VAFA General Discussion

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FWIW said:
FWIW after watching a couple of country games this weekend, I can’t help but think how far out of touch the VAFA is with the no alcohol rule. Clubs have literally paid off a fair amount of their expenses from this weekend with sales. I’m not encouraging a drinkathon, but I do think we need to be able to give clubs as many revenue streams as possible to prosper.
Clubs need to have RSA per Govt guidelines, let that be the determining factor as to how clubs serve alcohol not an archaic administration.
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One of these days I'll encounter someone who says they wouldn't go to an ammo game cos they can't suck on a tube during the game. It'll be quite a wait.

I enjoy an ale as much as the next person but the attraction of sucking a cold can in the outer on a cold winter day eludes me.

The reality is that overwhelmingly ammo grounds are open parks, and if you think people are going to pay a premium for a can or a dozen when they can bring their own you are kidding yourself.

I don't have any issues with the serving of alcohol in controlled areas during games - where luncheons are served perhaps - where all the grog sales would benefit the clubs.

If it aint broke don't fix it.
 
AM said:
One of these days I'll encounter someone who says they wouldn't go to an ammo game cos they can't suck on a tube during the game. It'll be quite a wait.

I enjoy an ale as much as the next person but the attraction of sucking a cold can in the outer on a cold winter day eludes me.

The reality is that overwhelmingly ammo grounds are open parks, and if you think people are going to pay a premium for a can or a dozen when they can bring their own you are kidding yourself.

I don't have any issues with the serving of alcohol in controlled areas during games - where luncheons are served perhaps - where all the grog sales would benefit the clubs.

If it aint broke don't fix it.
Click to expand...

Clubs are struggling for volunteers and can't afford to pay people to fill those roles. This leads to clubs requiring more and more from the players- particularly at lower levels. Then factor in subs getting more and more expensive and the argument can be made that cash flow is a factor in player attraction/retention not because you pay players like country clubs but because of the luxuries cash in the bank can afford such as paid boundary umpires etc.

Clubs are folding all over the place- if there isn't something broken I'd hate to see what things look like when it is.

Easy for those of us lucky enough to be at clubs where things are going well to lose sight of how hard times are for some of the clubs out there.
 
JimmyR20 said:
Clubs are struggling for volunteers and can't afford to pay people to fill those roles. This leads to clubs requiring more and more from the players- particularly at lower levels. Then factor in subs getting more and more expensive and the argument can be made that cash flow is a factor in player attraction/retention not because you pay players like country clubs but because of the luxuries cash in the bank can afford such as paid boundary umpires etc.

Clubs are folding all over the place- if there isn't something broken I'd hate to see what things look like when it is.

Easy for those of us lucky enough to be at clubs where things are going well to lose sight of how hard times are for some of the clubs out there.
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100% agree Jimmy, it is broken.
To believe that the VAFA hasn't lost supporters due to this is burying your head in the sand. I can speak from personal experience having friends who chose to watch a mate in the EFL over our games in the VAFA purely because they could have a beer. To this day they go and watch that EFL club play.
The problem the VAFA have is that the serving of alcohol has enabled the other comps to develop a "product" which has built a strong supporter/community base. The VAFA is behind the 8 ball to replicate that.
While the alcohol sales will deliver a much needed revenue stream for the smaller clubs, I think its going to take years to get it to have meaningful impact. And, the longer they delay the decision, the harder is going to be for the clubs to break into that "market."
 

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FWIW said:
FWIW after watching a couple of country games this weekend, I can’t help but think how far out of touch the VAFA is with the no alcohol rule. Clubs have literally paid off a fair amount of their expenses from this weekend with sales. I’m not encouraging a drinkathon, but I do think we need to be able to give clubs as many revenue streams as possible to prosper.
Clubs need to have RSA per Govt guidelines, let that be the determining factor as to how clubs serve alcohol not an archaic administration.
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A compromise like alchohol can be served from the beginning of the seniors could be a reasonable compromise.
 
