Reserves to Return

[greenred]

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.

I'm not so sure it's a simple case of a money grab but more a means of controlling the number of stand alone teams - I don't think the VFL are interested in becoming an AFL reserves competition with a handful of VFA teams.

 

[NTRabbit]

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.

Especially since there's nothing they can do to stop the AFL Clubs from yanking their players from the VFL each weekend, and having them run a season long series of totally unrelated, non-competition based interclub training sessions at venues outside of the control of the AFL.

 

[The_Wookie]

I'm not so sure it's a simple case of a money grab but more a means of controlling the number of stand alone teams - I don't think the VFL are interested in becoming an AFL reserves competition with a handful of VFA teams.

Well i dare say they are about to become defunct in part because of it. Frankston v Port Melbourne every weekend!

 

[ExTasDeeMan]

Would be awesome if they played before the seniors... 2 games for the price of one. A man can dream...........

 

[Hearts to hearts]

If St Kilda can afford it, every club can. And it's not 1896 any more, the AFL runs the whole show, so it will only happen if the Commission can see a way for it to bring in more revenue for them and not be a drain for either clubs or the competition. There won't be a breakaway.

I think the VFL alignment across two clubs works well for North, but obviously there are advantages in managing all your players' development in-house and it would be exciting for fans.

 

[Hard_to_Beat]

So what are Melbourne, Footscray and North planning to do?

I'd be happy if we were to expand our Ballarat interests with North Ballarat as our VFL side.

 

[telsor]

Would be awesome if they played before the seniors... 2 games for the price of one. A man can dream...........

Wont happen. The MCG wouldn't want twice as many players scuffing up the surface. They might let one in every few weeks, but not on a regular basis.

 

[Max Power 83]

Wont happen. The MCG wouldn't want twice as many players scuffing up the surface. They might let one in every few weeks, but not on a regular basis.

The only chance would be if it was the only afl match scheduled for the g that weekend.
Most likely a low drawing match as extra incentive to turn up

 

[telsor]

The only chance would be if it was the only afl match scheduled for the g that weekend.
Most likely a low drawing match as extra incentive to turn up

Considering there would also be a notable cost to playing such games (staff required for longer), I suspect the opposite would be true, with the reserves being part of the lead up to big games...Perhaps that can be part of what signifies a blockbuster.

 

[MrNatural]

Why don't all clubs have their own reserves team? Not just Vic teams.
Would be good to see this. Will make the competition more equal.
Would be good to see these games played as curtain raisers, I'd turn up early to games to watch the ressies run around. This would make it easier for teams to manage their teams if they are playing at the same venue

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Would like to know how much its going to cost.....it certainly wont raise any extra revenue..... and how the hell they are going to find grounds to play on.

And if the AFL is going to subsidise it, isnt that unfair to interstate clubs who wont have the same benefits of standalone clubs?

Also interested to know what the ABC would decide to do with their VFL telecasts.

Theres a LOT of potential problems with this.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

There won’t be curtain raisers. Too much wear and tear on the ground. The MCC don’t even let clubs have one-off training runs on the ground. Etihad has enough surface issues already.

You’d only have them at Geelong.

It was fine in the days of home grounds when you only played 11 home games a year on each ground, but not these days.

Would be interested in the scheduling as being purely a reserves comp it probably wouldn’t be done to attract crowds. I assume it’d be done around AFL games so that senior coaches etc can get to them. I know Bendigo have played at the same time as Essendon a couple of times this year, which probably isn’t ideal.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Would like to know how much its going to cost.....it certainly wont raise any extra revenue..... and how the hell they are going to find grounds to play on.

And if the AFL is going to subsidise it, isnt that unfair to interstate clubs who wont have the same benefits of standalone clubs?

Also interested to know what the ABC would decide to do with their VFL telecasts.

Theres a LOT of potential problems with this.

It’ll obviously cost money. That’s why the reserves were scuttled in the first place. I think what is happening now is we have a critical mass of clubs who can afford it. They see the benefit as worth it.

The major hurdle I think will be WA and SA. They’ll obviously want to be involved which is fair enough. That adds a mountain of cost however.

