With the scrapping of the major second tier competitions on the east coast of the country due to COVID-19 for 2020, there will be a single replacement in 2021 meaning that the VFL and the old VFA will be no more. The NEAFL has been disbanded and the clubs that made up the previous competitions have been asked to lodge “expressions of interest” with the AFL by tomorrow.

At this stage we know that Melbourne will persevere with its Casey Demons alignment while Carlton have scrapped the Northern Blues (although this could see the return of the Preston Bullants. NEAFL club, the Canberra Demons has stated that it won’t take part in the new competition.

There may well be more than 20 teams in the new league next year with plenty of changes in the way the competition is conducted.

I'm pretty keen to see how this unfolds but do fear for the stand alone VFL clubs. Surely the AFL will help with travel costs and other incurred expenses?

Also following Prestons return closely. Fingers crossed they can make it happen.

We're saving money by making Victorian clubs travel interstate several times a year? Makes sense.

2 hours ago, poita said:

We're saving money by making Victorian clubs travel interstate several times a year? Makes sense.

It's a good question. Perhaps there are greater revenue options, such as sponsorship and broadcast rights, for the changed competition. I may well be wrong, but I would have thought that any additional revenues from these sources wouldn't be enough to move the needle.

Edited September 17, 20205 yr by La Dee-vina Comedia
typo

Maybe they should have 28 teams and have a random draw with the top 8 teams competing via two conferences.  Simples. ?

This is a stupid idea

58 minutes ago, Stein9193 said:

This is a stupid idea

Why?

Over the last 20 years, I believe the AFL has done a good job on all things commercial, including matters like expansion. The second tier competition would fit into this category.

On the other hand, over the same period I think the AFL has poorly managed two things. The first is how it has managed the game itself, such as the rules, the "look of the game" and the MRP/MRO/Tribunal process. The second is the AFL's PR and communications strategy.

In short, I suspect the changes to the second tier are likely to have been well thought through but have been poorly communicated so we don't appreciate the reasoning behind the proposal.

 

3 hours ago, poita said:

We're saving money by making Victorian clubs travel interstate several times a year? Makes sense.

Yeah, I'm sure on the logic either.

How does it even work for clubs outside of Vic too?

If the AFL are not partly funding this, I can't see how some clubs could participate.

Tv broadcasts of matches would be great.

Until the AFL releases its financials on this comp the non aligned clubs are really in the dark.

Wonder if they were consulted.

RIP the Burra Burger ? ?

 

4 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Maybe they should have 28 teams and have a random draw with the top 8 teams competing via two conferences.  Simples. ?

Horrible, meaningless Americanism.  A conference is where (usually professional) people gather, and listen to so called experts rave on and on about how good they are.

IF it must occur, how about sections or divisions?

1. Eastern seaboard afl reserves 

2. The VFA

3. A select group of NSW/ACT/Queensland teams too big for their state leagues

Thats a very interesting way to create a competition. 

And the kicker is amalgamating the nab league teams in with all the teams in Victoria in a mess of a way. 

Personally I would’ve continued the NEAFL and VFL. The savings can’t be all that substantial. 
 

Otherwise go to Reserves and VFA and send the Southports and Sydney Uni’s back where they belong. 

If they are fair dinkum, the new comp will have 18 teams. One aligned/ representing each of the 14 AFL teams in Qld, NSW and Vic, and 4 non alligned teams.

The second tier comp can then mirror the AFL fixture, with games played in the same state as the competing AFL clubs (except for those trips to Perth and Adelaide) on the day after the corresponding AFL match, so that the emergencies can all get game time. 

The AFL should fund the player salaries of the 4 stand alone teams sufficiently so that it can be concentrated with the next best players and best kids who missed the draft (instead of these players spreading over diluted minor leagues). It will act as a pool for development and recruitment of mature aged players either at mid season or end of season drafts. 

 

But they won't. It will be a [censored] storm of byes, early games, weak stand alone teams etc.

9 hours ago, deanox said:

If they are fair dinkum, the new comp will have 18 teams. One aligned/ representing each of the 14 AFL teams in Qld, NSW and Vic, and 4 non alligned teams.

The second tier comp can then mirror the AFL fixture, with games played in the same state as the competing AFL clubs (except for those trips to Perth and Adelaide) on the day after the corresponding AFL match, so that the emergencies can all get game time. 

