U18s now VAFA colts

[perspective]

Combined Melbourne Metropolitan U18 Football League


Currently our suburban football leagues seem to be trying to outmaneuver each other with regard to their U18/Colts, U19 and U19.5 plus U18 and weaker (read U19 Reserves) U19 teams to the extent that many of the U18 competitions either fold, or are not worth having.


There are many clubs around the metropolitan area which would like to play their U18s, and if their competition is too panicky to have one, read on.


Have any of our ego tripping administrators from our various metropolitan competitions thought of taking off their blinkers by embracing a new U18 geographically aligned metropolitan body?


A concern for many competition heads gurus is that some of their clubs may try and desert their ships by jumping the fence into a different competition, but that goes both ways. If it happens, then ‘c’est la vie’. It’s a fact of life and has been happening for over 100 years. Can anybody name a club which has been in the same competition since its startup?


The Essendon League has a strong U18 competition, however the WRFL, Riddle and some Northern League clubs may like to join ranks in order to form a year by year (with clubs/teams coming and going) with similarly placed VAFA teams in a combined loose geographically based competition prior to their players returning to their own competitions.


A similar scenario exists with some Northern and Eastern clubs, as with the SFL and MP with all areas dotted with VAFA teams wishing to play.


We, as a football community need to support each other as we don’t want to lose our U18s due to petty jealousies.


Just a thought.

Good in theory Seaside but you hit the nail on the head with your comment about the ego tripping administrators bit, the VAFA tried to counterpunch the SFL/MSJFL alliance by offering the Under 18 comp instead of trying to work collaboratively and the SFL are just as guilty by starting up clubs like Hallam and Endeavour Hills etc weakening neighbouring clubs. It would need to be a collaborative effort from all leagues chaired by AFL Victoria and there is your other problem - AFL Victoria have very little influence.