VAFA General Discussion

[bedford]

FWIW new vafa president creating a big footy account and the Herald Sun doing a write up on Div1-Div4 recruits, what other nuggets does 2024 have in store? Bedford as the new mod?

Happy to accept fwiw

 

[Archangel17]

First step in Swinburne merging with South Yarra in the SFNL from 2027. Would honestly be a win-win.

I'm quite confident that we will never see Chadstone, Eley Park or Masala in the senior ranks again.

Yeah don't see that as much of a win for Swinburne - South Yarra- with no criticism of I'm sure are some great people and history - have been on death's door for well over a decade. What do they actually bring to Swinburne? Similarly how does the SFL help Swinburne? They are right on the northern boundary of the SFL so will have a lot of travel- other than paying players which won't come from the uni, I cannot see that being appealing. Div 3 VAFA has several opposition who are just down the road and Latrobe and Albert Park are probably closer than most SFL opposition.
I also wonder if such a move would end University support entirely, presuming there is some - even if it is only priority access to players from the student body? To me it sounds like a stay of execution for South Yarra and possibly the beginning of one for Swinburne

 

[ClaudiaCarvin]

I think the care factor is there and thats why the Divisions restructure was floated. Six teams in a Division is far from ideal. How would you solve the issue of club retention?

Chaddy, Eley Park and Swinburne chose to go to thirds (and Masala chose to stay in thirds), even though VAFA was trying to help them by creating a competitive division 4, just for them. I imagine the VAFA won't try and help these clubs out again...
Surely a death nail for all 3 clubs...

 

[God Yeah]

Yeah don't see that as much of a win for Swinburne - South Yarra- with no criticism of I'm sure are some great people and history - have been on death's door for well over a decade. What do they actually bring to Swinburne? Similarly how does the SFL help Swinburne? They are right on the northern boundary of the SFL so will have a lot of travel- other than paying players which won't come from the uni, I cannot see that being appealing. Div 3 VAFA has several opposition who are just down the road and Latrobe and Albert Park are probably closer than most SFL opposition.
I also wonder if such a move would end University support entirely, presuming there is some - even if it is only priority access to players from the student body? To me it sounds like a stay of execution for South Yarra and possibly the beginning of one for Swinburne

Call it a takeover then, South Yarra get the ground at the back of Swinburne again to finally have a home.

 

[10571z]

Ammos have now lost 16 clubs from the divisions since 2016 when there was 6 divisions of 10 plus D3 with 12 sides. I wonder what will happen over the next 10 years.

Footy is in a tough spot. We saw 2 paying eastern clubs fall over last year only to revive themselves..

IMO
Access to world travel
Saturday work
Access to other sports
Injury Risk

Has really hurt local football overall. To many clubs and nowhere near enough players. Dead set poor footballers expecting money.

 

[bedford]

Footy is in a tough spot. We saw 2 paying eastern clubs fall over last year only to revive themselves..

IMO
Access to world travel
Saturday work
Access to other sports
Injury Risk

Has really hurt local football overall. To many clubs and nowhere near enough players. Dead set poor footballers expecting money.

And clubs like in the Southern are offering like 600 a game to players that are no world beaters , St Pauls Bentleigh are a great example

 

[Archangel17]

Call it a takeover then, South Yarra get the ground at the back of Swinburne again to finally have a home.

Yep a death knell for Swinburne and a slow death for South Yarra. Would be heinous for Swinburne committee to accept this

 

[bedford]

Yep a death knell for Swinburne and a slow death for South Yarra. Would be heinous for Swinburne committee to accept this

Isn't it so sad that little clubs are being destroyed , while the elite just thrive and don't give a flying F about anyone else

 

[Dogs till i die]

Footy is in a tough spot. We saw 2 paying eastern clubs fall over last year only to revive themselves..

IMO
Access to world travel
Saturday work
Access to other sports
Injury Risk

Has really hurt local football overall. To many clubs and nowhere near enough players. Dead set poor footballers expecting money.

I agree re injury risk but I also think the physical toll our game has on local footballers over a season and over multiple seasons is high.

I'm starting to think we should consider reducing the length of our games - maybe 18 mins per qtr to start with. Remember, a lot of our footballers may train only one night a week, some not at all, hence the explosion in "thirds" footy. Players still love footy but maybe not the commitment of playing senior suburban footy as it is. Footy is a hard physical game when you are fit but bloody hard and maybe not enjoyable when you're lacking fitness. Lack of fitness results in injury, the cycle continues, more phone calls are needed to fill the reserves on the weekend.

Remember, many local games of local footy are already decided by 3qt, reducing playing time makes sense and won't change the results of games. Many games are one sided, we don't need the full game as is.

Reducing the weekly physical toll may also extend player involvement a year or two more.

We're losing clubs all over the country, maybe time to discuss solutions for player retention.

 

[JS#35]

72 minutes for a game of footy? Wtf is this?

 

[JimmyR20]

I agree re injury risk but I also think the physical toll our game has on local footballers over a season and over multiple seasons is high.

