Port Adelaide Magpies’ team scrapped from SANFL reserves competition
THE SA Football Commission and Port Adelaide have agreed on the future for the Magpies’ reserves team which was winless this season.
PORT Adelaide Magpies’ reserves have been scrapped in a historic decision by the SA Football Commission.
The commission and Port Adelaide agreed to cut the team from the reserves competition after it failed to win a game this season and lost eight games by more than 100 points.
And Adelaide and Port Adelaide have been given access to an increased pool of top up players for their state league sides following the Commission’s review of their licence conditions and list regulations.
The commission approved the changes in a bid to ensure the SANFL and its clubs continue to provide the best talent pathway opportunities to young South Australians, ensuring as many players as possible reach the AFL, according to SANFL football operations manager Tom Hurley.
The Crows and Power can now contract 10 players who will receive an upfront payment of up to $4000 and they are able to obtain players over 19 years of age not on the 40-player lists at the eight state league clubs. Previously, those players had to be under 25.
The two AFL clubs also have access to next generation academy and father son players who have not played SANFL league football before the national under 18 carnival. In their 18th year, those players can appear in four games for the Crows or Magpies, but cannot front their SANFL club.
“We believe the rule changes will provide us with greater access to attract and retain talented players to be part of our SANFL contracted list and therefore provide us with a greater opportunity to win SANFL league premierships,” Port general manager football Chris Davies said.
“Port Adelaide has always strived to be as successful as possible at senior level in either the AFL or SANFL. Although it is disappointing to not field an SANFL reserves grade team into the future, we strongly believe these rule changes will give Port Adelaide the greatest opportunity for premiership success at SANFL league level.
“Port Adelaide now has a junior program with the AFL’s Next Generation Academies that effectively has taken the role of the SANFL reserves team and is likely to help us deliver talent onto our AFL lists over time.”
A player payment cap will be introduced for the two AFL clubs in line with the SANFL clubs. Apart from the $20,000 for upfront payments for the 10 contracted players, the leadership player can be paid a maximum of $20,000 and match payments of $500 a match.
In previous seasons, there has been no cap on the money paid to the leadership player.