One-Eyed Richmond Forum
Football => Richmond Rant => Topic started by: pmac21 on August 29, 2025, 09:10:21 PM
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The VFL comp is a joke.
The sooner it's the true reserves nationally the better
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The VFL comp is a joke.
The sooner it's the true reserves nationally the better
Question for you
Who is going to pay the costs involved ?
The minnow AFL clubs only stay afloat because power clubs prop them up …
And in your grand plan .. how big would list sizes need to become .. because mid level VFL players aren’t going to travel interstate half a dozen times a year on poo coin .. they’ve got actual jobs
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The VFL comp is a joke.
The sooner it's the true reserves nationally the better
Question for you
Who is going to pay the costs involved ?
The minnow AFL clubs only stay afloat because power clubs prop them up …
And in your grand plan .. how big would list sizes need to become .. because mid level VFL players aren’t going to travel interstate half a dozen times a year on poo coin .. they’ve got actual jobs
Really good questions Damo.
Personally, I think there should be 2 Conferences of 12 teams, that eliminates byes, has a 22 round season and has 2 x final series (final 5 system) before an ultimate final between the conferences.
Expand AFL lists to 50, where there can be additional nominated 2 x Vet VFL players captains / ambassadors etc, and 2 x VFL development players on limited contracts. Ultimate club list size of 54 + top up's for significant injury lists.
This could be where the coming increase in total player payments could have a portion diverted rather than paying 20 year olds 2m a season.
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The VFL comp is a joke.
The sooner it's the true reserves nationally the better
Question for you
Who is going to pay the costs involved ?
The minnow AFL clubs only stay afloat because power clubs prop them up …
And in your grand plan .. how big would list sizes need to become .. because mid level VFL players aren’t going to travel interstate half a dozen times a year on poo coin .. they’ve got actual jobs
Really good questions Damo.
Personally, I think there should be 2 Conferences of 12 teams, that eliminates byes, has a 22 round season and has 2 x final series (final 5 system) before an ultimate final between the conferences.
Expand AFL lists to 50, where there can be additional nominated 2 x Vet VFL players captains / ambassadors etc, and 2 x VFL development players on limited contracts. Ultimate club list size of 54 + top up's for significant injury lists.
This could be where the coming increase in total player payments could have a portion diverted rather than paying 20 year olds 2m a season.
Like that idea Darth :thumbsup
Seeing the AFL prvides some level of funding to most of the 2nd tier comps I can not see there just being a standalone AFL reserve comp.
Further to that if they did what happens to the standalone VFL sides? Can't go back to the VFA as the AFL decimated that when they took it over.
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Agree WP, the AFL needs to live its community based mantra and the only remaining connection is into the semi professional old-VFL / VFA clubs.
The AFL also needs pathways for umpires to become professional and the 2 Conference system provides eastern sea board recruitment reach and training opportunities.
Its also spreads the umpiring base out into the academy system and U16 / U18 national championships program.
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WP, could I ask if you could please split the VFL structure discussion from the game thread.
Thanks, DT.
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Wasn’t it all about stopping the chance of a competing league ( World Series cricket) In ways it would be great to have another A grade league that just concentrated on footy and not a political extension of parliament .
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WP, could I ask if you could please split the VFL structure discussion from the game thread.
Thanks, DT.
Done, DT :cheers.
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Exactly camboon, structure it and manage a development league to control broadcasters, sponsors, revenue and player movement.
Manage the second tier with purpose and it eliminates any possible alternative competition with an integration of AFL club goals of program consistency across expanded list size.
It could also manage the talent pathway where undrafted talent and late developers have exposure to a quality competition.
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The current comp has 21 in 2025, and will have 22 in 2026 with the St Kilda / Sandrigham split.
In 2027 there is a Tassie team due to make 23.
It would not take much to get to 24 beyond 2027, so a 11 team system with 2 conferences could work at 20 rounds and then expand to 24 teams quickly.
The focus could be talent retention and development and not necessarily talent drain.