JimmyR20 said:
Clubs are struggling for volunteers and can't afford to pay people to fill those roles. This leads to clubs requiring more and more from the players- particularly at lower levels. Then factor in subs getting more and more expensive and the argument can be made that cash flow is a factor in player attraction/retention not because you pay players like country clubs but because of the luxuries cash in the bank can afford such as paid boundary umpires etc.

Clubs are folding all over the place- if there isn't something broken I'd hate to see what things look like when it is.

Easy for those of us lucky enough to be at clubs where things are going well to lose sight of how hard times are for some of the clubs out there.
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Where to start!!!

1. There's absolutely no nexus between booze being made available at games and the paucity of volunteers. If that were true clubs in boozed-up leagues would have volunteers falling out of trees. They don't. And that applies to community comps that are not Aussie football related.

The reason there is a shortage of volunteers is multi-factorial. Responses like 'let's booze up and the problem is fixed' are not only simplistic but baseless.

2. I'm more aware than most of how hard it is to keep sporting clubs running. I have family associated with baseball. An old licensed club in which long-term volunteers can't remember a time when players haven't been required to give a chop-out. The same applies to a not-so-old netball club.

3. My suggestion that alcohol be served in controlled areas - such as where lunch is served - during games would ensure all the money would go to the club. Perhaps that bit didn't register. Even allow for alcohol other than beer to be available for sale.

As I've said, if you think random booze-hounds with little or no connection to the home club are generally going to rock up to open parks and pay overs for their grog you are kidding yourself.

4. Clubs "are folding all over the place". Really! I'd suggest there are more players in the VAFA ranks than ever before, and that doesn't include the women's teams. In fact, many clubs have more teams. I think the one you purport to follow is one of them.

To the best of my knowledge, only one ammo club is not able to field a team this year, but expect to next year. I may have missed another but it's nonsense to say clubs "are folding all over the place". At least in the VAFA sense. Or on the Peninsula for that matter.

Mounzer11. As someone whose posts are usually on-the-ball, I'm surprised you agreed with Jimmy's flawed post.
 
Clubs should be able to sell alcohol from the start of the seniors, period. Alcohol has to stay inside the clubrooms fine, but I think it's a way for clubs to make money and anyone who can drink enough in 2-2.5 hours to get rowdy at games are crazy.

It also encourages the reserves to stay back and put money in the club.
 
Spot on. Restrict consumption to inside the social rooms or a sectioned-off area in front of the rooms, starting at 2pm with the exception being an earlier start to cater for luncheons.

Gone are the days of the 70s and 80s when spectators drank until they keeled over.

.05, booze buses and the threat of lost licences has curtailed the number of people drinking to excess in the way that spectators at any level did in the past. If you compare a cricket or football club rooms from the 70s or 80s to one today, the attitudes to drink and resultant behaviours of its occupants are worlds apart now.
 
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AM said:
Where to start!!!

1. There's absolutely no nexus between booze being made available at games and the paucity of volunteers. If that were true clubs in boozed-up leagues would have volunteers falling out of trees. They don't. And that applies to community comps that are not Aussie football related.

The reason there is a shortage of volunteers is multi-factorial. Responses like 'let's booze up and the problem is fixed' are not only simplistic but baseless.

2. I'm more aware than most of how hard it is to keep sporting clubs running. I have family associated with baseball. An old licensed club in which long-term volunteers can't remember a time when players haven't been required to give a chop-out. The same applies to a not-so-old netball club.

3. My suggestion that alcohol be served in controlled areas - such as where lunch is served - during games would ensure all the money would go to the club. Perhaps that bit didn't register. Even allow for alcohol other than beer to be available for sale.

As I've said, if you think random booze-hounds with little or no connection to the home club are generally going to rock up to open parks and pay overs for their grog you are kidding yourself.

4. Clubs "are folding all over the place". Really! I'd suggest there are more players in the VAFA ranks than ever before, and that doesn't include the women's teams. In fact, many clubs have more teams. I think the one you purport to follow is one of them.

