Victorian Falcon wrote: Swan42 the VFL is a very strong competition(standard wise), however it gets little to no recognition in the media here in Melbourne. Without the ABC television coverage the attention would almost be non existant.SEN radio have a segment on Thursday night committed to the VFL & Local footy. Otherwise media coverage basically covers performances of AFL listed players(TV will give scores, but nothing else...unless an AFL listed player has played or done something special....similar to why this topic was raised on this thread. Knowledge of VFL listed players is very limited. Without the injection of AFL money via their allignments with VFA/VFL Clubs many of these teams would have folded must be recognised. However this has come at a great expense to these Clubs where they no longer have autonomy over the make up or selection of their own team. This inturn affects the VFL players were they are bounced around from ones to twos or back to local Clubs at the behest of availability of AFL listed players. The integrity of the competition in its own right is being eroded as teams, their ambitions & history are ignored & ruled by the ambitions of the AFL Clubs. This is shown where a number of allignments have discintergrated with the AFL Club changing allegency or starting its own team. AFL Clubs are only interested in the development of their own players. Interest in the alligned Club extends only at finals time where if the AFL Club is involved it is in their interest to have their alligned Club playing. East Perth & Peel will be effected by their decision to allign themselves with the Eagles/Dockers. They may well have success within the WAFL competion, but it will come at a cost!!! Allignments in Melbourne have effected supporter base ( like WAFL the base is small compared to the AFL)regardless it is what makes the competion great. Loyal supporters following suburban teams they grew up in. These supporters go to follow their VFL side to be outweighed by supporters who are their to follow their AFL teams seconds, if their team has played the night before or playing interstate. These supporters wear their AFL colours to the games (in most cases not even reflecting the colours of the teams playing) & support their AFL players. Resentment runs rife with the traditional supporters at this (particularly if you don't support the AFL affillate)!!!!Again I can see this being a major problem in the WAFL with intense rivalry between WC & the Dockers. Geelong / Collingwood /Essendon have their own teams ....the Bulldogs / Richmond to follow maybe next year...other Clubs pursuing the same thoughts. Where does that leave the VFL Clubs... Port Melbourne /Williamstown will be okay...Coburg...Who knows.
Thanks for that VF. You don't paint a pretty picture. Basically, you are saying that the history and competition of the VFA (VFL) is being ripped apart. I certainly hope that a few of the advocates of the alignment read your post and perhaps they may change their views as a consequence.
From all reports the ABC will be dropping their coverage of the State based footy competitions. From what you are saying this will have a huge impact on the VFL competition.
