SFL to fold??

[Archangel17]

I know i may get some stupid abusive posts in response to this, however please note the following.

Is purely a rumour.
Is doing the rounds of the EFL grapevine and also a few from SFL.

Lets call it a hypothetical, but also realise that the comp is struggling so may be more than just hypothetical, but maybe in the longer term not shorter.

The teams will have to find another comp. Is this by merging with EFL, or do they simply find their own. If they merge VAFA , and Peninsula comp will pick up a couple of teams, but the vast majority will go EFL.
my questions

1. .Is it just rumour.. can anyone add to this??
2. EFL put Noble Park straight in to a high division, and would likely do the same with Balwyn, Clayton , St Pauls.. Will the amateurs still put sides in D4, or will they look at each club individually?
3. How would this effect EFL and VAFA, more teams would make it even harder to move up the grades would VAFA have to consider the multiple E grades again and Would EFL have to bring in 2 up two down?
4. any other thoughts// keep them constructive or at least fun please?

 

[Deegle]

Im guessing that as most, if not all, SFL teams pay players per game/season, the vast majority of SFL teams will go to either the Penninsula league or the EFL as, of course, paying players is theoritcally not permitted in the VAFA.

However, I'm sure there could be a few SFL teams that might be able to make do in the VAFA as it could possibly improve a few teams financial status as there would be no need for player payments-but grog wont be allowed to be sold during the game which cancels out the lack of player payments i guess.

Generally though, any SFL clubs that join the VAFA must be confident that they could find 40-50 players at least willing to play without fee.

 

[can't mark can't kick]

Arch,
very interesting topic.
here are my thoughts.....

Balwyn & Clayton may well move to upper levels of EFL. Other clubs going there would need to be looked at on an individual basis.

Any club that moves to VAFA will go in at D4 (or D5 if there are enough teams moving to start another Section. VAFA rules are quite strict as far as new clubs go.
When Prahran merged with Southbank after 1998 season we had to keep the Southbank constitution to maintain the C Section spot just gained as runner up in D Grade. A new constitution would have meant the club was regarded as an entirely new club and meant starting from D4 again.

likewise Bentleigh and South Districts started at D4 when they left the SFL a few years ago.

I think the problem the SFL has at the moment is getting its feeder comp strong enough to give it an assured future. Clubs without a junior structure always need to recruit 30-40 players from outside the club each year to have a half decent team. South Yarra went into recess for this reason, just couldn't get numbers for one team let alone two, and they had no problems with debt to worry about. Most of the VAFA old boys clubs have a ready made recruiting zone, which is why the VAFA has so many strong clubs. District Clubs without U19 teams usually won't get past C Section and often struggle to stay out of the D Sections.

While I don't think the situation is quite that drastic yet, if SFL does fold, I'd expect most of the northern teams to go VAFA or EFL, and the southern ones to go MPNFL. I doubt you'd see a new league formed if the SFL did fold.
We will see when the stronger clubs start applying for transfers to other leagues.

 

[Archangel17]

One rumour doing the rounds is that Balwyn have already applied to move to EFL.. this would be a body blow to SFL but not i think a terminal one;Mind you this rumor has been floated in previous years

 

[richoooo]

When St Pats Mentone merged with Parkdale only 3 or 4 parky guys stayed with the new team. The rest chased bucks down the peninsula and in the sfl. Some of those guys get paid 100+ bucks a game to play with teams such as Mordialloc (that would struggle in D3). I know Balwyn pay around $100,000 a year and Noble Park pay around $250,000! Thats more than Sandringham in the VFL!

 

[Axel1980]

richoooo - How do they afford to pay out 250K a year? Thats a heap of money on top of the already high running costs of a club like Tape, Physio's ect ect.

 

[The Late Mail]

richoooo - How do they afford to pay out 250K a year? Thats a heap of money on top of the already high running costs of a club like Tape, Physio's ect ect.

In a word...pokies

 

[greentree]

In a word...pokies

Spot on TLM, Noble Park has one of the best grossing Pokies venues in Melbourne.
When SLWP and Beauy entered the Ammos they started at the bottom.
Quickly worked their way up.

 

[Dee Snider]

Spot on TLM, Noble Park has one of the best grossing Pokies venues in Melbourne.
When SLWP and Beauy entered the Ammos they started at the bottom.
Quickly worked their way up.

