VFL 2021 Officially Over

[KC from Casey 6,514]

With clubs like Melbourne, Geelong and the Western Bulldogs set to head over to WA for the remainder of the finals with near enough to their full squads and Victoria recording 80 new cases, the VFL season looks done and dusted. Wait for the final announcement.

[spirit of norm smith 12,899]

Agreed. It was a wishful plan by the AFL that was always in peril.  Dees will have to take 26-30 players to Perth for remaining games. VFL season is virtually over. 

[Diamond_Jim 11,742]

one has to ask whether the season ever really started.

Hopefully next year we can start before Round 4 of the AFL season.

Would also like to see the interstate inclusions delayed until 2023.

[Demonland 64,784]

Officially over

 

[Demonland 64,784]

 

[Whispering_Jack 27,962]

VFL season review: Casey Demons

[Rab D Nesbitt 7,109]

[spirit of norm smith 12,899]

Casey listed best player - James Munro

MFC listed best player at Casey - Sam Weideman 

Best first year player - Casey. Ryan Sparkes 

Best first year player - MFC listed - Jake Bowey 

 

[monoccular 16,043]

One would hope after the past two train wreck seasons, the AFL would decide that the “seconds” competition would be state specific given the propensity for snap border closures. In other words the VFL would only feature stand alone clubs plus  Victoria based AFL  teams. 
NSW and ACT in particular may well [censored] about unfairness but stuff them. 

[old dee 22,848]

On 8/26/2021 at 9:51 AM, Diamond_Jim said:

one has to ask whether the season ever really started.

Hopefully next year we can start before Round 4 of the AFL season.

Would also like to see the interstate inclusions delayed until 2023.

I would to see them delayed forever DJ. 

[MadAsHell 4,088]

I'm not opposed to the extended seconds competition featuring teams from multiple states. But as others have said, the AFL trying to do it this year with COVID still a thing was naive at best. I mean I get why the Northern States want better 2nd's comp then what the NEAFL was providing, but why it all fell onto Victoria I have no idea???

I do like the idea of every state and territory having a team that players can aspire to play in, so that they can get exposure should they not get drafted as a teenager. However with one of the stand alone Queensland teams (Aspley) already indicating they want out after this season, I think some changes are required.

 

Going forward, I'd ideally like to see the WAFL stay as is. 10 team comp where everyone plays eachother twice. Do it over 19 weeks maybe so everyone has a bye and a 4 week final series with a top 5. Obviously this takes in Fremantle aligned team and West Coast reserves.

The SANFL becomes the SANAFL (South Australia, Northern Australia Football League). Keeps the current 10 SANFL teams with Adelaide' s reserves and Poet's alignment. Then add the Brisbane and Gold Coast reserves plus a stand alone Northern Territory team. Makes a 13 team comp which can be played over 22 weeks with every tram getting 2 byes. Four week final series featuring a top 6. Reckon it could work!

And finally the VFL becomes the SEAFL. (South East Australian Football League). Keep the 10 aligned and reserves Victorian teams, plus the 6 stand alone VFL teams. Add the reserves for Sydney and GWS and throw in a stand alone team from both the ACT and Tasmania. You then get a 20 competition that can be played over 21 weeks (everyone plays eachother once and one team twice plus 1 bye). Four week final series with a top 10. Could work for me.

Every state and territory suddenly have a clear pathway with South Australia picking up some of the burden Victoria were left with. Only areas not really covered and Northern Queensland and WA as a way of creating easier path ways for kids in those areas. But over time that's somewhere both the WAFL and SANAFL could look to expand.

[monoccular 16,043]

28 minutes ago, MadAsHell said:

I'm not opposed to the extended seconds competition featuring teams from multiple states. But as others have said, the AFL trying to do it this year with COVID still a thing was naive at best. I mean I get why the Northern States want better 2nd's comp then what the NEAFL was providing, but why it all fell onto Victoria I have no idea???

I do like the idea of every state and territory having a team that players can aspire to play in, so that they can get exposure should they not get drafted as a teenager. However with one of the stand alone Queensland teams (Aspley) already indicating they want out after this season, I think some changes are required.

 

Going forward, I'd ideally like to see the WAFL stay as is. 10 team comp where everyone plays eachother twice. Do it over 19 weeks maybe so everyone has a bye and a 4 week final series with a top 5. Obviously this takes in Fremantle aligned team and West Coast reserves.

The SANFL becomes the SANAFL (South Australia, Northern Australia Football League). Keeps the current 10 SANFL teams with Adelaide' s reserves and Poet's alignment. Then add the Brisbane and Gold Coast reserves plus a stand alone Northern Territory team. Makes a 13 team comp which can be played over 22 weeks with every tram getting 2 byes. Four week final series featuring a top 6. Reckon it could work!

And finally the VFL becomes the SEAFL. (South East Australian Football League). Keep the 10 aligned and reserves Victorian teams, plus the 6 stand alone VFL teams. Add the reserves for Sydney and GWS and throw in a stand alone team from both the ACT and Tasmania. You then get a 20 competition that can be played over 21 weeks (everyone plays eachother once and one team twice plus 1 bye). Four week final series with a top 10. Could work for me.

Every state and territory suddenly have a clear pathway with South Australia picking up some of the burden Victoria were left with. Only areas not really covered and Northern Queensland and WA as a way of creating easier path ways for kids in those areas. But over time that's somewhere both the WAFL and SANAFL could look to expand.

MadAsHell - your plan may be a bit better that the train wreck 2020 (unforeseeable) and 2021 (highly foreseeable) fiascos, but still does not take into account the state border issues that despite predicted high vaccination rates and the apparent abandonment of the obviously unattainable donut figures, could well come into play yet again in 2022, given the propensity of State Premiers to play oneupmanship with each other.

Add in the fact that the majority of VFL players still have to hold down “real jobs”, scheduling multiple interstate trips just makes no sense. 
 

So, VFL for Victoria, SANFL (+/-NT if they like) and Q and N sort it out for themselves.  May sound harsh but could anything be worse for everyone that the farce of 2021?

[old dee 22,848]

1 hour ago, monoccular said:

MadAsHell - your plan may be a bit better that the train wreck 2020 (unforeseeable) and 2021 (highly foreseeable) fiascos, but still does not take into account the state border issues that despite predicted high vaccination rates and the apparent abandonment of the obviously unattainable donut figures, could well come into play yet again in 2022, given the propensity of State Premiers to play oneupmanship with each other.

Add in the fact that the majority of VFL players still have to hold down “real jobs”, scheduling multiple interstate trips just makes no sense. 
 

So, VFL for Victoria, SANFL (+/-NT if they like) and Q and N sort it out for themselves.  May sound harsh but could anything be worse for everyone that the farce of 2021?

The most amazing thing is it was obvious to everyone with half a brain that in the year of covid that this was never going to fly. One thing that amazes me is why was an east coast competition called the VFL? 

Edited September 17, 2021 by old dee

[monoccular 16,043]

5 hours ago, old dee said:

The most amazing thing is it was obvious to everyone with half a brain that in the year of covid that this was never going to fly. One thing that amazes me is why was an east coast competition called the VFL? 

Gil / Hocking ego > brain?