VFL Fixture 2021 and Game Day Thread

[jazzadogs]

Re: VFL Fixture 2021 and Game Day Thread

Was this done due to Covid? I’m trying to understand the original motivation as I have no idea.

I'm not sure of the reasons, but surely it couldn't be due to Covid....if anything, Covid should have been the reason it DIDN'T happen.

Flights across borders, which are frequently shutting.
Players not professional, so no exemptions for games during lockdowns.
Higher financial burden for clubs, who must fly entire teams and support staff interstate regularly.

It was a bizarre decision at the time, and remains bizarre.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: VFL Fixture 2021 and Game Day Thread

It was:


FULL AFL STATEMENT

The AFL has today written to all Clubs to advise of the new model for the AFL Talent Pathway Programs and Second-Tier Football in 2021, in response to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following a review undertaken over the past few months, the AFL Talent Pathway Programs have been remodelled to further align and simplify the talent pathway calendar, to provide Boys’ and Girls’ Programs with the same opportunities for elite development while also increasing their connection to community football.


The Talent Programs will continue to focus on identifying and developing players from across Australia and best preparing them for AFL and AFLW competition with the age groups for all AFL Talent Pathway Programs, including the NAB League Girls and Boys and the NAB AFL / AFLW National Championships, to be re-focussed from U16 and U18 Levels to U17 and U19 in 2021.

The draft age will remain at 18 for both Toyota AFL and NAB AFLW competitions.

The Next Generation Academies (NGAs) - targeting Indigenous and multicultural players - will be implemented by the AFL Talent Pathway Team with support from AFL Clubs, while Northern Club Academies (Sydney Swans, GWS GIANTS, Brisbane Lions, Gold Coast SUNS) will be provided with greater responsibility and investment.

The revised Second-Tier Model will see the Toyota NEAFL amalgamated into the Hard Yakka / Totally Workwear VFL, leaving the following Second-Tier Leagues nationally – the Victorian Football League (VFL), South Australian National Football League (SANFL), West Australian Football League (WAFL), Tasmanian Football League (TSL) and Northern Territory Football League (NTFL).

AFL Clubs based in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria will be provided with flexibility to determine the form of their involvement in Second-Tier Football in 2021 with three options available to each of those Clubs:

• Field a standalone team

• Align with an existing Second-Tier Club

• Spread their AFL-listed players across multiple Second-Tier Clubs.

The AFL will continue to work towards ensuring greater alignment across all Second-Tier competitions across the country and also increase the alignment with Talent Programs in each State and Territory.

Second-Tier football in 2021 will be a year of transition that will see the AFL take into consideration the impact of a reduced AFL Soft Cap, the level of AFL Club investment and resource allocation across Men’s and Women’s football programs, any Player CBA revisions and any associated impact on player list sizes.

The model for Second-Tier Women’s Football in Victoria is currently still under review with the AFL to finalise this model in due course.

The AFL also wishes to acknowledge and thank Dean Warren, who after more than 32 years working full-time in the football industry in a number of roles at Club, State and National level, will transition to a role as the Executive Chairman of AFL Queensland later this year in a part-time capacity. In addition to working closely with the Game Development and Talent teams in Queensland, Dean will lend his experience and expertise to specific national Game Development and Talent initiatives.

[Grantysghost]

Re: VFL Fixture 2021 and Game Day Thread

Thy only reason I asked was even though it made no sense I could only think of covid of late being the catalyst for such a radical change.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: VFL Fixture 2021 and Game Day Thread

Thy only reason I asked was even though it made no sense I could only think of covid of late being the catalyst for such a radical change.

I think from memory the VFL & NEAFL we’re going to be bankrupt. So this was the AFEL solution to have a second tier comp on the east coast.

[comrade]

Re: VFL Fixture 2021 and Game Day Thread

There’s no chance of a VFL finals series being played now so does the top team just get awarded the premiership?

[bulldogtragic]

Re: VFL Fixture 2021 and Game Day Thread

There’s no chance of a VFL finals series being played now so does the top team just get awarded the premiership?

East dog posted an article in the VFL thread which explains it.

Looks like a knock out ‘finals’ is most attainable. If not a two week finals series.

So a Mickey Mouse contrived ‘thing’ to award a meaningless prize with no credibility whatsoever. Yay.

[Rocco Jones]

Re: VFL Fixture 2021 and Game Day Thread

So a Mickey Mouse contrived ‘thing’ to award a meaningless prize with no credibility whatsoever. Yay.

