Wedgie wrote:Dozens weren't available for the VFL as were many not available for the SANFL due to the rules in place that don't allow AFL listed players in the game. As AFL players play in the respective comps (with many more in the VFL) the only fair indication of where the comps stand would be to included them. At least it would have some relevance then, yesterdays match has none.
That's weird. Where there are 10 AFL sides based in Victoria, and 2 in South Australia, it's neither controversial nor interesting to observe that the non-selected AFL players running around in the VFL each week are going to be far more numerous than those running around in SA—and so if you had to form a notional 'best 22' out of them (for some unknown reason), it would probably be better than the best 22 non-selected AFL players playing in the SANFL. What "relevance" there would be in proving that 10 > 2, in a battle of the out-of-favour AFL-listers, is anyone's guess. Even presuming that the AFL clubs would release their 'best' non-selected players to play in the game, that kind of 'best of the rejects' model doesn't sound like any interstate contest I've ever heard of. Whereas the best players who are contracted to play in the SANFL, and in fact play each week in the SANFL, versus their counterparts from the VFL selected on the same basis, is true to the spirit of interstate footy going back to the year dot.
If people think that's irrelevant, that's up to them. It's only been going for 135 years now, so I'm sure it'll fall into disuse some time soon.