TOPIC:

With the WAAFL looking more likely to disappear and become the Perth football league, its time the WA footy commission became pro-active.
With the AFL looking more likely to have a reserves competition in the comping years, its time the WAFL fell back into a structure similar to the English soccer leagues. With the WAFL playing majority of games on a Saturday arvo (when everyone else plays) no wonder the crowds are so poor. Turning to a structure similar to England would allow clubs to play at all different times during the weekend meaning people can go and watch multiple games. This would allow clubs to even up the field not only by spreading out talent, but eliminate the talent that is lost to country football.
The tiered structure would allow clubs to rise and climb to where they sit with regards to wealth/ quality of clubs.
My proposed rules with regards to the league and how its run:
- Clubs take ownership of their ground, meaning they run maintenance, renting it out to other clubs to use, and putting fences up to charge a small admission (income)
- Clubs play at various times throughout the weekend with the potential to have a knock out cup during the week or something, this would be dependant on clubs facilities with lights ect but would definitely brighten the competition.
- Points system introduced to stop the big clubs with all the money from constantly paying playing to play for them, offering clubs to use a home town discount to lure players back on minimal points.
- Paying players would eliminate all the ones lost to country leagues who go to simply rock up cop their match payment and leave.
- Allow players to be bought from other clubs to stop them leaving for nothing, meaning if a smaller club has a good player and he's bought by one of the bigger clubs, would at least give them cash to help better the position of the club.

Just some thought on how to stop the death of not only WAFL football, but also to eliminate player payments in the WAAFL.

Welcome to OZ footy Kickin the barrels and a very well articulated debut post. I will try and refer others to this so they can provide their thoughts on your proposals in relation to the WAFL.

How do you suggest clubs take ownership of grounds?

when I first read it I thought the name was "Kickin the balls" which would have been a bit different and made my eyes water...

Ownership of grounds?? Seriously? In a perfect world maybe...... so who would “own” our ground? The cricket club....the athletics club.....the junior club? Or maybe the numerous soccer clubs in our area who “our” local councils bend over backwards to assist and upgrade their facilities.

I understand Warnbro runs their ground entirely.