TOPIC:

I don't think there are any actual idea's ?

Yes of course attract families but is there any other way, other than what has already been tried?

Royal2019 is correct in the reality sense. With his summary in mind it is obvious that for progression or merely survival beyond the next decade, the competition absolutely must go into a semi-national format. The two main state leagues will need to put a package together for it to work.

The Melbourne based AFL clubs are now all starting up their own Reserves teams, abandoning affiliations with the VFL clubs altogether. This will be a second tier competition in itself.

The profile with an amalgamation between WA & SA would put all the attached clubs into a completely new level. This would be realistically unachievable if nothing other than what is currently being done (same old) continues.

People must understand novelties wont cut it now, its too late the damage has been done. Generations have been lost, now the only way to get new involvement is by gaining the attention of a new interested party. Ive been around long enough to know it when I see it. I have no doubt many of you have too.

It will be the difference between watching WAFL in 10 years being played at Park Reserve grounds with no fences & no broadcasts, to being played at prominent grounds nationally on live Pay or Free to Air TV. It is that simple if people do not come up with a genuine core attempt at significant change along these lines. Im very passionate about it now, given where we seem to be heading.

jardine you are absolutely spot on, agree 100% with your post.

All the fluff around the edges as you say, free ice cream, free entry for dogs,bouncy castles, and god knows what its all been tried and done to death, in the end your pissing in the wind v the AFL. There are just not enough people intested anymore and the ageing demographic is a killer for WAFL.

Until the comp and the clubs accept it's not the 1980's anymore and accept MAJOR and DRAMATIC restructure is needed for long term viability nothing will change, the most recent Host club deal will further kill interest although give a handy and badly needed cash hand out to the clubs.

Club viability will only be sustained long term via mergers and a smaller more efficient comp. There are far too many clubs and grounds.

In a decade or two the last generation that remembers the WAFL as a big state comp will be in their 60's and 70's and all crew before that will have kicked the bucket, in other words the last crop of WAFL supporters will be cactus.

The turnout at last years GF was a BIG BIG warning as to the direction the current comp is heading,

thefalconstrike wrote: Just also proves that winning a flag does not entirely help a WAFL club, WP will lose a massive figure for their 2013 year upwards of 100K.

YES - As My earlier post said, winning a flag means jack now.

we won in 2009 and have lost money that year and every year since ,, and now $300,000.00 this year

In the old days the Bar Sales would be huge, plus the club won $50,000 in the Marlboro Cup days , a share of the GF gate (50,000 people) , big sponsors would come flooding in like Swan Brewery etc plus Ch 7 media deals etc etc ..

now all you get is a hand full of fans at the after game presentations and a big bill for player payments.

jardine wrote: seems the subject gets little substance response. probably sums up where we are at as a league to be honest. When even a simple task like just discussing ideas, has posters going around in circles before anything else.

drastic changes are needed for long term survival. Very easy to write it off as unachievable. Club presidents need to think way outside the square and so does the league chiefs. But the last 25 years probably highlights their lack of foresight and the result is the absolute shambles we have now.

need to think different, drastic and aggressive. Its the only way.

Excatly Mate.

Problem is the current crop of Presidents our clubs espesically are dreaming numpties, in his AGM report the president of SF did not come up with a single idea to get things going,,the ideas are all worn out!

His opening line was - I have never been prouder to be president of the SFFC.. and this was after he had just governed over a $300,000.00 loss! fairy land

anchorman wrote: Yeah S&S the days of hand outs for survival are dead and buried.
Have to get off the freckle and work it now days.
I think Jardine has certainly hit he nail on the head.Have you written this to the WAFL!!I would be interested to know the response.
It is interesting that those who are so in favour of the WAFL have not commented on the issue.I thought they would have been all over it and anyone who has anything bad to say about the WAFL. Interesting.

I suggest

Mergers SF and EF
P and SD and EP or WP doesnt really matter..
S and C
Mandurah Dockers ( peel )
Eagles reserves

maybe 6 teams perhaps even 4 super clubs - play off with SA clubs maybe.

4 super clubs
Fremantle Dockers
Perth Eagles
Eastern Suburbs Midland Armadale areas
Western Suburbs Claremont Subi etc,

Radical I know - but its the future,

Jardines idea has a lot of merit. I mention this a couple of years back about forming a champions League.

