Reserves to Return

[finders]

Williamstown has played games at Whitten Oval this year already.

Yep with no scoreboard,no toilets outside the grandstand and no visiting change rooms.

Clearly not up to standard oh and BTW there was only one game as Williamstowns own ground was under reconstruction.

 

[Slattery_20]

Still reckon the AFL will fund all teams to have a stand alone team as an attempt at footy dept equalisation by the back door.

Yep, agreed; it's not for the Collingwoods/Geelongs/Essendons of the world, but North & the Dees etc could really use a bit of back door action.
<you left yourself open with that >

Thing I'd really worry about is the finances of the current VFL sides. I doubt more than 2-3 of them (Port definitely, probably Willie, North Ballarat) can turn a buck without the AFL lifeline.

Wayne Jackson was the one who got rid of the Reserves originally, was he not?

If they're changing back to the status quo less than 15 years later, it does make that particular decision in 1998-99 seem...perplexing.

15 years later? The financials have changed - dramatically. League revenue via TV has doubled or tripled. Sponsorships up a similar amount. etc. I think it's a "nice to have". Not a "must have". Much stronger financials allows this to happen.

If this got up, my main hope as far as North is concerned would be that we don't end up with our reserves playing out of Hobart.

I think there'd be relatively few teams who play permanently at only one ground - North might play some @ Arden St, some @ Ballarat (or Hobart); Tigs might play some @ Punt Rd some @ Craigieburn; Bombers might play a few @ Bendigo & some @ WH etc.
I'd love to see footy go on the road a bit - hit up some regional centres.

 

[Slattery_20]

On the same note what does this mean for the VFL? I don't really follow it but wouldn't want to see it die. It always got through in the 80's and earlier though right?

From what I read?
Got through, yes - but since the 70s the comp's pretty much gone downhill. Some pretty bad administration, trying to go head-to-head with the then VFL rather than work out something more pragmatic.
Without the AFL money they would be in a fair old state.

 

[Ant_]

Yep with no scoreboard,no toilets outside the grandstand and no visiting change rooms.

Clearly not up to standard oh and BTW there was only one game as Williamstowns own ground was under reconstruction.

Did you go? Good day, didn't have any issues with the facilities myself. Are you a Coburg Tigers fan?

Obviously you're not going to find toilets outside of the grandstand on the grass area on the wing.

They did have a temp scoreboard up though it was hard to see. The old change rooms race under the Whitten stand is still there.

Nothing is insurmountable in getting back up to standard for a VFL game. In fact the biggest issue would be dealing with Dodgybyrnong council and their agendas.

 

[telsor]

Grounds shouldn't be too much of a problem. The grounds where still played in the 90's, there's no reason why they can't still play there, unless they've torn down the stands or their too run down etc. Windy Hill, Whitten Oval, Vic Park, surely Princess Park. Not sure about Moorabin, heard the stand there's run down or something. Melbourne could possibly be able to use the MCG and prehaps the other few clubs could feed off a couple of the other grounds i.e North off Princess Park or Whitten, Richmond prehaps the G too, not sure about the hawks. If only they kept Waverley.

Many of the grounds are in no state to take a crowd any more. $0 Maintenance for ~30 years has that effect.

That said, there should still be enough that are either good enough or can be quickly & cheaply upgraded to handle the expected crowds ( <5K I'd imagine ) that something could be worked out. With 10 teams, you'd only actually need 2 grounds (1 per ground saturday and sunday, with 1 match/week being played either as a curtain raiser or in the bush/tassie. Clearly more grounds would be better, but it's not a huge ask.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Nothing is insurmountable in getting back up to standard for a VFL game. In fact the biggest issue would be dealing with Dodgybyrnong council and their agendas.

All Councils will make things difficult. Most grounds are already being used for football and clubs and leagues will have leases on them. On top of that the councils OHS people will demand that the grounds are of adequate standard to hold the maximum crowd likely....and that will be in the 8000 to 10000 range. Its irrelveant what the average crowd will be, the ground capacity and local traffic needs to be able to cope with the maximum.

I reckon people saying the logistics of setting up a new reserves comp are not a difficult hurdle are underestimating it in terms of cost, grounds, permits, and fairness.

 

[Ant_]

All Councils will make things difficult.

They can be difficult, however not all councils try and kill a football team and need the State Government to step in and smack the idiots down like what happened with Maribyrnong council.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

They can be difficult, however not all councils try and kill a football team and need the State Government to step in and smack the idiots down like what happened with Maribyrnong council.

I'm not aware of that council in particular but one thing that can be guaranteed.....they wont contribute a penny towards any ground improvemnets and will try and charge extortionate rates for a VFL reserves side to play on their land.

