Reserves to Return

[telsor]

Would imagine Collingwood's would be at Victoria Park, as they already are.

Essendon's would be at Windy Hill. Carlton's at Princes Park. Footscray's at Whitten Oval. Richmond's at Punt Road. North's at Arden Street. Geelong at Kardinia.

No doubt, they'd probably play some games elsewhere too, like regional centres.

Hawthorn, I'm not sure about. Would they just play at Waverley? Or perhaps back at Glenferrie Oval? And St Kilda also- back at Moorabbin or down at Seaford (does the Linen House Centre have any spectator provision?)

Also not sure about the Dees.

Not sure all could play at their traditional grounds.

Before the renovation currently underway at Punt Road, it wasn't fit for play (odd shape).

I suspect Glenferrie isn't really upto it either, it's been a long time since the ground was used in anger.

Wouldn't Essendon need permission from the bowls club? More seriously, would they want to maintain 3 grounds?


Alternative venues is an interesting one. I know Richmond would play some games at their training center at Cragieburn ( I think the contract says 3 or 4 ), but would Hawthorn/North be interested in extending their deals to play more games in Tas?

 

[DamoESP]

The current situation of having 4 or so byes every season can't continue - it's impossible bringing players back into the seniors. But it makes it harder to find the next Barlows of the world - without them competing against AFL players prior to being drafted.

exactly..not only does having 4 byes rob players of game time to get match fit..it also stops situations where a player gets suspended in the VFL for a week, so cannot play in the AFL but if there is a bye in the VFL that weekend cannot serve his suspension, so then has to miss two AFL games before his one week suspension is served, happened to Warnock this year.

 

[NTRabbit]

how do collingwood and geelong currently manage?

top up somehow?

They have a list of around 20 players who are refered to as top-up players.If those players don't get a game they just play with the club they're from.

There has also been talk in the last year or two that the AFL is going to kill off the rookie system, and expand team lists to 50 players, as part of their negotiations with the AFLPA. That would be enough for a seniors and a reserves side, barring a large injury list.

 

[Doss]

Wouldn't Essendon need permission from the bowls club? More seriously, would they want to maintain 3 grounds?

When the club announced the move to Tullamarine, they said something along the lines of 'maintaining a presence at Windy Hill, including VFL matches'.

Apart from anything else, I don't think the Tullamarine facility is designed in any way to be a spectator facility.

That's interesting about Punt Road, btw, didn't know that.

 

[theflea]

Can the AFL pick up the tab for a Vic only competition - surely the clubs would have to pay their way?

yep agree all or nothing. the afl wont tho so its moot.

 

[MaddAdam]

North and a couple of other struggling Victorian clubs will certainly be up the creek if the AFL doesn't.

You've been telling me we'll be dead within three years for the last five. Here we are sitting in 6th with a gun young list and record membership.

 

[MaddAdam]

Would imagine Collingwood's would be at Victoria Park, as they already are.

Essendon's would be at Windy Hill. Carlton's at Princes Park. Footscray's at Whitten Oval. Richmond's at Punt Road. North's at Arden Street. Geelong at Kardinia.

No doubt, they'd probably play some games elsewhere too, like regional centres.

Hawthorn, I'm not sure about. Would they just play at Waverley? Or perhaps back at Glenferrie Oval? And St Kilda also- back at Moorabbin or down at Seaford (does the Linen House Centre have any spectator provision?)

Also not sure about the Dees.

I doubt Western Oval or Arden Street would meet health and safety for paying customers in the hundreds or low thousands - access to toilets etc. Great surfaces to train/play on though.

 

[theflea]

I doubt Western Oval or Arden Street would meet health and safety for paying customers in the hundreds or low thousands - access to toilets etc. Great surfaces to train/play on though.

this is the thing about playing at training venues that need to be considered. these grds amenities will need upgrading.

 

[telsor]

When the club announced the move to Tullamarine, they said something along the lines of 'maintaining a presence at Windy Hill, including VFL matches'.

Apart from anything else, I don't think the Tullamarine facility is designed in any way to be a spectator facility.

That's interesting about Punt Road, btw, didn't know that.

When Punt Road was widened, the flank down that end was cut off, so that side of the ground is more a straight line than an oval shaped curve.

I did wonder if Tulla was able to take a crowd. That said, it doesn't take much to handle a <5K crowd (and lets face it, that's all these games will usually get). I suppose parking would be the hardest part.

