TOPIC:

A merger between East Perth and Perth, Subiaco and Claremont or South Fremantle and East Fremantle would be needed should Fremantle want to enter their own team in the WAFL.

As West Coast prepare to nominate a standalone WAFL team next season after the dissolution of the alignment with East Perth, the WA Football Commission expected the Dockers might seek their own team in the coming years.

But the WAFC will not allow an 11-team competition due to the State league’s playing strength being diluted below an acceptable level.

“The league cannot go beyond 10 teams, so for a new team to come in, there either has to be a merger or a team has to go out,” WAFC chairman Murray McHenry said.

“We are OK with a 10-team competition with a bye in the reserves and colts.”

In an extreme irony, Peel, Swan Districts and West Perth — three of the teams under greatest financial pressure this decade — would not be considered for mergers because of their location in vital population growth corridors.

The only merger in WAFL history occurred in 1889 when Victorians and West Australians joined to form Metropolitans.

The new club survived for only two years before folding.

West Perth will meet the commission tomorrow to ask for a loan of about $300,000 to help them meet short-term debts while they attempt to improve their revenue stream.

But the Falcons will not be guaranteed a handout if they intend to use the loan to repay substantial debts to their landlord VenuesWest or the Australian Tax Office.

McHenry confirmed that one of the WAFC’s key roles was to assist WAFL clubs during times of financial trouble.

“Clubs live on the breadline and when one thing goes wrong they often need help,” he said.

“It is our job to help.

“We are involved with West Perth at the moment and this year there have been some heavy meetings with East Fremantle about their situation. We did the same with Perth last year.”


I would go as far as to say this is the WAFC end position as well - puts to bed a couple of items & opens up two truckloads of others , particularly that last paragraph

A 10 team competition was way to big never mind an 11 team comp, I would go as far as to say even a 8 team comp is not sustainable.

Quite right Southerner, WP and SD are secure due to location despite being financially bust...

The most vulnerable clubs are Perth and EFFC..

A merger between the Perth and Eagles - full alignment , or Perth and EP..
A merger between EFFC and SFFC - possible and will occur in my mind in next decade or so.
A merger between Subi and Claremont - highly possible, with ground location to be sorted as only issue.

Bazza Perth is one of the few clubs that consistently record a profit and has about 300k sitting in a Centurions fund. Not sure why you would say Perth are one of the most vulnerable. When was the last time South Fremantle FC made a profit?

I think EF are a club in a state of flux, they are going nowhere fast with the poorest facilities in the WALF.

That makes sense DD...they could play out of Freo Oval and be known as the Fremantle Bull Sharks with colours of red, white and blue...Bull Sharks are know to live in the Swan River and are naturally aggressive by nature... problem solved.

BC wrote: That makes sense DD...they could play out of Freo Oval and be known as the Fremantle Bull Sharks with colours of red, white and blue...Bull Sharks are know to live in the Swan River and are naturally aggressive by nature... problem solved.

Haha very clever BC.

Article isn't actually a pointer to any merger - it definitely confirms a 10 team competition with byes in the reserves & colts is sitting on the table with a stand alone AFL side for next year
It's disappointing serious financial discussions with named individual clubs have been aired this way

DD wrote: Bazza Perth is one of the few clubs that consistently record a profit and has about 300k sitting in a Centurions fund. Not sure why you would say Perth are one of the most vulnerable. When was the last time South Fremantle FC made a profit?

I think EF are a club in a state of flux, they are going nowhere fast with the poorest facilities in the WALF.

South made a profit a few years back and have well in excess of $1.5 Million in assets.

You need more than just a modicum of financial viability not to be exposed , the most telling thing for Perth is its struggle on the field for decades, and the fact its location provides none of the advantages of WP or SD apart from having the WCE breathing down your neck ,,,,its a no brainer really.

As I said EFFC are also very vulnerable, they make money as well from time to time, but as stated above, I believe in 20 years there will be one WAFL ( if its still called that ) team based in Fremantle. That is really a no brainer as well.

BC wrote: That makes sense DD...they could play out of Freo Oval and be known as the Fremantle Bull Sharks with colours of red, white and blue...Bull Sharks are know to live in the Swan River and are naturally aggressive by nature... problem solved.

As stated above, I believe that will happen.

Southerner wrote: Article isn't actually a pointer to any merger - it definitely confirms a 10 team competition with byes in the reserves & colts is sitting on the table with a stand alone AFL side for next year
It's disappointing serious financial discussions with named individual clubs have been aired this way

I have my doubts a stand alone will get up and running that quick.

No Reserves side , no Colts side - just a top up system similar to the SANFL model , already got 20 odd spare players accounted for & a training base at Lathlain Oval plus AFL dollars