INS & OUTS 2026

[Jim05]

On the Cochrane thing, I reckon if you gave top draftees the choice to stay at their U18/SANFL/WAFL club or move a year early to get involved in the AFL system and play for their reserves team, most would absolutely jump at the chance.

Having seen first hand how determined these lads are at 16, 17 & 18 to make it to the highest level, their current SANFL/WAFL/TAC/school team is merely a means to an end to achieve their goal.

Like it or not, the SANFL is a feeder league to the AFL more than ever, and we've seen that past connections mean little when players return to the SANFL.

Yes, I know, no AFL in the SANFL thread...

Will be interesting to see if other clubs kick up a stink. As far as I’m aware the SANFL is the only state comp that allows this which gives the 2 SA clubs a decent advantage.
The VFL for instance only allows them to train for a month or so and play 3-4 games, WAFL is similar but happy to be corrected

[whufc]

On the Cochrane thing, I reckon if you gave top draftees the choice to stay at their U18/SANFL/WAFL club or move a year early to get involved in the AFL system and play for their reserves team, most would absolutely jump at the chance.

Having seen first hand how determined these lads are at 16, 17 & 18 to make it to the highest level, their current SANFL/WAFL/TAC/school team is merely a means to an end to achieve their goal.

Like it or not, the SANFL is a feeder league to the AFL more than ever, and we've seen that past connections mean little when players return to the SANFL.

Yes, I know, no AFL in the SANFL thread...

Yep thats the reality.

For all our disgust and annoyance if Cochrane was given the choice i would 100% be putting my money on him wanting to play for Port and being part of that system as early as possible.

Keep in mind as well given Stuey Cochranes history there is every chance Dougie is a lifelong Port Power fan and this is a dream come true for him.

[Dutchy]

If he had no other commitments I would agree, but he will have AIS Academy and SA u18 duties that will commit him to the first 2/3's of the SANFL season and will really only available to Port late in the year, that where playing for Centrals, whether it be league or with his mates in the 18's seems a great way to finish his junior journey, he has the next 15+ years at AFL level.

[RB]

Yep, the league was kicked from pillar to post since 1990 and in the last decade it has been hijacked.

35,000 to our Grand Finals still tells me there is a heartbeat though.

Would there be any viability in running the Men's League competition from October to January?

Free tickets will always inflate the numbers

A number of grounds would not be available for starters

Exactly, immediately rules out Glenelg, Norwood, Prospect and Adelaide as venues

seven team comp if that's what Aerie wants

Unley as well.

[Brodlach]

How much of a “leg up” does Norwood get from having Gather Round and AFLW minor round games?

[Hazydog]

A question I’ve previously asked. Surely would be getting a slice of the pie one way or the other?

[Brodlach]

Food and drink sales at the very least would be very profitable

[MannyK]

A question I’ve previously asked. Surely would be getting a slice of the pie one way or the other?

Swings and roundabouts. Many clubs had income from pokies years before Norwood finally got the go ahead. North I think had 2 venues with pokies. We didnt even have club rooms for a while.

Once Thebarton is up and running that will be it for AFL games at the Parade.

[Spargo]

A question I’ve previously asked. Surely would be getting a slice of the pie one way or the other?

Swings and roundabouts. Many clubs had income from pokies years before Norwood finally got the go ahead. North I think had 2 venues with pokies. We didnt even have club rooms for a while.

Once Thebarton is up and running that will be it for AFL games at the Parade.

Surely you didn’t post that with a straight face…

[am Bays]

Stokes is about ready to Snap here

[Spargo]

Stokes is about ready to Snap here

Kernahan or Phillis end?

[am Bays]

Stokes is about ready to Snap here

Kernahan or Phillis end?

**** wrong thread

[Brodlach]

A question I’ve previously asked. Surely would be getting a slice of the pie one way or the other?

Swings and roundabouts. Many clubs had income from pokies years before Norwood finally got the go ahead. North I think had 2 venues with pokies. We didnt even have club rooms for a while.

