Port Adelaide has applied to enter the VFL/NTFL competition in 2025.Ending the Powers 154 year association with the Sanfl.
It appears that the Adelaide Crows will do the same,in 2026.
This is another expansion of the VFL..And will probably stop an official AFL reserves competition starting.
This just leaves Wce and Freo out of the VFL/NTFL competition. With Nisbitts departure from Wce.Looks like its a Wafc decision to make here.
taken them 42 years but they’ve eventually got another application in to join the VFL suburban comp
Adelaide is a car drive away from most grounds in Victoria and there’s plane flights direct to the NT from Adelaide or rail
they’re dead in the SANFL anyway
Late Edit:
I remember in the 1980’s hearing how one of their coaches Foster Williams used to drive into the bush looking for special players , the tough unpolished diamonds - the NT was one place he used to go and they have had ties with the NT for a long time
This is where WA is disadvantaged. It’s a 4 hr flight to Melbourne, plus for Sydney and Brisbane. 2.5 hrs to Adelaide. Makes perfect sense for the eastern states clubs. Doesn’t make sense for WC and Fremantle expecting those on minimum salaries and part time footballers with full time jobs to jump on the bird for a 4 hour flight each way for a footy match.
WC will be very keen to join the VFL, but I think it’s inevitable that there will be a proper AFL reserves comp fairly soon with each of the 18 clubs having a reserves outfit, the left over genuine unaligned VFL and former NEAFL clubs will be left to fend for themselves. The aligned clubs will need to make a decision about being absorbed by their AFL masters which wont be a bad thing as Peel might disappear up their purple arseholes.
It’s the only way it will work SS for the two WA clubs where they only have to travel every second week.
SS all AFL sides apart from our teams.Are already in the VFL/NTFL.Do we really need an AFL ressies comp now.
Just a huge waste of money,imo.
Yes well there you go - only a matter of time, the VFL will become the AFL Reserves, with Port and the Crows gone from the SANFL it is only a matter of time before the two locals here do the same.
SANFL sold the Crows for 11.5 Million some time ago, its lucky SAFL has gambling revenue and decent crowds , Its going to be a big problem for WAFL finances once this all starts breaking up.
Was just reading on SEN.That the AFL pays for the travel of the AFL clubs, outside of Victoria. In the VFL/NTFL competition. It’s a no brainer that the Eagles and Dockers will also join
And travel away every second week.
Now with a rival tier 2 competition playing in Perth Vs the Wafl.
Troubled times ahead for the Wafl +Sanfl.
That good be a good thing.
Peel are so arrogant and useless they will want to “play” AFL.
Either way they have to go so we can get back to an 8 team comp.
this might bring forward selling licences - they’ll be worth considerably more than the SANFL sale price given there is no stadium renovation coin involved like there was for Adelaide Oval
That is substantial coin for WA footy
[quote=“Southerner post=232698 userid=1210”]this might bring forward selling licences - they’ll be worth considerably more than the SANFL sale price given there is no stadium renovation coin involved like there was for Adelaide Oval
That is substantial coin for WA footy
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Yes mate they would want to make sure they do sell them for considerably more, then invest it wisely. It would be great if some rich kent came along and formed a break away league with wafl, sanfl and stand alone vfl clubs, poach a heap of their players and fuck up their monopoly, similar to what packer did with wsc
[quote=“gtrxuone post=232696 userid=2215”]Was just reading on SEN.That the AFL pays for the travel of the AFL clubs, outside of Victoria. In the VFL/NTFL competition. It’s a no brainer that the Eagles and Dockers will also join
And travel away every second week.
Now with a rival tier 2 competition playing in Perth Vs the Wafl.
Troubled times ahead for the Wafl +Sanfl.
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My bloody oath mate - this will all happen quicker than folks are thinking, and the WAFL could not be in a more exposed position than it is now, virtually nothing has been done to sharpen the pencil smarten the comp up make it financially robust and viable, instead they drift along in denial on the AFL drip feed, well a world of reckoning is coming and I reckon it’s probably too late for some quarters to get themselves match fit now.
Selling the two AFL Licenses is an option, but who gets the money? Unlike the Crows whereby the SANFL owned the licence and sold it to the AFL - that is not the case here, the license is owned by the WAFC who also own the two franchises who will want to walk away with cash.
Effectively the WCE and Dockers are the only two privately owned clubs, the others being owned by members in the traditional format or by the AFL directly.
I’d rather be in SANFLs shoes tbh.
Baz have been reading some article’s,coming out of SA.
The Sanfl hate relationship with Port Adelaide. Has softened over the last 48 hours.They may take Port to court and force them to stay in SA,till 2028.As there contracted atm.If Port don’t leave the Crows,won’t either.
The Sanfl crowds are 25% larger , than the Wafl .And they have Pokies also..
Wafc won’t sell our liciences. Because it suits the Eagles to push everyone around in Wa.They won’t like Afl control of there club.
There’s not a lot of options for the Wafl.Back to a 8 team competition, dismantling Peels zone..And fixing Perths zone moving Souths into Mandurah.
Maby a under lights in the spring months.If nothing changes its pretty clear the Wafl will turn Tier 3.In the next decade
We lament the (eventual) relegation of WAFL/SANFL to tier 3, but what would the standard of AFL reserves be like? I expect the current VFL is a relatively strong comp, but it is held up by relatively stronger old VFA clubs and pokie money.
Compare this to the Eagles WAFL side who have been pathetic over their existence, where will the balance fall?
