Richmond ressies/VFL side [merged]

[pmac21]

Did we not play this game because we didn't want to mingle with people from Coburg?

[DCrane]

No VFL? Latest developments on the coronavirus crisis

By Damian Barrett
afl.com.au
14 March 2020

VICTORIAN AFL clubs are considering pulling their involvement from the 2020 VFL competition.

The move has been canvassed on Saturday in a series of conference calls and meetings with AFL officials, as the industry continues to wrestle with contingencies pertaining to the coronavirus outbreak.

A day after publicly committing to playing its round one series of matches as fixtured, the AFL again briefed club CEOs and presidents on Saturday morning and early afternoon about plans for round two and beyond.

It emerged during those discussions that several clubs believe they need to remove their players from any involvement with their VFL organisations, where they come in contact with people who are outside their own heavily-controlled and medically-focused work environments.

If a majority of Victorian clubs withdrew their players from VFL involvement, it would place the 2020 VFL season in jeopardy.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/385050/no-vfl-latest-developments-on-the-coronavirus-crisis

We've gone first.
https://www.afl.com.au/news/385713/tigers-suspend-vfl-program-because-of-coronavirus-crisis

Surely an indication that the club wants out of the seniors as well, there is no way Thursday night will go ahead.

[Rampsation]

2020 VFL season should be suspended. only AFL MATCHES should go ahead.

[DCrane]

Is there a difference in the risk of exposure depending on the grade of footy? The risk would probably be higher in the AFL, as there are far more people involved in the running of the game, even without crowds, the more people you are exposed to, the higher the risk.

[one-eyed]

VFL season set to be suspended indefinitely

SEN
16 March 2020

The VFL season has been suspended indefinitely as AFL teams crack down on player interaction ahead of their own campaigns, according to multiple reports.

Richmond and the Western Bulldogs had already pulled the plug on their teams, wanting to limit who their AFL players are exposed to.

Due to the cancellation of the Victorian Development League in 2017, which helped fill VFL rosters and served as a reserves league for it, clubs became completely reliant on AFL-listed talent filling out sides.

With AFL clubs now pulling their players, the league simply can’t fill its sides.

Leading VFL writer for Leader Newspapers Paul Amy believes this decision will put “enormous financial strain” on standalone teams Williamstown, Port Melbourne, Coburg, Frankston and Werribee.

The AFL season is still scheduled to go ahead at this stage. The VFL season was set to get underway on April 3rd.

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2020/03/15/report-vfl-season-set-to-be-suspended-indefinitely/

[pmac21]

Good idea if the AFL season is to go ahead as teams will need all 40 players to be able to field teams week to week. 

I still believe the AFL season will be postponed indefinetly before Thursday.

[Andyy]

Good idea if the AFL season is to go ahead as teams will need all 40 players to be able to field teams week to week. 

I still believe the AFL season will be postponed indefinetly before Thursday.

Agreed. AFL just trying to save some of their $$$.

Season likely won't happen at all unless we can contain the virus ASAP but we're not looking too good so far.

[one-eyed]

THE AFL'S second-tier and development competitions are set for major reform as the industry braces for significant changes and the inevitability of smaller list sizes.

Several football and list bosses conceded to AFL.com.au they won't have the money to pay the necessary staff to run a state league team, plus there won't be enough players if list sizes shrink.

A national reserves competition wasn't viable even before the coronavirus cash crisis but one option being raised is the merging of the VFL and NEAFL.

Another possibility is a 23-and-under competition, with dispensation to play a certain number of older players, although this idea has obvious flaws.

But as one list boss told AFL.com.au: "There is no silly suggestion at this time."

https://www.afl.com.au/news/390820/why-state-and-development-leagues-are-set-for-significant-change

[one-eyed]

The issue the AFL are "worried" about amid coronavirus crisis

By SEN
26 April 2020

The prospect of a national second tier is one of the biggest issues facing the AFL currently, according to SEN Chief Sports Reporter Sam Edmund.

The VFL, alongside the various other state-based competitions are currently also in hiatus alongside the AFL season.

How the likes of the SANFL in South Australia, WAFL in Western Australia and the NEAFL across New South Wales and Queensland look when the coronavirus crisis ends is the topic of much debate and Edmund forecast some sort of change was on the horizon.

“This is as hotly debated and worried about as any issue surrounding COVID-19 at the moment,” Edmund said on Crunchtime.

“Just what does the second tier look like – I keep coming back to that quote from Gillon McLachlan a week ago when he makes specific mention of building a bottom-up model.

“If that speaks to anything, it’s a second-tier model."

Player agent Liam Pickering said uniting all states under one national second-tier competition would be the ideal model.

“The ideal scenario would be a national second-tier competition,” he said.

“Where it’s difficult is the interstate teams, the WA commission own the West Coast Eagles and they’ve got their own team. Where can the Crows recruit from and Port Adelaide have their own history too.

“The NEAFL have their own competition but it’s sort of a ho-hum competition compared to the VFL and the SANFL.

“I’m not sure all the clubs are getting true and equal development in their lists because injuries play a fairly big part in it.

“The money is at the very top and not at the lower level which is a problem.”

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2020/04/26/the-issue-the-afl-are-worried-about-amid-coronavirus-crisis/

[one-eyed]

An eastern seaboard league shapes as a possible solution to the second-tier competition conundrum facing the AFL.

