Id be interested in the opinion of the history buffs as to why this has never been a part of our game.
Recognise that distance prohibits it on a national scale, but the national competition is a relatively new thing - why has it never been a part of the game in say Victoria?
It's just strange that all throughout the city and state the leagues are all "closed", there's no overarching system to bind them together and offer suitable competition for clubs who become significantly stronger or weaker over the course of time.
It's a basic feature of soccer all around the world, in most countries it's theoretically (if not practically) possible for any bush or local club to climb its way through to the elite competition.
It would appear to cause problems at all levels. Of the old VFL clubs South and Fitzroy have had to relocate / die, and others are permanently propped up because they have no hope of generating the money required to compete at the top level.
The old VFA died as it's grand old clubs did. Why no mechanism for them to be replaced naturally by strong clubs from growing areas (many of whom are now local football powerhouses)? The league could have continued and perhaps even flourished (relatively).
Even at suburban / country level, many leagues are blighted by being completely dominated by one or a few powerful clubs who simply out-resource their competitors, and then do it year after year to the point where it's anti-competitive. There's no ability for them to be promoted to a more suitable competition.
There's so many leagues and they're all closed shops.
Why did it never catch on in our game?
Recognise that distance prohibits it on a national scale, but the national competition is a relatively new thing - why has it never been a part of the game in say Victoria?
It's just strange that all throughout the city and state the leagues are all "closed", there's no overarching system to bind them together and offer suitable competition for clubs who become significantly stronger or weaker over the course of time.
It's a basic feature of soccer all around the world, in most countries it's theoretically (if not practically) possible for any bush or local club to climb its way through to the elite competition.
It would appear to cause problems at all levels. Of the old VFL clubs South and Fitzroy have had to relocate / die, and others are permanently propped up because they have no hope of generating the money required to compete at the top level.
The old VFA died as it's grand old clubs did. Why no mechanism for them to be replaced naturally by strong clubs from growing areas (many of whom are now local football powerhouses)? The league could have continued and perhaps even flourished (relatively).
Even at suburban / country level, many leagues are blighted by being completely dominated by one or a few powerful clubs who simply out-resource their competitors, and then do it year after year to the point where it's anti-competitive. There's no ability for them to be promoted to a more suitable competition.
There's so many leagues and they're all closed shops.
Why did it never catch on in our game?