To the best of my knowledge, only one ammo club is not able to field a team this year, but expect to next year. I may have missed another but it's nonsense to say clubs "are folding all over the place". At least in the VAFA sense. Or on the Peninsula for that matter.

Mounzer11. As someone whose posts are usually on-the-ball, I'm surprised you agreed with Jimmy's flawed post.
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Nearly every metro club is based in “open parks” and sell beer during games. Sure some people may bring their own but the huge majority are happy to buy off the clubs.
 
AM said:
Where to start!!!

1. There's absolutely no nexus between booze being made available at games and the paucity of volunteers. If that were true clubs in boozed-up leagues would have volunteers falling out of trees. They don't. And that applies to community comps that are not Aussie football related.

The reason there is a shortage of volunteers is multi-factorial. Responses like 'let's booze up and the problem is fixed' are not only simplistic but baseless.

2. I'm more aware than most of how hard it is to keep sporting clubs running. I have family associated with baseball. An old licensed club in which long-term volunteers can't remember a time when players haven't been required to give a chop-out. The same applies to a not-so-old netball club.

3. My suggestion that alcohol be served in controlled areas - such as where lunch is served - during games would ensure all the money would go to the club. Perhaps that bit didn't register. Even allow for alcohol other than beer to be available for sale.

As I've said, if you think random booze-hounds with little or no connection to the home club are generally going to rock up to open parks and pay overs for their grog you are kidding yourself.

4. Clubs "are folding all over the place". Really! I'd suggest there are more players in the VAFA ranks than ever before, and that doesn't include the women's teams. In fact, many clubs have more teams. I think the one you purport to follow is one of them.

To the best of my knowledge, only one ammo club is not able to field a team this year, but expect to next year. I may have missed another but it's nonsense to say clubs "are folding all over the place". At least in the VAFA sense. Or on the Peninsula for that matter.

Mounzer11. As someone whose posts are usually on-the-ball, I'm surprised you agreed with Jimmy's flawed post.
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What club are you from AM?
 
I was a player in the 80’s when u could get a beer after the Reserves game which was great for pain relief! (often guys from the Ressies had a sip in their cars & then went home & didn’t stay for the after match - so maybe not many additional $’s earned?)

I was Treasurer until recently for a number of years at a different VAFA club & the beer money would have been a small add on ( I’m not sure would have reduced fees materially).

To be honest many of the players only had a can or a soft drink & then went out amongst themselves after the game - a different drinking culture to the 80’s.

In the games where a lunch took place it certainly got more rowdy (impact on umpires?) & u wondered whether something might just happen (but nothing did).

Don’t know the answer.

Do not think it’s a huge money earner that would reduce fee’s materially.

If it happens maybe after half time in the Seniors & only in the Club rooms plus loss of these alcohol privileges for 12 months for the responsible club (home or away) if they are the cause of an incident?
 

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AM said:
Where to start!!!

1. There's absolutely no nexus between booze being made available at games and the paucity of volunteers. If that were true clubs in boozed-up leagues would have volunteers falling out of trees. They don't. And that applies to community comps that are not Aussie football related.

The reason there is a shortage of volunteers is multi-factorial. Responses like 'let's booze up and the problem is fixed' are not only simplistic but baseless.

2. I'm more aware than most of how hard it is to keep sporting clubs running. I have family associated with baseball. An old licensed club in which long-term volunteers can't remember a time when players haven't been required to give a chop-out. The same applies to a not-so-old netball club.

3. My suggestion that alcohol be served in controlled areas - such as where lunch is served - during games would ensure all the money would go to the club. Perhaps that bit didn't register. Even allow for alcohol other than beer to be available for sale.

As I've said, if you think random booze-hounds with little or no connection to the home club are generally going to rock up to open parks and pay overs for their grog you are kidding yourself.

4. Clubs "are folding all over the place". Really! I'd suggest there are more players in the VAFA ranks than ever before, and that doesn't include the women's teams. In fact, many clubs have more teams. I think the one you purport to follow is one of them.

