AFL ressies to return = End of Coburg Tigers?

[one-eyed]

Sounds like either a Pie or Blue official WP. Going by today's article in the Herald-Sun only us, Melbourne and Hawthorn are completely happy with their VFL affiliate.

Pies, Blues may force VFL to expand
25 May 2007   Herald-Sun
Jon Anderson

A 16-TEAM VFL competition with more top-up players from the TAC Cup under-18 competition is considered likely next season.

Carlton and Collingwood are expected to field their own teams, breaking existing alliances (which began in 2000) with the Northern Bullants and Williamstown.

Williamstown is financially strong enough to stand alone, but the Northern Bullants would struggle, something AFL Victoria chief executive officer Peter Schwab is desperate to avoid.

"AFL clubs want to control the development of their players and are frustrated when those players are not selected in a VFL team or played out of position," said Schwab, who coached Hawthorn from 2000-2004 with the Hawks aligned with Box Hill.

"I fully understand those concerns, but I don't think the answer is to take away the whole VFL competition to satisfy those concerns.

"We want to save all VFL clubs. I understand there will be AFL clubs who want to put their own teams in, so the number of teams would increase (from 13 to 16).

"Sixteen is a good number because it would fit into the AFL fixture, and history shows byes don't work."

The determination of Collingwood and Carlton to go it alone will bring the proposed restructure forward from 2008 to next year. A bone of contention will be the number of under-18 top-up players allowed.

That number is restricted to two a team, but will come under pressure to be increased to as many as six so AFL clubs get the chance to view teenagers playing against men.

Paddy Ryder, Lance Franklin and Bryce Gibbs are recent examples of under-18 players to benefit from a year in the WAFL or SANFL before being eligible for the national draft.

The trio were allowed to develop in positions, something that is not always the case with VFL-aligned teams.

Take Carlton's Adam Hartlett as an example, taken with pick No. 25 in the 2004 national draft. Hartlett, making his senior debut tomorrow at Telstra Dome, is seen as a budding centre half-forward.

But when the game gets tight and the Northern Bullants are trying to win, who is the better centre half-forward - Hartlett or Digby Morrell?

With Carlton willing and able to become a sole entity, where does it leave the Northern Bullants? While there is no cause to doubt Schwab's desire to retain all existing VFL clubs, some will come under severe financial pressure.

They include the Bullants, Casey Scorpions, Werribee and Coburg Tigers. Richmond is thought to be happy with the Coburg arrangement, but the Western Bulldogs improved situation may see them go solo.

Casey Scorpions and St Kilda have not jelled yet to the degree of Melbourne and Sandringham or Hawthorn and the Box Hill Hawks, and the Scorpions as a fledgling outfit would struggle financially.

But given their geographical demographic and the AFL/VFL's desire to promote the code in that area, it is highly unlikely they will be absent next season.

Geelong will clearly remain, with its model being looked upon as the preferred option by some other AFL clubs.

In 2002 the Cats won the VFL premiership with a side containing Gary Ablett, Jimmy Bartel, Paul Chapman, David and Steve Johnson, James Kelly and Max Rooke.

The Kangaroos have some players at North Ballarat and others with Tasmania. In an ideal world where money was not a problem, they would go it alone.

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,21790105%255E19895,00.html

[mightytiges]

Looks like the AFL ressies idea is a no goer according to Inside Football/SEN. Most likely next year there'll be a expanded VFL with 4 AFL clubs going alone with their own VFL team. They are just waiting for the hand down of the report into the VFL.

So it looks like the Richmond-Coburg alignment will remain  .

[WilliamPowell]

Looks like the AFL ressies idea is a no goer according to Inside Football/SEN. Most likely next year there'll be a expanded VFL with 4 AFL clubs going alone with their own VFL team. They are just waiting for the hand down of the report into the VFL.

So it looks like the Richmond-Coburg alignment will remain  .

Correct 

Have to say it is has been a very big talking point at VFL games over the past few weeks.

[one-eyed]

National reserves league ruled out
13 July 2007   Herald Sun
Daryl Timms

AN AFL review into the second-tier competition in Victoria has ruled out the need for a national reserves league.

AFL game development general manager David Matthews said yesterday the league should complete its review in a couple of weeks.

"At this stage we are starting to formulate some ideas and the ideas are based around the fact that the competition can continue to evolve," Matthews said.

"And it doesn't need anything as dramatic as a national reserves competition.

"We are still putting some finishing touches on things."

"We have seen some examples where alignments do work, so I think the competition itself has a future. The configuration is something we still need to work on," he said.

Full article at: http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,22065498%255E19742,00.html

[one-eyed]

It appears the Calder -> Coburg -> Richmond may be set in concrete as a three-tier affiliation.

Clubs urged to maintain VFL links
27 July 2007   Herald Sun
Damian Barrett

VICTORIAN AFL clubs will be urged to retain their alignments with VFL clubs instead of going it alone in the state's second-tier competition.

While some clubs, including Carlton and Collingwood, intend fielding their own teams in the VFL in the future, the AFL would prefer current affiliations were kept.

The AFL recommendation was revealed to club chief executives at a two-day meeting in Melbourne that concluded yesterday.

The AFL is yet to finalise its ideal format for the second-tier competition, but it is known consideration is being given to also align under-18 teams competing in the TAC Cup with VFL clubs.

Such an initiative would introduce a pathway for draft hopefuls to play against men, as is the case in other states.

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,22141606%255E19742,00.html

[torch]

Calder --- Coburg --- Richmond ...

do you know how good Calder are ???

if this is allowed i will be rapt !!!

Calder Cannons are the Best Under 18's team in the competition !!!

[WilliamPowell]

Calder --- Coburg --- Richmond ...

do you know how good Calder are ???

if this is allowed i will be rapt !!!

Calder Cannons are the Best Under 18's team in the competition !!!

 

[one-eyed]

VFL links set to continue
Chris Walker | August 4, 2007

MOST Victorian-based AFL clubs are expected to retain their affiliation with the VFL, AFL Victoria chief executive Peter Schwab said yesterday.

After meetings with key stakeholders, including Victorian-based AFL clubs, VFL clubs, the AFL Commission and AFL Victoria, the AFL second-tier review committee provided recommendations on the direction of the VFL that were agreed to in principle by the AFL.

The AFL Commission's support of the review committee's findings will be finalised next month, with its recommendations forming the basis for continued investigation and discussion expected to be complete by mid-2008.

The primary recommendation was that alignment between AFL and VFL clubs would continue to play a big role in elite Victorian football.

It was agreed that the VFL and under-18 competition be integrated to form one regionally-based talent entity, providing pathways for young footballers.

The recommendations do not rule out AFL clubs fielding stand-alone teams in the VFL. Carlton and Collingwood are undecided about whether to retain their connections with their respective VFL affiliates, the Northern Bullants and Williamstown, or field an AFL reserves side within the VFL competition as Geelong currently does.

"The feedback (from AFL clubs) in response to the recommendations has been on the whole supportive. However, there are still some AFL clubs who have not finalised their position for 2008, and they may choose to stand alone," Schwab said. "We would encourage them not to. Ideally, we would like all the affiliations to stay.

"Our preference is for no changes to the VFL in 2008 and we still strongly support all current VFL clubs continuing."

Yesterday's decision effectively has ended hopes for a Victorian or national reserves competition, or a proposed 12-team eastern seaboard competition that would include Sydney and the Brisbane Lions, with costs and lack of resources big drawbacks.

Full article at: http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/vfl-links-set-to-continue/2007/08/03/1185648149062.html