Another Predictable Story ... NT team back in the news

[Benchwarmer]

I would have thought that the bye was almost necessary considering the conditions of grounds throughout a season.

In recent years, we have had very hard grounds (and lately, we have seen heavy grounds) both which impact on players for all the running. I would have thought that a week off here and there would be perfect to refresh players and teams.

[Dirko]

I'm all for getting rid of the Bye. A mid year break to play the state game would be ideal.
Wether from the NT or TAS, it would actually give the NATIONAL meaning in SANFL

[Sojourner]

A side from the North Eastern Suburbs in the SANFL's current black hole should be the next side into the SANFL. In the amatuer league in our area it was reported in the local Messenger that Tea Tree Gully footy club have waiting lists of people that want to play for the club. Tea Tree Gully would be the logical choice for the next side in the SANFL, being based at either TTG or Ridgehaven.

[Benchwarmer]

I would have thought local would be the way, too.

I would have thought that the WAFL would have considered the feasibility of Bunbury, Geraldton and Kalgoorlie as a potential 10th side before the Northern Territory.

[Aerie]

WA went to Peel Thunder as a new side not too long ago didn't they? How have they been going? It seems not a lot of on field success, but is/was it worthwhile?

As for new teams from South Australia, I am always cautious of anything effecting the current clubs, however, the demographics of Adelaide have changed since the times league clubs first established themselves in mostly inner city locations.

It would seem a team from Tea Tree Gully and a team from the Adelaide Hills would be logical in terms of where the current population lives. Perhaps a new team in Tea Tree Gully and West Adelaide relocate to Mt Barker? Sturt push around into Westies old zone and Glenelg spread out a bit. Norwood push around a bit to be the major Eastern team.

It's interesting how many home grounds are on the edge of their current zones.

[spell_check]

WA went to Peel Thunder as a new side not too long ago didn't they? How have they been going? It seems not a lot of on field success, but is/was it worthwhile?

As for new teams from South Australia, I am always cautious of anything effecting the current clubs, however, the demographics of Adelaide have changed since the times league clubs first established themselves in mostly inner city locations.

It would seem a team from Tea Tree Gully and a team from the Adelaide Hills would be logical in terms of where the current population lives. Perhaps a new team in Tea Tree Gully and West Adelaide relocate to Mt Barker? Sturt push around into Westies old zone and Glenelg spread out a bit. Norwood push around a bit to be the major Eastern team.

It's interesting how many home grounds are on the edge of their current zones.

Peel Thunder were introduced in 1997, and still haven't made the finals yet. And don't look like doing so this year.

[Benchwarmer]

They have been an excellent AFL drafting ground but the on-field side of things haven't been too rosy. They have a young and inexperienced side and have been like that for their whole 10-year history. The Mandurah-Rockingham area isn't strong enough for the Thunder to be world beaters and the Peel League takes away some good players with better dosh on offer than for the WAFL side.

It takes time for teams to bed down, but nowadays teams are seen in two ways - development and performance. In one area, the Thunder are way ahead of their WAFL counterparts and on another they fail miserably. Still they are an important part of the WAFL.

[Benchwarmer]

Another full page in the paper today - talking about learning the lessons from Peel's admission, Richard Pratt offering to sponsor a significant proportion of the $1.3m needed to start the team up and the rest is pretty much a re-hash for those who haven't read the sport section since Saturday.

No doubt the 4 radio stations that cover WAFL matches will have the pre-match section of their broadcasts worked out and well on the road to completion!

[Pseudo]

No doubt the 4 radio stations that cover WAFL matches will have the pre-match section of their broadcasts worked out and well on the road to completion!

And to think we have only two that cover SANFL (adequately, that is. 5AA does not qualify).

[Barto]

If we had a tassie team in the comp would we have to chege our name to the SATANFL ?

Sorry if its ABD....someone must have come up with that one before

Sounds brilliant. Death metal versions of the club songs could be sweet.

[HeartBeatsTrue]

Another local team will be a disaster.

Anyone who follows the SANFL in SA would already have a club to barrack and/or be members of. Memberships for the new club would be very low, and those that do join up for the new club will take away from the other 9 clubs. 10 teams in SA, meaning more players playing league footy, meaning lower quality footy. Just cannot happen.

