VFL to merge with NEAFL, under-18 comps revamped in massive changes to AFL’s second tier

Nov 8, 2000
33,295
21,790
South of the river
AFL Club
Fremantle
Other Teams
Peel Thunder
How much does the travel actually cost? Let's say $250 a head return (probably cheaper with their deals with Virgin, etc, but seems a reasonable estimate). You're probably flying what, 30 people? 22 Players, travelling emergency and 6-7 coaching/support staff? Let's be safe and say 32? $8000 per team, you might have what, 8 travelling interstate any given round? Throw in a nights accommodation at $100 a head, 22 rounds a year and you're looking at $1.9 million per year. That's about what Gil gets paid in a normal year.

I really don't know why they don't just create a national reserves competition. They're already halfway there. Becomes easier to package the rights and sell it too which would easily account for the cost. No one probably cares watching if it's the Collingwood reserves vs Southport, but if you have Collingwood Reserves vs Carlton Reserves you'll get a few eyeballs.

Just leave the state leagues to their own devices.

You're kidding yourself if you think the TV rights to a reserves comp are worth anything. You'd be lucky to get any TV coverage at all but for curtain raiser games where the TV gear is already in place.

Your airfare estimate is grossly under as well. Players don't fly on special 90 day advance sale fares.
 

The Victorian

Norm Smith Medallist
Oct 23, 2018
7,088
6,402
Victoria
AFL Club
Gold Coast
Other Teams
Storm, Western Utd
You're kidding yourself if you think the TV rights to a reserves comp are worth anything. You'd be lucky to get any TV coverage at all but for curtain raiser games where the TV gear is already in place.

Your airfare estimate is grossly under as well. Players don't fly on special 90 day advance sale fares.
Would be very interesting to see what they do with TV broadcast. Would Channel Seven only broadcast the match of the week in Victoria or carry the broadcast into Queensland and NSW too
 

The Victorian

Norm Smith Medallist
Oct 23, 2018
7,088
6,402
Victoria
AFL Club
Gold Coast
Other Teams
Storm, Western Utd

The AFL confirmed today that it would meet the travel costs associated with flying players interstate.


It also confirmed no team from Tasmania would be involved next year, with the focus to remain on the state league.

Officials from VFL clubs expect the Magpies, Cats, Tigers, Bombers and Bulldogs to keep their own VFL teams despite the financial squeeze.
 
Aug 14, 2011
44,794
16,853
Trafalgar
AFL Club
West Coast
Other Teams
Mclaren Mercedes F1
Afl have dropped Brad Scott in as head of afl Vic.
With all due respect to Brad, local football in Victoria is in disarray and needs experienced guidance.

It’s time the AFL handed back the keys of state/ local football to an independent state body.
They have absolutely destroyed Victorian football and this is likely to be the final straw for the once proud VFA/ VFL stand alone clubs.

Victoria will now have no premier state level competition.
[/QUOTE]

The second tier is the level below the AFL & Vic has had trouble understanding what that means, a shmozzle of AFL seconds teams, some are alignments that are strong, some change year on year, some VFL clubs of yesteryear, an unrelated U18/19 comp.
The need for the VFL to be AFL in many minds of many has contributed in east coast 2nd tier competitions becoming just another moving part that is not getting the attention needed.

The history is one thing, its how to go forward in changed times with significantly less dollars.
 
Aug 14, 2011
44,794
16,853
Trafalgar
AFL Club
West Coast
Other Teams
Mclaren Mercedes F1
Would be very interesting to see what they do with TV broadcast. Would Channel Seven only broadcast the match of the week in Victoria or carry the broadcast into Queensland and NSW too

Are you expecting 7 to pay, or would the AFL buy the coverage.
7 has exactly the same financial problems facing the AFL.
 

