Port Adelaide chairman David Koch says Adelaide is together in push to leave SANFL
The bid to quit the SANFL is picking up steam as David Koch says two of the fiercest rivals in the game are banding together. See the details here.
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Both South Australian clubs are united in the growing push to quit the SANFL, according to Port Adelaide chairman David Koch.
The Power has been on the front foot amid talks that Port Adelaide and Adelaide will depart the historic SANFL as they push for a nationwide AFL reserves competition.
The AFL has confirmed that the Power has raised the prospect and Koch said his club has been keen to get a timeline.
The Crows said in a statement last week that they were “always exploring opportunities which enhance player development” and Koch hinted that the fierce rivals were aligned.
“They (Adelaide) are on the same page, put it that way,” Koch told FIVEaa.
The West Australian teams – West Coast and Fremantle – are the only other two sides sitting outside the new VFL, which takes in teams up and down the eastern seaboard.
Outgoing Eagles CEO Trevor Nisbett flagged an interest in leaving the WAFL if an AFL reserves competition got up when speaking to WAFL club presidents last month.
Fremantle is aligned with WAFL club Peel Thunder.
This masthead approached Fremantle and West Coast for comment.
Both the Power and Crows have commitments to play in the SANFL until 2028 and Koch said he was keen to get a concrete timeline about when a national reserves competition could launch.
“It’s been on the radar for a number of years but it is just about the timing of a national second-tier competition,” he said.
“At the moment you have the VFL, which has 14 of the 18 (AFL) clubs playing.
“It has been discussed for a number of years but we are just asking the question now of the AFL, what are their plans, can they give us some sight on it.
“The AFL confirmed that we had approached them to discuss the issue, we didn’t bring it up publicly, they did and it has developed from there.”
The AFL appointed veteran administrator Geoff Walsh to a part-time role consulting on competitions, including the VFL.
Koch confirmed a move to leave the SANFL would be about ensuring AFL-listed Power players are on an equal playing field to other AFL rivals, given the SANFL plays to different rules.
“I think both South Australian clubs have made the point to the AFL that our second-tier teams need to play in a competition that is conducive to developing our players,” he said.
Port Adelaide’s departure from the SANFL would be a ground shifted for the game’s oldest league, given the club has dominated the league with 36 senior flags since 1870.
Originally published as Port Adelaide chairman David Koch says Adelaide is together in push to leave SANFL
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