Under the concepts raised at last week's talent pathways committee meetings, AFL.com.au understands one proposal could see the Sydney, Greater Western Sydney, Brisbane and Gold Coast reserves sides join the Victorian clubs' competition in 2021.

While the South Australian and West Australian AFL clubs may also alter their second-tier set ups depending on list cuts, a national reserves competition was all but ruled out by West Coast boss Trevor Nisbett on the weekend, who said it would be "too expensive" for the Eagles to be a part of it.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/432408/eastern-seaboard-second-tier-comp-on-radar-concerns-for-neafl

[taztiger4]

An eastern seaboard league shapes as a possible solution to the second-tier competition conundrum facing the AFL.

Under the concepts raised at last week's talent pathways committee meetings, AFL.com.au understands one proposal could see the Sydney, Greater Western Sydney, Brisbane and Gold Coast reserves sides join the Victorian clubs' competition in 2021.

While the South Australian and West Australian AFL clubs may also alter their second-tier set ups depending on list cuts, a national reserves competition was all but ruled out by West Coast boss Trevor Nisbett on the weekend, who said it would be "too expensive" for the Eagles to be a part of it.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/432408/eastern-seaboard-second-tier-comp-on-radar-concerns-for-neafl

Tasmania also have a licence to rejoin the VFL next year IIRC

[one-eyed]

State league could be scrapped as AFL leaves VFL clubs in the dark

May 5, 2020
Matt Balmer
FOX SPORTS

With the AFL poised to restart the competition in June, nothing is set in stone over the state leagues across the country.

Carlton has already severed ties with its aligned club Northern Blues, leaving a number of standalone clubs potentially to go it alone in 2020.

Veteran AFL journalist Caroline Wilson suggested a big restructure was coming, with Footy Classified host Craig Hutchison believing the competition won’t go ahead this year.

“The VFL have not even had the AFL come to them for directions on what the VFL will even look like,” Matthew Lloyd revealed on Channel 9’s Footy Classified.

“We’re hoping to get an AFL season in the next five to six weeks, the VFL don’t even know. They’ve got CEOs who are stacking shelves at Bunnings, they’ve got all their staff who aren’t even there.

“If you’re the 23rd player picked at AFL level in five weeks time, you don’t even know what you’re doing at the moment.”

There is also a possibility VFL clubs which are aligned with AFL clubs, such as Sandringham and Casey, won’t be able to use AFL-listed players if a season goes ahead.

“The own clubs have decided ‘let’s sort out our own working groups’ because they’re not getting anything from AFL level,” he added.

“A seven to ten game season is all they might get. We may not get AFL players who don’t get a game, so suddenly we are funding every single player we’ve got.

“A lot of their players are tradies and saying instead of getting $50 a week (in the VFL), I can work all day.”

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2020-vfl-state-leagues-neafl-afl-standalone-clubs-matthew-lloyd-footy-classified/news-story/b0315e511a22f01d44086b3e055ddffc

[one-eyed]

Clubs pushing for a joint NAB League -VFL return telecast on Seven to get footy back. Frustration grows at the lack of consultation from the AFL. And is aligning NAB League and VFL clubs the way of the future to cut costs and streamline coaching?

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/localfooty/vfl/clubs-pitch-a-combined-vflnab-league-season-to-afl/news-story/df2f8750a47b28c1a75462f68da0ae7b

[one-eyed]

State league ban: 'Scratch match' plan emerging for AFL fringe players

By Marc McGowan
afl.com.au
12 may 2020

FOOTBALLERS not selected for their AFL side this year could instead compete in scratch matches against players in the same position at other clubs.

The AFL is understood to be contemplating alternative playing arrangements after telling clubs on Tuesday that no AFL footballers will be permitted to play in second-tier competitions in 2020.

That decision is based upon the part-time nature of those competitions not enabling AFL-listed players to adhere to the strict medical protocols that will be in place this season.

It's believed the AFL is also in regular dialogue with all state leagues across the country on the scenarios relating to them playing this year.

The move to consider scratch matches for overlooked AFL footballers means they will potentially be able to push their case for senior selection beyond just training.

It will help ease the fears of fringe players, particularly those out of contract, who could have been faced with the possibility of playing no football in 2020.

However, there are complications with this set-up, given the length of injury lists and number of available players can be drastically different from club to club.

That could lead to condensed games, less players on each team, or possibly even a situation where footballers on rival clubs might play alongside one another if necessary.

Any such matches would be held in a controlled environment, in line with AFL and government guidelines.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/433234/state-league-ban-scratch-match-plan-emerging-for-afl-fringe-players

[one-eyed]

The Latest On The AFL Reserves Situation

MMM
14 May 2020

With the AFL announcing that no AFL listed players were allowed to participate in the state leagues this season, the Hot Breakfast outlined what the season might look like for non-selected AFL players.

In a bid to still maintain match fitness, Eddie McGuire revealed that non-selected players are likely to be limited to internal scratch matches.

This could mean the only match play the 'reserves' will get could be a shortened game with 14-16 players per side.

"The players who are leftover who don't play on a weekend in the AFL team, will play scratch matches against each other," McGuire said.

"You won't be able to bring anybody in, and they won't be able to go out. They will quarantine the list of those players and they will play amongst themselves.

"It might be 16-vs-16, it might be 14-vs-14... If everyone is fit they might be able to get a full game up."

https://www.triplem.com.au/story/the-latest-on-the-afl-reserves-situation-161108