Norwood has revealed it will vote against having AFL reserves teams in the SANFL
NORWOOD has publicly confirmed the club will vote against the push by the Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide to field AFL reserves teams in the SANFL.
NORWOOD president Joe Tripodi has publicly confirmed the club will vote against the push by the Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide to field AFL reserves teams in the SANFL league competition.
Tripodi has made no secret of his personal opposition to the concept, but has now publicly confirmed to Redlegs members and The Advertiser that the club will vote no.
"The SANFL has been interfered with enough by the AFL in the way they've treated us," Tripodi told The Advertiser.
"Now, out of nowhere, they want to put a reserves team in our league.
"Hello, we are playing for premierships and grand finals.
"Why would we want an interruption to that? We're sick of it."
SANFL guidelines could scupper reserves plan
Tripodi, who also outlined the club's position at a Norwood members night on Wednesday, questioned how any of the SANFL's eight league directors could vote in favour of allowing AFL reserves in the league competition - given the decision must take into account the integrity of the state league.
The SANFL league directors this week released four guiding principles which are to govern their vote, one of which stated that "any change in competition structure must maintain or enhance the integrity of the SANFL competition".
"How can we keep the integrity if they (AFL reserves) come in?" Tripodi asked.
"We have a competition at the moment where all clubs are striving to win a premiership. They will compromise that integrity because they will interfere with what we've got.
"At any one time they might have to pick up 13 or 14 (top-up) players from our under-18s or somewhere else.
"Therefore, why not play in our reserves competition?"
SANFL league directors will meet with the Crows and Power on July 4 to continue talks, ahead of a vote on the issue at a yet to be determined date.
Former Power skipper Dom Cassisi said today the lack of a reserves team was stifling the development of its young players.
Norwood is the first club to confirm it will block moves to have Power and Crows reserves teams at SANFL level, but at least two other clubs are understood to be leaning in the same direction.
If three clubs voted against it, the plan would be blocked, meaning the Crows and Power would have to look to play in the SANFL reserves or another competition.