Swans reserves to join VFL as a stand alone outfit

[Missy]

Positives and negatives? Is cost for the clubs/AFL the only consideration? What about growth of the game, etc.

[ugg]

After the scrapping of the reserves, we entered into an affliation with Port Melbourne. The relationship was strained as we could only enter 12 players every week, but had no control over where each player played. That was up the Port coaching staff.

The Swans have been very careful to emphasise they are happy with the current Canberra arrangement as they can develop each player in the position that they see fit, but of course at the cost of lesser competition in Canberra.

[stellation]

the reserves should be part of a strong comp in our part of the world and be used as part of a platform for national expansion. put us in the queensland comp for now but with a view of eventually having a two-conference comp of

I agree with the idea of the reserves playing in the Queensland comp with the Lions reserves instead of heading to the VFL. It would be much better for the game, and the quality of the competition up there is still high. Although, you'd have to think that the magoos playing in the VFL would be a very nice thing for our Melbourne members!

[goswannie14]

I agree with the idea of the reserves playing in the Queensland comp with the Lions reserves instead of heading to the VFL. It would be much better for the game, and the quality of the competition up there is still high. Although, you'd have to think that the magoos playing in the VFL would be a very nice thing for our Melbourne members!

It would be a great marketing ploy by the club if they managed to pull it off. It would also give the reserves some far better competition in a league that is competitive.

[Nico]

I dont really get how all the other comps work, but every team has a reserves team, so why dont they just run a competition in conjunction with the senior comp and then the ressies players are getting used to playing on particular players and really developing into competent senior players?

They did this for a 100 years until some smart bunny thought of a 'better idea".

[Glenn]

Anything to get Sydney out of the sub standard ACTAFL, this has what really has been a drawback in getting the young players through the rank, lightyears between ACTAFL and AFL.
Prehaps with the way things are going we will see a return to a traditional reserve grade comp.

[chuckie]

Swans Reserves

According to the VFL Record yesterday the Swans are having talks with both the VFL and Port Melbourne over either having a reserve team in the comp or going back with Port and sending down our top six 2nds players while still having a team in the ACT.

[reigning premier]

really really stupid backwards move. not the swans fault but the afl.

the reserves should be part of a strong comp in our part of the world and be used as part of a platform for national expansion. put us in the queensland comp for now but with a view of eventually having a two-conference comp of

1. swans reserves, two other sydney teams, two canberra teams, newcastle and wollongong

2. queensland comp with brisbane reserves, southport (perhaps reserves if they enter the afl), perhaps kangaroos reserves if they make the move, cairns, another gold-coast team.

instead of buying real estate and shares, the afl could easily fund the necessary plane fares and invest in some real growth in the code.

Not a bad idea.

But the main focus should still be to have the Magoos playing in a comp of reasonable standard. They're simply not getting exposure to a quality level of football.

I like the idea of developing a GOOD quality comp here in NSW of 8 teams or so, but the VFL is probably a more realistic option at this stage.

[thesting]

Please let us join the VFL. It is obvious that the VFL would provide a stronger competition in which to blood younger players, but as a nice fringe benefit, Melbourne based Swans fans could get along and watch some of our up and comers every second week!!

[hammo]

According to the VFL Record yesterday the Swans are having talks with both the VFL and Port Melbourne over either having a reserve team in the comp or going back with Port and sending down our top six 2nds players while still having a team in the ACT.

The Port Melbourne option would be worse than the current situation IMO.

We need a solution that our players play together and are coached on game days by Swans coaches.

[Lucky Knickers]

According to the VFL Record yesterday the Swans are having talks with both the VFL and Port Melbourne over either having a reserve team in the comp or going back with Port and sending down our top six 2nds players while still having a team in the ACT.

I think that has some merit.

Whilst there are deficiencies with the Canberra comp for the Swans team - the AFL must continue to develop the game in the NSW/ACT and the Swans fielding a team in this comp is an important component. Going back to the VFL sends a message that the AFL and the Swans aren't serious about growing the code in NSW/ACT - that would be a bigger negative to continued development.

[Sanecow]

The Port Melbourne option would be worse than the current situation IMO.

We need a solution that our players play together and are coached on game days by Swans coaches.

Agreed. Keeping whole the team together in a crappy competition is fractionally better than keeping most of the team there and taking the best of the reserves players to play in a different system.

[ugg]

I don't think we'll be heading back to Port. We well and truly burnt our bridges with them.

[stellation]

Not a bad idea.

But the main focus should still be to have the Magoos playing in a comp of reasonable standard. They're simply not getting exposure to a quality level of football.

I like the idea of developing a GOOD quality comp here in NSW of 8 teams or so, but the VFL is probably a more realistic option at this stage.

I think that having them play in the Queensland comp would provide them with good quality opposition and it would be excellent for the development/spread of the game. We were at the Swans vs. Lions game at the Gabba in 2006 and were extremely impressed with the level of competition, it is much higher than that of the Canberra comp. Apart from that we would get regular games vs. the Brisbane kids, the comp overall is strong; the Lions reserves were knocked out in the first round of the finals for the Queensland state league this year.

If we want to gradually develop a greater comp for the magoos I think that a a North Eastern Australian Football League of some kind would give them better experience (and be better for the game) than a state league, obviously there are huge logistical problems there).

[top40]

I believe that a move to the VFL is not just a good move, it's an absolute necessity. There must be real developmental issues associated with reserve grade Swan players, especially Defenders being stuck in such a low standard competition as the Canberra League. In some games in recent years, Defenders for Sydney have often not even got, or rarely at least got a touch of the ball. This must impact upon the seniors if such players are to be promoted.

In playing the VFL, there are additional marketing opportunities for Swans fans, particular older ones, living in Melbourne. I'd advocate for the Swans VFL team to be called "South Melbourne" rather than "Sydney", and for them to wear the old South guernsey. Further, although Lakes Oval no longer exist as a footy ground, a deal could be done with Port Melbourne, where the Swans could share nearby TEAC Oval close to the heart of the old South territory with them.