Not sure what it means for the future of the SANFL, the Crows annual licence fee and TV rights are based on Port and Crows being involved (as they attract the most ratings) which keeps clubs like West and South Adelaide surviving.
The Sanfl has got its priorities wrong on this and made too many demands of the AFL clubs reserves teams with the stipulations of being seen to win every game. Which made developing young players in certain positions almost impossible.
I'm not sure the Sanfl is prepared for the player losses. I think that will be a shock. Especially with players in that 20yo to 25yo bracket who are studying and havent yet established families lr careers. They may be very easy to entice on a contract to audition for AFL football. Which lets face it, a reserves league will contain some of the best non afl listed players in the country.