Future of the SANFL

[Phantom Gossiper]

What does the future hold for the SANFL?

A lot of negative vibes around this season with the emergence of the two AFL reserves sides, especially as Port begin to rack up a couple of big wins and everyones fears of a lopsided, compromised comp appear to come to fruition.

With the exception of some tough times over the next two seasons, as sides adjust, does anyone not think that perhaps the standard and competition will improve? With all things over time, we learn to adapt and grow to combat change, perhaps the two AFL sides will force SANFL clubs to look at the way they operate, train, play etc as they look to bridge the gap?

If the SANFL can develop into a more professionally run competition in terms of having a smaller gap between it and the AFL, perhaps younger players might be more inclined to stay in the system and compete at the better level rather than taking the easy coin in country or ammos?

Or do people think the comp will just dwindle away to nothing?

[mighty_tiger_79]

how can the SANFL clubs compete against professionally run AFL Clubs with their money, time and resources??

the comp will slowly dwindle away into oblivion for the true SANFL fans and the state league will flourish into a great training ground for the crows and port.

I fear that the lopsidedness results will also impact on the traditional SANFL clubs to recruit.

[bennymacca]

still not sure how 3 wins, 3 losses by the reserves teams is a "lopsided competition appearing to come to fruition"

surely it is too early to tell?

150 point losses really suck, but I am prepared to accept that glenelg are just a basket case at the moment. I might change my opinion if it becomes a regular thing, but I think people are just overreacting once again.

[tigerpie]

Heres a radical idea!
Theres a lot of blokes playing SANFL, if given a chance could play AFL
Cap the draft to.....half of this years intake are age 17-22 and the other half 23- whatever.
That way blokes will have more incentive to hang around playing SANFL, and not go chasing the cockies dollars.
Just a thought.

[JK]

It's too early to tell, but if we're crystal balling, then I think the SANFL will be around for a long time to come, but it won't be as we've known it. I think support will drop for the non-AFL clubs as the years pass by, and it will become a purely development league (it's a fair way down that path already).

Best thing the clubs could do is strengthen their financial standings (and for most that will require significant increases to their revenue stream) over the next 5 years or so and lobby for increased Salary Cap.

[mighty_tiger_79]

well Glenelg are looking good for a 180 point loss this week

I wonder what Trigg and his friends will do if there is a lack of competition for his reserves????

where will he go then???

[Ronnie]

A difficult situation has been reached.
you can't ask the players to train and prepare more without a comensurate increase in the salary cap. The chances of that happening in the immediate term i'd say are remote. For part time footballers the commitment required to play SANFL is already demanding, and fringe players drop away to easier places. Mixing employment with SANFL football is hard enough now.
Mixing full time and part time footballers, with a few very part time players thrown in as top up's, is, when you think about, undesirable. But that's what we now deal with.

[Phantom Gossiper]

Will the reserves sides (or do they already) be required to provide some financial support back into the comp clubs perhaps? After all what is happening in the comp is for their benefit..

[mighty_tiger_79]

don't we get $50k from the crows

[Jimmy]

In 2015 the afl teams will be voted out, the remaining 8 teams will compete in the new sanfl. A new tem, called port adelaide, will join the comp to make it 9 teams. WWT will de merge and create 10 teams.

A true sanfl with no afl.

It will happen!

[bennymacca]

Will the reserves sides (or do they already) be required to provide some financial support back into the comp clubs perhaps? After all what is happening in the comp is for their benefit..

pretty sure there is still a significant cash contribution from the two AFL sides, as part of buying the licences back from the SANFL

[Panther Pack]

With the 2 AFL clubs buying their licences from the SANFL and the SANFL selling land at West Lakes I think now would be a good time to reduce the gate back down from $14 to $10.

The SANFL has taken the fans for granted recently I think this may be 1 way to encourage some people to return to the footy.

As far as the 2 AFL reserves sides go I firmly believe the AFL will eventually head down the national reserves path and with Demetriou going maybe sooner than we think. The SANFL clubs must hold firm until this happens.

[mighty_tiger_79]

I hope you are right with the AFL reserves comp, but I cant see it happening in a long long time.

its amazing that the biggest sport in the country doesn't have its own reserves comp

[Ecky]

With the exception of some tough times over the next two seasons, as sides adjust, does anyone not think that perhaps the standard and competition will improve? With all things over time, we learn to adapt and grow to combat change, perhaps the two AFL sides will force SANFL clubs to look at the way they operate, train, play etc as they look to bridge the gap?

If the SANFL can develop into a more professionally run competition in terms of having a smaller gap between it and the AFL, perhaps younger players might be more inclined to stay in the system and compete at the better level rather than taking the easy coin in country or ammos?

Very very unlikely PG. SANFL clubs are already spending more than they can afford on footy departments and place huge demands on players for the relatively small amounts they are paid. So there is very little that can be done to increase the standard, they are already basically doing everything they can. The much more likely scenario is the standard will continue to drop as more people realise how compromised the competition truly is now with the inclusion of the AFL Reserves teams, with lower attendances, memberships, sponsorship income etc. once this initial novelty with the reserves teams wears off.

[Ecky]

I hope you are right with the AFL reserves comp, but I cant see it happening in a long long time.

its amazing that the biggest sport in the country doesn't have its own reserves comp

Not at all amazing, the NFL doesn't have any reserves competition at all and I'm sure the AFL is looking at that as a possible model to follow in the future.

[Phantom Gossiper]

I hope you are right with the AFL reserves comp, but I cant see it happening in a long long time.

its amazing that the biggest sport in the country doesn't have its own reserves comp

Not at all amazing, the NFL doesn't have any reserves competition at all and I'm sure the AFL is looking at that as a possible model to follow in the future.

NFL doesn't have any grassroots level competition either though, it's either the big time or nothing.

[mighty_tiger_79]

oh, so the AFL will then support a national college football competition??????

[woodublieve12]

I hope you are right with the AFL reserves comp, but I cant see it happening in a long long time.

its amazing that the biggest sport in the country doesn't have its own reserves comp

Not at all amazing, the NFL doesn't have any reserves competition at all and I'm sure the AFL is looking at that as a possible model to follow in the future.

NFL doesn't have any grassroots level competition either though, it's either the big time or nothing.

they have kids comps.
primary, high school and college....

[Jimmy]

I hope you are right with the AFL reserves comp, but I cant see it happening in a long long time.

its amazing that the biggest sport in the country doesn't have its own reserves comp

Not at all amazing, the NFL doesn't have any reserves competition at all and I'm sure the AFL is looking at that as a possible model to follow in the future.

NFL doesn't have any grassroots level competition either though, it's either the big time or nothing.

they have kids comps.
primary, high school and college....

NFL players are the professional of the professional. You can also have 53 players available on any given Sunday and activate them as you wish. They train like they play. No need for a reserves comp.

[Phantom Gossiper]

Thinking extremes...

Could the SANFL dissolve as we know it and become a "Premier League"?

The strong clubs allowed to stick around, the rest off to SAAFL or defunct, and top the comp up with a side from NT and perhaps VIC country?

An AFL Reserves comp, if we were seriously looking at it as an option in the near future, what sort of time frame would we be looking? Surely would have to wait until the Suns and GWS are firmly founded so the resources can be adequately applied to the successful implementation of such a comp?