The AFL should fund the player salaries of the 4 stand alone teams sufficiently so that it can be concentrated with the next best players and best kids who missed the draft (instead of these players spreading over diluted minor leagues). It will act as a pool for development and recruitment of mature aged players either at mid season or end of season drafts. 

 

But they won't. It will be a [censored] storm of byes, early games, weak stand alone teams etc.

Adding to this, there is absolutely no reason why they should have discontinued the VFL. There should be a state level competition, unrelated to the AFL clubs. 

What I would like to see , 2 SANFL clubs join the WAFL gives then 10 teams. 4 VFL teams ( AFL aligned ) join the SANFL gives them 10 teams . 6 VFL ( AFL) join the NEAFL gives them 12 teams. Remaining NEAFL teams join with NSWFL and possibly inclusion of VFL clubs ( non AFL) gives them 10-12 teams. A relegation system with the NEAFL could apply. 

31 minutes ago, COOLX said:

What I would like to see , 2 SANFL clubs join the WAFL gives then 10 teams. 4 VFL teams ( AFL aligned ) join the SANFL gives them 10 teams . 6 VFL ( AFL) join the NEAFL gives them 12 teams. Remaining NEAFL teams join with NSWFL and possibly inclusion of VFL clubs ( non AFL) gives them 10-12 teams. A relegation system with the NEAFL could apply. 

I'd like to see them all merge. 5 vic teams,  4 wafl teams, 4 sanfl teams, 4 neafl teams and a tassie team.  

So how are we expecting to fly a Reserve side around Australia every second week?

1 hour ago, Sir Why You Little said:

So how are we expecting to fly a Reserve side around Australia every second week?

They don't call Gil the murderer for nothin.

This will create chaos for clubs and competitions.

Why would you even attempt it in 2021?

Lay out a strategy by all means but maybe give it 6 months of feedback and planning and aim for something sustainable in 2022.

6 minutes ago, Brownie said:

They don't call Gil the murderer for nothin.

This will create chaos for clubs and competitions.

Why would you even attempt it in 2021?

Lay out a strategy by all means but maybe give it 6 months of feedback and planning and aim for something sustainable in 2022.

It is just absurd. The Football Department spending will suffer because of this ridiculous idea

17 minutes ago, Brownie said:

They don't call Gil the murderer for nothin.

This will create chaos for clubs and competitions.

Why would you even attempt it in 2021?

Lay out a strategy by all means but maybe give it 6 months of feedback and planning and aim for something sustainable in 2022.

Stop talking sense. Thanks, Gill

 

16 rounds ?????

21 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

16 rounds ?????

I wondered about that as well DJ. It entrenches the crazy system of the past when there were numerous weeks where players coming Back from injury or dropped for poor form could not get on the field to gain form or return from injury. Seems nuts to me but I have the feeling It is more about the cost of staging the competition than anything. Less games equals lower cost. In the world of 2021 I cannot see there will be the ability to fly around the country like in the past. I still struggle with the cost of having a second level competition that flys around the country. The cost would be substantial. 

21 minutes ago, old dee said:

I wondered about that as well DJ. It entrenches the crazy system of the past when there were numerous weeks where players coming Back from injury or dropped for poor form could not get on the field to gain form or return from injury. Seems nuts to me but I have the feeling It is more about the cost of staging the competition than anything. Less games equals lower cost. In the world of 2021 I cannot see there will be the ability to fly around the country like in the past. I still struggle with the cost of having a second level competition that flys around the country. The cost would be substantial. 

Hopefully it's just 16 rounds next year because if question marks over Covid, bit goes back to the same amount of rounds as the AFL from 2022.

The latest - 

Northern Bullants to return to VFL as a stand-alone club

12 minutes ago, The Lobster Effect said:

Hopefully it's just 16 rounds next year because if question marks over Covid, bit goes back to the same amount of rounds as the AFL from 2022.

I doubt it. The old VFL had 18 rounds if I recall.

This is all about money saving and getting effectively scratch matches for the cheapest price. Integrity of the comp will come a long second.

The other thing about that tweet is what is meant by "stand alone teams". Is that referring to the likes of Port Melbourne etc. If so you could have around 19-20 teams in the comp.

Just noticed KC from Casey posted a link to a Herald Sun report saying that the Northern Bullants would be a stand alone club come 2021.

Edited October 13, 20204 yr by Diamond_Jim