VFA/VFL great fears generation of players will be lost if VFL ‘set adrift’
VFA/VFL legend Phil Cleary fears elite talent could be lost from the AFL system if the VFL is “set adrift” by the AFL, calling for the future of the standalone clubs to be guaranteed.
Local Footy
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Footy. Followed categories will be added to My News.
VFA/VFL legend Phil Cleary has called on the AFL to guarantee the future of the state league competition and its clubs or risk losing a generation of players.
The Coburg premiership captain and coach and long-time commentator said a strong VFL was integral to the game’s future.
The VFL has provided a lifeline to players who missed out at the draft as 18-year-olds.
VFL: MELBOURNE MAKES CALL ON CASEY ALIGNMENT
LEADER: GET YOUR VFL FOOTY NEWS HERE
COVID: WHY FUTURE OF VFL IS UP IN AIR
In the past six years 47 players have graduated to AFL lists, including 19 from standalone clubs, and Cleary feared those players would otherwise have been lost to the game.
“Where are the emerging players going to go? Where are the boys that come out of the NAB League going to go?” Cleary said.
“The AFL can’t simply turn a blind eye to those kids that miss out at the draft because if it does it will skewer football in the state.
“If the AFL were to cut lists to 30 in the aftermath of this financial crisis, which would mean those players have to go play somewhere.
“The stand-alone clubs give young players hope, they hold on to their (AFL) aspirations, and if all you’ve got is a quasi AFL reserves comp, you will lose players en masse from the game.”
Carlton severed ties with the Northern Blues last month, with the 138-year-old club closing its doors.
FINISH: NORTHERN BLUES DEAD AFTER BLUES CUT TIES
U18s: HOPES NAB LEAGUE CAN FOLLOW AFL INTO SUMMER
CASH: DEAL THAT SAVED AFL FROM FINANCIAL OBLIVION
Melbourne has moved to guarantee its link with Casey but there are fears Hawthorn and St Kilda could permanently withdraw from affiliates Box Hill and Sandringham.
Dual Richmond premiership player Kane Lambert, Carlton’s Michael Gibbons and Western Bulldog Ben Cavarra were plucked from Williamstown, Adam Saad (Essendon, Gold Coast) and Luke Ryan (Fremantle) both graduated from Coburg and Collingwood forward Brody Mihocek was drafted from Port Melbourne.
Cleary remembers having to convince Saad to return to football with Coburg after missing out in 2013 with Calder Cannons.
“I counselled Adam Saad for a long time when he missed out at the draft because he was disconsolate,” Cleary said.
“I guaranteed him if he played for Coburg and stuck with it, he would get drafted, and he did, but he could have been lost to the game.”
The 14-team competition is currently made up of six AFL reserves teams, three AFL-VFL affiliations and five standalone clubs.
If the AFL decided to go it alone with a reserves competition, Cleary hoped the old VFA could be reborn.
“You might be left with five stand-alone clubs, so can they create a new competition in Victoria while the AFL clubs find another way to manage their reserves,” he said.
The VFL has been postponed until at least May 31 amid the coronavirus crisis.
WHAT A LEADER LOCAL FOOTY SUBSCRIPTION GIVES YOU ACCESS TO
— Match reports, features, player and coach movements and analysis of all the leagues across Melbourne.
— Unprecedented AFL coverage.
— All the latest football news from across the country including Herald Sun, Daily Telegraph and Courier-Mail.
— Latest news and videos from the world’s leading leagues.
— Exclusive digital stories and videos before they go to print.