Happy to accept fwiw
VAFA General Discussion
- Thread starter Max Leader
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By "doubling the size of the comp" wouldn't you increase the affiliation fees? Money is not the only issue here. Training venues, travel and raising the profile of VAFA umpires are also important. The clubs would be the best source of recruiting VAFA umps (retired players, junior players, supporters) and not enough is done here.
Agree on all points above, VAFA has to find other revenue streams, however I don't think HQ realised when the women's comp started how much umpires would cost them, and now as the years have gone on premier women's now gets full set of umps (fair enough too) BUT subs for these teams have not gone up. So it is drawing in less money than is needed this is notbthe fault of the VAFAW this is the fault of a comp that failed to manage itself over a 10 to 12 year period and now is faced with the task of trying to play a decades catch up in 5min.
But yes your points re money is not the only issue are spot on.
Saying all this I'm sure umpiring in the VAFA is fantastic and the people within it are busting a gut to be the best they can. I just don't think U
us clubs OR HQ are giving them the best opportunity to be the best or biggest they can be.
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Mate that means nothing.
They probably have the least umpires per head out of any comp in the state.
I’ve been involved with 3 leagues and VAFA was by far the worst bang for your buck in the numbered divisions.
I’m not sure where they are spending the money but the umpires should be on serious money.
Eastern used to provide goal and boundary umpires to some 19s and reserves, but that was usually the senior umpires doubling up, now they can't.
I'd like to see them instead of providing 2 field umpires to premier reserves games, spread them out, just 1 VAFA appointed umpire to every reserves game and the home club provides the second umpire, means at least 1 umpire out there will be fair and impartial and the club umpire is more likely to call it more fairly than they have been.
The other option for the costs involved, reducing the affiliation fees for Division clubs, but giving them the bill for umpires each week. A few country leagues do this, some the home team foots the bill, others both teams share the bill. Means they can't whinge about not getting value for their money as they'll only have to pay for what they get. Also means there should be more spreading around of the umpires as they won't keep sending them to the same team every week.
Very good points and ideas. I am a big fan of the lower fees for lower clubs and higher for higher grades... user pays
I believe that’s the best idea.
Whinging? Can you blame a club for being annoyed spending the same as another but getting far less umpires?
No not all, I have agreed and wished the VAFA would bring in a scaled model of affiliation fees for years.
Just doing the maths, not sure what the affiliation fees are per team, but it costs $7,500 per team to provide umpires in the top grade for the home and away season.
Approx 16k fees for numbered divisions.
Across the comp a single rd of footy is about 30k for umps each week.
- Aug 28, 2017
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Hi 10571z, out of curiosity which VAFA club were you involved with ?.
I’ve been with Parade (not heavily) hence spending most of my time at the NFNL as I live in that area.
$$$ leagues are great for a year here and a year there players or to grab some fast cash but if you want a career or a network working for you, nothing beats the VAFA (particularly the premier teams).
Sometimes it takes these guys a year or two to figure out that the long term gain in VAFA is greater than the match day payments system.
IMHO
Yep it’s a no brainer for Tom who is studying business.
I also saw the Herald Sun has some article about head of VAFA defending the way it works but couldn't read it as am not a subscriber.
But I would think there are plenty more ex-AFL players running around in the top 3 VAFA divisions than any other comp particularly in the last 2-3 years (I do not have a single stat to back that up but it sounds right in my head).
- Dec 22, 2006
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Yes was a good article, basically saying that since the salary cap in metro footy it has given the VAFA an advantage because it doesnt have a cap... because no players get paid lol..
I don't think we can say no players get paid. But there are no match day payments. The networks and connections that are available to you are plenty though and if you make a half decent crack at it you'll get a much better outcome than a match day payment could ever amount to.
If you mean the HS story, click the link in #192
- Dec 22, 2006
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Amateur status lol, unless of course you don't consider receiving a $500 TAB Voucher every Saturday a match payment.
Please this isn't 1985
Ammo_Lover
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this x 100.
I played in the VAFA for 15 years and have umpired for 5.
It is rewarding, fun, challenging a good way to keep half fit.
Not enough ex players are being encouraged to try out. Emphasis on youth always. Reckon they should look for retiring 35 yo's too !!
If an ex player comes and umpires a year - their ex playing club should get $400 off next years affiliation fee if they umpire a dozen games, or something like that