 

[MaddAdam]

this is the thing about playing at training venues that need to be considered. these grds amenities will need upgrading.

North are pretty committed to Ballarat long term anyway. Even if we were to runa stand alone VFL team, I'm 100 per cent sure we'd base it out of Ballarat anyway, probably some deal with North Ballarat.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Essendon will play at Windy Hill, thats always been the plan.

Problem with a couple of grounds (eg Waverley) is its completely open so you couldnt charge admission (if that's a consideration). Also no parking at Waverley. It really isn't set up for footy matches.

Glenferrie is basically just parkland.

But ultimately finding grounds would be a relatively small problem.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Those wishing for the removal of the TAC cup can forget about it, in a recent review into Vic footy,a state wide under 23 comp was proposed and you can almost bet will happen, and would seem logical and highly likely for it to be an expansion of TAC clubs.

There'll always be some kind of elite "state" league for players between the ages of 18 and say 25, this could be the format it takes (at the moment it's the VFL). There is a demand for mature AFL recruits and it's only growing. The AFL will always want a pathway and showcase for these players. Last thing the AFL clubs want is to be traipsing around countless suburban and local leagues trying to identify and track these talents. There will always be some kind of league for this, whether its the VFL or something else.

 

[Mitchell Madness]

Would imagine Collingwood's would be at Victoria Park, as they already are.

Essendon's would be at Windy Hill. Carlton's at Princes Park. Footscray's at Whitten Oval. Richmond's at Punt Road. North's at Arden Street. Geelong at Kardinia.

No doubt, they'd probably play some games elsewhere too, like regional centres.

Hawthorn, I'm not sure about. Would they just play at Waverley? Or perhaps back at Glenferrie Oval? And St Kilda also- back at Moorabbin or down at Seaford (does the Linen House Centre have any spectator provision?)

Also not sure about the Dees.

Waverly Cannot be used, isnt set up for any sort of traffic (even a training session can be a nightmare for traffic) and isnt serviced by any sort of public transport
Glenferrie is under Renovations, and when complete will be the training base for the Melbourne Rebels, so that is out of the question, not to mention the ground is a postage stamp
I suppose we could use Glen Waverly sporting ground

Moorabbin is a bit of an interesting one, lack of parking, but trains about 20 mins away and plenty of buses


I cant help but think that the push for a new reserves comp has something to do with Fox Footy, as the AFL were always against it despite teams pushing for it

 

[The_Wookie]

Waverly Cannot be used, isnt set up for any sort of traffic (even a training session can be a nightmare for traffic) and isnt serviced by any sort of public transport
Glenferrie is under Renovations, and when complete will be the training base for the Melbourne Rebels, so that is out of the question, not to mention the ground is a postage stamp
I suppose we could use Glen Waverly sporting ground

Moorabbin is a bit of an interesting one, lack of parking, but trains about 20 mins away and plenty of buses


I cant help but think that the push for a new reserves comp has something to do with Fox Footy, as the AFL were always against it despite teams pushing for it

Saints and Tigers have both given indications that they want games back at Moorabin and Punt Road. Carlton already play out of Princes Park and the Bombers already out of Windy Hill IIRC. Wouldnt surpise me if the Hawks or North played games out of Tassie. Dees would have to be out at Casey you'd imagine or maybe share with the Tigers - theres no way they'd let reserves play on the G or Etihad any more before a match to protect the surface. Doggies would be happy at Whitten, Pies at Vic Park, geeling etc etc

Club push not an AFL one.

Port Melbourne would be the most dominant side in the EAFL.

 

[Tulip]

Hope not.

We have a mutually beneficial partnership with the City Of Casey.

 

[Tulip]

You would presume all of these reserves teams would use the former suburban home grounds, which will be nice.

Can the G take 5 teams?

 

[Doss]

Can the G take 5 teams?

Whether they would want to ever play reserves games at the 'G (in terms of overuse of the turf etc.), I'm not sure.

Not sure how much credence the article behind this has, but it made no mention of what position Footscray, Melbourne or North have in relation to this. Perhaps Melbourne are more inclined to maintain the Casey association.

 

[LeverPuller]

Whether they would want to ever play reserves games at the 'G (in terms of overuse of the turf etc.), I'm not sure.

Not sure how much credence the article behind this has, but it made no mention of what position Footscray, Melbourne or North have in relation to this. Perhaps Melbourne are more inclined to maintain the Casey association.

