TOPIC:

There has been a lot of discussion over many years about the two AFL teams in the WAFL. Looking at the Eagles first, they clearly want to keep their players together and want their players to compete in real matches. Under current arrangements, their involvement in the WAFL compromises the integrity of the competition. As an idea, what if the Eagles WAFL team competed in the WAFL Reserves competition? They still get to field a team, they’d probably win a few games, which would make them happy, and their involvement would not compromise the WAFL competition the way it does now. Do your best. 

Some positives there re wafl integrity, but you can't have Greg Clarke and Hugh Dixon playing wafl reserves all year. That's a waste of talent. 

The AFL have been talking about setting up a reserves competition for a while but that would be a hammer blow for the WAFL because both the Eagles and Dockers would be topping up their lists with the best players from each club ( unless there were restrictions on who they could use). So not really a viable solution.

When the AFL took over the VFL as the Vicco reserves comp was there any salary cap or points system in place to protect the traditional "VFA" clubs?

As you say Mike, some real protections and recruiting restrictions would need to be in place to ensure the strength of the WAFL. The same would apply to the SANFL, who, unlike the WAFC, dont bend over and take it up the freckle like the WAFC do when ever the AFL want something. But any move to remove the WCER and Peelmantle from the WAFL should be given great consideration.

I might be wrong, mikeh, but I don’t think you quite got what I was saying. I was asking why couldn’t the Eagles play in the WAFL but in the WAFL Reserves comp (not the AFL Reserves)? Their goals could be met, ie second-tier players playing in match situations, and their involvement wouldn’t have any significant effect on the integrity of the WAFL League competition like it does now.

Country member wrote:

I might be wrong, mikeh, but I don’t think you quite got what I was saying. I was asking why couldn’t the Eagles play in the WAFL but in the WAFL Reserves comp (not the AFL Reserves)? Their goals could be met, ie second-tier players playing in match situations, and their involvement wouldn’t have any significant effect on the integrity of the WAFL League competition like it does now.

Yeah at best the West Coast Eagles not good enough to get into the AFL 22 should be permitted to play in the WAFL reserves. WAFL League should be absolutely off limits. 

That is an admirable idea Cm. Sadly, nothing will ever come of it! And the damned commission will continue to blunder on and blunder on!

Absolutely agree. Doesn’t hurt to dream.