[Pipe Dreams] Northen Super Leauge

[adnar]

After reading about the swans reserves hammering the canberra leauge again, and after watching a week of Sydney AFL disparity it made me think about the possibility of having a genuine Northen AFL competion to Rival the VFL. The most obvious thing that would stop all of this is money. With that in mind, though, I think such a competion would be advantagious for the AFL itself to invest in. There is quite a bit of money around some of the top clubs in the Sydney AFL QAFL and CanberraAFL, and then there is a pretty big bridge (usually) to the lesser teams.

Also Keeping in mind that such a leauge would be very much a semi national comp, there for sponsors would get more bang for their buck. Essential to this also, would be some kind of TV Coverage, i.e ABC or Fox Footy.

Here is how I would set it up (if the respective comps finished as they are this week)

Each Comp Should consist of 5QLD Teams, 5NSW Teams and 2ACT teams

Division 1

Zillmere Eagles
Southport
Suncoast Lions 
Queensland Qualifier
Mt Gravatt   

PENNANT HILLS  
WESTERN SUBURBS 
EAST COAST EAGLES 
Sydney Swans Reserves
NSW Qualifier
------------------------
QUEANBEYAN TIGERS
AINSLIE KANGAROOS 

1 QLD 1 NSW Regional 


7  Interstate trips.

Each Team plays intra state twice. 8 games
Canberra Team plays 3 sydney teams twice 8 games  
Each Team plays out of state teams once 7 games

15 game season.
Top 5 or 6. 
The bottom 2 teams relagated to Division 2, Division 2 top 2 teams promoted
to division 1



Division 2 

Broadbeach   
Redland 
-----------------
Labrador
QLD Regional
NORTH SHORE 
WOLLONGONG 
UNSW/EASTERN SUBS
ST GEORGE  
BALMAIN 
BELCONNEN MAGPIES 
EASTLAKE DEMONS

Obviously, like I said this is a pip dream which would likely never happen, but I think it's something that would be worth a look at. any thoughts?

[Mightyswans2005]

Re: [Pipe Dreams] Northen Super Leauge

Would never take off, would be impossible to get the funding!

[Heavs]

If the Swans Reserves ever won anything at the pointy end of the season down in Canberra or any of the 'dominating' Sydney sides (Campbelltown anyone) had made an impact when they were in the ACTAFL then you might have a point.
At the moment AFL Canberra is light years ahead of Sydney AFL and streets ahead of QAFL in terms of both ability and funding.

[adnar]

Re: Re: [Pipe Dreams] Northen Super Leauge

Originally posted by Mightyswans2005
Would never take off, would be impossible to get the funding!

I saw something that said the WAFL gets a $2 million grant off the AFL. Surely something like this would be worthwhile of an afl investment. Especialy, if the idea of ever having a second QLD or NSW team (which in my opinion would need to be in a 30 year business plan for the AFL) was to become reality.

[barry]

Re: Re: Re: [Pipe Dreams] Northen Super Leauge

Its no wonder we lack defenders when our defenders never see the ball.

Sounds like the ACT AFL comp needs some leveling. Then if its not up to standard, split the swans reserves up into 2 teams toped up with local sydney comp players.

[motorace_182]

Why not work like the 18s currently are? Where the comp is split into 2 Divisions. All teams play each other on their division once, and whoever is sitting in the top 3 from each division gets moved into the top divsion and the lesser teams go into the lower division. This only allows for thumpings like 248-0 in the early half of the season, before the latter half is levelled out when teams of equal ability play each other... does that sound right?

[Norris Lurker]

It'd be an interesting comp, but I can't see it happening. Travel costs would be prohibitive, especially for cash-strapped clubs running mainly on volunteer resources.

I've got a pipe-dream idea of my own, not quite on the same scale but would potentially add something to NSW football.
All the existing leagues and clubs would continue, but in addition to the league a knockout FA-Cup style competition would exist.
Due to travel constraints, all matches would be played against local competition until there's 8 teams left - 2 from the Sydney AFL, 2 from the ACTAFL and 1 each from the Central West, Black Diamond, South Coast and Northern Riverina leagues. Then it would go to the luck of the draw, but at worst there'd only be 3 weeks of travelling involved for any team; so it wouldn't be making too much of an impost for the teams involved or stretch their resources all that much.
I'm not sure how you could do it without extending the season too much - maybe some of the early premiership matches would also double up as Cup ties.

[Rafters]

I am sure the model employed by soccer with its "Champion of Champions" format (in NSW soccer anyway) would be quite successful to determine a state champion & also a national champion. Eg Sydney AFL premiers play Diamond Valley premiers in round one winner of ACT premiers v Farrer League etc etc

In Ireland, in Gaelic Football & Hurling, they have the All-Ireland club championship & it is quite a competition especially in the latter stages as the battle for supremacy really hots up.

Can you imagine a national club final between say a SANFL side & a VFL club side? Would be an interesting competition.

It is a simple national competition, based from the roots of local footy all around the nation, yet have relatively small travel costs (due to fewer games) with the strong likelihood of a major sponsor to help allievate costs.

We already have a national body which could organise it fairly easily & I am sure that every premier club would love to be challenged at a higher level as well as gain an amazing accolade as All-Australian club champions (its done at surf lifesaving level & they are nowhere near as professional run as the AFL).

[adnar]

Another thought, This could well be a way state of origin could be revived, with the best of the Northern, SANFL, VFL and WAFL players competing.