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SANFL to put its worst foot forward

Authored by: Brett Northey
on Monday, December 20 2010 @ 09:00 pm ACDT

My understanding was that this was more Foxtel initiated, which is why it has come pretty late and needs to be run on certain days to fit in with them. In which case it's understandable that there won't be much flexibility.

I'm not really sure how it could be scheduled differently to suit clubs like Centrals in SA. They would need the SANFL to organise a double bye for them, or play it out of season, which never truly pits the best against the best either. I think it remains a very difficult concept for such a demanding sport as Aussie Rules.

But in that case, yeah it's not really going to be a Champions League. They probably never really are though, if the top 2 or 3 teams qualify, which I think is often the case with such tournaments, then only 1 of the 2 or 3 is a Champion anyway.

I'd probably rather see it start as a true Champions League with just the top side from each league invited, so maybe the top SA vs top WA, and top VFL vs top Tassie, then the winners play off. So just 2 matches might be more palatable.

And yes, the SANFL will not only be represented by its lowest sides, but some have said they couldn't field their best players. So it could be teams that are 15 goals behind the best in the SANFL.

Overall it's a nice idea but hard to see how it could work the way we'd all like. Kind of like State of Origin, just no good window that fits and works with semi or pro footballers.

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

SANFL to put its worst foot forward

Authored by: Cam Homes
on Monday, December 20 2010 @ 10:43 pm ACDT

As you know Brett I'm a Doggies supporter and I'd love to see Centrals take on the rest of the best just to see if they are just the best outside the AFL as we ONE-eyed supporters reckon they are:-)
But I can also fully understand why Central and and the other top sides in SA just weren't interested. Not enough positives about the way it was presented and in its implimentation as opposed to the negatives which includes the same arguement put by the AFL as the reason we no longer get State-of-Origin eg. possible injuries to key players and consequential disruption to the teams chances to win premiership, and not enough interest in some parts of Australia.

I understand the SA teams are supposed to play matches in their Bye weeks, but the other states don't have byes, so how/when were they scheduled to play the games. I guess the previously published fixture just won't happen now that South, Port and West are going in or is SANFL to rearrange its fixtures next year so those club's byes are early in the season.

Even if the whole thing is Foxtel initiated it still doesn't say much about the AFL's role in formulating it and putting it to the Leagues/Clubs.

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

SANFL to put its worst foot forward

Authored by: Brett Northey
on Tuesday, December 21 2010 @ 12:38 am ACDT

It'd be nice to see Centrals beating someone else for a change (I'll always have 2002 though, go you Double Blues).

I just think for the reasons that appear to be behind it (Foxtel, in season matches), there's no good way to do the concept, as nice as aspects seem (best of the rest, exposure, interstate rivalry).

More prize money needed (than what we've seen in media rumours) - absolutely. The amount on offer may seem good to some leagues but not all.

But how would you propose they schedule it then? We agree it made it nearly impossible for the top SANFL sides to agree. But what alternatives are there?

If it does take off, wouldn't it be nice to see say PNG or South Pacific fill a spot when GWS step up to the AFL. I'd like to see that.

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

SANFL to put its worst foot forward

Authored by: Brett Northey
on Tuesday, December 21 2010 @ 09:40 pm ACDT

As predicted the Victorian media is focussing on the positives of the competition and not mentioning that the SA sides will be the bottom ones. Expected and not totally unreasonable, but a bit misleading. They do state that SA's teams are West Adelaide, Port Adelaide Magpies and North Adelaide, but don't mention they aren't the Champions by a long shot. To be fair there have been some reports stating it how it is, but they're the minority. More typical is just stating the teams...

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news...1934i.html

I wonder if Foxtel's coverage will fess up. The trouble here is that when the VFL clubs win it, as they now almost certainly will, it damages the SANFL's standing, as people don't read the "fine print". The SANFL prides itself as the best state league in Australia (as do the VFL), but it won't look good with its clubs getting beaten.

I guess you never know, those 3 SA sides could be in for good years. But they've been pretty consistent under achievers for a while now, and there is talk of them not even fielding their full strength sides. Personally I think the SANFL should've seen who was prepared to play, and if it wasn't top 5 sides, then not join the League in 2011.

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

SANFL to put its worst foot forward

Authored by: Cam Homes
on Wednesday, December 22 2010 @ 09:56 am ACDT

Have to agree 100% with your last statement.(stay out if not teams from top 5 at least)

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

SANFL to put its worst foot forward

Authored by: Cam Homes
on Wednesday, December 22 2010 @ 10:20 am ACDT

Note that The Age article makes no mention of Tassie teams. My impression was that Tassie was included in this comp.
Age article also explains that the VFL has extended their season to accommodate the comp and is giving all the other teams in the VFL a day off.
Funny how all this is already decided even before SANFL and its clubs get a look in the door.

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN