Plenty of debate on different boards regarding selection, purpose, format, suspensions etc, so be good to get everyones thoughts on the matter and what each league has in place in comparison to other leagues.
For what it's worth, I'm a fan of rep footy but I look at it with the following questions:
1. What is your league trying to get out of it?
Is it bragging rights against another league/s. Is it development of young to middle aged players, getting them exposed to higher levels of footy and perhaps opening the door play SANFL etc. Is it to prance around and show off to other leagues
2. Selection?
Some leagues have compulsary selection with suspensions for no-shows, others are not. Can a team be sucessful if they don't want to be there? It also raises the question of age. Leagues usually have a minimum number of U21/23's etc in the team, so whay dont you change the format. Rep footy to be totallly U25's OR compulsary for U25's but optional for older players. if it's open aged and meant to show the best comp then why is there the need to have a certain amount of U21/23's, if they are not good enough they don't make the cut
3. Format?
Some have a one off game, some play a mini carnival. what exactly are you playing for, can that be achieved with the format you are using. Take the Landmark Cup, 2x20 halves, can that seriously tell you who is the better team, does it allow you to play like a normal game. What does a single game achieve, if there is nothing on the line either?
4. Zone Footy?
One of my pet hates, if you struggle to get blokes to buy in and represent their association, how do you expect them to do that with a mix of different associations from around the state. And are Rep games / weekends meant to help with selecting zone squads? I am led to belive blokes who were available and happy to play rep footy on the weekend weren't selected, yet still get selected in the zones squad?!? If you had to play association footy to get selected for Zone footy (& therefor State footy) i bet a few more blokes would put their hand up, not blokes picked on names/friendships/club bias etc.
At the end of the day there are many opions on this and mine is as follows:
Rep footy is great, enjoyed by those who want to be there and enjoy playing at a higher level for whatever reason. If a bloke doesn't want to be there, don't force him, your league will suffer in the long run anyway.
Have something meaniful to play for, whether that be individual rewards like zone and state footy or just pride and passion in your association. To achieve this, you need to look at how Rep footy is presented, and I hateto say this, but potentially look at the netball carnival on the weekend, maybe footy should take a leaf out of their book. (i understand its a little harder to play multiple games of footy on one day, but perhaps a 3 day concept is worth it.) If you weant down this path, why not have divisions, to show who is strong and who isnt. Use promotion and relegation to reward teams striving for association success etc. I nearly think you either go all out to make it worthwhile, or scrap it all together.
Love to hear some feedback!