Crows reserves a step closer
The Adelaide Crows’ goal of having a reserves side in the SANFL competition next year has moved a step closer.
Last night the South Australian Football Commission endorsed a model for the Adelaide and Port Adelaide football clubs to enter reserves teams in the SANFL competition in 2014.
The commission said it had “endorsed a negotiated model which delivers financial benefits for the SANFL clubs while protecting the integrity of the competition and has proposed the model to the SANFL League Directors”.
“The League Directors agreed to present the model to their respective boards for consideration prior to reconvening to consider their response,” the commission said in a statement.
The proposal is likely to be endorsed by the vast majority of clubs, despite opposition from hard-core SANFL fans.
Under the model, a league team from the Adelaide Football Club would enter the SANFL from 2014, forming a 10-team competition. The Port Adelaide Magpies would become the reserves team of the Port Adelaide Football Club.
The number of rounds in the SANFL competition would be reduced to 18, with all clubs playing each other twice.
The existing SANFL clubs would each play 10 home games, with the Crows’ team playing all of its games “away”.
The sweetener is a “guaranteed uplift per annum” paid by the AFL clubs to each SANFL club.
“The AFL clubs’ SANFL teams would not wear the AFL club’s jumper, will not be called by the AFL club’s nickname and would carry no AFL club sponsorship partners,” the commission said.
“Top up players required by the AFL clubs’ SANFL teams would be provided by the other SANFL clubs on an as-needs basis. These would be 18-22 year-old players not currently playing league football.
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“The model commits the AFL clubs to the SANFL for a minimum of 15 years with the SANFL to review annually.”
Commission chairman John Olsen said the model “protects the integrity, the relevance, game development and club and competition viability”.
“It provides the SANFL and its clubs with certainty about the future of our competition while also providing the Adelaide and Port Adelaide football clubs the best competition outside of the AFL in which to test themselves,” Olsen said.
“The alternative to this course of action exposes the SANFL to reduced corporate interest and reduced media coverage while also threatening the relevance of the competition as the best outside of the AFL.”
The model in detail
Listed players
- All AFL listed players (including Rookie listed) to play with AFL support team should they not be in their AFL team.
Top up players – leadership player
- AFL clubs can contract one ‘leadership’ player per season.
- The player must be 28 years or over, and must have been on AFC or PAFC respective lists.
Top up players – other
- 18 – 22 years old, on an SANFL Club list.
- Players selected at start of pre-season in conjunction with SANFL clubs.
- AFL and SANFL clubs to review at agreed points throughout season.
- Top-up players cannot play against their home SANFL club.
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- SANFL club has first rights to any top up player at League level during the minor round.
SANFL League Finals qualification
- No qualification criteria for AFL listed players during the SANFL finals series when AFC/PAFC are still involved at AFL level.
- Should AFC/PAFC not be involved in AFL finals, a player must have played the majority of his football at SANFL level, or 3 of the last 5 games at SANFL level to qualify.
Competition commitment
- AFL clubs to commit to ‘playing to the line’.
- Will not rest players and take up elective surgery options.
- SANFL doctor to provide 2nd opinion on surgeries before end of season.
- Will commit in writing to these points, to be in club and head coach charters.
SANFL Fixture
- 25 week season from start to end; start date to be set once AFL fixture is known
- 18 minor round matches over 21 weeks
- 1 bye for State Game
- 2 split rounds
- 10 home matches per Club
Salary cap
- Reduced by $20,000 per SANFL club as acknowledgement of reduction in minor round matches.
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