Australian Football League reserves affiliations
Encyclopedia
The Australian Football League
stages the highest-level senior Australian rules football
competition in the country. However, since the late 1980s, when the former Victorian Football League expanded interstate to become the modern Australian Football League, there has not been a league-wide reserves competition
; and, since 2000, there has been no dedicated reserves competition of any kind. As a result, AFL-listed players who are not selected in their senior teams are made eligible to play in one of the second-tier state leagues: the Victorian Football League
, South Australian National Football League
, West Australian Football League
, or North East Australian Football League
. The system used to accommodate AFL-listed players within these leagues varies considerably from state to state.
, and the clubs had full ability to develop its players through its junior and reserves teams. This same basic structure was used consistently across all of Australia's major state leagues (VFL, SANFL, WAFL and TANFL).
Two factors in the late 1980s and early 1990s led to the end of this traditional arrangement in Victoria. Firstly, the Victorian Football League expanded interstate to become the Australian Football League, and some of the clubs from interstate were unwilling to participate in the minor grades. Secondly, the AFL Draft
(first held in 1986) was gradually replacing zoning as the primary means of recruitment to the national league, so the developmental continuity between the under-19, reserves and senior grades had lost its purpose. As a result, the AFL relinquished direct control of the Victorian reserves and junior grades at the end of 1991. The change for the under-19s grade was significant: it was replaced by the TAC Cup
, and the AFL clubs' under-19s teams were discarded entirely in favour of new, independent, zone-based under-18s clubs. The change to the reserves league was mostly cosmetic: it became known as and was governed by the Victorian State Football League
, but it was otherwise identical to the former VFL/AFL reserves and is considered a direct continuation.
The VFL/AFL reserves and the VSFL were contested by all twelve Victorian clubs. The Sydney Swans continued to participate after South Melbourne relocated in 1982, and the Brisbane Bears participated for a few years, but none of the South Australian or Western Australian clubs were ever involved.
(known until 1994 as the Victorian Football Association, and with a history dating back to 1877). Since the merger, the VFL has served as both a distinct second-tier senior competition and a reserves competition for AFL clubs.
Since the merger, there have been three types of club participating in the VFL:
Currently, there are no limitations on how many AFL-listed players may play in a VFL team on any given weekend—except during finals, when only players who have played a certain number of VFL games during the season are eligible. There was previously a rule known as the 12–10 Rule, which stated that in a match between an affiliated VFL team and a stand-alone VFL senior team, the affiliated team could play of at most twelve AFL-listed players, with the other ten to be VFL-listed players; and, where the AFL club had more than twelve reserve players available, the extras would play in the VFL reserves. The rule was abolished in 2011.
), the club fielded a reserves team in the VFL/AFL reserves up to 1991, and then in the VSFL from 1992 until 1999. This listing shows all reserves affiliations and arrangements since 2000.
Essendon has announced that it intends to end its affiliation with Bendigo and enter a stand-alone reserves team in the VFL, starting from the 2013 season.
North Melbourne
Western Bulldogs
Essendon has announced that it intends to end its affiliation with Bendigo at the end of the 2012 season. Bendigo is expected to once again field a stand-alone senior team from 2013.
Box Hill
Casey
Coburg
Frankston
Murray
North Ballarat
Northern Bullants/Blues
Port Melbourne
Sandringham
Tasmania
Werribee
Williamstown
and Fremantle
), and a strong nine-team state league (the SANFL
and the WAFL
). In both states, the AFL clubs are currently affiliated with the entire state league, rather than with an individual club as is seen in Victoria. In the case of South Australia, the arrangement is governed by the annual "AFL–SANFL Interchange Agreement".
The method used to allocate players to the state league teams currently varies depending upon whether the player is in his state of origin, or has come from interstate:
Regardless of which method is used to allocate the player, he typically remains allocated to the same SANFL or WAFL club for his entire career. However, there are provisions in the rules for players to be re-allocated to a different club on a case-by-case basis, to ensure that the AFL-listed players are given the appropriate opportunities to develop; e.g. an AFL club could seek a re-allocation for a developing key forward on its list, if the player's opportunities are limited by the presence of an established key forward in his allocated team.
This arrangement, or a variation of it, has been the primary mechanism for distribution of reserves players throughout the history of the South Australian and Western Australian clubs. Only for a three-year period in Western Australia was there a WAFL/AFL affiliation structure, known locally as a "host-club arrangement", which functioned the same way as modern affiliations in the VFL.
; in the case of Greater Western Sydney, the club's senior team is playing in the NEAFL in preparation for joining the AFL in 2012.
