Shocking when we have players that we are trying to get ready for AFL playing VFL reserves. I was reading somewhere that the VFL reserve standard is lower than TAC cup. Don't know if this is true but if it is then it is a woeful situation.
Sooner we get our own team the better. $500,000 well spent IMO and should be number 1 priority.
There's another aspect to running our own reserves team that hasn't really been touched on and that is the esprit de corps that comes from all playing under the one banner, the same jumper. I know that it's a professional sporting environment but you still see the effect of 'team' on a weekly basis in games, team mates inspiring each other to greater efforts because they are just that - team mates. And having all our players playing for the same team, the same club and the same jumper will enhance that effect. Senior players getting involved with the reserves team and reserves players getting involved with the senior team, same training sessions, same training venues, same team meetings, same gym, same pool, same runners, same trainers, same medicos, same rehab procedures etc etc. Familiarity and ownership of the common cause. 'Oneness' is a powerful byproduct of having your own reserves team and it's benefits should be respected when the club comes to decide if we go it alone or not.