AuTo00Z

Club Legend
Feb 12, 2014
1,404
1,591
AFL Club
Collingwood
Wait, wasn't the NEAFL scrapped for this year due to costs of travel? Surely funding is going to be an issue with proposed merged. The only reason I can think of why they would want to do this is so the northern teams don't return back to the QAFL and Sydney AFL due to the risk of covid, and AFL teams only playing against other AFL teams is safer. So if this does go ahead, and teams in VIC, NSW & QLD play in their own league, what does that mean for SA & WA clubs? I'm sure the AFL wouldn't want them returning back to the WAFL and SANFL due to covid risks, so does that mean they'll have to keep playing scratch matches while the other teams all play proper matches? Cause if that is the case, those teams will be at huge disadvantage imo, since these scratch matches imo are heavily compromised and likely nowhere the level of an actual game. The WAFL and SANFL can still produce talent without the AFL teams (like what they're doing this year), so it begs the question why weren't they invited?
 
Aug 14, 2011
44,794
16,853
Trafalgar
AFL Club
West Coast
Other Teams
Mclaren Mercedes F1
The WAFL and SANFL can still produce talent without the AFL teams (like what they're doing this year), so it begs the question why weren't they invited?
The WAFC control WA footy not the WAFL.
THe WAFC own the AFL clubs & get $millions each year in royalties.
The WAFC are paid $millions every year (for 10 years?) by the State Government for giving up its hold on Subiaco Oval.
The WA junior development scheme has developed over 70+ years & it operates alongside the schools*.
WAFL club zones exist statewide & the clubs are involved.

Why would WA want to get invplved in a national junior development scheme. The only thing the AFL can offer is money.

* one boarding school had 4 AAs last year & a premiership player. One of, but something is working.
 
Apr 24, 2018
3,181
2,485
AFL Club
St Kilda
I’d imagine travel and accommodation would be funded by the AFL
Going buy the press release it will only be the afl clubs joining the vfl the stand alone neafl clubs will
Afl have dropped Brad Scott in as head of afl Vic.
With all due respect to Brad, local football in Victoria is in disarray and needs experienced guidance.

It’s time the AFL handed back the keys of state/ local football to an independent state body.
They have absolutely destroyed Victorian football and this is likely to be the final straw for the once proud VFA/ VFL stand alone clubs.

Victoria will now have no premier state level competition.

The second tier is the level below the AFL & Vic has had trouble understanding what that means, a shmozzle of AFL seconds teams, some are alignments that are strong, some change year on year, some VFL clubs of yesteryear, an unrelated U18/19 comp.
The need for the VFL to be AFL in many minds of many has contributed in east coast 2nd tier competitions becoming just another moving part that is not getting the attention needed.

The history is one thing, its how to go forward in changed times with significantly less dollars.
[/QUOTE]
yep the Afl have done the exact same thing to Tasmanian football we use to have our our own commission and ran everything ourselves then the afl took over about 6 years ago where they sent rob auld Travis brother down for a couple years that was an absolute disaster he was completely useless now Trish squires who was sent down after auld has just been moved to afl Queensland after a couple years talk about instability
 
May 30, 2006
17,516
10,292
Canberra
AFL Club
North Melbourne
Tasmania wont be in the VFL next year or ever then.
Whiuch, given the VFL or whatever it becomes, isn't a competition but a development pool is a good thing for Tasmania. Actualy, its not evenm that. Its a prt development leaguye, part reserves, witha couple opf clubs who are actually there to win it. Truly the worst of the abhorrations created in the destruction of all in the name of "pathway". The way the AFL tramples on all other aspects of the sport is terrible.
 

AuTo00Z

Club Legend
Feb 12, 2014
1,404
1,591
AFL Club
Collingwood
The WAFC control WA footy not the WAFL.
THe WAFC own the AFL clubs & get $millions each year in royalties.
The WAFC are paid $millions every year (for 10 years?) by the State Government for giving up its hold on Subiaco Oval.
The WA junior development scheme has developed over 70+ years & it operates alongside the schools*.
WAFL club zones exist statewide & the clubs are involved.

Why would WA want to get invplved in a national junior development scheme. The only thing the AFL can offer is money.

* one boarding school had 4 AAs last year & a premiership player. One of, but something is working.

I know that, but I'm talking about it purely from a reserves team standpoint, and only mentioned the WAFL still being able to produce talent as point to say that the WAFL don't need those teams playing in the league to produce talent. I never said for them to join the national junior development scheme. I only mentioned the WAFL and SANFL cause we don't know where those team's reserves will play next year, and if the AFL still doesn't allow those AFL teams to play in their local state leagues that could create a problem where those four teams are the only teams not playing proper matches in a proper league.
 

Tackle Bag

Club Legend
Dec 5, 2017
2,101
4,961
AFL Club
Richmond
You're kidding yourself if you think the TV rights to a reserves comp are worth anything. You'd be lucky to get any TV coverage at all but for curtain raiser games where the TV gear is already in place.

Your airfare estimate is grossly under as well. Players don't fly on special 90 day advance sale fares.
The VFL is on Channel 7 Every Sunday in Victoria already, played at state league ground so there is some value to the media rights.
The ABC has also traditionally broadcast the VFA/VFL in Victoria.
 
Last edited:

The Victorian

Norm Smith Medallist
Oct 23, 2018
7,088
6,402
Victoria
AFL Club
Gold Coast
Other Teams
Storm, Western Utd
The VFL is on Channel 7 Every Sunday in Victoria, played at state league ground so there is some value to them.
The ABC has also traditionally broadcast the VFA/VFL in Victoria.
and for the interstate teams, their broadcast games will just be played in Victoria
 
Aug 14, 2011
44,794
16,853
Trafalgar
AFL Club
West Coast
Other Teams
Mclaren Mercedes F1
The VFL is on Channel 7 Every Sunday in Victoria, played at state league ground so there is some value to them.
The ABC has also traditionally broadcast the VFA/VFL in Victoria.
and for the interstate teams, their broadcast games will just be played in Victoria



Why would 7 agree to that, effectively halfening the audience in a difficult/shrinking advertising market.
 
Jun 7, 2007
1,982
2,072
Melbourne
AFL Club
Geelong
Huge decision for clubs like Port Melbourne and Williamstown. Willy have already posted on Twitter that the welcome the new comp. Port have said they'll a have statement to members in the coming days. Surely Frankston and Coburg will look to join local comps?
 
Sep 22, 2011
40,571
87,816
Your girlfriend's dreams
AFL Club
Essendon
Huge decision for clubs like Port Melbourne and Williamstown. Willy have already posted on Twitter that the welcome the new comp. Port have said they'll a have statement to members in the coming days. Surely Frankston and Coburg will look to join local comps?

Why? If anything the salary cap will come down, and the AFL is paying for any travel.
 
Jun 7, 2007
1,982
2,072
Melbourne
AFL Club
Geelong
Isn't there already more coin in the MPNFL and EDFL than what Frankston and Coburg can stump up? If you're not professional, do you want to be flying out to play interstate 6 or 8 times a year?

A footy club needs to look after its members first and foremost. If the AFL offer is good, then great. But I can see the writing being on the wall that the AFL would want only a couple of powerful VFL/Sydney/Brisbane clubs along with the AFL/AFL affiliate teams. Bris, GC, Syd, GWS, 10 Vic AFL clubs incl affiliates and maybe 2 to 4 more clubs tops. Hope I'm wrong but I guess I don't want another club to suffer the same fate as Preston.
 

Pedantic

Club Legend
Jun 7, 2016
1,436
2,249
AFL Club
Melbourne
If you're going to have 14/18 clubs in what will essentially be a reserves comp you may as well get the other 4 clubs and make it an AFL reserves competition. The fixturing will be easier that way too, you just match up to exactly what the senior AFL team is doing that weekend.
 
Back