I'm all for keeping the comp as it is. Imagine South v Tassie at Noarlunga, what would the crowd figure be? An embarrasment for the SANFL it would be IMO.

[Benchwarmer]

Pseudo ... and they can all be described as giving the listeners a decent standard of coverage!

One thing that made me with worry was something that a Victorian said to me the other day. He thought that an "Eastern Seaboard" competition from Brisbane downwards was good (no issue there), but thought that the SANFL and WAFL should combine and add a NT side in a 4-4-1 split for a 9 team competition "which would be more appealing to the community and sponsors".

I told him exactly what I thought of it and told him to expect if that was suggested west of Kaniva. I suppose there are more people who think like that over there ... let's just hope they don't hold a title at AFL House!

Anything to bring our footy down to their level.

[spell_check]

Another local team will be a disaster.

Anyone who follows the SANFL in SA would already have a club to barrack and/or be members of. Memberships for the new club would be very low, and those that do join up for the new club will take away from the other 9 clubs. 10 teams in SA, meaning more players playing league footy, meaning lower quality footy. Just cannot happen.

I'm all for keeping the comp as it is. Imagine South v Tassie at Noarlunga, what would the crowd figure be? An embarrasment for the SANFL it would be IMO.

Exactly. Where is the support coming from if there is a 10th metro team? The League found out in the 70s and 80s that 10 teams were too many in the metro area. And where would the support come from for Tassie or NT when they play here? People don't seem to realise that 10 teams will mean only 18 rounds.

[smac]

Anyone advocating removal of the bye should head to their club and ask the interstate players what they do on bye weekend and ask if they would still be here if there were no bye.

A few trips home throughout the year has made the decision easier for many recruits to come to SA.

[pipers]

I ain't going to Tassie for a game and Darwin is less likely. I doubt whether their fans would visit here either (too busy marrying their cousins or being harrassed by the Federal Police)

If a 10th team is deemed to be feasible it should come from the North-East, but I still don't think it would work. Gullies boys are a bit passionate, but 20 blokes from the district cricket club isn't enough support to sustain a SANFL team.

And forget the Hills. I'm a Hills boy but seriously we've not produced much talent over the years. Weatherald has been great and maybe Cooper could be if he kept his mind on the footy, but other than that guys from the Hills as a general rule have struggled to stay in the league side (eg. Dawe). There are a couple floating around now (Sam Miles for example) but look at how Lofty won the flag last year... mainly by bringing up fringe SANFL players or blokes from the Southern or Para leagues...

Plus with 9 teams and a Final Five most clubs are a chance for finals for a fair part of the season, which keeps the interest up.

[Benchwarmer]

Ross Lewis is cranking it up for the ABC's WAFL coverage on the radio tomorrow.

His update is that the NTAFL will look to the AFLQ if the WAFL says no because the SANFL has spoken to AFL Tasmania about entering their competition.

Tony Frawley from the NTAFL sees the WAFL as the number one option but they were determined to participate in any of the State Leagues in 2008.

"We would be terribly disappointed if we missed out on the WAFL", said Frawley.

The WAFL CEOs met on Wednesday but they require more information, especially the logistics of how the side would operate in the WA competition. Some clubs feared 2008 was too soon and others suggested the team also play out of venues such as Port Hedland and Kununurra.

[mighty_tiger_79]

PEEL THUNDER

are based at Mandurah which is approx 60kms out of perth, but only a 40 min drive if that on the freeway!

and they havent made the finals and as mentioned wont make it this year as they are on the bottom of the table.

Buddha coached them a few years ago.

I believe Shannon Hern - the ex centrals player now at west coast plays at Peel when not playing for the eagles

[Benchwarmer]

Correct MT79, they are halfway between Perth and Bunbury.

Shannon Hurn and Matthew Rosa play for them when not at the Eagles and Docker James Walker is tied to them.

If a good player who is money motivated gets more to play in the Peel FL or South West FL, why would they want less to play in the WAFL. They may not care about playing at the higher level, which makes it hard for Peel. Plus, as a fertile drafting ground for the AFL they lose some of their best talent at 17 and 18 and don't get the full on-field investment in them.