New Import rule

[csbowes]

I feel like making a cynical comment here... are the clubs currently complaining about this decision the same clubs that voted to scrap the U19s and U17s? My memory tells me it was the clubs with crap juniors that voted to get rid of those two leagues?

... so are they the same one's now whinging about this rule?

If they are, bloody bad luck, as getting rid of the U19s and U17s was ridiculous. If not, then I'm certainly happy to put my cynicism back into its often opened box!

[csbowes]

On a less cynical note, I think the fact that imports have been steady or decreasing over the last few years is probably reason enough for the rule not to be introduced in the first place. If there has been a steady increase in imports over the last 10 years, which I'm not aware there has been, then I can understand more why they would at least consider it. Do we know what percentage of the league squads are made up with foreign players?

If its 10%-20% then I don't think there is much to worry about... if it gets to a point whereby half the league are foreigners, then while that strengthens the league, it could be to the detriment of the state as a football producing region.

I say that based on the experience of the EPL where something like 40% of the players are non-English, compared with say Spain, where I believe 77% are Spanish.

Back to being cynical though, I would not put it past the AFL that they want to strengthen the VFL at the expense of the other leagues. IMHO the AFL is doing its best to sell off any shred integrity it has for more $$$. GWS is a classic example of stupidity and greed for money being put to the fore at the expense of the game. I used to be a huge AFL fan, but am more ho-hum nowadays, the league is moving further and further away from being a game for fans.

Soccer is the big winner when GWS comes in, that's the biggest albatross the league could have put around its neck. Don't people remember the NRL and its expansion, it destroyed the league eventually.

[FlyingHigh]

Whilst still not a perfect vehicle for doing so, perhaps the SANFL figures this will help them to try to achieve what the Salary Cap is intended for, but has been too hard for them to police?

Or perhaps the SANFL is just as money hungry as big brother hence the sub-serviance? (is that a word?)

Either way, I agree with other sentiments, poor form SANFL.

Agreed, that could be part of the intention. Perhaps they need a points system though. For example having played, VFL or being on a "list" is worth x points, playing country NSW football is worth considerably less.
The other weakness of this is, I don't have much doubt Boyd would be getting paid more than Habel or Milne for Centrals (as an example). In addition, their own document reveals the amount of imports has dropped significantly, anyway, without an import rule.
I think your second point more the reason. They're being "subservient"

Agree sjt about the value of the player and where they come from.
Reasonable enough to restrict the number of ex-AFL listed players (or at least those within 1-2 years off a list), but I think clubs should be encouraged, or at least not discouraged, from recruiting from other "lesser" areas, such as country NSW and the QAFL. Isn't recruiting from these areas, especailly country NSW, helping to promote the game by offering good players the chance to play at the highest level they can if they're not quite good enough for the draft? Centrals, in particular, have been good at finding players in these areas, and this is part of their success IMO. And this helps provide stiff competition for SA players, all helping to strenghten our comp.
What would an import be anyway? Footywise Mildura and Broken Hill are just as much part of SA as Vic or NSW. Plus, how about those leagues such as Mallee and Kowree-Naracoorte that are predominantly South Australian, but have some Victorian clubs?

[Sojourner]

If the Import rule goes ahead, are the SANFL then going to increase the Salary Cap so that SANFL clubs can pay their Reserves Listed players a decent match payment so that effective local recruiting and training within the SANFL clubs can take place????

The Reserves Match Payment has been the same for a number of years and has not even been indexed to inflation, if the SANFL are serious about capping imports then I suggest they show the clubs that they are serious about allowing them to develop players within their zone without them being constantly picked off by amateur sides who can pay them a fair payment for their services.

[redandblack]

I feel like making a cynical comment here... are the clubs currently complaining about this decision the same clubs that voted to scrap the U19s and U17s? My memory tells me it was the clubs with crap juniors that voted to get rid of those two leagues?

... so are they the same one's now whinging about this rule?

If they are, bloody bad luck, as getting rid of the U19s and U17s was ridiculous. If not, then I'm certainly happy to put my cynicism back into its often opened box!

I think you mean that in your opinion it was ridiculous.

I think all the indicators are that it was a great move. There's not much evidence to the contrary.

[Adelaide Hawk]

I would like to see, why the SANFL believe it to be a good thing.

Because the AFL said so.

Bingo. Amazing they feel it okay for AFL to rape and pilage SANFL clubs come drafting time, but the SANFL clubs aren't able to replenish their stocks. The AFL stand for everything that is wrong with footy.

I think the AFL is also forgetting that a number of players were recruited to SANFL clubs from other areas who made it into AFL because of their exposure in the SANFL. i.e. Austin Wonnaemirri, and there have been others such as Michael Long, etc.

[Squawk]

If the Import rule goes ahead, are the SANFL then going to increase the Salary Cap so that SANFL clubs can pay their Reserves Listed players a decent match payment so that effective local recruiting and training within the SANFL clubs can take place????

The Reserves Match Payment has been the same for a number of years and has not even been indexed to inflation, if the SANFL are serious about capping imports then I suggest they show the clubs that they are serious about allowing them to develop players within their zone without them being constantly picked off by amateur sides who can pay them a fair payment for their services.

Bingo again. The SANFL will be the sandwich league - any player not drafted to the AFL will happily train two nights a week for good coin in ammos and other comps.

[redandblack]

Help!

I'm surrounded by the doomsayers.

It's the end of the league!