I agree. That said, I want the trophy still. Gimme, gimme, gimme.

[Bornadog]

Re: VFL Fixture 2021 and Game Day Thread

Paul Amy @PaulAmy375


VFL season update: officials planning to start a three-week finals series on September 4 for the top 8 teams. The final round has been scrubbed and there will be no farewell match for Gary Ayres at Port Melbourne.

[mjp]

Re: VFL Fixture 2021 and Game Day Thread

Well done to the brainiac who thought it was a good idea to amalgamate the competition across 3 states with a mix of club reserves and stand alone sides in the middle of a pandemic. Was always going to just work beautifully.

FWIW, those of us in other states simply nod our heads and ask "How exactly are they PAYING for all that?".

We are basically running a full-blown 2's comp but excluding 4x sides/states and adding 40billion kms of travel and hotel rooms...I would simply love to see how the financial models look for this.

[EasternWest]

Re: VFL Fixture 2021 and Game Day Thread

FWIW, those of us in other states simply nod our heads and ask "How exactly are they PAYING for all that?".

We are basically running a full-blown 2's comp but excluding 4x sides/states and adding 40billion kms of travel and hotel rooms...I would simply love to see how the financial models look for this.

Not quite the right meme but near enough.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Re: VFL Fixture 2021 and Game Day Thread

Seems relevant to the conversation. Note the last line in article.

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2021/08/18/vfl-expansion-side-quits-after-one-season/

VFL expansion side quits after one season

Aspley has withdrawn its license from the VFL competition after just one season, citing the challenges of COVID-19.

The VFL was expanded in 2021 to include the Sydney, Gold Coast, GWS and Brisbane reserves, as well as Queensland based teams Southport and Aspley.

The Hornets won the wooden spoon on the adjusted ladder (given some teams had played 11 games and others only 9), with a 1-9 record.

They plan to field teams in the QAFL and QAFLW competitions going forward.

Aspley president Keith Hill outlined their challenges going forward.

“Playing in the VFL this season has been challenging due to the ongoing impacts of COVID-19, which gave rise for the board to review what is in the best interests of the club going forward,” he said.

“For us to maintain a pathway for our juniors, we have realigned our focus to play the highest level of community football in Queensland.

“As disappointing as it is to withdraw from the VFL competition after only one year, we are now excited to be participating in the highest standard of community football in Queensland – as a club we look forward to playing our role in both the QAFL and QAFLW competitions, both of which are in great shape.”

COVID-19 has caused a complete reshaping of the final few weeks of the VFL season. The remainder of the home-and-away season has been scrapped, with the finals series to begin when possible.

The VFLW Grand Final between Collingwood and Geelong is in the same boat.

The merits of expanding the VFL across state borders in a global pandemic were questioned in the pre-season.

[mjp]

Re: VFL Fixture 2021 and Game Day Thread

Seems relevant to the conversation. Note the last line in article.

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2021/08/18/vfl-expansion-side-quits-after-one-season/

VFL expansion side quits after one season

...

The merits of expanding the VFL across state borders in a global pandemic were questioned in the pre-season.

The merits of expanding the tier 2 comps across state borders WITHOUT a global pandemic would be pretty tenuous I would have thought.

[Rocco Jones]

Re: VFL Fixture 2021 and Game Day Thread

Not sure if anyone is into Utopia on ABC or similar awkward/cringe type shows in that realm, but the decision to merge NEAFL and VFL fits into what an episode theme looks like.

[comrade]

Re: VFL Fixture 2021 and Game Day Thread

Not sure if anyone is into Utopia on ABC or similar awkward/cringe type shows in that realm, but the decision to merge NEAFL and VFL fits into what an episode theme looks like.

"So you want to merge a semi-professional competition across 3 different states?"
"Yes"
"Even though some of the clubs will barely be able to afford travel and operational costs?
"Yes"
"In the middle of a pandemic, where interstate border restrictions will inevitably cause problems?"
"Yes"
"And despite it being across three different states, you want to call it...."
"The Victorian Football League!"

[Rocco Jones]

Re: VFL Fixture 2021 and Game Day Thread

"So you want to merge a semi-professional competition across 3 different states?"
"Yes"
"Even though some of the clubs will barely be able to afford travel and operational costs?
"Yes"
"In the middle of a pandemic, where interstate border restrictions will inevitably cause problems?"
"Yes"
"And despite it being across three different states, you want to call it...."
"The Victorian Football League!"

Taking me back to Clarke and Dawe.