AFL Players in the SANFL

[Sojourner]

Considering the current situation with a player walking out on Glenelg, I think it is time that the SANFL took a review of the current situation of the Crows and Power using the SANFL as its reserves competition.

Clearly the pro's of the idea is that better players raise the standard of the competition, I get that idea.

Yet it also unsettles sides and reinforces the idea that the Crows and Power can dictate to the SANFL clubs.

I think it would be worth looking into whether or not as a rule all Crows and Power players should be eligable only for the SANFL reserves competition, that way they still get a game and can be viewed by their club officials, leaving the SANFL to have its own players and the games played between players that are going to be available and have the commitment to play for the jumper of the SANFL club each week.

[Hondo]

I was thinking the same thing when I heard about Ryan Willits. Then wondered some more after Warren Tredrea helped the Magpies along to a good win last night. I questioned the fairness of the Magpies being able to play one of the AFL's best players in an important away game. I think it demeans the SANFL to have AFL listed players dropping in and out, swapping clubs, sometimes putting in 1/2 baked efforts, having to play in certain spots or being pulled out of SANFL teams at the last minute. Surely the coaches don't like the distraction. The best solution I can think of is to play them in the reserves.

However, I can imagine the reaction when a star SANFL junior drafted by the Crows or Power is forced to play reserves for a year while he 'develops' on the AFL club list. Especially if he was playing league football the year before. Also, there's no ignoring the fact that the AFL listed players can help draw crowds and raise the media profile of the SANFL games. So maybe we just have to live with it as is.

[sturt1]

Who ever the sanfl club is, if they dont think they need that player then I dont see what the big deal is if he plays for another club that does. Its simple. If glenelg dont have a problem with willits leaving then there is no problem. However if they do, then they are obliged to play him in the league team. Cant have it both ways. This afl/sanfl player obligation doesnt have to get complicated.

[r&w4eva]

this is where i believe that Jars has the right idea on the matter and thats to plan the team around ther AFL listed players not being avalible.. im not sure what the other coaches do in relation to this but it seems starnge to be playing players out of poisition... i know it was only trial games and every team does it but surly you will have to look after the development of the player... after all thats why he is with the SANFL team anyway..

[Psyber]

Who ever the sanfl club is, if they dont think they need that player then I dont see what the big deal is if he plays for another club that does. Its simple. If glenelg dont have a problem with willits leaving then there is no problem. However if they do, then they are obliged to play him in the league team. Cant have it both ways. This afl/sanfl player obligation doesnt have to get complicated.

It does get complicated if the AFL listed player is up himself and thinks he can do what he likes and ignore team discipline and training because he is an AFL "star". Then the SANFL club needs to be able to exercise discipline and not be dictated to by an AFL coach trying to over-ride the SANFL coach.

[SimonH]

The 'reserves only' idea would have some merit if it were restricted to automatic selections coming back from injury like Tredrea and Scott Welsh. But most of the AFL-listed SANFL players are on the fringes of their AFL club. A good game in the SANFL 2s doesn't tell the AFL club anything much about whether the player is ready to play AFL footy. They need to show they can perform at the highest level of state footy first.

But that doesn't mean that the AFL team can dictate that the player plays league, or where he plays. Playing one (or a few) games of seconds doesn't mean the club has no use for you. Norwood 'need' Tim Nicholas and Iggy Valejo, even though it didn't play them in its league side on the weekend. If they're not getting a fair suck of the sav at their SANFL club, then the AFL club can put in a request for transfer on their player's behalf; that's fair enough, but it doesn't involve meddling with day-to-day decisions of SANFL clubs. Any SANFL club is quite entitled not to play any AFL-listed player, even a star, if they think doing so would be detrimental to team structure or team discipline.

[Aerie]

I don't have any problem with the current system. I enjoy seeing AFL players playing in the SANFL and with the mini-draft - the lower clubs get first pick of the best anyway, so no excuses. The only change I would make is minimum of 5 games to qualify for finals.

[doggies4eva]

I don't have any problem with the current system. I enjoy seeing AFL players playing in the SANFL and with the mini-draft - the lower clubs get first pick of the best anyway, so no excuses. The only change I would make is minimum of 5 games to qualify for finals.

Agreed Aerie. In fact I would go further and say if a player has played more AFL than SANFL games in a season then he is ineligible to play finals for that season.

[SimonH]

Agreed Aerie. In fact I would go further and say if a player has played more AFL than SANFL games in a season then he is ineligible to play finals for that season.

The main area where the current system is absolutely insane is where AFL listed players who have been playing SANFL league all year, suddenly start playing SANFL reserves finals... solely because their AFL club is still in the finals race. As was discussed at length in September 2006.

[JK]

Why can't the AFL change the size of club players lists thus ensuring each club has a large enough squad to field it's own reserves team every week?

