Forum topic

I couldn't see any clubs going out of the competition in the next 5 years, unless finances play a part. I can see one club in Gippsland area coming back in to align with Gippsland Power (maybe even Gippsland Power fielding a Senior side) to even out the draw with 14 teams.

I wonder if Tassie will get thier own Reserve side in the next 5 years?

Like the idea of a Gippsland club. would also like to see a team from Shepperton or Albury & maybe split Tassie into 2 teams - north & south with north playing at York Park & south playing at hobart.

I assume the Hawthorn/Box Hill alignment will still be in place, as it is going relatively smoothly. :)

[quote="Muesli"]Like the idea of a Gippsland club. would also like to see a team from Shepperton or Albury & maybe split Tassie into 2 teams - north & south with north playing at York Park & south playing at hobart.[/quote] That's not a bad idea, it will give Tasmania a home, rather then a split home, between Hobart and Launceston. I'm not sure what their names would be. The naming of the teams will be a problem, I don't know which would like to keep the name "Devils"

I read somewhere if Tasmania ever gets an AFL side, it would be the Tasmania Devils who were created initally to represent Tasmania in the VFL, but would be Football Tasmanias push for a club in the AFL. I can't see Tasmania giving up on the idea and breaking it up into two clubs.

I think we might have a few country teams or leagues align with VFL sides, not sure how it will happen but I understand one club may have, or will consider, setting somthing similar up soon. A bit like Essendon having the Redland Bombers in the AFLQ and North Shore in NSW. I'd like to see a Gippsland and Murray side, but can't see it happening. It would be very hard to establish a stand alone side in the country. The North -East region never adopted the Murray Kangaroos (who played half their games at Coburg anyway!) and have a very strong OMFL and GVFL. Also, I don't think the Murray Kangaroos did much to help get support from those clubs (eg they forced players to change clubs) so they probably dug their own grave. I hope we don't get another side in Tasmania. I also doubt we will ever see Monday night football return.

I'd like to think the Carlton will actually start respecting the Northern Bullants Football Club. Otherwise I'd like to see the alignment finish ASAP. If new teams are to be included, I'd like to think that a club will enter rather than a manufactured team. But in saying that the Traralgon club probably still hasn't recovered from it's time in the VFA/VFL. They were a very strong club who seem to struggle these days, anyway at least on the field. I know that Traralgon didn't last very long but they did come in at a hard time. The La Trobe Valley was stuffed economically so i don't think the local support for the club was there and I think they did make it hard for themselves by continuing to field senior sides in the local comp. Also I think that the Murray Kangaroos were held back by Nth.Melbourne. I'm sure Dennis Pagan controlled the Murray side as he does the Bullants so I don't think there was any real chance of the venture working. If Nth. Melbourne was serious about a side supposed to be representing the Ovens and Murray area then why were they playing most of their games at Coburg.

[quote="onslaught"]I read somewhere if Tasmania ever gets an AFL side, it would be the Tasmania Devils who were created initally to represent Tasmania in the VFL, but would be Football Tasmanias push for a club in the AFL. I can't see Tasmania giving up on the idea and breaking it up into two clubs.[/quote] I couldn't see it either, with 2 AFL teams fighting for support in Launceston, a 2nd VFL side for Tasmania in the North wouldn't draw much. The Devils right now are struggling at York Park.

Just going through this old thread, and a lot of the issues still exist.

For state football to be strengthened in Victoria, I still believe that we need teams represented from the following regions

• Bendigo
• Ballarat
• Gippsland
• Ovens and Murray

I have always been opposed to the competition being divided up into two divisions (or 'conferences') but I think with Tasmania coming back in, it might be something they need to consider.

Ideally, QLD and NSW clubs should be returning back to respective state leagues, but the AFL seem unwilling to push for that to happen.  I'm not really sure why?