AFL investigating new state league championship?

[Dogsbody]

Found this in the Sunday Mail this morning... don't know if anyone has seen it or mentioned it here.


AFL wants second-tier finals series
Reece Homfray

The AFL is being urged to investigate a second-tier national finals competition to be played in conjunction with AFL finals at the home of football, the MCG, according to footy expert Dwayne Russell. Under the plan, state leagues including the SANFL would finish their seasons by September with the respective premiers earning an invitation to play-off on the biggest stage of all. Writing in his exclusive Sunday Mail column today, Russell reveals several revolutionary ideas the AFL is being urged to investigate -- some of which may be implemented as early as next year.

The AFL ran a national second tier knockout competition during the regular season known as the Foxtel Cup but it was scrapped after just two years in 2014. But the new plan is for a finals competition only and according to Russell, some of football's "influential heavy hitters" are also pushing for a more uniform, nationally-run U-18 competition which would replace the TAC Cup.



State of Origin is also being investigated apparently... a one-off match at the Adelaide Oval. As for those "heavy hitters", he obviously means Eddie McGuire, seeing as his media company is behind the Seven TV broadcasts of the SANFL, VFL and the WAFL. Perhaps the genuine national title the state leagues have been waiting for?

[whufc]

Why don't we just turn the SANFL into a 9-A-Side lightening carnival then we could get the whole season wrapped up in one weekend so the AFL can do what they like for the other 20 odd weeks

[JK]

Why don't we just turn the SANFL into a 9-A-Side lightening carnival then we could get the whole season wrapped up in one weekend so the AFL can do what they like for the other 20 odd weeks

Yep, getting close to time the scoreboards were pulled out of venues

[DOC]

No tackling, coaches on the field, play across the ground.

[Jim05]

I heard similar a few weeks ago regarding U18's, Gillon and his cronies want to remove U18's from State comp control and run a National u18's comp.

[Killa]

Basically the Under 18's will become a 16 team Comp... Each zone will be a team!

[SANFLnut]

It is so sad that the AFL have such little respect for anything other than their own competition and own interests. How about plowing some genuine dollars into SANFL clubs and assisting them with taking the game to the people? State league clubs coming to MCG so the gravy-trainers can pat themselves on the back and watch from the corporate dining room does nothing for football in this state. Fund a development coach at each of the nine clubs, make underage programmes free at SANFL clubs, subsidise entry at games to spread the word, give grants to clubs to improve training facilities or technology but please don't patronise us by restricting our genuine, worthy competition so we can come and play to amuse you and fill your TV slots in AFL finals time.

[Punchy Bassett]

Football expert Dwayne Russell? Deary me.

[bennymacca]

so this doesnt sound exciting? to be potentially crowned the champions of australia?

I always thought this was a good idea, and may get better traction than a midweek cup type system.

they have to get buyin from the states though. It cant be like the foxtel cup where teams didnt want to participate

[whufc]

so this doesnt sound exciting? to be potentially crowned the champions of australia?

I always thought this was a good idea, and may get better traction than a midweek cup type system.

they have to get buyin from the states though. It cant be like the foxtel cup where teams didnt want to participate

Lol

[mighty_tiger_79]

great idea for the future of the state league

all teams will want to be playing on the last Saturday of august

[PhilH]

An earlier season might be a good idea, 2015 started too late for mine, some clubs playing first game April 11. Start around March 20 & play some matches in the weekend break between NAB Cup & AFL to get crowds when the weather is better.

We have already lost the October GF, if it is to be before the AFL GF don't really care when.

Clubs have already gone from a 20 game minor round to 18 so adding 2 championship of australia games at the end is the same workload as previous.

Surely could only be the 4 champions of SANFL, WAFL, VFL & NEAFL (NEAFL can play tas if they wants a qualifier).

Making it 8 would mean 3 games and we are back down the Foxtel Cup road.

Problem is the turnaround from SANFL GF to CoA semi a week later. How do you celebrate the SANFL flag with a game on in 6 days?


But don't make it the MCG....

[bennymacca]

An earlier season might be a good idea, 2015 started too late for mine, some clubs playing first game April 11. Start around March 20 & play some matches in the weekend break between NAB Cup & AFL to get crowds when the weather is better.

We have already lost the October GF, if it is to be before the AFL GF don't really care when.

Clubs have already gone from a 20 game minor round to 18 so adding 2 championship of australia games at the end is the same workload as previous.

Surely could only be the 4 champions of SANFL, WAFL, VFL & NEAFL (NEAFL can play tas if they wants a qualifier).

Making it 8 would mean 3 games and we are back down the Foxtel Cup road.

Problem is the turnaround from SANFL GF to CoA semi a week later. How do you celebrate the SANFL flag with a game on in 6 days?


But don't make it the MCG....

good post, agree with most of that. definitely cant be more than 2 matches (as you say Tas could play NEAFL as a play in)

[johntheclaret]

How can you call it Champions of Australia when any one of the AFL sides would smash the "champs of Aus" by 20 goal. Even half the AFL ressies would give them a game.

Pointless and just a gimmick for the AFL.

How about we kick the ressies out of the SANFL and have an 8 team league where each plays each other 3 times, 1 x Home: 1 x Away: 1 as a Double Header at AO.
24 Games with top 4 in the finals.

Bugger the AFL, play the GF the 1st week October where it belongs and try scheduling some of the early games as carnival games when there's no AFL to compete with.
Maybe SANFL could put their hands in their pockets and try spending some of that $80m on actually promoting their own league teams.
Do some 'bring a friend for free' offers and pay the home club $14 for every free ticket they give out or whatever, but least make some effort to pull in more patrons.
It isn't Rocket Science.
Then we wouldn't need gimmicky end of season crap that means nothing to anyone.

[Pseudo]

^ this.

[daysofourlives]

How can you call it Champions of Australia when any one of the AFL sides would smash the "champs of Aus" by 20 goal. Even half the AFL ressies would give them a game.

Pointless and just a gimmick for the AFL.

How about we kick the ressies out of the SANFL and have an 8 team league where each plays each other 3 times, 1 x Home: 1 x Away: 1 as a Double Header at AO.
24 Games with top 4 in the finals.

Bugger the AFL, play the GF the 1st week October where it belongs and try scheduling some of the early games as carnival games when there's no AFL to compete with.
Maybe SANFL could put their hands in their pockets and try spending some of that $80m on actually promoting their own league teams.
Do some 'bring a friend for free' offers and pay the home club $14 for every free ticket they give out or whatever, but least make some effort to pull in more patrons.
It isn't Rocket Science.
Then we wouldn't need gimmicky end of season crap that means nothing to anyone.

All very accurate JTC, however it would only be 21 games which makes the proposal even better

[whufc]

How can you call it Champions of Australia when any one of the AFL sides would smash the "champs of Aus" by 20 goal. Even half the AFL ressies would give them a game.

Pointless and just a gimmick for the AFL.

How about we kick the ressies out of the SANFL and have an 8 team league where each plays each other 3 times, 1 x Home: 1 x Away: 1 as a Double Header at AO.
24 Games with top 4 in the finals.

Bugger the AFL, play the GF the 1st week October where it belongs and try scheduling some of the early games as carnival games when there's no AFL to compete with.
Maybe SANFL could put their hands in their pockets and try spending some of that $80m on actually promoting their own league teams.
Do some 'bring a friend for free' offers and pay the home club $14 for every free ticket they give out or whatever, but least make some effort to pull in more patrons.
It isn't Rocket Science.
Then we wouldn't need gimmicky end of season crap that means nothing to anyone.

Maybe safooty could fund JTC move to SA and quest to the head honcho at the SANFL

[whufc]

so this doesnt sound exciting? to be potentially crowned the champions of australia?

I always thought this was a good idea, and may get better traction than a midweek cup type system.

they have to get buyin from the states though. It cant be like the foxtel cup where teams didnt want to participate

Do u believe there should be allowed to be leagues that are independent to the AFL or potentially an alternative to the AFL

It makes me laugh how afl first people believe that every league below it needs to be controlled and influenced by the AFL

[RB]

How can you call it Champions of Australia when any one of the AFL sides would smash the "champs of Aus" by 20 goal. Even half the AFL ressies would give them a game.

Pointless and just a gimmick for the AFL.

How about we kick the ressies out of the SANFL and have an 8 team league where each plays each other 3 times, 1 x Home: 1 x Away: 1 as a Double Header at AO.
24 Games with top 4 in the finals.

Bugger the AFL, play the GF the 1st week October where it belongs and try scheduling some of the early games as carnival games when there's no AFL to compete with.
Maybe SANFL could put their hands in their pockets and try spending some of that $80m on actually promoting their own league teams.
Do some 'bring a friend for free' offers and pay the home club $14 for every free ticket they give out or whatever, but least make some effort to pull in more patrons.
It isn't Rocket Science.
Then we wouldn't need gimmicky end of season crap that means nothing to anyone.

Maybe safooty could fund JTC move to SA and quest to the head honcho at the SANFL

I'll pledge twenty bucks.

[bennymacca]

so this doesnt sound exciting? to be potentially crowned the champions of australia?

I always thought this was a good idea, and may get better traction than a midweek cup type system.

they have to get buyin from the states though. It cant be like the foxtel cup where teams didnt want to participate

Do u believe there should be allowed to be leagues that are independent to the AFL or potentially an alternative to the AFL

It makes me laugh how afl first people believe that every league below it needs to be controlled and influenced by the AFL

I didn't even notice that this was a proposal from the AFL, that part of it is irrelevant