TOPIC:

Mergers? Really? I’ve been challenged to put up of shut up. I put up, SS analysed, cheers.Has anyone else got ideas for equalisation?

merging is a form of equalisation -- read the post -- Perth would certainly benefit, particularly if the Fremantle clubs merged.

Well done to everyone. This has been an excellent thread with some good ideas and sensible respectful discussion without the finger pointing and meaningless points scoring that can sometimes take place on the club boards. One thing we have all got in common is that we care about the WAFL and want it to continue as a viable competition. In relation to mergers, if there was no other option for Swans financially I guess they would have to consider it but the problem is if we merge with a club like Perth for example, a new club identity is created and to some extent you lose the history and traditions of both clubs in some way. It wouldnt feel the same for me going along to the footy to support the Perth Swans or the Bassendean Demons but it may not be the same issue for younger people I suppose.

STT: the way I would work it south of the river, if there were the mergers I suggested in the future is to give the PFC half of EF's old zone. This would leave the new Fremantle club with South's zone and the other half of the old EF zone. In addition taking away Peel's country zone would benefit SD and EP at a stroke, clubs, which, at the moment need help.

The comp can be equalised without mergers. Don’t mention mergers they don’t need to happen.

STT: I think you are right, and it would never be my preferred option.

There are things that can be tried. What is wrong with my draft idea? Don’t worry about restraint of trade bs. If an afl player out of contract wanted to switch clubs when NOT a free agent they could. The law would support them. If the afl tried to penalise the club for a breach of the rules that would be a restraint of trade and a court would chuck out the rules. If an 18 year old kid wanted to go from sd to ef he could. No one could stop him and if the comp tried a court would sort it out.

In other words no one goes to court over this stuff since Adamson cos they just don’t.
Give the draft a try.

Oh and you know why the bottom 5 can’t play each other before anyone else? Because ef and sf want an ANZAC Day derby!! True.

Some good thoughts here, but I don’t like the merger one. However something has to be done to keep the comp alive. For me, every new season is one where I hope my team shows some sort of improvement. Finals are a distant thought and a flag is never in my mind. So how in the hell can we attract the younger generation to a WAFL team when they’ll never see it go all the way. With falling attendances, the current situation is just more fuel in the fire.

Just imagine regular gfs featuring ef v sf or ep v p or sd v p etc etc. it would be truly excellent, hugs crowds, great atmosphere. Instead we get more of the same year in year out with seemingly no end in sight. Depressing. I feel like I am in Scotland and don’t go for Celtic.

Jesus I just checked and celtic’s best % is around 70% win rate. Subi are much much more dominant than Celtic. Hells bells.