One has to assume that if an AFL reserves side comes into existence, with the AFL paying travel costs, the salary cap for the reserves would be higher than what the eagles can allow currently. But still at what level will it plane out? Even with travel covered, clubs will be stingy about paying for top up players, and as has been mentioned, it will take a fair bit of coin, or promise, to entice players to fill the squad.
Even have to look at the existing clubs in the VFL - when the handful of traditional clubs are cast aside for a proper reserves comp it will cost a number of clubs to top up - if they can.
Still all the muppets would rather watch whatever crap they are told to watch - AFL reserves and AFLW will always get more attention than WAFL/SANFL despite being a shite product.
[quote=“gtrxuone post=232715 userid=2215”]Baz have been reading some article’s,coming out of SA.
The Sanfl hate relationship with Port Adelaide. Has softened over the last 48 hours.They may take Port to court and force them to stay in SA,till 2028.As there contracted atm.If Port don’t leave the Crows,won’t either.
The Sanfl crowds are 25% larger , than the Wafl .And they have Pokies also..
Wafc won’t sell our liciences. Because it suits the Eagles to push everyone around in Wa.They won’t like Afl control of there club.
There’s not a lot of options for the Wafl.Back to a 8 team competition, dismantling Peels zone..And fixing Perths zone moving Souths into Mandurah.
Maby a under lights in the spring months.If nothing changes its pretty clear the Wafl will turn Tier 3.In the next decade
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Thats right, their contract is for them to remain until at least 2028, there are bound to be get out clauses , what’s a good contract if you cannot break it, nevertheless even if it does force a delay until 2028, its just putting off the inevitable and both clubs and the AFL will be more advanced down the road to the 2nd tier set up with lead up time.
With travel covered and plenty of money to throw around expect a significant player drain from what is left of the state leagues, if you want to take a look at the future look at what is left of Tassie state footy.
The out of the box new era thinking of under lights spring comps ground and club rationalization to be fit for survival should of started happening years ago, as should of intense lobbying for club gambling revenue; alas never underestimate the backward archaic thinking of your average WAFL officialdom.
The future of WAFL lies with the Perth Football League in the next decade or perhaps sooner. As the last WAFL diehards who remember the 80s now approaching and into their 60s not much fuel left in the tank fan base wise.
Given, the AFL reserves comp seems inevitable and should Port be held to their contract and cant go until 2028, it also gives the 2nd tier comps extra time to get their shit together. Once the 8 WAFL clubs accept that the AFL money will go, they will hopefully grow a pair and act as a single unit when negotiating with the WAFC to make sure most if not all of any licence sale money is directed into a sustainable WAFL trust that is there purely for the benefit of the WAFL and all comps below it in WA. I have no idea what the licences would be valued at, somewhere in the vicinity of $40mill combined? With that sort of money invested and handled carefully it should form the basis of a sustainable semi-pro comp. With many of the clubs home grounds being redeveloped as combined club and public use venues plus development land, if owned or long term leased by the clubs, will also boost the clubs and comps coffers, again if handled wisely. There must be a permanent and independent financial review board set up that ensures all clubs practice proper financial practices so that we dont get situations like has happened recently at a number of clubs.
Brilliant thoughts SS, and yes the extra time could be a lifeline.
I have heard the WCE Lic. alone is worth $50 Million, they are the richest club in the country, a virtual license to print money and have huge savings banked.
The big question is who buys it and how do you divvie up the funds following a windup on the WAFC?
the negotiations would take years.
Ideally as you say with a capital future fund invested wisely of just say half the total sale of both AFL set ups then it would be the basis of sustainable model.
Sadly we do not have the benefits of the SANFL who has a shared revenue stream from the SACA, Gambling revenue and a bigger supporter base, how that gets hit once the Port fans leave is a question as well.
And when we cut the apron strings with the AFL and the WAFC is reduced to a relic of the past we’ve got a product to sell to the streaming services to cover WAFL, SANFL and possibly what’s left of the old VFL. Pitch it to Kayo or 10/Paramount+ and Amazon Prime. Maybe even 9 might get off their ass and get interested.
Baz, I’m not sure we should actually get rid of the WAFC, once they are no longer tied to the AFL clubs and hence all the contra that goes with it, most of the encumbent directors who are more AFL aligned will piss off … hopefully, to be replaced by good experienced business heads with a passion for WAFL and community footy. The WAFC has those necessary ties and conduits to the state government so it should be retained but in a form and with people that are in line with the clubs thinking and respectful of the comps long history.
[quote=“Senior Seagull post=232743 userid=922”]Baz, I’m not sure we should actually get rid of the WAFC, once they are no longer tied to the AFL clubs and hence all the contra that goes with it, most of the encumbent directors who are more AFL aligned will piss off … hopefully, to be replaced by good experienced business heads with a passion for WAFL and community footy. The WAFC has those necessary ties and conduits to the state government so it should be retained but in a form and with people that are in line with the clubs thinking and respectful of the comps long history.
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I don’t think the WAFC would carry on once the two AFL sides are gone, it’s whole reason for being comes from managing those two, the constitution would have to be redrawn, there is no similar body in any other state, I could see a much downsized version more along the lines of the old WAFL Council of presidents, Statewide football at all levels would be controlled by them much the same as the SANFL does, there would be no point in running a WAFC on top with a tiny budget and not much actual public profile.
I do agree though that a very powerful watchdog be put over any future fund they are granted to manage - i.e. State Treasury.
If we know anything about WAFL History and the 1980s financial mess , if anyone can stuff money up its a board of WAFL presidents.