Port Adelaide AFL reserves bid could reduce opportunities for local players, clubs say
FOOTBALL clubs in the Port and Le Fevre Peninsula say the introduction of AFL reserves sides into the SANFL will reduce opportunities for young local players and force them out of the area.
FOOTBALL clubs in the Port and Le Fevre Peninsula say the introduction of AFL reserves sides into the SANFL will reduce opportunities for young local players and force them out of the area.
SANFL directors will decide next month on whether the Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide Power will field dedicated AFL reserves teams in the SANFL competition, possibly from next season.
Port District president Steve Moffatt said it would reduce opportunities for young players.
"If there are 10 to 15 AFL guys playing in the SANFL sides each week, then that is 10 to 15 spots less for younger players," he said.
If approved, the move would mean all Power-listed players not required for AFL duty would play for the Magpies, limiting the number of places available to emerging locals.
Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas conceded that the club's bid to have an AFL reserves side would cut its demand for local juniors.
But he said it would create better AFL pathways for the most talented youngsters.
Each SANFL club can only recruit players within their defined zones, which are broken up into geographical areas.
Mr Moffatt said he was concerned promising players would move out of the area to play with amateur clubs in other SANFL zones to increase their chances of playing league football.
He said it would be important to maintain a specific Magpies side if the Power were to join the league.
"But as it stands, it would minimise the amount of kids going through the system," he said.
Each SANFL club can only recruit players within the boundaries of their geographic zones.
"That would obviously be disastrous for the profile of the area."
Mr Moffatt said the success of the AFL clubs in the reserves copmpetition would depend on the model.
In Victoria, all Melbourne-based AFL clubs are directly linked to VFL sides allowing their players to play with other non-required teammates while retaining close ties with their AFL clubs.
"I think it's a 50-50 thing - it has to happen for the AFL clubs to be strong and resilient but it would be at a loss to young players coming up the ranks," Mr Moffatt said.
SMOSH West Lakes president Trent Hancock said it would mean the demise of the SANFL.
"It will also definitely mean less opportunity for young players with limited spots for players in the SANFL."
Portland Football Club president John Wilson said: "While it will mean less positions for local players, it will be a great opportunity for the better players who will fill the spots in these teams as they will get to play in front of AFL coaches and staff."
Rosewater Football Club president Steve Vines said grassroots football would not be affected at his club.
"I hope that it won't cause players to move out of the local area so they can get into other clubs like the Eagles where there will be more positions for them.
"We have a vibrant program for young players and we are quite removed from AFL football," Mr Vines said.
"While we do have a proud tradition of players moving up into the SANFL, I don't think that the limited amount of spots is an important concern.
"We are focused on building the profiles of our juniors and I think it will affect very few numbers."
Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas saidthe reduction in places at the club for emerging juniors was a "downside" of Port Adelaide's proposal.
"In a combined SANFL-AFL team, as we are proposing with the Magpies and Power, there would on average be eight spaces for Magpie players to fill," Mr Thomas said.
"The downside is that on a weekly basis the funnel for local players to get into the Magpies' league side would be smaller."
Mr Thomas said more positions would be available if the Power's list was depleted by injuries.
"(A young player) who did not want to play AFL or who doesn't see himself pushing for selection in the Magpies' league side … our proposal would be that that player could transfer into another SANFL league club". Mr Thomas said a player development model in line with other AFL clubs was a positive aspect of the club's proposed plan.
"If you are a young player aspiring to play AFL, you will be in an AFL system.
"There would be training and learning opportunities that would be advantageous in that scenario."
SANFL league directors will meet next week when there could be a first vote on Port Adelaide and Adelaide's bid for AFL reserves sides in the SANFL league competition.