TOPIC:

I read in the weekend press that Peel have expressed a desire to finish the alignment agreement with Fremantle at the end of next year and be a stand alone team from 2021. Their CEO was quoted as saying that with the quality of their juniors, they could be "the next Subiaco"
Jokes aside this move would have serious consequences for the WAFL in that if this eventuates it is almost certain that the Dockers would push for their own stand alone team in the WAFL which would mean a 11 team competition or an amalgamation of 2 existing teams. Either way not very palatable.

Yep...agree Mike. It will also mean they'll be back to getting flogged each week as they were before the alignment which isn't great for the comp either. Subi's recent domination and Peel's historical capitulation are both as bad as each other.

And in that article JT reckons East Perth have a war chest in the vicinity of about 1.5 million in the bank from their alignment with the Eagles. Maybe the Debt Dodgers should consider doing a 5 - 7 year stretch with Fremantle to pay their creditors and put themselves back in the black?

So Peel will recruit heavily as I expect East Perth will. But when the money runs dry Peel will go back to getting flogged because their supporter base is rubbish and their senior players end up taking the cash on offer from Subiaco. It will also stretch playing stocks with Fremantle requiring top up players.

Players dont want to go there or stay there. Employment and UNI opportunities are far greater in the city. If this happens they will get beaten every week like it was before the alignment.

I'm not all that sure there'll be 11 teams if this separation eventuates
there will be a lot more to this for sure
and it appears Mandurah may have repaid that 300K debt to the WAFC and have plenty by this story

Always on the cards. I knew it was coming. They had to copy big brother!

I think the 2 stand a lone AFL teams were inevitable.
And don't have a problem with it.
The problem is solving the mistake of Peel.
Unfortunately the WAFL have never had the balls.

This seems pointless given Peel's lack of tradition and pre-alignment success. Just re-name Peel Fremantle. Peel may have money tucked away from the alignment, but as Astro pointed out, it has been difficult in previous years for Peel attract players due to the travel factor. It is hard to see how the WAFL can sustain 11 teams. It would spread the talent too thin. Perhaps this ties in with WP financial woes, in that they may fold? As much as I deplored their financial mismanagement, it would be a poor state of affairs for the WAFL to have two AFL reserves teams, plus Peel, and no WP.

All up, there is nothing good about this for WAFL fans. If Peel are successful, they, like EP, will never have the respect of other WAFL clubs, having built success on the back of money earned through the alignment. For 63 years, the WAFL had the same 8 teams. (except during WWII) It looks like, in only a third of that time, since 1997, we will have added three new teams and possibly lost one or more traditional clubs. Very sad, but as others have pointed out on this site, the reality is that the WAFL does not have the fan base or financial clout that would make those in power review these decisions.

There's a worrying trend emerging here Ted where you and I are actually in agreement on various things...I also think Peel should merge with Freo with all that goes with it rather than just be aligned. The main problem with any such move would be the future of Centrelink Park after all the coin the WAFC has thrown at it. It wouldn't be viable to keep it going just for Freo reserves home games so maybe hand it back to the Peel second tier comp...not sure.

BC wrote: There's a worrying trend emerging here Ted where you and I are actually in agreement on various things...I also think Peel should merge with Freo with all that goes with it rather than just be aligned. The main problem with any such move would be the future of Centrelink Park after all the coin the WAFC has thrown at it. It wouldn't be viable to keep it going just for Freo reserves home games so maybe hand it back to the Peel second tier comp...not sure.

This worrying trend is becoming even more alarming BC - I too are in full agreement, although we have concurred in the past on matters like our concerns over the lack of potential depth at the Lions.

Peel should just become the official reserves for Fremantle and be done with it. Biggest worry here is whether that is what the WAFC and co want and whether or not Peel is being the mouthpiece for their agenda.