I'm starting to think we should consider reducing the length of our games - maybe 18 mins per qtr to start with. Remember, a lot of our footballers may train only one night a week, some not at all, hence the explosion in "thirds" footy. Players still love footy but maybe not the commitment of playing senior suburban footy as it is. Footy is a hard physical game when you are fit but bloody hard and maybe not enjoyable when you're lacking fitness. Lack of fitness results in injury, the cycle continues, more phone calls are needed to fill the reserves on the weekend.

Remember, many local games of local footy are already decided by 3qt, reducing playing time makes sense and won't change the results of games. Many games are one sided, we don't need the full game as is.

Reducing the weekly physical toll may also extend player involvement a year or two more.

We're losing clubs all over the country, maybe time to discuss solutions for player retention.

Long felt a shorter season with more byes would be beneficial.

 

[God Yeah]

Yep a death knell for Swinburne and a slow death for South Yarra. Would be heinous for Swinburne committee to accept this

It's vicious pub talk at the moment, unfortunately when you start hearing it from multiple sources you start to wonder.

 

[Max Leader]

20 years on Big Footy.
#getalife

 

[SeaSide]

20 years on Big Footy.
#getalife

?

 

[Jezzawank0]

20 years on Big Footy.
#getalife

Any big footy kids ?

 

[Max Leader]

?

Just got awarded my 20 years Big Footy Participation medal.

 

[Long time lurker]

Hearing that the big issue in 2026 is going to be what is the right criteria for VFL listed players to be eligible to play VAFA finals. According to someone who was there last night, the VAFA wanted a blanket 12 games+ VFL games and you are out rule, certain clubs want some discretion for "home grown" talent.

 

[Max Leader]

Hearing that the big issue in 2026 is going to be what is the right criteria for VFL listed players to be eligible to play VAFA finals. According to someone who was there last night, the VAFA wanted a blanket 12 games+ VFL games and you are out rule, certain clubs want some discretion for "home grown" talent.

If they get their way, the rule then becomes null and void. Most VFL players are home grown. The basis of the rule is to have “amateur” players playing VAFA, not VFL players playing VAFA.

 

[Long time lurker]

If they get their way, the rule then becomes null and void. Most VFL players are home grown. The basis of the rule is to have “amateur” players playing VAFA, not VFL players playing VAFA.

Well the minimum VAFA games qualification rule is there but it is fairly easy to comply with and open to shenanigans. Your point as to when does a VAFA amatuer player on a VFL list become a pro, and when does a pro become an amateur is the core of the issue. Is a true one pointer who goes to the VFL the same as former pro with no club history on arrival but bunny hops their way down from 4+ over time to become a one pointer deserving of equal treatment?

 

[Keano15]

Well the minimum VAFA games qualification rule is there but it is fairly easy to comply with and open to shenanigans. Your point as to when does a VAFA amatuer player on a VFL list become a pro, and when does a pro become an amateur is the core of the issue. Is a true one pointer who goes to the VFL the same as former pro with no club history on arrival but bunny hops their way down from 4+ over time to become a one pointer deserving of equal treatment?

If you a regular VFL player (walk up start) I don't believe it is possible to qualify for VAFA finals. However if they get dropped or ask to play a few VAFA rounds, then they can qualify. If their VFL side makes finals then that rules them out too.

I think in a majority of cases the VFL players playing VAFA finals are depth players for the VFL clubs.

 

[bedford]

If you a regular VFL player (walk up start) I don't believe it is possible to qualify for VAFA finals. However if they get dropped or ask to play a few VAFA rounds, then they can qualify. If their VFL side makes finals then that rules them out too.

I think in a majority of cases the VFL players playing VAFA finals are depth players for the VFL clubs.

Will they change the stupid Nathan Jones rule

 

[Champ or Chump]

If you a regular VFL player (walk up start) I don't believe it is possible to qualify for VAFA finals. However if they get dropped or ask to play a few VAFA rounds, then they can qualify. If their VFL side makes finals then that rules them out too.

I think in a majority of cases the VFL players playing VAFA finals are depth players for the VFL clubs.

Set a limited in ALL comps on what players who CHOOSE VFL as primary club can play before they are eligible to play finals - simple

 

[Max Leader]

Set a limited in ALL comps on what players who CHOOSE VFL as primary club can play before they are eligible to play finals - simple

NFNL are looking at 12 games, same as the VAFA.

 

[Champ or Chump]

NFNL are looking at 12 games, same as the VAFA.

Correct - Have implemented min 4 to be played and max 12 in VFL before being ineligible was announced this week I believe Max

 

[Long time lurker]

NFNL are looking at 12 games, same as the VAFA.

Yes, but the VAFA pulled the rule change due to certain clubs raising concerns. They wanted exemptions to the 12 game ineligibility clause if the player is a 1 or 2 pointer. So the VAFA are going back to the drawing board.

 

[bedford]

Yes, but the VAFA pulled the rule change due to certain clubs raising concerns. They wanted exemptions to the 12 game ineligibility clause if the player is a 1 or 2 pointer. So the VAFA are going back to the drawing board.

Confirmation of that ?