The never ending No AFL in the SANFL whinge thread

[on the rails]

I agree JK but we all know that anyone who is employed at the SANFL is a yes man and Parkinson is a classic yes man puppet!

[JK]

Certainly appears that way mate, unfortunately. Shouldn't be surprised I guess.

[mal]

1/4 time at Glenelg v West Adelaide today
The man on the loudspeaker gave the scores around the grounds
He got to the Balaklava game last and said something like
" And in the reserves game Adelaide 52 Port Adelaide 50."

[Dogwatcher]

Where are the dissenters who spent so much time on this thread last year, helping it to reach its massive size, who were telling us we were wearing tinfoil hats? Very quiet.

[CUTTERMAN]

3177 @ PMO for Sturt v Centrals
3017 @ The Parade for Norwood v South
2665 @ Richmond for West v Glenelg
2162 @ Prospect for North v WWT
2034 @ Balaklava for Power v Adelaide
Beautiful day for footy and the most over publicised game of the round barely gets 2k. What an outstanding success. And one of these clubs is demanding to own the ANZAC game.!
This model isn't working, the only supporters propping up the games are the diehard SANFL punters. Time to give them some respect and integrity back.

[Jim05]

Was only the half decent turn out by the country folk that got the figure to 2k, if that was played at Alberton there would of been only 1k

[RB]

Where are the dissenters who spent so much time on this thread last year, helping it to reach its massive size, who were telling us we were wearing tinfoil hats? Very quiet.

I was actually wearing a tin foil hat, but point taken. ;-)

[whufc]

Personally think the SANFL needs to become a Sunday league

I don't like the timeslot but I think the numbers will back up that Sunday games attract the bigger crowds

[whufc]

Was only the half decent turn out by the country folk that got the figure to 2k, if that was played at Alberton there would of been only 1k

Just proves no one has an interest in reserves sides

[bennymacca]

Where are the dissenters who spent so much time on this thread last year, helping it to reach its massive size, who were telling us we were wearing tinfoil hats? Very quiet.

I'm still reading the thread. And tbh I can't argue with the facts. Crowds and interest had been terrible this year, particularly with the crows.

My argument all along was that this would change the sanfl but it won't be as bad as everyone thinks. Pretty safe to say I was wrong about that, unless things turn around.

I still think a lot of the negativity has been directed at the crows only, and some of it is warranted, though they aren't the only reason the sanfl is struggling at the moment. And they are quite reasonably looking out for their own interests, and it was up to the other sanfl clubs to look out for theirs, which they seemed to have failed to do.

Everyone talks about the 4000 crowd figure as though the crows deliberately tried to pull one over the sanfl. I don't think that's the case. Of course they would have been overly optimistic, it was in their interests to do that. The sanfl clubs should have called bullshit and they didn't.

Even if they kicked port and the crows out now I still don't think it will go back to normal with the sanfl. They have been on a downward slide for a few years now, and the introduction of the reserves teams just seems to have accelerated that.

[Dogwatcher]

A fair post.

[mighty_tiger_79]

I disagree the comp was on a downward spiral in the last few years.

[bennymacca]

I disagree the comp was on a downward spiral in the last few years.

Crowd numbers have been trending downwards for a long time now, correct?

[JK]

I disagree the comp was on a downward spiral in the last few years.

I reckon it was in trouble .. As I said to a mate on Friday night I think it was broken, but not beaten. Now I reckon its pretty much fugged.

[FlyingHigh]

Definitely other factors such as the two new franchise teams, the continued increase in lower-level payments versus the increased commitment required by SANFL clubs, and the playing style of a number of teams started things over the last 5 years, but the reserves has been the killer.

[JK]

Fair post Benny.

Everyone talks about the 4000 crowd figure as though the crows deliberately tried to pull one over the sanfl. I don't think that's the case. Of course they would have been overly optimistic, it was in their interests to do that. The sanfl clubs should have called bullshit and they didn't.
.

This the only bit I'd slightly disagree with. I don't think the Crows were being optimistic, they were being flat out Salesmen. You're right though that the SANFL clubs had the opportunity to call BS, but only 2 of them did.

[FlyingHigh]

I disagree the comp was on a downward spiral in the last few years.

I reckon it was in trouble .. As I said to a mate on Friday night I think it was broken, but not beaten. Now I reckon its pretty much fugged.

It seemed like over the last 30 years we'd get a kick, whether than be the draft, or Crows and then Port entering the AFL, but would find a level and stabilize and strengthen and accept our lot, but over the last 5 years it just seems to have been one thing or another, all one way to negatively impact the SANFL. The only impact to go the other way over this time was when the AFL clubs cut their lists back to 38 or whatever it was.

[mighty_tiger_79]

I disagree the comp was on a downward spiral in the last few years.

Crowd numbers have been trending downwards for a long time now, correct?

no

[bennymacca]

Reckon the increased professionalism of the sanfl has actually hurt it a bit. Players now would train almost at the level of their afl counterparts, not the same obviously, but increasing all the time.

But yet they still have to work, and get bugger all for that effort etc.

So instead of being a fringe league player they go and get 1k a game playing in he country where they hardly have to train and they get to sink as much piss as they want.

[JK]

I still think the AFL clubs overreacted a bit in wanting the reserves. I know the best policy for clubs is to play the same style across all grades, so it's hard to argue there wouldn't be benefit for them. But in terms of player development I'd doubt it's as good for them. Look how much better blokes like Thompson and Porplyzia are playing back with their SANFL clubs, much better than they were last season.

In the mid-2000's the Victorian footy media were all bemoaning the advantage Port and Adelaide had with their players developing against men in the SANFL. Then they go and draft blokes like Hitchcock, Butcher, Nick Gill, James Sellar etc, - Their problems stemmed from who they drafted, not from having a reserves team imho.

I don't think either scenario ticks every box for the AFL clubs.