 

[Ant_]

I'm not aware of that council in particular but one thing that can be guaranteed.....they wont contribute a penny towards any ground improvemnets and will try and charge extortionate rates for a VFL reserves side to play on their land.

Of course

 

[Bunk Moreland]

I think there'd be relatively few teams who play permanently at only one ground - North might play some @ Arden St, some @ Ballarat (or Hobart); Tigs might play some @ Punt Rd some @ Craigieburn; Bombers might play a few @ Bendigo & some @ WH etc.
I'd love to see footy go on the road a bit - hit up some regional centres.

I wouldn’t – those areas all have their own clubs and leagues.

There’s clear driver behind a reserves league (as opposed to the current setup) and it’s practicality for the AFL clubs. Trying to turn it into some cynical tool for clubs to try to tap into new markets and make money will just muddy it, ruin it again, and be yet another huge whack to VFL clubs (not that the AFL gives a shit).

 

[Slattery_20]

I wouldn’t – those areas all have their own clubs and leagues.

There’s clear driver behind a reserves league (as opposed to the current setup) and it’s practicality for the AFL clubs. Trying to turn it into some cynical tool for clubs to try to tap into new markets and make money will just muddy it, ruin it again, and be yet another huge whack to VFL clubs (not that the AFL gives a shit).

They all play there currently, there'd be no major difference.
I really don't think people will be turning away from their local leagues in droves to go watch reserves.

 

[MaddAdam]

Yep, agreed; it's not for the Collingwoods/Geelongs/Essendons of the world, but North & the Dees etc could really use a bit of back door action.
<you left yourself open with that >

It was the exact intention of my post. Well done on picking it up.

 

[Slattery_20]

It was the exact intention of my post. Well done on picking it up.

I like to pick up on a bit of bac... WAIT A MINUTE

 

[MaddAdam]

I like to pick up on a bit of bac... WAIT A MINUTE

Let's not turn this into the Sydney board here.

 

[MarkT2]

Dockers and Eagles have been trying to get teams in the WAFL for the past two years. WAFL clubs have told them to GAGF.

The AFL hold the cards via the licences if that is what they want they can ensure it happens. I wouldn't particularly like to to be forced myself but the AFL are not totally opposed to using it. In the end though the WAFL and SANFL understand how much they rely on strong local AFL clubs and it wouldn't be in their interest to see them disadvantaged.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

They all play there currently, there'd be no major difference.
I really don't think people will be turning away from their local leagues in droves to go watch reserves.

So why do it?

Would have thought the only reason to take it on the road was to get crowds.

 

[PINNACLE HEALTH]

It

So why do it?

Would have thought the only reason to take it on the road was to get crowds.

Back in the old days it was great to roll up early to the games at Waverley Park, MCG, Moorabin & watch the reserves playing b4 the Seniors.
You would watch injured Senior players returning, former greats nearing the end of their career & young kids of the future.
Also it gives the up'n'coming players experience on the Major grounds & playing infront of decent crowds that would start to gather by the 2nd half of the reserves.
Another thing that was good about the reserves comp back then was when the reserves were short of players they would occasionally pull a talented player from a local league to fill in which gave him an opportunity to catch the recuiters attention.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

It


Back in the old days it was great to roll up early to the games at Waverley Park, MCG, Moorabin & watch the reserves playing b4 the Seniors.
You would watch injured Senior players returning, former greats nearing the end of their career & young kids of the future.
Also it gives the up'n'coming players experience on the Major grounds & playing infront of decent crowds that would start to gather by the 2nd half of the reserves.
Another thing that was good about the reserves comp back then was when the reserves were short of players they would occasionally pull a talented player from a local league to fill in which gave him an opportunity to catch the recuiters attention.

Realistically though 90% of fans didnt watch the reserves. They arrived at about the 15 minute mark of the last quarter.

 

[Kim Hagdorn]

sportsnewsfirst.com.au have a history of making shit up.

Pfft, would never happen.

 

[madmug]

If this got up, my main hope as far as North is concerned would be that we don't end up with our reserves playing out of Hobart.

They tried that with an alignment with the then Tassie Devils. It killed the alignment so I dont think Norths reserves would be welcomed back any time soon.

 

[vaughany]

sounds great!

 

[Superstar swan]

If the teams could afford it , they should have reserves playing the same sides as seniors .. At least they will be put against afl calibre opposition

 

[Milang_Panthers]

bring it back

 

[Bazzar]

How come the mainstream media havent gone with this story?

 

[stmookeyj]

There possibly wouldn't be any home and away games, some matches would be held as double headers at the suburban venues if they went ahead.

And on the multiple byes issue, there was no issue with byes until the meaningless State League Cup began last year.