Fans to circulate petition against AFL reserves in the SANFL

A PETITION demanding the SANFL remain free of AFL reserves will circulate at local matches this weekend, as fans opposed to the move step up their fight.

A PETITION demanding the SANFL remains free of AFL reserves will circulate at local matches this weekend, as fans opposed to the move step up their fight.

The group hopes to collect more than 5000 signatures before tabling the petition with the SANFL and its members clubs next month.

Central District supporter Gary McGill is one of the co-ordinators of the petition.

He said it would give SANFL clubs a measure of the opposition to the reserves proposal.

"Until now it has just been everyone on forums venting their spleen about what might be if the Crows and Power join the SANFL," McGill said.

"To give this some credibility, we need to get a petition together to show clubs the level of opposition."

The SANFL's eight league directors will vote on whether to admit the Crows to the competition at a yet-to-be-determined date.

Port Adelaide Power is also applying to have a reserves team play in the SANFL as the Magpies.

But Power president David Koch said the club would maintain its current setup before it gave up the Magpies' junior recruiting zone and infrastructure.

Central president David Cavenett said he understood the fans' concern.

He said the club would listen to all arguments before voting in the best interests of the club and the league.

"We understand the supporter perspective, because we, as Central District board members, are supporters,'' Cavenett said.

"I think all of us would like to maintain the status quo, but the reality is that that is not going to happen.

"We need to weigh up all the pros and cons of this and make a decision … in the best interests of the club and the competition.

"There will be ramifications which ever decision gets made."