To the best of my knowledge, only one ammo club is not able to field a team this year, but expect to next year. I may have missed another but it's nonsense to say clubs "are folding all over the place". At least in the VAFA sense. Or on the Peninsula for that matter.

Mounzer11. As someone whose posts are usually on-the-ball, I'm surprised you agreed with Jimmy's flawed post.
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1. I agree with your solution- not suggesting it be a free for all for a second.
2. My post was simply pointing out that things are in fact broken.
3. Serving booze is obviously not a magic bullet solution. As you correctly point out these things are multifactorial- this is one small restriction that makes it harder for smaller clubs to solve their own problems.
4. The implication that serving booze is only a solution for "boozehounds" is disingenuous at best
5. Cherry picking a stat like more players than ever before reminds me of how all the TV networks claim to be the #1 network when it comes to viewership
 
AM said:
One of these days I'll encounter someone who says they wouldn't go to an ammo game cos they can't suck on a tube during the game. It'll be quite a wait.

I enjoy an ale as much as the next person but the attraction of sucking a cold can in the outer on a cold winter day eludes me.

The reality is that overwhelmingly ammo grounds are open parks, and if you think people are going to pay a premium for a can or a dozen when they can bring their own you are kidding yourself.

I don't have any issues with the serving of alcohol in controlled areas during games - where luncheons are served perhaps - where all the grog sales would benefit the clubs.

If it aint broke don't fix it.
Click to expand...

I am not, to use your vernacular, kidding myself.

In my experience at both the SFL and EFL, it is exceedingly uncommon to see people bring their own drinks to a ground. Even now, cans are only $6 a pop, and people are typically more than happy to tip a few bucks over the bar of a local club.

VAFA grog rules are ridiculous and archaic. Get with the times.
 
boyohboywowee said:
I am not, to use your vernacular, kidding myself.

In my experience at both the SFL and EFL, it is exceedingly uncommon to see people bring their own drinks to a ground. Even now, cans are only $6 a pop, and people are typically more than happy to tip a few bucks over the bar of a local club.

VAFA grog rules are ridiculous and archaic. Get with the times.
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Not quite sure what you're doing here. Your posting indicates you are from the Bedford called S**t Football League where you can tip as many cans down your throat as you wish on match days. Don't think the ammos are telling your lot how to run your comp, so maybe, possibly, perhaps you could return the favour.
 
oldtimer said:
What club are you from AM?
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My team.;)

Don't have a direct involvement in any VAFA club these days, O.T. If I have a free Saturday and I'm not in the members at the 'G' (where you have to consume your alcohol in any of the many bars, btw) I'll have a gander at a Prem game.

Although this I year might stalk OTP (providing he gets a Prem appointment:oops: ), to see whether he actually has done the hard yards he claimed to have. Or whether it was a pretence aimed at hoodwinking the coaches. Got the fresh assessment forms on the clipboard. What is the umpy thread called again?:think:

Hopefully, the 'Little Master' will have washed and ironed the calicos for another year of excellence and OTP will get to partner the exemplar to be awed firsthand.
 
Over The Post said:
I don't quite know how to respond to that. Not often I'm speechless.

Allegedly the appointments/disappointments will be given out tonight, so we will see if I'm on with the bantam rooster this round.
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Just some pre-season merriment, OTP. Hope you wave 'em as never before. pazza too.
 
boyohboywowee said:
When backed into a corner and with no other valid arguments to put forward... You go the man 🤣

Have a good night little fella.
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Oh, dear! Drawing attention to the fact you have SFA to do with the VAFA but insist on telling us how to run it has hurt your feelings. Boo-hoo!

Your contributions have been little more than my comp allows me to suck on a tube or 12, so should yours.

My views on the matter are clear. They don't involve prohibition. Just handling any change sensibly. Others have mentioned issues such as umpire abuse and it's a point of difference that Ammo followers generally seem to applaud.

I'd be surprised if the VAFA did a complete U-turn on a regulation that has been in place for so long. But time will tell.
 
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