The future structure of VFL in Victoria

[U18 Insider]

Rumours are abounding, that in a few years time the AFL will re-introduce the reserves and U19 competition once again..anyone heard anything.

Will mean that the VFL clubs may end up playing in their local suburban competitions.

 

[table tennis]

Im sure if that was to be up and running. The Afl sides would be placed outside the VFL. The old VFL structure will be up and running again. I think it would be a win win situation. VFL would go back to being a local game and attendances will flourish, whilst the AFL may stage more curtain raisers with the reserves playing before hand and sides not having to send players to places like Bendigo to play a game of footy.

 

[prime]

I don't think the afl likes curtain raisers does it? Would be great to see a real VFL competition again though.

 

[finders]

The sooner the VFL? which is really the old VFA with a few clubs thrown is free of the AFL the better. The current VFL is only a reserves comp on the cheap for the Vic AFL clubs.

Let the AFL clubs run their own reserves and the other clubs like Sandy, Willy and Port etc form a new comp.

 

[rooboy_88]

I would love to see the AFL form a reserves comp and the VFL be changed.

I would even go further and have the VFL as a seniors, reserves, and under 19s with the abolishment of the TAC cup.

If the VFL can get back that local element, it would be likely to increase crowds.

With Geelong and Collingwood leaving the VFL, is 12 teams the right size for the VFL, I think so.

As for the reserves structure, I would like to see it be 40 senior listed players, the current 5 rookies known as professional rookies and 16 semi professional rookies. these blokes could be plucked from anywhere and would have to be over draft age so there would be no cheating of the system. these semi professionals would train with the reserves only and if they are not good enough, they either go back to the VFL or there local comp.

 

[onslaught]

The current TAC sides will have their zones redrawn and will be integrated into the senior VFL clubs over the next two years.

There was an article on this restructure about 4 weeks ago in the VFL Footy Record

 

[A Living God]

I don't think the afl likes curtain raisers does it? Would be great to see a real VFL competition again though.

Its the venues that don't like the curtain raisers, does too much damage to the surface and costs them alot extra in ground maintance.

AFL gets their reserves sides, TAC side aling with the AFL sides.
The current VFL sides go to their local leagues
NFL
Preston
EFL
Box Hill
Sandringham
SFL
Frankston
Casey
EDFL
Coburg
WRFL
Werribe
Port Melbourne
Bendigo FL
Bendigo
Ballarat FL
North Ballarat

A new VFL is formed from the 5 metro leagues + GVFL + OMFL + Ballarat FL, take the top 2 from each. Each year bottom two teams are relegated, the 8 premiers play off for promotion

 

[rooboy_88]

Is there any more news on this.

Speaking 2 alot of willy supporters, they feel it just isnt the same anymore as it has gone from there local club to simply the WB reserves.

It needs to be brought back 2 being a local game again.

The AFL should have there own seniors and reserves sides.

As for the TAC cup scrap that and draw up zones 2 have junior development looked after by the VFL sides.

VFL can then be say 17s 19s seniors and reserves

 

[In the Blood]

Footscray's surely a better fit for Willy than Collingwood! I'd say they're heading in the right direction, but with footscray one day hoping to field a stand-alone vfl club NAMED footscray and playing at western oval, would be great for the comp to have willy and port stand-alone! They've got the dosh!

 

[Tex_21]

Its the venues that don't like the curtain raisers, does too much damage to the surface and costs them alot extra in ground maintance.

AFL gets their reserves sides, TAC side aling with the AFL sides.
The current VFL sides go to their local leagues
...
Ballarat FL
North Ballarat

A new VFL is formed from the 5 metro leagues + GVFL + OMFL + Ballarat FL, take the top 2 from each. Each year bottom two teams are relegated, the 8 premiers play off for promotion

Slight issue here-there is already a pseudo North Ballarat playing in the BFL-North City. They wear North colours, play at the Northern Oval, and benefit from the social club side-what will happen if the Roosters come back? (North City did play in the Bendigo league as they were barred from the Ballarat FL for their connections to the roosters and the added financial benefits)

 

[McCavity]

Any AFL reserves comp would have to exist without the participation of any of the SA or WA teams. Their underlying SANFL and WAFL structures are healthy and work without direct alignment with an AFL club.

 

[rooboy_88]

Any AFL reserves comp would have to exist without the participation of any of the SA or WA teams. Their underlying SANFL and WAFL structures are healthy and work without direct alignment with an AFL club.

Solution to this could be an eastern seaboard comp.

 

[Alberton_Magpie]

I would prefer Port Adelaide to field an AFL Reserves team than have all their players spread out over the SANFL

 

[Mitchell Madness]

why would sandringham go into the EFL even though it is closer to all teams in the SFL?

I would think either way the VFA/VFL would remain. there has been quite a bit of support generated, and a reserves league would not get rid of that support.

 

[rooboy_88]

why would sandringham go into the EFL even though it is closer to all teams in the SFL?

I would think either way the VFA/VFL would remain. there has been quite a bit of support generated, and a reserves league would not get rid of that support.

If anything it will increase the support of the state league, sides will go back to having more of a local element to it.

 

[finders]

If anything it will increase the support of the state league, sides will go back to having more of a local element to it.

Yep the sooner the AFL sides stop using the old VFA clubs and their supporters,volunteer helpers and facilities that were paid for by LOCAL communities rates and have their own seconds comp the better.

Many thousands of the original local VFA club supporters like me have given up on the current fake made up VFL as the comp has no passion or spirit..