Once Thebarton is up and running that will be it for AFL games at the Parade.

Surely you didn’t post that with a straight face…

I laughed

[Aerie]

Yep, the league was kicked from pillar to post since 1990 and in the last decade it has been hijacked.

35,000 to our Grand Finals still tells me there is a heartbeat though.

Would there be any viability in running the Men's League competition from October to January?

Free tickets will always inflate the numbers

A number of grounds would not be available for starters

Exactly, immediately rules out Glenelg, Norwood, Prospect and Adelaide as venues

seven team comp if that's what Aerie wants

Definitely not what I want and the only reason for the suggestion. I'll preface all the below with IF the SANFL could get a salary of around $1 million plus for it's league squads per season and the clubs were financially sustainable with that, then I wouldn't be worried about changing anything. But, the fact the salary continues to go down, a number of clubs are struggling even after we've sold Football Park and the AFL licences and got all the riches from that, and the competition is continually being eroded (as per a number of comments in this thread), then unless something changes, who knows what it might end up? Not many seem optimistic.

I guess the question is, is the SANFL Men's League competition a product that could sustain itself commercially, regardless of the hindrance, or help, of AFL involvement?

The possible benefits:
- A wider number of players available
- A chance for players to earn in winter/summer (as many do when they play in the NT)
- Players and spectators could play/enjoy local footy as well as play/enjoy SANFL level
- SANFL clubs focus purely on development during winter season (Women/U16/18/Reserves (U21?)
- A distinction between the League comp and Development comps
- Better weather for spectators, therefore bigger crowds
- Better ground conditions without all the other traffic and wet weather
- The club rooms being used for extra months of the year
- No AFL Reserves teams and a shorter, 14 round home and away season with final 4
- No competition with the AFL (either media or spectators)
- Potential broadcast income if the product is appealing enough

The hurdles (mostly to do with the change in how things have always been done):
- The main one, does switching the time of year create enough finances to increase investment in the players, clubs and competition?
- A drop in patronage (league crowds) during the winter, with essentially only friends and family interested in attending juniors and womens
- Ovals used as cricket* (see below)
- Due to the heat, games would need to be played in the evenings
- Traditional pre-season lost
- Are players wanting and capable, if the money is incentive enough, to play 2 (shorter) seasons a year
- Competition with cricket, AFLW, NBL, A-League

*The cricket shouldn't be hard to move. Unley is used for 3rd/4th grade - flick. Prospect are a basket case, merge. Woodville and Glenelg move to St Clair and Camden or merge with other clubs. The SANFL GF to be held at night on Australia Day each year, with the reluctance of cricket to play on that day, drop out and drop in the pitch for one SANFL game on Adelaide Oval each year, the Grand Final. So with that problem solved and with each South Australian SANFL club with full access to their ovals for training and playing 12 months a year...

[gadj1976]

Definitely not what I want and the only reason for the suggestion. I'll preface all the below with IF the SANFL could get a salary of around $1 million plus for it's league squads per season and the clubs were financially sustainable with that, then I wouldn't be worried about changing anything. But, the fact the salary continues to go down, a number of clubs are struggling even after we've sold Football Park and the AFL licences and got all the riches from that, and the competition is continually being eroded (as per a number of comments in this thread), then unless something changes, who knows what it might end up? Not many seem optimistic.

I guess the question is, is the SANFL Men's League competition a product that could sustain itself commercially, regardless of the hindrance, or help, of AFL involvement?

No. It's under the AFL's banner, so anything you speak of after this is just purely impossible.

[DOC]

Just as an aside:

Where does Cochrane play when not playing for Port when their side is full?

[Jim05]

Just as an aside:

Where does Cochrane play when not playing for Port when their side is full?

The top up players they have from the country or ammos would make way first

[Brodlach]

I thought he would play reserve s at Central

[blueandwhite]

South Adelaide sign Seamus Mitchell from Hawthorn.

[CENTURION]

South Adelaide sign Seamus Mitchell from Hawthorn.

Bugger, we really wanted him.