News NEAFL to merge with VFL

[bedford]

This really does not make any sense.
1. The VFL clubs will smash the non-AFL NEAFL clubs;
2. If the AFL is paying the airfares, there is no saving;
3. The non-AFL NEAFL clubs will need to find significant extra player payments to compete and they may not be able to do so;
4. If the AFL subsidises the non-AFL NEAFL clubs for extra player payments the AFL's costs will increase;
5. Canberra is out. If Sydney Uni cannot compete it means that there is no pathway or higher competition in NSW or the ACT. That's a population of over 8 million, and that can't be good for the expansion of the game.

Edit: forgot the Riverina, where footy is strong. But the point remains - no non-AFL pathway in Sydney, Canberra and the bulk of NSW.

Clubs will only travel probably 2 times , Swans if have a ressies will only mainly play in Q, or NSW and maybe 2 in VIC

 

[DavyRed]

This really does not make any sense.
1. The VFL clubs will smash the non-AFL NEAFL clubs;
2. If the AFL is paying the airfares, there is no saving;
3. The non-AFL NEAFL clubs will need to find significant extra player payments to compete and they may not be able to do so;
4. If the AFL subsidises the non-AFL NEAFL clubs for extra player payments the AFL's costs will increase;
5. Canberra is out. If Sydney Uni cannot compete it means that there is no pathway or higher competition in NSW or the ACT. That's a population of over 8 million, and that can't be good for the expansion of the game.

Edit: forgot the Riverina, where footy is strong. But the point remains - no non-AFL pathway in Sydney, Canberra and the bulk of NSW.

Re your points:
1. Yes, they may smash some of the NEAFL clubs but perhaps not all VFL clubs will and not all NEAFL clubs. Southport are generally quite strong. In addition, Canberra Demons withdrawing means that Sydney Uni should have all of NSW to themselves as a stand-alone team attracting non-AFL players. They could well get absolutely inundated with players trying to play in the new league and should be able to take their pick of the very best from them (assuming they don’t also withdraw, of course).
2. There will be some savings though. For example, two leagues merging into one should remove a significant portion of the current administrative and support infrastructures spread over, and in some cases duplicated over, the two leagues, if they do it right. I don’t know the comparative dollars but there will have to be some savings coming out of this.
3 & 4. Agreed on that
5. Agreed and that’s my major concern. If NSW players can’t play in this league without moving interstate and, of course no longer even have the NEAFL option, this will be a terrible move for player development here.