VAFA General Discussion

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I can actually see a time when the district clubs move away and VAFA becomes pretty much an 'old boys' competition with four or five sections, with a handful of clubs like Beaumaris, Fitzroy or Willy CY's being the exception.

The lower divisional clubs will in time find a new competition in their geographic area for some of the reasons mentioned above as well as a greater chance of having umpires for matches. I can't see many of these clubs merging yet though until they really struggle to survive.

If 8 or more clubs find their way to the same competition (e.g. Southern) at the same time, then it might not be impossible to have an Amateur division in that league until they find their feet.
 
Champ or Chump said:
Yes, that would be a reasonable way to look at things and I would suggest one of the things those at H/O would be assessing. It could be better to have less clubs and more teams for those that can work it?

One of the outcomes might be a merger of more teams, especially in C-D4
or
Some clubs move competitions to better their chance of survival/long term relevance (paid players, paid staff, etc) as an outcome of expanded revenue generation opportunities in those competitions.

Tricky times for those in charge for sure.

Chump.
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Interesting comment about merging out of need. GE have done this many times thus allowing the history of struggling clubs to survive. In respect off getting helpers at normal d2 senior and reserves home game a club has to find:
On field
2 boundaries, 2 goal umps, 1 reserves field ump, at least 2 water carriers and runners, 2 timekeepers. This equals 11 helpers. Generally pay the boundary ump and water carriers. On top of that a trainer and a physio and they are not cheap.
Off the ground
2 x canteen staff, 2 bar staff, after game cleaners.

Unfortunately many double up doing the tasks and burn out. This is not a good way to enjoy local footy. Can’t remember how many times a seconds player has had to do tasks in the seniors after they’ve just played. If you had to hire helpers you still need to raise money to pay them. In my 50 years of involvement I grew old with the same helpers from other clubs. Eg the Williamstown timekeeper. I don’t know how to fix this but just as recruiting players clubs should have some off field recruiters early rather than wait till 11 am Saturday. Adding to all this most clubs then have to find people for their ladies, under 19’s and thirds. Good luck to all for season 2023.
 

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MortlockWatcher said:
I can actually see a time when the district clubs move away and VAFA becomes pretty much an 'old boys' competition with four or five sections, with a handful of clubs like Beaumaris, Fitzroy or Willy CY's being the exception.

The lower divisional clubs will in time find a new competition in their geographic area for some of the reasons mentioned above as well as a greater chance of having umpires for matches. I can't see many of these clubs merging yet though until they really struggle to survive.

If 8 or more clubs find their way to the same competition (e.g. Southern) at the same time, then it might not be impossible to have an Amateur division in that league until they find their feet.
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People have been predicting this for years but it is yet to happen. Of course some clubs have left the VAFA due to travel but primarily it is for reasons of player retention caused by the offer of $ by the paying comps. Of those that have left some have thrived while others have become extinct. Generally speaking over the years for every club that departs, another one comes in.

No doubt the VAFA have some challenges, caused primarily of their own doing, but so do other suburban competitions. Clubs have recently departed the WRFL and SFL for greener pastures so it seems those competitions also have some challenges.

There will always be clubs that are happy to travel for a competitive match and the equalisation offered in the VAFA through the multiple grades (7 x senior 5 x U19) has some appeal. And many clubs simply don’t want to enter into the obnoxious bidding war for club mercenaries.

The VAFA is not for everyone but it clearly suits many suburban based clubs and I cannot see that changing anytime soon.
 
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Jimmyjack said:
People have been predicting this for years but it is yet to happen. Of course some clubs have left the VAFA due to travel but primarily it is for reasons of player retention caused by the offer of $ by the paying comps. Of those that have left some have thrived while others have become extinct. Generally speaking over the years for every club that departs, another one comes in.

No doubt the VAFA have some challenges, caused primarily of their own doing, but so do other suburban competitions. Clubs have recently departed the WRFL and SFL for greener pastures so it seems those competitions also have some challenges.

There will always be clubs that are happy to travel for a competitive match and the equalisation offered in the VAFA through the multiple grades (7 x senior 5 x U19) has some appeal. And many clubs simply don’t want to enter into the obnoxious bidding war for club mercenaries.

The VAFA is not for everyone but it clearly suits many suburban based clubs and I cannot see that changing anytime soon.
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I agree n part JJ
Jimmyjack said:
People have been predicting this for years but it is yet to happen. Of course some clubs have left the VAFA due to travel but primarily it is for reasons of player retention caused by the offer of $ by the paying comps. Of those that have left some have thrived while others have become extinct. Generally speaking over the years for every club that departs, another one comes in.

