The Current VFL /VFA

[Port Adelaide 1870]

Is it the seconds league for the Vic based AFL clubs ?

There are also old VFA clubs still playing in it ?

Do AFL supporters follow their seconds side ?

How do first club supporters i.e. Coburg get on at games where let say they play Richmond seconds ? A second team support .

Is it a strange feel at games ?

Do the VFA V VFA teams have a different atmosphere to AFL reseves teams V VFA teams ?

The VFA teams would have the full gamut of footballers i.e hard nut oldies, not up to AFL standard 25 year olds and young AFL hopefuls.

The AFL reserves sides would have all AFL hopefuls and recruits ?

What is it like at these games ?


Can you guys elaborate

PA1870

 

[Mobbs]

{Is it the seconds league for the Vic based AFL clubs ?} Some have reserves in the VFL, some have merged with what were existing VFL teams.

{There are also old VFA clubs still playing in it ?} Yes, Preston, for instance.

{Do AFL supporters follow their seconds side ?} Yeah, a fair few seemed to turn up.

{How do first club supporters i.e. Coburg get on at games where let say they play Richmond seconds ? A second team support.} It wasn't nearly as strange a scenario as might be feared. Most were fine enough. Plenty of heckle material, both ways.

{Is it a strange feel at games ?} Not particularly.

{Do the VFA V VFA teams have a different atmosphere to AFL reseves teams V VFA teams ?} In a way, but overall, it was still a bunch of different clubs playing each other.

{The VFA teams would have the full gamut of footballers i.e hard nut oldies, not up to AFL standard 25 year olds and young AFL hopefuls.} True, but there seemed to be some star VFL players amongst the Prestons, etc who showed more than some of the lower magoo players. Worked out reasonably even. Merged teams (1 x VFL, 1 x AFL magoo) seemed to be the biggest winners, in general.

{The AFL reserves sides would have all AFL hopefuls and recruits ?} Yep, but some last leggsers, too. And the VFL clubs also had some hopefuls.

{What is it like at these games ?} Grouse enough.

{Can you guys elaborate} Have done, a little.

{PA1870} MFC1906

------------------
Hallowed be thy Roy

 

[Woofer]

yeh it was a little strange last year. I am a Williamstown/Bulldogs fan and last year it was fine as they were aligned (Dogs were split between Werribee/W'Town).

I am in two minds about the new VFL. I had very strong links with the old VFA and followed it religously - the tradition and rivalry was fabulous. There was a buzz when Willy played Port, Preston played Coburg, amongst others. I found it difficult to get excited when Willy played Essendon/Collingwood seconds - just didn't seem right. Having said that the change was inevitable and had to happen. The VFA clubs were struggling, the huge interest had disappeared. The VFA had shrunk from 24 clubs in 1983 to just 9 in 1996 before the 2 country sides were admitted. This was due to live AFL being beamed in from interstate on Sundays - the traditional day for the VFA. The VFA was 'gone' and only the stronger clubs had survived, but even they were struggling.

Yes the AFL clubs supporters did follow the clubs last year. In fact the largest crowds (4-5000) I saw last year at Willy was when Carlton and Collingwood visited.

The old VFA clubs are such much better run these days and their attitude has changed. They no longer recruit in great numbers the has beens from the AFL. They have a core of players with AFL experience but many of these are youngsters losing their place on the AFL list after a couple of years. They no recruit heavily form the TAC Cup from players not making it into the VFL. The old hard 'bashem' players don't exist anymore. The VFL has moved on.

Of course the AFL seconds teams have a core of experienced AFL players but primarily include young 1st/2nd year players and many 'top up' supplemaentary/rookie players. With the shrinking AFL lists I don't see how they will have the numbers to field full sides. Better IMO to align with another club and retain their history etc.

 

[eastaugh36]

I reckon its ridiculous, for example what if in the old days you were a williamstown fan and also a carlton fan, who would you support when these 2 play each other now ? It is weird, I am glad I have Essendon and Glenelg in 2 entirely separate competitions,thats the good thing about being in sa, you get 2 great leagues sanfl and afl, to follow full on.