My interest in the AFL has declined dramatically and constantly over probably the 15 years... I still love St. Kilda and would love it for them to win a flag. But other then that. I mean I havent been to an AFL game in over 2 years.
The AFL is a league, not a sport, how often do the local soccer players in England refer to the sport they play as EPL???? The AFL is younger then the VFA, SANFL and WAFL if they are taking their VFL heritage, I agree that they should and i'm glad that they do... but since when did they actually become the sports governing body? A league that was broke and finished in ridiculous debt 30 years ago all of a sudden controls everything to their liking.
The evolution of Australian Football is strange probably unparalleled in terms of growth of professional sport around the world. It's funny that over 100 years after the VFL clubs broke away from the VFA clubs because of 'over expanding' that millions upon millions of dollars that they effectively generate gets shoved into expanding the game elsewhere.
To be honest. If the VFL wasn't broke in the 80's the AFL would not exist in its current format...There would not be 10 Victorian teams, I would swear on that.
As it were the eventually we saw a gulf open between the VFL and VFA. The introduction of the TAC cup was very AFL orientated. It effectively killed any 3rds teams that VFL clubs had. Springvale always had a strong one. By the mid 90's clubs all of a sudden had an AFL or nothing mentality.
Why was Fitzroy returning to the VFA never a serious move for that club?
What made Hawthorn believe that a merger was better then returning to the VFA?
How did the AFL assume power over the rules of the game etc.
Why did the league decide to go fully professional vs. running traditional football teams, with reserves? Clubs pay millions of dollars on excess staff and then whinge when they can't have players playing where they want for another club!
What this all seems to point towards is that the (A)VFL have assumed power of the National Game, yet do minimul work to ensure its smooth function below.
The new TV rights deal is injecting an etimated 1.25Billion into the league over 5 years. Yes they have to ride the rude and GWS with insurance and $$ to back them up. The players are asking for a bigger but of a pie that was bigger then before! My opinion is that the top end players get looked after, it's the bottom end that need more money. Will this cash injection allow clubs to extend AFL lists to 50-55+ and therefore allow the return of reserves.
The Eagles and Freo have been pushing for a team in the WAFL similar (identical) to those that Geelong, Collingwood and Essendon have, why should they have an advantage over the WA sides? the WAFL said no, why can't the VFL?
The AFL are the kings of double standards, how long will they continue to get their way?
The VFL is a messy messy situation, I don't know where it is heading, clubs can't plan more than one year at a time, the league can't even tell you what might be happening.
The only thing keeping me interested in the VFL is, well... not much at the moment, other then its history... which is currently being compromised.
Bugger off the AFL play them in a reserves comp... How about Promote the competition, bugger off TAC cup and have 3'rds so that clubs have ground to promote their identity as a genuine pathway... Fancy having the SAndringham Zebras and the Sandringham Dragons in the same colours, at the same ground as 2 seperate clubs. Fancy having the same with North Ballarat then Having 2 completely opposite colours names etc. with Box Hill/Ranges.
Why is the VFL not actively pursuing Balwyn to play in the VFL, they have spent a fortune more on players then what Frankston can afford. But then... why is Balwayn not interested in the VFL as a competition... Springvale was in the 80's. Nth Ballarat was in the 90's... Why doesn't the VFL appeal anymore??
The AFL seems hell bent on getting football right all over australia... except Victoria... Plenty of people I talk to are slowly losing interest in AFL, I tell them to get to a VFL game, a lot of responses I get are 'Why would I do that...' There is no interest in the comp, no identity compared to even 10 years ago, let alone 20+
The AFL in killing my interest in the AFL and VFL... almost time to move to Adelaide and follow Norwood...