No doubt the VAFA have some challenges, caused primarily of their own doing, but so do other suburban competitions. Clubs have recently departed the WRFL and SFL for greener pastures so it seems those competitions also have some challenges.

There will always be clubs that are happy to travel for a competitive match and the equalisation offered in the VAFA through the multiple grades (7 x senior 5 x U19) has some appeal. And many clubs simply don’t want to enter into the obnoxious bidding war for club mercenaries.

The VAFA is not for everyone but it clearly suits many suburban based clubs and I cannot see that changing anytime soon.
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Agree in part with your assessment of things JJ in that predictions around the make up of the competition have been made in years gone by and are yet to really see any significant change.

That said, I think a few things to consider are that:
  • the make up (number of teams an individual club can have within the VAFA) has changed significantly over the past 5-10 years and the impact of that is now being felt.
  • to 'compete' with professional clubs/competitions, the networks of clubs is being pushed harder than in previous years and the significant advantage to schools in this space is now playing out and creating a greater divide than before
  • scholarships are playing a much bigger role now than previously to attract/retain players
  • MOU's are being manipulated between junior clubs and multiple senior clubs

So whilst I doubt there will be a mass exodus to other competitions, I would suggest that just as the elements change in the manner they have in recent years, so must the thinking moving forward by the VAFA. If not, then it may pose a significantly higher risk to the make up of the competition and the teams playing within it than we have seen historically.

Chump
 
Champ or Chump said:
I agree n part JJ

Agree in part with your assessment of things JJ in that predictions around the make up of the competition have been made in years gone by and are yet to really see any significant change.

That said, I think a few things to consider are that:
  • the make up (number of teams an individual club can have within the VAFA) has changed significantly over the past 5-10 years and the impact of that is now being felt.
  • to 'compete' with professional clubs/competitions, the networks of clubs is being pushed harder than in previous years and the significant advantage to schools in this space is now playing out and creating a greater divide than before
  • scholarships are playing a much bigger role now than previously to attract/retain players
  • MOU's are being manipulated between junior clubs and multiple senior clubs

So whilst I doubt there will be a mass exodus to other competitions, I would suggest that just as the elements change in the manner they have in recent years, so must the thinking moving forward by the VAFA. If not, then it may pose a significantly higher risk to the make up of the competition and the teams playing within it than we have seen historically.

Chump
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Some very good points you make Chump. The MOU's system is a joke with no governance or scrutiny applied whatsoever and it really needs to be tightened up. And I agree that the gap between the very best clubs and the rest is widening, although history shows there have always been “dynasties”. On the flip side I know that some clubs simply worker longer and harder on developing networks and on recruiting. For balance Haileybury (biggest school in the state) have won just 1 A grade flag and have been wallowing in B and C for over a decade. Old Brighton is yet to win one. Not sure about Caulfield but I can’t remember the last time (if ever) they played in an A grade grand final. Even SKOB did not win a Premier flag until 2017.

To be clear my allegiance is with a small, ACC school that has fought well above its weight division for years. The brightest and best (academics and sport) have been picked off by the elite schools for decades so the impact is not just on suburban club but on other VAFA clubs such as De La, Mazenod, St. Bedes etc. I take your point regarding the impact of scholarships, but I have since come to the realisation that it is probably overstated from a local football point of view as the elite players tend to land in the AFL or VFL

I think a cap on teams is sensible but for clarity, even in A grade any team you enter below seniors you are pretty much self - sufficient. You stump up for your own field, goal and boundary umpires so if you have the luxury of multiple Thirds and Unders then you need to find multiple sets of volunteers to fill those roles. So this is a problem that exists from top to bottom.

There will always be have’s and have nots. If a stand-alone district comp was developed in say the southern suburbs, how would Moorabbin Kangaroos or Hampton Hammers (no juniors) compete against a Beaumaris who have 800 registered juniors. The VAFA is not perfect – far from it and on recent form they have a lot of work to do. But the current set up at least allows clubs to find their own level.
 
bedford said:
Voyage reappointed last night . Still waiting on Jase
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Clearly, the movers-n-shakers see something in Voyage administratively that eludes many of us the great unwashed.

Still rankles me the exit treatment of "Bear". Voyage's public message was self-serving and distasteful.

 

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So a very smooth AGM??? yet all is not well in clubland, especially within the lower divisions of the VAFA.

Outside of Jase, did anyone go or a representative of your club attend? Love to hear what, it anything occurred.

Any further roadmap laid out for the competition?
 
AM said:
Clearly, the movers-n-shakers see something in Voyage administratively that eludes many of us the great unwashed.

Still rankles me the exit treatment of "Bear". Voyage's public message was self-serving and distasteful.

Click to expand...

Excellent gender balance there
 
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