oyster wrote:Was in a meeting today with a number of country footy people. Some are playing by the CFL rules and a bucket load aren't, is what I learnt.
Some say they will stick to the rules, but it is already badly effecting their ability to recruit players and they blame the salary cap.
The other clubs, said they'll just do as they please and play by their own rules. It seems as if it's a 50/50 split as to who's doing what.
What do you think will happen next year and the year after, when these clubs who struggle to recruit and are playing by the rules finish last?
Got a fair idea after listening to people chattering today. Playing by the rules will only last a season or two judging by the mood of some people.
Clubs their members and supporters in parochial country towns won't let clubs sit at the bottom of the cellar for too long. The members and sponsors will only put up with finishing last for a few seasons, before they refuse to abide by ridiculous rules that are impossible to police.
There is no easy answer that will work for everyone. It would be nice if equalisation was simple but it isnt. I think the salary cap is irrelevant, it can not be policed and is a lame attempt at self preservation by the amateurs who cant keep up with the fund raising out in the country. The one thing for certain is that the big spending clubs who can raise the money will continue to raise it and spend it legally or pay under the table. This will happen and whether it be required just to put a team on the park each week or be successful and go after premierships its more about basic survival in the long run.
It is getting harder and harder to put a team on the park in country footy each week and therefore keep small towns alive. Only the strong will survive... possibly being those clubs with the most passion and ability to raise funds...these things are important for the future
We live in a ever changing landscape where rural populations are declining along with numbers at grass root level across the board going to other sports or not having time to play footy anymore etc. Unfortuneatly it appears there is a bidding war that has broken out between country and city/amateur football for the players available. I personally believe city/amateurs doesnt have the same level of community, passion, support and atmosphere in general that is evident out in the country with regard to footy and if they did they wouldnt be trying to implement bull#$%! rules and restrictions they would take country footy on head first and try and beat them fair and square in fundraising...but they cant as the pure fact is they dont have the same level of desire, passion and sense of community that sporting clubs posess out in the country.
Hopefully somehow these small rural towns and clubs keep fighting to survive. its such an australian thing to be having a kick out in the paddock in the middle of nowhere with your mates and I enjoy nothing more than driving down the rural highways on a saturday past a town with as little as a silo and a footy oval in it, pulling over to watch a game crack a tinnie and have a chat with the locals. Cant do that in the city! Its awesome to find hundreds of people enjoying a day out at our great game and whilst i wish them well ultimately i couldnt give two shits about city/amateur footy solely because of their attempt at self preservation to enforce rules on country clubs and leagues because they cant beat or compete with them fairly.
Despite the difficulties faced and tough times ahead I sincerely hope this great australian tradition of grass roots footy out in the country continues on for many many years to come and can only hope country clubs and leagues to do what they need to in order to survive regardless of whether thats playing by the rules or not....