Interesting thread....also strong rumours that Heidlberg are 80% on their way to EFL, fed up with poor administration of DVFL; and a reluctance of high profile players to join them in the DVFL..just rumours.

Sth Yarra & another side (possible Canterbury?) approached VAFA about 4 years ago but were put on a 'waiting list'....around the same time Box Hill North left SFL and went into D4.

Mail suggests Heidlberg has been told it will go into Div2 in EFL, similar to when Donvale joined.

 

[holding]

I would be very interested to see how Balwyn go if they did make the move to the EFL, likewise Heidelberg

 

[Conduct Unbecoming]

I would be very interested to see how Balwyn go if they did make the move to the EFL, likewise Heidelberg

It would be a dark day for the DVFL if Heidlberg were to leave.

Should Balwyn, Heidlberg end up in Div 1 EFL, there would be 3 teams in Richmond jumpers!

 

[holding]

Should Balwyn, Heidlberg end up in Div 1 EFL, there would be 3 teams in Richmond jumpers

Whats wrong with that? hahaha

If anyone can find the internet sites for the above clubs please let me know, all i can find is www.dvfooty.com

 

[Eddie Woloschek]

Try Google.com

 

[Dee Snider]

Should Balwyn, Heidlberg end up in Div 1 EFL, there would be 3 teams in Richmond jumpers

Whats wrong with that? hahaha

If anyone can find the internet sites for the above clubs please let me know, all i can find is [URL="http://www.dvfooty.com"]www.dvfooty.com[/URL]

Thats the right website - bottom left corner has a 'club sites' page which opens up with club web site links.

 

[pazza]

Some of the history here has been interesting.

Thinking back to the end of 1997. Werribee Amateurs had won the FDFL Division 3 Grand Final, only for the league to take it away, because of playing an suspended player by mistake. It applied to join the VAFA and started in D4 (back then it was E Central!). It also brought its under 19's team over.

They won the D4 reserves flag in 2000 and now finds itself in the upper part of D2. Its 19's until losing all their players to the nearby big clubs like Hoppers Crossing got all the way up to Under 19 1 in the VAFA. Amazing.

 

[The Late Mail]

Should Balwyn, Heidlberg end up in Div 1 EFL, there would be 3 teams in Richmond jumpers

If Balwyn and Heidelberg were in div 1, Mitcham would most certainly bite the dust so that takes care of one out of three!

 

[mcglede]

An interesting thread - I've been wondering why there hasn't been talk of the Southern folding before.

The league is dying going no where and some of the big teams would be better to get out to the EFL and MPNFL if they can.

Having seen a couple of Division Three matches this season, I'd suggest that aside from Parkmore (who will not go into the Ammos inder Houston), the rest would struggle to make it in D4 for at least the next couple of seasons.

East Brighton would be bold to make the move to the Ammos, but in the long term it would be great for them.

 

[richoooo]

Interesting thread....also strong rumours that Heidlberg are 80% on their way to EFL, fed up with poor administration of DVFL; and a reluctance of high profile players to join them in the DVFL..just rumours.

Sth Yarra & another side (possible Canterbury?) approached VAFA about 4 years ago but were put on a 'waiting list'....around the same time Box Hill North left SFL and went into D4.

Mail suggests Heidlberg has been told it will go into Div2 in EFL, similar to when Donvale joined.

Black Rock (SFL 3rd division) are also wanting to move to the VAFA but it has to asked, does the VAFA want clubs that show little hope at being a C grade plus team?

As for Beauy starting from the bottom, ha! I know one of their ammo inaugaral players left his vfa club coz they couldn't match what beauy was offering to pay, and that was in F grade!

The SFL is in real trouble, they simply can't get an unders comp started in an area where ammo clubs dominate that age group.

 

[pazza]

Surely the Moorabbin Saints is a good enough junior competition for the Southern to truly utilise!

 

[Archangel17]

Black Rock (SFL 3rd division) are also wanting to move to the VAFA but it has to asked, does the VAFA want clubs that show little hope at being a C grade plus team?

As for Beauy starting from the bottom, ha! I know one of their ammo inaugaral players left his vfa club coz they couldn't match what beauy was offering to pay, and that was in F grade!

The SFL is in real trouble, they simply can't get an unders comp started in an area where ammo clubs dominate that age group.

Is there a moratorium on player payments.. ? have heard that runour in the past in regards to Beauy, Bentleigh etc.