7 Non aligned WAFL clubs
8 Non aligned SANFL clubs
Non aligned clubs in the VFL
1 x Tasmanian club

But the AFL cannot run this, it must stay away from the AFL control. I am sure it could get TV coverage and major sponsors.
It would still be a breeding ground for AFL players but also for players who don't make it a strong place to play footy.

And even as a pie in the sky idea of aiming for a relegation and promotion system into the AFL within 20 years.

The WAFL and SANFL will continue to fall at a great rate until something outside the box is done.
I would bet the WAFL and SANFL have never even spoken about such an idea because they are to scared of upsetting AFL house.
Continue on this current path and within 10 years A grade Amatuer footy will be stronger than the WAFL.

Champions league is a great idea, yes would need lots of help like an airline to be involved and tv to sponsor it. But for me it is the way to go.

Bazza & GWShark I would be confident that all clubs could retain their identity for the short term. Future management would dictate after that.

In the SANFL in 2014, the Adelaide Crows have their own reserves team in place. I may stand corrected but I think Port Power have aligned with Port Magpies.

There is no reason why if a SANFL and WAFL amalgamation becomes a reality, West Coast could easily work along the same lines as the Adelaide Crows and have their own stand alone reserves side. The Fremantle Dockers could still keep their deal with Peel, they will probably end up being the Peel Dockers anyway.

With this in mind their would be 10 clubs from the WAFL and 10 clubs from the SANFL. With that the added attraction (for the masses) of teams from Adelaide, Port Adelaide, West Coast and Fremantle all competing with the likes of South Fremantle, Norwood, Claremont, West Adelaide, East Perth, South Adelaide, Swan Districts, Sturt, East Fremantle etc etc etc, you get my drift.

It would be a very enticing league for not only the AFL clubs themselves, as their players would be in a seriously competitive league. But massively attractive for commercial networks who are looking for something new and with an Australian Rules code. Channel 9 have toyed with the idea of basing cameras at the WACA for football. At the very least it shows they have talked about football. Imagine how interested they (or Foxtel) would be if a fully thought out and costed package was presented ? There is no doubt it would attract great sponsors and ratings. It would then be sustainable and the progression of all the traditional clubs would be semi secured.

The WAFL retain their traditional battles (ie East Frem v South Frem and West Perth v East Perth derbies) and the SANFL keep their traditional matches (ie Glenelg v Port Adelaide etc) with the bonus of regular clashes with the AFL clubs. This would be a serious carrot for networks, both radio and TV. Especially the ones who don't have AFL rights. It would be a fabulous second get & keep them with some toe in the water.

It would be a fabulous competition. Yes its outside the square, but it could work if thought out thoroughly. Imagine some of the rivalries that not only can be retained, but formed between SA & WA clubs?? Plus some exciting new alternate strips for the clubs who clash. (Swans/Port, West Adelaide/Perth) as an example.

Im curious about who thinks the idea is not interesting. I don't care who thinks it wont work, but more who would love to see their clubs thrive under such a format. I would see it as a second chance at life. I am old school, but I would find this thing terrific. Maybe we could all get our "mojo" back It would take a few year to plan, but never say never.

I honestly Dont think the small WAFL clubs are all viable, they would not be competative v the stronger SANFL clubs, dont forget they mergered a couple of clubs way back,,what did the idiots at WAFC fo - intorduce Peel..idiotic.

Player quality is already diluted too much in WAFL, there is always a big gap between the bottom of the table and the top, some games are decidely poor, and that is before we even get to the financial viabliity of WAFL clubs over SANFL.

Dont forget SANFL have access to Pokie Revenues which is a huge advantage over WAFL, our clubs are stuffed already just amongst themselves ( bad Subi)

that's true Bazza but in all walks of life in sport there are clubs who struggle, or have periods of that. someone always has to be bottom, that's sport and life.

I know the south aussies do it better in general. Pokies are one thing, and they run clubroom bars & food all year round I believe.

But a concept would lift all clubs to a new level, I have no doubt.

jardine wrote: that's true Bazza but in all walks of life in sport there are clubs who struggle, or have periods of that. someone always has to be bottom, that's sport and life.

I know the south aussies do it better in general. Pokies are one thing, and they run clubroom bars & food all year round I believe.

But a concept would lift all clubs to a new level, I have no doubt.

theres no way the wafl clubs would be comepeting on a level playing field with the SANFL clubs, the players payments could never be matched SANFL clubs have far greater financial resources, even at that I reckon they would look at possible mergers if a second tier national comp started up.

WAFL clubs cant continue in their current format. Perhaps if we got granted pokies - then yes , but at the momement not a hope,