play teams in your division to the grand final

 

[ZingerAbed]

Clearances are another 10 days behind again. Disappointing the EDFL were leading the way through the off season with regular updates but have dropped the ball recently.

 

[BEST OF EDFL]

Maybe they could even do divisions like North and south and you only play teams in your division to the grand final

Ever since local footy started there has always been a gulf between good and bad . Cyclic !

Let’s just get on with it there is no perfect scenario

 

[Del231899]

Ever since local footy started there has always been a gulf between good and bad . Cyclic !

Let’s just get on with it there is no perfect scenario

The gap between the top and bottom has never been wider and that's state wide. It's a massive issue and you can't just put your head in the sand

 

[Flyingleslieskite]

Keilor player Reuben William

Reuben William

Age

28

Ht

182cm

Wt

82kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.7

3star

K

5.0

2star

HB

6.7

4star

M

2.0

2star

T

2.3

4star

MG

221.3

3star

No current season stats available

D

11.7

3star

K

5.0

2star

HB

6.7

5star

M

2.0

3star

T

2.3

4star

MG

221.3

4star

has been appointed as the Western Jets talent lead.

 

[BlueJet]

Maybe they could even do divisions like North and south and you only play teams in your division to the grand final

Perhaps. I'm yet to hear why it should be done though.
Even with a Champions league style setup, I can imagine the appeal dying off relatively quickly.

Well BJ, one good point of this proposal is that it could actually improve each of the local leagues given the growing gulf between the big and powerful and the rest.

It's become obvious that each of the comps are now dominated by a few clubs with the rest not able to compete.

Look at season 2024 - in the EDFL the premiers beat the bottom side by 126 & 109 pts in the H&A, in the EFL by 102 & 84, the SFNL by 111 & 124, the WFNL by 25 & 138 whilst the NFNL was the closest, 36 & 81.

I'd suggest this has been the pattern for a decade or more and I don't think that's a good thing.

The proposal doesn't really address that. Amongst those power clubs there'll still be a hierarchy & soon enough they'll find their place.
It reads like change for the sake of it tbh & does nothing to address the causes of any underlying issues IMO. Which stem from participation & certain clubs taking the piss with the rules.
In the scenario put forward, some of those clubs are rewarded for cheating..