VAFA General Discussion

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Mike Olotripo said:
100% agree Chump or Chump, as you said, it has resulted in a rather resounding vote by your club to move leagues, and I can see why a big part of that is some clubs fielding a greater number of teams, reducing players from looking at Ivanhoe as an alternative to their current club as they have so many thirds and under 19 sides.

The VAFA ecosystem has changed markedly during my time in the competition, roughly around a decade or so. I look at what our club was like back then, it operated on half the turnover we do now, we had no female footy (either did the VAFA), and the VAFA itself was a far smaller competition that what it is now. Even during this time, player turnover has continued to increase at our club and others too, footy has become far more transient and far less tribal / embedded in the mind of younger blokes. I look at some of our players over the last ten years or so who have simply just said they've had enough at quite a young age. Blokes aren't playing as long anymore and it seems to be either very serious or very social for most of these guys. The dynamics of footy are changing dramatically, and will continue to do so. One of our former captains who has been living overseas for the best of the last 10-15 years came back to a few games and he said to me and a few others how he couldn't believe the standard of reserves footy now and how it was not as strong as when he played, then I told him how 90% of our blokes playing 2s would be under 23 years of age and he couldn't believe it. The younger lads just aren't hanging around like they used to in the majority of cases. Long gone are the days of blokes playing 150 + reserves games.
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100000% spot on Mike.

I look at the players at our club and it's very, very different in many ways to what I was involved in 'back in the day'. But, it is what it is and we all need to adapt and find ways to continue to create environments that players, sponsors, staff, members, etc all like to be a part of. Some clubs will need to do that differently moving forward - like ours - on become just a footnote in the history pages of local footy.

Chump :trophy:
 
Champ or Chump said:
100000% spot on Mike.

I look at the players at our club and it's very, very different in many ways to what I was involved in 'back in the day'. But, it is what it is and we all need to adapt and find ways to continue to create environments that players, sponsors, staff, members, etc all like to be a part of. Some clubs will need to do that differently moving forward - like ours - on become just a footnote in the history pages of local footy.

Chump :trophy:
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Exactly right, clubs who do not adapt will simply fall away sadly and be like Leopold of South Yarra, just a foot note in history.
 
SeaSide said:
Willi CYs are now a district club having thrown off the religious shackles over 50 years ago when the CYMS FA disbanded. The club played in several local competitions viz the Werribee FL, Footscray (now WRFL) FL, now in the VAFA since 1983, 40 years.

The Club was on its last legs on several occasions, however ‘hard work’ from ‘dedicated’ members kept a proud club alive and understand full well the efforts by all clubs to not only survive but progress.

As Mike adhered to, ground availability is a big issue for hardworking clubs. [As an aside, two years ago the CYs fielded 3 x U19 teams. This (past) season, only two teams were fielded with over 40 x U19 aspirants advised that the Club couldn’t accommodate them. Altona, Spotswood and Yarraville-Seddon were the beneficiaries].

Fortunately, most of those players have settled in and are happy with their new clubs.

I have digressed!

A small district club such as the Willi CYs having 7 or 8 (maybe) 9 teams, (and I hope not) can be a disaster with grounds having to be sourced. It doesn’t help when the local council (supporting local sport) restricts the hours on which grounds can be used for both training and games.

This coming season the CYs will field 2 x Girls’ teams, 2 x U19 and 1 or 2 Thirds. It’s not easy and what I’m trying to say is that all clubs have extraneous issues which are in the main overcome by dedicated devotees.

All clubs have complications concerning fielding their teams, not only Premier A but down to D3/4 and Clubbies.

Thank you, MO, empathy thrives.
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I won't mention the person's name on here, but, a certain former teacher of mine might be one of those you mention there!
 

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Wonder why Mentone Panthers (formely Old Mentonians) is not named in the VAFA Men's 2024 Premier & Divisional structures? Has the Panthers admission to the VAFA not being given the green light yet?
 