Brisbane Lions
In Victoria, Essendon has formally announced its intention to ends its affiliaton with Bendigo, and St Kilda has publicly expressed a desire to end its affiliation. The AFL prefers that its Victorian clubs retain VFL-affiliations, and as such has offered a strong disincentive, in the form of an inflated licence fee, for fielding a stand-alone team; however, the AFL will not otherwise prevent teams from fielding stand-alone reserves teams if they are willing and able to pay the fee. The total licence and running costs for a stand-alone team are estimated to be $500,000 per year.
In South Australia and Western Australia, the debate is more heated. The league affiliation system primarily benefits the state leagues, by helping to ensure that none of their clubs gains an advantage through preferential access to professional AFL-listed players, and by helping to minimise the drain of talent from the league; but this is to the detriment of player development at the AFL clubs, since reserves players end up playing for a variety of different teams, under a variety of different game-plans, and not necessarily in the positions that the AFL clubs would prefer. As far back as 1988, West Coast Eagles coach John Todd
was calling for the Eagles to enter a reserves team in the VFL reserves, a plan which the West Australian Football Commission would not permit.
In 2011, Adelaide, Port Adelaide, Fremantle and West Coast are actively seeking to enter stand-alone reserves teams in their respective state leagues from 2012. There is considerable opposition from the SANFL and WAFL teams about the proposal, who are still concerned about the impact this would have on depth of talent, league competitiveness, and gate takings. The SANFL and WAFL have initially rejected the proposal from the AFL clubs, and they can continue to block the AFL clubs from entering reserves teams in their leagues if they cannot agree to terms. The AFL clubs are continuing to push for stand-alone reserves teams.
In September 2011, the Western Australian AFL clubs and the WAFL presidents proposed a compromise: the AFL clubs would each establish a reserves team, but those teams would not play in the WAFL; rather, a separate, parallel competition would be established, with significant prize money on offer, in which WAFL clubs play against the AFL reserves clubs during their WAFL bye weeks
. The proposal will be assessed during the 2011-12 off-season, and if approved would be established for the 2013 season.
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
stages the highest-level senior Australian rules football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
competition in the country. However, since the late 1980s, when the former Victorian Football League expanded interstate to become the modern Australian Football League, there has not been a league-wide reserves competition
Reserve team
Large professional sports clubs often have far more players under contract than could possibly play in a match. As a result, many of these clubs create second teams composed of players who need playing time, but have little hope of playing on the first team. The players on this second team are...
; and, since 2000, there has been no dedicated reserves competition of any kind. As a result, AFL-listed players who are not selected in their senior teams are made eligible to play in one of the second-tier state leagues: the Victorian Football League
Victorian Football League
The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association...
, South Australian National Football League
South Australian National Football League
The South Australian National Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in South Australia....
, West Australian Football League
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
, or North East Australian Football League
North East Australian Football League
The North East Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league in New South Wales, Queensland, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory in Australia...
. The system used to accommodate AFL-listed players within these leagues varies considerably from state to state.
Current affiliations
| AFL club | Reserves arrangement | Club | League |
|---|---|---|---|
| League affiliation | SANFL | ||
| Stand-alone reserves team | NEAFL North East Australian Football League The North East Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league in New South Wales, Queensland, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory in Australia... (North) |
||
| Club affiliation | Northern Blues Northern Blues Northern Blues was released by Kristofer Åström together with Hidden Truck in 2001 on Startracks.-Overview:* All songs by Kristofer Åström* Engineered, mixed and produced by Paul Bothén* Strings and brass arrangements by Paul Bothén... |
VFL Victorian Football League The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association... |
|
| Stand-alone reserves team | Collingwood (VFL) | VFL Victorian Football League The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association... |
|
| Club affiliation | Bendigo | VFL Victorian Football League The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association... |
|
| League affiliation | WAFL West Australian Football League The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League... |
||
| Stand-alone reserves team | Geelong (VFL) Geelong VFL Football Club Geelong VFL Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is an Australian rules football team that plays in the Victorian Football League. Their sister team, Geelong Football Club, plays in the Australian Football League... |
VFL Victorian Football League The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association... |
|
| Stand-alone reserves team | NEAFL North East Australian Football League The North East Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league in New South Wales, Queensland, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory in Australia... (North) |
||
