Showdown looms as AFL tries to muscle in
Jay Clark | March 22, 2009
VICTORIAN Football League chiefs fear an AFL takeover bid could strip the league of its "heart and soul" and put every club at risk of expulsion.
The AFL wants unprecedented power to control the make-up of the VFL competition and the AFL Victoria board, and could cut millions of dollars of funding unless VFL clubs agree.
The two bodies are headed for a bitter showdown if, as expected, most VFL clubs reject the AFLV's proposed constitutional amendments at the league's annual general meeting tomorrow night.
It could have dramatic consequences for Australian football's oldest competition, with the AFL thinking about a new eastern seaboard reserves league as part of its bold expansion plans.
Outspoken VFA/VFL great Phil Cleary said the AFL's plan to gain full control of who was on the AFLV board and which clubs played was "undemocratic".
"If the AFL's plan goes through, it will be a step towards the death of the VFL competition," Cleary said.
"It will turn the VFA/VFL, a league steeped in 130 years of football tradition, into a satellite competition, a mini-AFL.
"I am concerned. This puts the very heart and soul of Victorian football at risk. Maybe the people will have to fight back."
The AFL denied funding was at stake and insisted the proposed changes, endorsed by the AFLV board, would improve the structure governing the VFL.
"We think it is in the best interests of football, especially in times of increasing competition, to improve the governmental structure and work even closer together," said the AFL's general manager of game development, Dave Matthews.
Six of the nine AFLV directors have already been offered a position on the revamped board.
The most controversial of the proposed amendments would give the AFL the only vote at general meetings and the power to change the constitution.
It would also give the AFL power to veto any director elected by VFL clubs to an AFLV board position.
"It means VFL clubs will be locked out and basically have no say in any situation," Williamstown president Trevor Monti said.
"We will have to put our full faith in not only the current AFL administration, but future AFL administrations, and we know there could be a lot of pressure to admit interstate teams, such as West Sydney and the Gold Coast. But at what cost?"
Casey president John Sharkie added: "My fears are that as a result of this, some of our less robust clubs may go out of existence."
The AFL pours $15 million a year into the VFL and has undertaken joint VFL facility projects with State Government and local council worth more than $30 million.
"The AFL understands the place Victorian football has in the overall health in the game," Matthews said.
To pass the controversial amendments, AFLV needs at least 25 of 32 votes in favour.
North Ballarat and Bendigo, two clubs who fear for the league's susceptibility without full AFL funding, appear set to break ranks with other clubs by voting in favour of the proposal.
Club presidents have formulated a counter-proposal but AFL representatives are yet to discuss it with them.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25221464-19742,00.html