All well and good, but how do you explain ten less teams in the VAFA senior ranks from 2013 to 2023? The league has lost an entire division. Pretty dire.
Eddie Woloschek said:
This is the basic tenet of the envious: if the VAFA restricted teams, these extra players would come to us. It is poppycock. (As was the solution once suggested by the president of a club with a 'rich history' and 'excellent club culture' to establish a draft.)
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Mike Olotripo said:
On what people say about how hard it is, let me give you a little insight into the club that won premier section in 2023:

  • A small but dedicated and hardworking committee of 6 or 7, which is a lot less than other clubs
  • A strong playing group culture driven to win, led by a really good coaching panel
  • A desire to win and be successful
  • Running off the smell of an oily rag (volunteers) and everyone chipping in where they can on and off the field
It rather grates when people on here say that the clubs at the top of premier section are blessed to be there, no, they have got there, with assistance of having a good school base of players, on their own merit and through hard work.
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I'm very happy for you, and it is an incredible achievement, however it doesn't really answer the question as to why it appears that the only teams who can win flags at the top end have a feeder system from a school? All clubs work hard, all clubs want to win. I've been part of a very successful club over the past decade, we just also exist in an incredibly competitive area with no school backing us, sending letters off to recent graduates, subsidised and supported by a wealthy private school. Thus, continuity can be challenging - COVID also was particularly hard. We also have all four of the dot points you included in your post. I'd say a fair few/most divisional clubs are in the exact same boat.

I get it, this isn't Socialist Russia, but there deserves to be an open discussion.
 
Mike Olotripo said:
100% agree Chump or Chump, as you said, it has resulted in a rather resounding vote by your club to move leagues, and I can see why a big part of that is some clubs fielding a greater number of teams, reducing players from looking at Ivanhoe as an alternative to their current club as they have so many thirds and under 19 sides.

The VAFA ecosystem has changed markedly during my time in the competition, roughly around a decade or so. I look at what our club was like back then, it operated on half the turnover we do now, we had no female footy (either did the VAFA), and the VAFA itself was a far smaller competition that what it is now. Even during this time, player turnover has continued to increase at our club and others too, footy has become far more transient and far less tribal / embedded in the mind of younger blokes. I look at some of our players over the last ten years or so who have simply just said they've had enough at quite a young age. Blokes aren't playing as long anymore and it seems to be either very serious or very social for most of these guys. The dynamics of footy are changing dramatically, and will continue to do so. One of our former captains who has been living overseas for the best of the last 10-15 years came back to a few games and he said to me and a few others how he couldn't believe the standard of reserves footy now and how it was not as strong as when he played, then I told him how 90% of our blokes playing 2s would be under 23 years of age and he couldn't believe it. The younger lads just aren't hanging around like they used to in the majority of cases. Long gone are the days of blokes playing 150 + reserves games.
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Just to clarify, I have read this post and completely agree with all your points - not having a go at you with my post above, it seems we are well and truly on the same page. Well said.
 
lettheboysplay said:
Just to clarify, I have read this post and completely agree with all your points - not having a go at you with my post above, it seems we are well and truly on the same page. Well said.
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Thanks

Another point I failed to mention was the real increase in the last ten years I think is the administrative work that is required to get a side on the ground. The process is re-registering players every single year is seriously painful, and in 99% of cases across club land left to some poor old volunteer / committee person to go and get Johnny or Joanne to fill in their registration form on the Thursday before round 1 so they can be picked. Things like this really lead to volunteer burnout and keep people from putting their hands up at the club, as well as lead to more time being spent on operations rather than working to solidify a club's future / grow the club.

That's not a VAFA problem, that is a nationwide problem, but the AFL don't seem to give too much thought to local footy volunteers or local footy in general.
 
Mike Olotripo said:
Thanks

Another point I failed to mention was the real increase in the last ten years I think is the administrative work that is required to get a side on the ground. The process is re-registering players every single year is seriously painful, and in 99% of cases across club land left to some poor old volunteer / committee person to go and get Johnny or Joanne to fill in their registration form on the Thursday before round 1 so they can be picked. Things like this really lead to volunteer burnout and keep people from putting their hands up at the club, as well as lead to more time being spent on operations rather than working to solidify a club's future / grow the club.

That's not a VAFA problem, that is a nationwide problem, but the AFL don't seem to give too much thought to local footy volunteers or local footy in general.
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Well.when the base of the pyramid deteriorates the rest is doomed!
 

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Mike Olotripo said:
Thanks

Another point I failed to mention was the real increase in the last ten years I think is the administrative work that is required to get a side on the ground. The process is re-registering players every single year is seriously painful, and in 99% of cases across club land left to some poor old volunteer / committee person to go and get Johnny or Joanne to fill in their registration form on the Thursday before round 1 so they can be picked. Things like this really lead to volunteer burnout and keep people from putting their hands up at the club, as well as lead to more time being spent on operations rather than working to solidify a club's future / grow the club.

