What you guys seem to be missing is what is best for the players, not what is best for your selfish attitudes, or the selfish attitudes of the sanfl clubs for that matter.
I would rather see any centrals player playing the highest level, or giving themselves the greatest chance of personal development.
So for younger players that means playing in the AFL environment year round - I think it's a no brainier that this is a good thing for them.
For someone like nutta, opportunity to captain as well as development and coaching roles make it a no brainier for him too. So good luck to him I reckon
I think what has everyone up in arms is that for the first time the paradigm shift that happened 22 years ago is finally codified - the SANFL is primarily a breeding ground for AFL players. I, for one, don't think this is a bad thing, and I don't think it diminishes the importance or the integrity of the league either. It's just different. Once the season is underway I think it will be business as usual, save for the inevitable "OMG the crows reserves are top/bottom"
No one i know would hold any animosity towards Callinan, clearly there are things the Crows can offer him off field that will help him along the way.
But the structure that he operates under is untenable, you tell me how a quality, stand alone competition is enhanced by a system where the clubs are operating under 3 different sets of rules and conditions (SANFL clubs, Ravens, Port Magpies) thanks to an SANFL commission that hasn't had the courage or integrity to stick by it's own statements and past commitments.
The SANFL should not be sacrificed to the almighty AFL, just because of the massive power imbalance between the two.