 

[stacksonthemill]

The proper solution would be to have the reserves sides in an VFL competition (Reserves and U19), with the former VFA sides re-forming the VFA (AT LAST!) after an unnecessary 12 year hiatus.

The VFA could round up their numbers with a couple of metro clubs to give an evn number such as 10-12.

No way should the former VFA clubs be sent into metro leagues - they are part of the second oldest league in Australia (the SAFL beat us by one week back in 1877 if you weren't aware) and deserve the right to be respected with a league (association!) of their own.

 

[rotto]

Maybe, have three stand alone footy comps
(1) vfa/vfl with league and reserves 10-12 teams
(2) afl reserves comp without freo, west coast, adelaide, port and brisbane 10-11 teams
(3) TAC 10-12 teams

 

[stacksonthemill]

No structure will be ideal without a return to a VFA competition.

No integrating the VFA clubs into the other metro leagues and no plastic state league consisting of Reserves clubs - listen to the officials, players and coaches referring to the comp "I'm looking forward to getting back into the Seniors", "Billy's going to come back through the Twos", "Our Reserves out at Box Hill", etc.

Nobody likes it but AFLV (what a joke name) don't seem to care.

 

[rooboy_88]

No structure will be ideal without a return to a VFA competition.

No integrating the VFA clubs into the other metro leagues and no plastic state league consisting of Reserves clubs - listen to the officials, players and coaches referring to the comp "I'm looking forward to getting back into the Seniors", "Billy's going to come back through the Twos", "Our Reserves out at Box Hill", etc.

Nobody likes it but AFLV (what a joke name) don't seem to care.

It would be awesome to have it back like the old days in a 10-12 team comp.

AFL has its reserves competition and even have the current 16-19 yr olds play for VFA clubs and then VFA ill be seniors ressies 19s and 17s.

They have to do something about this and make the sides more localised again.

 

[BLPC08]

Its the VFL, there will never be a massive following however the current format is definately the most beneficial for the league.

 

[stacksonthemill]

???

Dunno what's going on there!

What we are saying is that the AFL clubs can have a Reserves comp all to themselves.

The VFA sides before the shotgun wedding in the late 1990s get their VFA back, with maybe some of the better metro sides currently going around in a 10-12 team comp.

That way the AFL clubs will be happy and the general footy community will once again care about the second tier because there will be local meaning to their clubs once again without being regarded as "Melbourne's Reserves" or "Carlton's Reserves", etc.

 

[table tennis]

What I believe needs to happen is a major reformat of Football in the state of Victoria.

The AFL should part ways with the VFL/SANFL/WAFL and run thier own competition.

Under 18 competions (replaced) to be zoned to align with AFL sides, rather than VFL. So our kids coming through the ranks can get a perception of what is required of them to become league footballers from the best. Kids at one club to be entered into the draft as per normal, however, if there is a kid that the club wants to keep, they should nominate similar to the father son rule.

The EFL, WRFL, NFL, SFL, EDFL to merge and become a statewide league.
This would see the best local players playing the highest standards possible each week and add to the intrigue of local football.

The VFL to be the top tier of this State league. Have a relegation / promotion system.

That way the best sides in Victoria can play at the highest level.
Power houses of the Bush should be encouraged to join too.

Football Victoria would need to dangle quite a few carrots. but for the regular punter in Victoria, this format would be great. IMO.

 

[stacksonthemill]

What the?????

So you'll get the leagues with up to 25 full-time employees to voluntarily make themselves redundant and have an unwieldly 13 division competition (and we haven't even factored in the amateurs) that stretches from Wyndhamvale and Sydenham to South Belgrave, Hurstbridge and Mordialloc.

NEVER! Imagine forcing small clubs such as Sydenham-Hillisde to play Mordialloc. Both sides would never have heard of the other place.

Here's more fun, you come up with a 13-division structure which will be agreed to by all of the leagues!

We had the chance for a multi-divisional "state league" over the years - the VFA and VFL were in talks about a two-division competition a number of times up until the 1950s before both parties realised an amalgamation would never occur.

Now, I would suggest that it's too late for that in a statewide sense beyond what the VFL currently has. Dangling carrots wouldn't be enough for clubs to change the status quo, especially in the city.

The best you could hope for country-wise is a regional country competition like a Goldfields FL (Ballarat/Bendigo), a North-East FL (Riverina/Ovens & Murray), a South-West FL (including the WBFL teams from Hamilton, Portland and the Hampden FL) or maybe a Ballarat/Geelong competition. Even for those competitions, there are issues to consider like competition costs, how much more sponsorship the concept would raise, travel issues, viability and the views of the clubs.

 

[The Bloke]

What if it was set up like Basketball Victoria?
Teams around all of Victoria play. It's pretty much similar to Rep Football.

Men have divisions:
Championship
Division One
Divison Two
Division Three
Youth League One
Youth League Two
*Youth Leage is Under 21 with 2 overage players.

(Teams get relegated and promoted depending on ladder positions)

The NBL tends to feed up Championship Teams

Juniors
Is from Under 12's to 20's

Divisions:
Vic Championship (2 Different Pools of 12)
Metro 1
Metro 2
Metro 3
Metro 4
North West (Teams in North West Area)
Regions (Teams from certain regions, who aren't very good)

(Teams go on how they go in grading matches, over 10 grading games)

Heres a link for Seniors
http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?assoc=913&pID=1

Link for Juniors
www.vjbl.com.au


The level of basketball is unbelievable, i played for Broadmeadows and i was playing teams such as Melbourne, Bendigo, Shepperton, Sandringham, Eltham. I was travelling all over Melbourne, was a great a experience.

Anyone like this way or got anythin to make it better?