It won’t happen unless the WA and SA clubs are somehow satisfied, be it with inclusion in this comp or some other arrangement.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

It’ll obviously cost money. That’s why the reserves were scuttled in the first place. I think what is happening now is we have a critical mass of clubs who can afford it. They see the benefit as worth it..

Critical mass of what....5-6 Vic clubs? And do they all have grounds?

Theres still 3-4 Melbourne clubs who probably cant afford it and then another 8 interstate clubs who will want a piece of the action.

Its not that simple.

 

[lemon chicken]

Dont think it will cost anymore than a fielding a stand alone team in the VFL. Licensing is something like $150 grand and going up every year. AFL certainly wont charge that. With the amount of unhappy VFL clubs this is the only outcome.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Dont think it will cost anymore than a fielding a stand alone team in the VFL. Licensing is something like $150 grand and going up every year. AFL certainly wont charge that. With the amount of unhappy VFL clubs this is the only outcome.

Only two teams field standalone teams though.

In hindsight Collingwood and Geelong should never have been allowed to field standalone teams.

Its all good and well to say a breakaway reserves comp has to happen, but the practicalities of it raise more questions than answers

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Grounds are the least of anybody’s problems. There’s plenty of them in Melbourne.

And yes, 6 clubs is enough to get a ball rolling. It’s the majority of Melbourne-based clubs who’ve signalled they’re not happy with the current arrangement and want to go it alone. The AFL clubs hold the power in terms of getting what they want. What I mean by critical mass is it’s enough to bring the issue to a head. The current VFL / AFL reserves arrangement is unsustainable and doesn’t serve it’s purposes.

 

[lemon chicken]

Only two teams field standalone teams though.

In hindsight Collingwood and Geelong should never have been allowed to field standalone teams.

Next year Essendon and Richmond both want sides and Williamstown want out of the Bulldogs alignment.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Grounds are the least of anybody’s problems. There’s plenty of them in Melbourne.

Not so sure about that. They will need to have facilities, parking, council permits, to hold crowds of up to 5000 people. They will need to be fenced.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Next year Essendon and Richmond both want sides and Williamstown want out of the Bulldogs alignment.

Exactly. and fair enough for them to demand what Geelong and Collingwood already have. The AFL have painted themselves into a corner.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Not so sure about that. They will need to have facilities, parking, council permits, to hold crowds of up to 5000 people. They will need to be fenced.

More like 500.

I see your point, but I think they’d find enough grounds amongst the old VFA / VFL grounds, and there’s a few pretty impressive suburban set-ups around. Really think venues are the least of anyone’s problems.

 

[gbatman]

After this season and all the byes that Carlton's Northen Blues have copped then good riddence VFL. No continuity, a poor player development environment, too many mudpits and just not enough football playerd because of the massive ammount of byes. Would most welcome a proper reserves competition and hopefully this sees the resurgence of the curtain raiser which was made going to the footy a great day rather than a great few hours and a good reason to get there early.

 

[Collingwoodity]

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.

plus millions of dollars from other club's coffers

 

[The Prosecutor]

Next year Essendon and Richmond both want sides and Williamstown want out of the Bulldogs alignment.

I think Richmond is 2014.

 

[telsor]

Critical mass of what....5-6 Vic clubs? And do they all have grounds?

Theres still 3-4 Melbourne clubs who probably cant afford it and then another 8 interstate clubs who will want a piece of the action.

Its not that simple.

Critical mass being the majority of Vic clubs.

The problem is that some clubs do run stand alone clubs, and it seems to be an advantage, so other clubs want this too. So unless Geelong/Collingwood go back to the system other teams use, more teams will want that, and the current structure wont allow it. Not really sure the costs would be that much more than it costs to run a VFL team though ( once you take out the 'premium' the VFL charges for standalone teams ).

Interstate clubs are a problem, but would add massively to the costs, and while those clubs might want to join, I suspect the WAFL/SANFL would have their usual whinge, and as they own those clubs who knows how that'll go....AFL might help out with including the NSW/QLD clubs though ( calling it development assistance or some such ).