[RustyCage]

I was thinking the same thing when I heard about Ryan Willits. Then wondered some more after Warren Tredrea helped the Magpies along to a good win last night. I questioned the fairness of the Magpies being able to play one of the AFL's best players in an important away game. I think it demeans the SANFL to have AFL listed players dropping in and out, swapping clubs, sometimes putting in 1/2 baked efforts, having to play in certain spots or being pulled out of SANFL teams at the last minute. Surely the coaches don't like the distraction. The best solution I can think of is to play them in the reserves.

However, I can imagine the reaction when a star SANFL junior drafted by the Crows or Power is forced to play reserves for a year while he 'develops' on the AFL club list. Especially if he was playing league football the year before. Also, there's no ignoring the fact that the AFL listed players can help draw crowds and raise the media profile of the SANFL games. So maybe we just have to live with it as is.

What a great move The SANFL reserves is such a high standard. What a great developing ground for the AFL players.

And how the hell can you complain about Warren Tredrea playing for the Magpies? Where is he from? Would you be happy for Roo to come back through Westies? Or how about if one of the Cornes boys got injured. Woul it be unfair if they played for Glenelg? Was it such a bad thing that Hudson has been playing for North since he came back? Or is it just that it was a Port player? Or you are bitter that the SANFL has a role to play in terms of helping out the Power and the Crows?

[RustyCage]

The 'reserves only' idea would have some merit if it were restricted to automatic selections coming back from injury like Tredrea and Scott Welsh.

No it wouldn't.

[RustyCage]

Agreed Aerie. In fact I would go further and say if a player has played more AFL than SANFL games in a season then he is ineligible to play finals for that season.

The main area where the current system is absolutely insane is where AFL listed players who have been playing SANFL league all year, suddenly start playing SANFL reserves finals... solely because their AFL club is still in the finals race. As was discussed at length in September 2006.

What do you want them to do? Not play for x amount of weeks and then suddenly play an AFL final if required?

[Aerie]

Why can't the AFL change the size of club players lists thus ensuring each club has a large enough squad to field it's own reserves team every week?

That would be a disaster for the SANFL. You would need at least another 15 players on a list for each club - 15 x 16 = 240 players which is a huge chunk out of the state league systems around Australia and thus a massive drop in quality.

[JK]

Why can't the AFL change the size of club players lists thus ensuring each club has a large enough squad to field it's own reserves team every week?

That would be a disaster for the SANFL. You would need at least another 15 players on a list for each club - 15 x 16 = 240 players which is a huge chunk out of the state league systems around Australia and thus a massive drop in quality.

Hang on, any of those "additionals" that were taken would also bring into a SANFL club the $15-50k Transfer amounts and given the financial independance of our clubs (lol most at present, hopefully all soon) I would have thought it would be more disastrous for the other leagues as our clubs could still afford to buy the best replacements outside the AFL??

[Grahaml]

But if we say that many of the additional players would be taken from the SANFL, as well as the current AFL listed players the standard may drop considerably. Perhaps we'll still have the second best comp in the land, but imagine every AFL listed player taken out of the SANFL teams, plus 3 or 4 of the best players from every team and the standard would drop considerably.

[Aerie]

Why can't the AFL change the size of club players lists thus ensuring each club has a large enough squad to field it's own reserves team every week?

That would be a disaster for the SANFL. You would need at least another 15 players on a list for each club - 15 x 16 = 240 players which is a huge chunk out of the state league systems around Australia and thus a massive drop in quality.

Hang on, any of those "additionals" that were taken would also bring into a SANFL club the $15-50k Transfer amounts and given the financial independance of our clubs (lol most at present, hopefully all soon) I would have thought it would be more disastrous for the other leagues as our clubs could still afford to buy the best replacements outside the AFL??

We pretty much buy the best replacements now anyway - we'd just be buying the 241st best replacement if lists were increased. Plus, SA would lose a heap of footballers to Victoria given they would need an extra 150 of those 240 players and we'd only be getting 30. I am very much against an AFL reserves competition - or Crows and Power sides in the SANFL.

[JK]

I really think the core of SANFL sides as they currently stand wouldn't change too much, perhaps you're right in that there would be a slight drop, but I don't think it would be enough to keep crowds away if the SANFL maintains it's own identity ... I think the biggest fear would be the AFL dumping a shite-load of cash into the VFL, WAFL and other leagues, citing any reason they want, purely to stop the even larger gulf that would exist between the SANFL and others.

Just a suggestion anyway lads, I can't see anyone coming up with a perfect solution so perhaps the way it currently is, is the best option available??

[Aerie]

Just a suggestion anyway lads, I can't see anyone coming up with a perfect solution so perhaps the way it currently is, is the best option available??

Yes, definitely better than an AFL reserves option...

[Hafey]

AFL reserves comp is the best option to keep players playing in required positions