I think if you look at your Black Rocks and South yarras of the world, they are better, stronger clubs than several floating around d3, D4 ammos with a better infrastructure, not that i would ever wish any side folding, however several are really at the crossroads and may be suited by a d5 or clubbies section, which could be created if SFL teams came across

 

[hansie]

An interesting topic! As a former SFL player now in the Ammos, I have a few things to offer up...

1. Balwyn will go into Divvy 3 EFL next season apparently, and Heidelberg will go to Divvy2. Donvale actually went into D3 originally and promptly won the flag to go into Divvy 2.

2. StPauls and possibly Chelsea Heights would compete in the MPNFL, and I'd imagine Chelt and Highett would go there as well, St Kilda City would be interesting, they could easily go Ammos or WRFL. Ashwood low Eastern or Ammos. East Brighton have no players and would suit the Ammos.

3. Think that Clayton and a few others from various divisions MAY consider starting another comp, possibly a revival of the old Federal League consisting of Clayton, Oak Districts, Springy Districts, Chelt, Highett, Mordi (if they survive), Dingley, Moorabbin Kangas and perhaps Tooronga/Malvern, Nth Kew and Parkmore.

4. The remaining clubs not mentioned here would indeed join the Ammos allowing for a D5, E Grade or further Clubbies section.

Just a few ideas but happy to hear thoughts!

 

[Richard Clay Torpedoes]

The VAFA have a major requirement built into their rules regarding any team wanting to join the VAFA that stipulates that such a club must apply first and they will then be monitored by the VAFA for a full season prior to be permitted to join the VAFA and then if a vacancy in a grade existsin the current D4 section..it isn't a cut and dried as some may expect!

 

[Dee Snider]

An interesting topic! As a former SFL player now in the Ammos, I have a few things to offer up...

1. Balwyn will go into Divvy 3 EFL next season apparently, and Heidelberg will go to Divvy2. Donvale actually went into D3 originally and promptly won the flag to go into Divvy 2.

2. StPauls and possibly Chelsea Heights would compete in the MPNFL, and I'd imagine Chelt and Highett would go there as well, St Kilda City would be interesting, they could easily go Ammos or WRFL. Ashwood low Eastern or Ammos. East Brighton have no players and would suit the Ammos.

3. Think that Clayton and a few others from various divisions MAY consider starting another comp, possibly a revival of the old Federal League consisting of Clayton, Oak Districts, Springy Districts, Chelt, Highett, Mordi (if they survive), Dingley, Moorabbin Kangas and perhaps Tooronga/Malvern, Nth Kew and Parkmore.

4. The remaining clubs not mentioned here would indeed join the Ammos allowing for a D5, E Grade or further Clubbies section.

Just a few ideas but happy to hear thoughts!

Great stuff Hansie!!

I heard that 3 clubs in the Diamond valley (inc. Heid, Nth Heid and someone else..better not say coz I am not sure) plus a couple of Div 1 SFL clubs (incl Balwayn) had 'informal' talks about a breakway league combining teams from across metropolitan Vic this year.

Rumuor suggests that Football Victoria got wind of it and in no uncertain terms knocked it on the head...so a return to the Federal or any other newly created metro type league (although interesting) is very, very unlikley while they run the show. However, there is some concern that the Diamond Valley has 16 teams in Div 2 while the WRFL has about 14...not enough for another divsion but too many for one....maybe watch this space.

Still, some good ideas! Maybe we could get Collingwood Districts or Fitzroy Stars up and running again...

 

[Dee Snider]

1. Balwyn will go into Divvy 3 EFL next season apparently, and Heidelberg will go to Divvy2. Donvale actually went into D3 originally and promptly won the flag to go into Divvy 2. quote]


Ps. Don't see how the EFL could justify allowing Heidelberg into Div 2 but Balwyn only into Div 3? Balwyn's finals record over the past decade surpasses Heidelberg's. Interestingly, I saw them play a practice match against each other a few years back and it would be fair to say Heidelberg's physical approach was a bit overwhelming for the Balwyn boys. Rhys-Jones was coaching back then....

Do both sides have under18s? EFL requires them to compete in Div 2 and above (or they used to anyway).

 

[mcglede]

The VAFA have a major requirement built into their rules regarding any team wanting to join the VAFA that stipulates that such a club must apply first and they will then be monitored by the VAFA for a full season prior to be permitted to join the VAFA and then if a vacancy in a grade existsin the current D4 section..it isn't a cut and dried as some may expect!

So how did Brunswick Power get into the Ammos then?