| Stand-alone reserves team | NEAFL North East Australian Football League The North East Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league in New South Wales, Queensland, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory in Australia... (East) |
||
| Club affiliation | Box Hill | VFL Victorian Football League The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association... |
|
| Club affiliation | Casey Scorpions Casey Scorpions The Casey Scorpions Football Club is an Australian rules football club in the Victorian Football League . The club was founded in 1903 as the Springvale Football Club and played under the name Springvale. In its history it has won 21 premierships... |
VFL Victorian Football League The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association... |
|
| North Melbourne North Melbourne Football Club The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world... |
Club affiliation (split) | North Ballarat North Ballarat Football Club North Ballarat Football Club, nicknamed The Roosters, is an Australian rules football club based at Northern Oval in Ballarat. The club is locally known as the Roosters and plays in the Victorian Football League are current competition premiers and one of only four clubs based outside of Melbourne... Werribee Werribee Football Club The Werribee Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club, based in Werribee, was formed in 1965 and currently plays in the Victorian Football League. Werribee was defeated by the Sandringham Football Club in the 2005 VFL Grand Final.-History:The Werribee Football Club... |
VFL Victorian Football League The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association... |
| Port Adelaide | League affiliation | SANFL | |
| Club affiliation | Coburg | VFL Victorian Football League The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association... |
|
| Club affiliation | Sandringham | VFL Victorian Football League The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association... |
|
| Stand-alone reserves team | NEAFL North East Australian Football League The North East Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league in New South Wales, Queensland, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory in Australia... (East) |
||
| League affiliation | WAFL West Australian Football League The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League... |
||
| Club affiliation | Williamstown Williamstown Football Club The Williamstown Football Club, nicknamed The Seagulls, is an Australian rules football club based in Melbourne and are currently playing in the Victorian Football League... |
VFL Victorian Football League The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association... |
|
Dedicated Reserves Competition (1919–1999)
During the 20th century, up the to 1980s, the VFL had operated three grades of competition: seniors, reserves (established in 1919), and under-19s (established in 1946). Local players were primarily recruited via the league's metropolitan and country zoning rulesZoning (Australian rules football)
In Australian rules football, zoning refers to a system whereby a given area, either region or lower-level football league, is reserved exclusively for one club....
, and the clubs had full ability to develop its players through its junior and reserves teams. This same basic structure was used consistently across all of Australia's major state leagues (VFL, SANFL, WAFL and TANFL).
Two factors in the late 1980s and early 1990s led to the end of this traditional arrangement in Victoria. Firstly, the Victorian Football League expanded interstate to become the Australian Football League, and some of the clubs from interstate were unwilling to participate in the minor grades. Secondly, the AFL Draft
AFL Draft
The AFL Draft is the annual draft of new unsigned players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League.-History:...
(first held in 1986) was gradually replacing zoning as the primary means of recruitment to the national league, so the developmental continuity between the under-19, reserves and senior grades had lost its purpose. As a result, the AFL relinquished direct control of the Victorian reserves and junior grades at the end of 1991. The change for the under-19s grade was significant: it was replaced by the TAC Cup
TAC Cup
The TAC Cup is an under 18 Australian rules football representative competition held in Victoria, Australia. It is based on geographic regions throughout country Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne with each team representing 12 Victorian regions....
, and the AFL clubs' under-19s teams were discarded entirely in favour of new, independent, zone-based under-18s clubs. The change to the reserves league was mostly cosmetic: it became known as and was governed by the Victorian State Football League
Victorian State Football League
The Victorian State Football League is a former Australian rules football governing body. The VSFL ran a competition of the same name primarily among Australian Football League teams' reserve teams. Between 1994 and 1999 the VSFL controlled the Victorian Football Association competition...
, but it was otherwise identical to the former VFL/AFL reserves and is considered a direct continuation.
The VFL/AFL reserves and the VSFL were contested by all twelve Victorian clubs. The Sydney Swans continued to participate after South Melbourne relocated in 1982, and the Brisbane Bears participated for a few years, but none of the South Australian or Western Australian clubs were ever involved.
Combination with the VFL (since 2000)
Following the 1999 season, the VSFL merged into Victoria's second-tier senior football league, the Victorian Football LeagueVictorian Football League
The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association...
(known until 1994 as the Victorian Football Association, and with a history dating back to 1877). Since the merger, the VFL has served as both a distinct second-tier senior competition and a reserves competition for AFL clubs.