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https://www.msn.com/en-au/sport/afl/this-is-the-beginning-afl-makes-call-on-tasmania-vfl-plan/ar-AA1LVanY?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=DCTS&cvid=6aa163fc90394cfef62eea84834105d8&ei=14
Tasmania will field sides in the VFL and VFLW from next year, with the Devils joining the state league competition on a full-time basis.
The AFL confirmed the licenses for the club on Friday, with the Devils to host games in Hobart, Launceston and, possibly, Penguin.
The decision sees the island state return to the competition for the first time since 2008, with Tasmania featuring in eight campaigns earlier this century.
"This is an exciting and strategic step in the development of our football club," Tasmania CEO Brendon Gale said in a statement.
"Our entry into the VFL and VFLW marks the start of our on-field journey and plays a crucial role in laying the foundations for our AFL and AFLW teams.
"It also addresses a long-standing gap in the Tasmanian football pathway. For too long, local players have had to leave the state to pursue elite opportunities. This is the beginning of a new Tasmania Football Club pathway that allows Tasmanian talent to develop, perform and be rewarded – right here at home.
"It will also be the first time our members can cheer on their club in a competition, and we can't wait for that.
"From 2026, Tasmania runs out as one. Our on-field story begins, and it belongs to every Tasmanian."
Tasmania's arrival will mean the men's competition holds 23 clubs in 2026, with St Kilda reserves side also joining after the Saints split from their affiliation with the Sandringham Zebras.
Discussions surrounding the prospect of a national second-tier competition have continued through 2025, with the prospect of a reserves league now potentially best aligned with Tasmania's expected arrival in the AFL for the 2028 season.
"The Tasmania Devils continue to make great progress led by Chairman Grant O'Brien, CEO Brendon Gale, the board, and inaugural team members Kath McCann and Jack Riewoldt," AFL football performance boss Greg Swann said.
"More than 210,000 members have signed up and pledged their support, signifying great momentum and backing for the club. The introduction into the VFL and VFLW competitions is another milestone in the club's short history.
"A clear component of the licence bid from the Tasmanian taskforce was a new roofed stadium at Macquarie Point with a capacity of at least 23,000. The AFL's continued position is that this is a condition for the grant of the 19th licence."
Recent AFL expansion sides GWS and Gold Coast also featured at the state league level prior to joining the top flight over a decade ago.
The Devils have also announced a 'Golden Ticket' initiative, which will see at least two rookie list spots up for grabs for players among their VFL and VFLW programs.
"The golden ticket is a clear and powerful statement of intent. We're guaranteeing two rookie list spots for players who come through our VFL and VFLW programs," Gale said of the initiative.
"That opportunity doesn't exist anywhere else in the country, and it sends a strong message: if you're good enough and dedicated enough, Tasmania is the place to be."
The Devils have also appointed former Netball Tasmania CEO and Head of Tasmania for North Melbourne Football Club Aaron Pidgeon as their VFL and VFLW boss.
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Ex-Tiger Jeromey Webberley named as coach of inaugural Tasmania Devils men's VFL side
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-08/tasmanian-devils-vfl-mens-coach-announced/105747498
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Not Richmond related but it affects the VFL comp.
Breaking: Historic Victorian club Preston has been booted out of the VFL. Officials are in a meeting with the AFL and have been told the 143-year-old Bullants are losing their licence.
https://x.com/PaulAmy375/status/1975072434714992790
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Not Richmond related but it affects the VFL comp.
Breaking: Historic Victorian club Preston has been booted out of the VFL. Officials are in a meeting with the AFL and have been told the 143-year-old Bullants are losing their licence.
https://x.com/PaulAmy375/status/1975072434714992790
So sad
They used to pack the ground out when Jamie Shaw was dominating
He was such a gun player
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This highlights a lot of things that are wrong with how the AFL prioritise things. Non- aligned Queensland clubs in the VICTORIAN Football league and now a Tassie one whilst a 150 year old club gets booted out.
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Sad day indeed.
For those of us old enough to remember the old VFA, Sunday arvo in front of the TV watching channel 0 (now 10)...Preston was powerhouse Club. Their rivalry with Coburg and Port Melb gave us some brilliant games
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Sad day indeed.