We've signed a 30-year deal so I'd say so.

Of the grounds, Hawthorn, Melbourne and possibly St Kilda (because I have no idea what sort of state Moorabin is in) would have problems.

Where issues will come up will be clubs breaking agreements with affiliates sides in the VFL. I know Essendon have gotten out of Bendigo and Richmond are on their way out of Coburg, but the Dogs, North, Melbourne, Hawthorn, St Kilda and Carlton all have affiliate deals still.

Oh, and it's Kim Hagdorn so I won't believe it til I see it.

 

[Silent Alarm]

At the moment, it's all a bit complicated and convoluted. In the AFL, you have mismatched and thrown together VFL sides. Then you have the TAC Cup. It's my belief that the AFL want everything under their own tidy banner: The WAFL is for the WAFL, SANFL exclusive of the Crows... etc.

I'm a supporter of the retention of idea. So perhaps this is a win-win situation. Clubs like Box Hill don't have to rename themselves the Hawks, and meanwhile, Hawthorn's fringe players can play at a high level while also playing in a 'Hawthorn' way.

Someone mentioned a VFL 'Premier League' system. I dunno, is that viable?

 

[SpeciousArgument]

 

[TradeDraft]

They employ VFL players like the other VFL clubs.

Also Aligned with the Murray Bushrangers for Top Up VFL Players

 

[TradeDraft]

Can the G take 5 teams?

Well your Club Needs it too

 

[PattyKwasagun]

Surely all clubs would be better served if the reserves comp became one with each club fielding a side? Some may bring up the cost, but the NRL does it with their under 21's comp and I think we're significantly better off financially than them. It really is something missing from our game at the moment, and it'd be great to see it come in. Also, it would help reserves players be more ready for the step up after playing against other listed players. This may just be my QLD bias showing though, but I really think an 18 team reserves comp would be better than just the Victorian clubs. Dreaming?

 

[PieNSauce]

I think the admission of AFL owned clubs into the VFL spelled the death of the VFL as a competition of interest. You can't have 2 teams whose whole reason for existence is to win an AFL premiership in a competition where other clubs are focussing on a VFL premiership. It simply makes a mockery of the whole concept.

On the subject of a reserves competiton I can't see how it would be allowed as a Vic only competition. The AFL will fear that an entire competition which excludes interstate sides could create a massive divide in an environment where it needs the interstate clubs to be succesful for the success of the competition. Personally I think the loss of reserves as curtain raisers was a terrible thing for the average punter because it pretty much killed off the concept of a day out at the footy. They can put on as many bands as they like before games but it will never be quite the same as far as I'm concerned. Unfortunately, I think the reality is it will be unlikely to get traction without AFL support and frankly I can't see the AFL going near it with a 40 foot barge pole.

 

[The_Wookie]

I think the admission of AFL owned clubs into the VFL spelled the death of the VFL as a competition of interest. You can't have 2 teams whose whole reason for existence is to win an AFL premiership in a competition where other clubs are focussing on a VFL premiership. It simply makes a mockery of the whole concept.

On the subject of a reserves competiton I can't see how it would be allowed as a Vic only competition. The AFL will fear that an entire competition which excludes interstate sides could create a massive divide in an environment where it needs the interstate clubs to be succesful for the success of the competition. Personally I think the loss of reserves as curtain raisers was a terrible thing for the average punter because it pretty much killed off the concept of a day out at the footy. They can put on as many bands as they like before games but it will never be quite the same as far as I'm concerned. Unfortunately, I think the reality is it will be unlikely to get traction without AFL support and frankly I can't see the AFL going near it with a 40 foot barge pole.

The AFL may not be given a choice by the big Victorian clubs (assuming this story has any basis) and it would prefer to be involved than have them run their own reserves comp. The bye situation was ridiculous this year and cannot be allowed to continue for another season. Reserves clubs are barely playing 2/3rds of a season due to the VFL fixture. Not to mention the cost of an annual VFL license has doubled for no apparent reason other than a money grab by AFL Victoria.

The push for a reserves league of its own is likely to be welcomed by teams with their own or planning their own VFL sides. Whether the SANFL and WAFL are willing o part with a share of thir profits to allow the SA and WA clubs to compete in it is another story - Port certainly cant afford it at the moment, and Adelaide isnt making a hell of a lot of money at the moment either. The QLD and NSW clubs would appear to be quite cozy in their NEAFL setups and have no real need of a separate reserves league.