That's not a VAFA problem, that is a nationwide problem, but the AFL don't seem to give too much thought to local footy volunteers or local footy in general.
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As you know i've had a long history in that area , there is probably no doubt that your paying more rent than clubs in council areas.
 
Excellent point - being at the tailend of my playing days and the start of my coaching/admin days, whatever might come my way - we had a huge amount of need for fill ins, which required so much needless communication with the club Secretary, who I am sure had many other important life matters to attend to on a Friday night. The $11 fee also was enough of a deterrent to make late fill ins (who were only likely to play one or two games) a little harder to get on board. After COVID, you'd think there would be a state-wide... or really, nation-wide call to reduce administrative red tape, particularly for lower grades. I understand seniors with points and a growing number of clubs getting in strife, but the lower grades should be as streamlined as possible to help reduce admin and maximise fun and enjoyment.
Mike Olotripo said:
Thanks

Another point I failed to mention was the real increase in the last ten years I think is the administrative work that is required to get a side on the ground. The process is re-registering players every single year is seriously painful, and in 99% of cases across club land left to some poor old volunteer / committee person to go and get Johnny or Joanne to fill in their registration form on the Thursday before round 1 so they can be picked. Things like this really lead to volunteer burnout and keep people from putting their hands up at the club, as well as lead to more time being spent on operations rather than working to solidify a club's future / grow the club.

That's not a VAFA problem, that is a nationwide problem, but the AFL don't seem to give too much thought to local footy volunteers or local footy in general.
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Mxukrjn.jpg


On another matter (that should be in the Div 1 thread if I was less lazy🥱) Jason Burt is to succeed Richie Simon as Monders Prez. Hopefully, he'll stir a few well-credentialed folks to put up their hands for the Committee.
 
AM said:
Mxukrjn.jpg


On another matter (that should be in the Div 1 thread if I was less lazy🥱) Jason Burt is to succeed Richie Simon as Monders Prez. Hopefully, he'll stir a few well-credentialed folks to put up their hands for the Committee.
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New secretary after 19 years as well
 
AM said:
Mxukrjn.jpg


On another matter (that should be in the Div 1 thread if I was less lazy🥱) Jason Burt is to succeed Richie Simon as Monders Prez. Hopefully, he'll stir a few well-credentialed folks to put up their hands for the Committee.
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Richie's commitment to Amateur Football deserves a lot of respect.

From field umpire and serving the Umpires Association to his long service to Ormond.

And an awesome man to boot.
 
pazza said:
Richie's commitment to Amateur Football deserves a lot of respect.

From superb field umpire and serving the Umpires Association to his long service to Ormond.

And an awesome man to boot.
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EFA. ;)

Also, spent many years running as a fieldy in the ressies for the club.
 
It seems the special meeting has noted that the VAFA has spent a hefty amount (over $50,000 and possibly up to around $100,000) on legal fees in relation to a dispute with a board member.

I'm not blaming the VAFA at all, but my goodness, reading information like that is a real kick in the guts to the competition and the people who put in so much effort at club land for zero dollars and purely for the love of the game.
 
Mike Olotripo said:
It seems the special meeting has noted that the VAFA has spent a hefty amount (over $50,000 and possibly up to around $100,000) on legal fees in relation to a dispute with a board member.

I'm not blaming the VAFA at all, but my goodness, reading information like that is a real kick in the guts to the competition and the people who put in so much effort at club land for zero dollars and purely for the love of the game.
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Fees for clubs will go up in 3,2,1......
 
Mike Olotripo said:
It seems the special meeting has noted that the VAFA has spent a hefty amount (over $50,000 and possibly up to around $100,000) on legal fees in relation to a dispute with a board member.

I'm not blaming the VAFA at all, but my goodness, reading information like that is a real kick in the guts to the competition and the people who put in so much effort at club land for zero dollars and purely for the love of the game.
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Rumour has it that the board member is quite litigious.

Needing another members meeting to vote him out.

Too much time has been spent on this board member who hasn’t added value.

Being a board member is not an ego trip it’s a position of great responsibility.
 
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Mike Olotripo said:
It seems the special meeting has noted that the VAFA has spent a hefty amount (over $50,000 and possibly up to around $100,000) on legal fees in relation to a dispute with a board member.

I'm not blaming the VAFA at all, but my goodness, reading information like that is a real kick in the guts to the competition and the people who put in so much effort at club land for zero dollars and purely for the love of the game.
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I've heard $84,000.00.
 
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