For those of us old enough to remember the old VFA, Sunday arvo in front of the TV watching channel 0 (now 10)...Preston was powerhouse Club. Their rivalry with Coburg and Port Melb gave us some brilliant games
VFA and then VFL were fantastic
Preston had the huge rivalry with Coburg
Port Melbourne main rival is definitely Williamstown
The AFL has no interest in the standalone Vic clubs .. it’s brutal
Supporting grassroots my arse
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RIP
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Sad day indeed.
For those of us old enough to remember the old VFA, Sunday arvo in front of the TV watching channel 0 (now 10)...Preston was powerhouse Club. Their rivalry with Coburg and Port Melb gave us some brilliant games
VFA and then VFL were fantastic
Preston had the huge rivalry with Coburg
Port Melbourne main rival is definitely Williamstown
The AFL has no interest in the standalone Vic clubs .. it’s brutal
Supporting grassroots my arse
Back on the 1970's (showing my age) Williamstown was in Div 2, so Preston and Port had a rivalry going
The 3 big Clubs were Port, Preston and Coburg. Always seemed every week at least one of those 3 teams would be on the TV. Geelong West got a look in occasionally, ditto Prahran
The old VFA comp was great.
The moment the AFL took over the VFA comp, changed the name to VFL so many clubs were doomed
I used to follow Yarraville, as it was close to home. They were in Div 2.
Good old days
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Back in the day, Fred Cook, Phil Cleary, Jamie Shaw, etc were household names to rival VFL/ AFL. Now their competition as we knew it is virtually non-existent.
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So I read online the club needed $270k to clear it's debt and hopefully be set up for some degree of prosperity.
AFL said no.
Bit weak IMO.
Club has apparently been around since the dawn of time.
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So I read online the club needed $270k to clear it's debt and hopefully be set up for some degree of prosperity.
AFL said no.
Bit weak IMO.
Club has apparently been around since the dawn of time.
The AFL flush that sort of money & more down the toilet consistently. Adding more & more beaurocrats to cover the asses of incompetents that should be given the flick.
What an unnecessarily bloated, incompetent, useless organisation it isl
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So I read online the club needed $270k to clear it's debt and hopefully be set up for some degree of prosperity.
AFL said no.
Bit weak IMO.
Club has apparently been around since the dawn of time.
The AFL flush that sort of money & more down the toilet consistently. Adding more & more beaurocrats to cover the asses of incompetents that should be given the flick.
What an unnecessarily bloated, incompetent, useless organisation it isl
Yeah that wouldn't cover Gil's mad Monday party.
It's a pittance really. AFL is pumping millions into expansion and minnow clubs...
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So I read online the club needed $270k to clear it's debt and hopefully be set up for some degree of prosperity.
AFL said no.
Bit weak IMO.
Club has apparently been around since the dawn of time.
The AFL flush that sort of money & more down the toilet consistently. Adding more & more beaurocrats to cover the asses of incompetents that should be given the flick.
What an unnecessarily bloated, incompetent, useless organisation it isl
Yeah that wouldn't cover Gil's mad Monday party.
It's a pittance really. AFL is pumping millions into expansion and minnow clubs...
And Snoop Dog….
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Yeah it stinks, unless its juniors that will come through to AFL, they don't care. Almost think they want this to make it more attractive to have stand alone AFL reserves comp.
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Yeah it stinks, unless its juniors that will come through to AFL, they don't care. Almost think they want this to make it more attractive to have stand alone AFL reserves comp.
They have been evil since they killed Fitzroy
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From Rhett Bartlett's twitter/X account:
How incredibly sad.
You know, it was @Richmond_FC who was Preston's first ever opponents, when they joined the VFA in 1903.
When they took the field, all Richmond players lined up and gave them 3 cheers.
So, for old time sake.
Hip hip! Hooray
Hip hip! Hooray
Hip hip! Hooray
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/G2k0L3NboAABsMv?format=png&name=small)
https://x.com/rhettrospective/status/1975168112556122506