It's the end of the league!

[Squawk]

Help!

I'm surrounded by the doomsayers.

It's the end of the league!

It's the end of the league!

You'll be able to merge with Blackwood FC R&B

[doggies4eva]

So - the AFL forms 2 new teams and places them in NSW and Queensland and it looks to forming a new "Northern League" (see other thread), and SA and WA are pressured to first introduce a salary cap and then an import cap. All unrelated events? Of course

[FlyingHigh]

I would like to see, why the SANFL believe it to be a good thing.

Because the AFL said so.

Bingo. Amazing they feel it okay for AFL to rape and pilage SANFL clubs come drafting time, but the SANFL clubs aren't able to replenish their stocks. The AFL stand for everything that is wrong with footy.

I think the AFL is also forgetting that a number of players were recruited to SANFL clubs from other areas who made it into AFL because of their exposure in the SANFL. i.e. Austin Wonnaemirri, and there have been others such as Michael Long, etc.

Trent Hentschel, Matthew Stokes both through the Eagles.
Taylor Walker's story, I believe, is a little different, but no doubt Norwood have played a role in his development.

[FlyingHigh]

If the Import rule goes ahead, are the SANFL then going to increase the Salary Cap so that SANFL clubs can pay their Reserves Listed players a decent match payment so that effective local recruiting and training within the SANFL clubs can take place????

The Reserves Match Payment has been the same for a number of years and has not even been indexed to inflation, if the SANFL are serious about capping imports then I suggest they show the clubs that they are serious about allowing them to develop players within their zone without them being constantly picked off by amateur sides who can pay them a fair payment for their services.

Bingo again. The SANFL will be the sandwich league - any player not drafted to the AFL will happily train two nights a week for good coin in ammos and other comps.

Totally agree.

[doggies4eva]

I would like to see, why the SANFL believe it to be a good thing.

Because the AFL said so.

Bingo. Amazing they feel it okay for AFL to rape and pilage SANFL clubs come drafting time, but the SANFL clubs aren't able to replenish their stocks. The AFL stand for everything that is wrong with footy.

I think the AFL is also forgetting that a number of players were recruited to SANFL clubs from other areas who made it into AFL because of their exposure in the SANFL. i.e. Austin Wonnaemirri, and there have been others such as Michael Long, etc.

Trent Hentschel, Matthew Stokes both through the Eagles.
Taylor Walker's story, I believe, is a little different, but no doubt Norwood have played a role in his development.

Stokes came from the NT and I think maybe Hentschel did too. The point I am making in my post above is that the SANFL will likely get a lot less of these types of players as the chnages occur.

[FlyingHigh]

Agree d4e, and it was what AH was saying too

[SANFLnut]

Norwood have done reasonably well this year with no imports as i understand. How do the posters in this thread reconcile their thoughts on this import rule with the success Norwood has achieved this year? (I'll probably get shot down with some facts here because I haven't seen a lot of Norwood TBH - anyway, good for a discussion point I think).

I hope the SANFL apply the new import rule a bit more stringently than they did this one. Norwood have added a number of players from outside their zone this year.

This rule will encourage clubs to attract players from rival SANFL clubs (who don't count as imports) and that will be the most damaging part of the new rule. Imagine attracting a player from VFL who counts as an import for your club and then two years later another club opens their wallet and poaches them now that they are considered a local.

[JK]

Norwood have done reasonably well this year with no imports as i understand. How do the posters in this thread reconcile their thoughts on this import rule with the success Norwood has achieved this year? (I'll probably get shot down with some facts here because I haven't seen a lot of Norwood TBH - anyway, good for a discussion point I think).

I hope the SANFL apply the new import rule a bit more stringently than they did this one. Norwood have added a number of players from outside their zone this year.

This rule will encourage clubs to attract players from rival SANFL clubs (who don't count as imports) and that will be the most damaging part of the new rule. Imagine attracting a player from VFL who counts as an import for your club and then two years later another club opens their wallet and poaches them now that they are considered a local.

Norwood weren't allowed to recruit from outside of their zone until a particular period of time had elapsed, making a player from Sturts zone as off-limits as a player from Subiaco's zone, until such time as the given date had passed, which is what they did.

The problem (if there is one) is perhaps more in line with the detail of the exclusion that was forced upon them.

[Sojourner]

Jak Kennedy Hunt recruited by Norwood from South is still classified as an Import player as he came across from Vic last season.

[JK]

Jak Kennedy Hunt recruited by Norwood from South is still classified as an Import player as he came across from Vic last season.

Yep, and what date was he recruited? What I tried to explain still stands.

[sjt]

Jak Kennedy Hunt recruited by Norwood from South is still classified as an Import player as he came across from Vic last season.

Yep, and what date was he recruited? What I tried to explain still stands.

Maybe what sojourner is trying to say is under the "new" import rule he'd be considered an import, for Norwood next year?

[JK]

Jak Kennedy Hunt recruited by Norwood from South is still classified as an Import player as he came across from Vic last season.

Yep, and what date was he recruited? What I tried to explain still stands.

Maybe what sojourner is trying to say is under the "new" import rule he'd be considered an import, for Norwood next year?

I think there's 2 parts to SN's original post .. 1. How closely Norwood's ban was policed (which is what I was trying to address) and 2. What should qualify as an "import".

On the 2nd of those, I agree with the questioning given the scenario that was provided.

I probably should have read a little more thoroughly and not replied so quickly, my bad.