Since the merger, there have been three types of club participating in the VFL:
- VFL/AFL club affiliations—in these cases, an AFL club enters into an agreement with a single VFL club (or, in the unique case of North MelbourneNorth Melbourne Football ClubThe North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
, two VFL clubs). Any players listed at the AFL club are permitted to play with the VFL club on weekends when not selected for an AFL game. The VFL club maintains its own, separate playing list, and its weekly team is composed of a mixture of VFL-listed and AFL-listed players. The exact nature of the organisational relationship between the VFL and AFL club varies on a case-by-case basis, with some VFL sides enjoying reasonable autonomy, and others being heavily influenced by their AFL-affiliates. These clubs generally field teams in both the VFL seniors and the VFL reserves, and AFL-listed players may be selected for either, although most will play seniors. - Stand-alone AFL reserves teams—in these cases, the AFL club fields its own team in the VFL. Naturally, the AFL club has complete autonomy over the operation of its VFL team. Because the AFL list is not large enough to field two complete teams, the club must also maintain a separate list of "top-up players", who are eligible only for VFL games. The licence fee for an AFL club fielding a stand-alone reserves team is much higher than the cost of entering into an affiliation. Neither of the AFL clubs with a stand-alone team in the VFL seniors is involved in the VFL reserves.
- Stand-alone VFL senior teams—in these cases, the VFL club has no affiliation with any AFL club. It takes complete responsibility for maintaining its own list of players from outside the AFL. As for affiliated VFL clubs, these clubs generally compete in both the VFL seniors and VFL reserves, although there is no requirement for them to field a reserves team.
Currently, there are no limitations on how many AFL-listed players may play in a VFL team on any given weekend—except during finals, when only players who have played a certain number of VFL games during the season are eligible. There was previously a rule known as the 12–10 Rule, which stated that in a match between an affiliated VFL team and a stand-alone VFL senior team, the affiliated team could play of at most twelve AFL-listed players, with the other ten to be VFL-listed players; and, where the AFL club had more than twelve reserve players available, the extras would play in the VFL reserves. The rule was abolished in 2011.
Historical VFL/AFL affiliations by AFL club
For all clubs in this list (as well as the defunct Fitzroy Football ClubFitzroy Football Club
The Fitzroy Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Lions, is an Australian rules football club formed in 1883 to represent the inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, Victoria and was a foundation member club of the Victorian Football League on its inception in 1897...
), the club fielded a reserves team in the VFL/AFL reserves up to 1991, and then in the VSFL from 1992 until 1999. This listing shows all reserves affiliations and arrangements since 2000.
- 2000–2002 – fielded a stand-alone reserves team in the VFL
- 2003–present – affiliated with the Northern Bullants/BluesNorthern BluesNorthern Blues was released by Kristofer Åström together with Hidden Truck in 2001 on Startracks.-Overview:* All songs by Kristofer Åström* Engineered, mixed and produced by Paul Bothén* Strings and brass arrangements by Paul Bothén...
- The Northern Bullants changed its nickname to Blues in the 2012 season
- 2000 – fielded a stand-alone reserves team in the VFL
- 2001–2007 – affiliated with the Williamstown Football ClubWilliamstown Football ClubThe Williamstown Football Club, nicknamed The Seagulls, is an Australian rules football club based in Melbourne and are currently playing in the Victorian Football League...
- 2008–present – again fielded a stand-alone reserves team
- 2000–2002 – fielded a stand-alone reserves team in the VFL
- 2003–present – affiliated with the Bendigo Football Club
- Bendigo changed its nickname from Diggers to Bombers when the affiliation was established
Essendon has announced that it intends to end its affiliation with Bendigo and enter a stand-alone reserves team in the VFL, starting from the 2013 season.
- 2000–present – fielded a stand-alone reserves team in the VFL
- 2000–present – affiliated with the Box Hill Football Club
- Box Hill changed its nickname from Mustangs to Hawks when the affiliation was established
- 2000–2008 – affiliated with the Sandringham Football Club
- 2009–present – affiliated with the Casey ScorpionsCasey ScorpionsThe Casey Scorpions Football Club is an Australian rules football club in the Victorian Football League . The club was founded in 1903 as the Springvale Football Club and played under the name Springvale. In its history it has won 21 premierships...
North Melbourne
North Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
- 2000–2002 – affiliated with the Murray Kangaroos Football ClubMurray Kangaroos Football ClubMurray Kangaroos Football Club, officially nicknamed The Kangaroos, was an Australian rules football club which competed in the Victorian Football League between 2000 and 2002...
, a new team established in joint-venture between the Kangaroos and the Ovens & Murray Football LeagueOvens & Murray Football LeagueThe Ovens and Murray Football League, often referred to locally as the O&M, is a semi-professional Australian rules football league based around ten clubs in north-eastern Victoria and the southern Riverina region of New South Wales, and affiliated with the Victorian Country Football League... - 2003–2005 – affiliated with the Port Melbourne Football ClubPort Melbourne Football ClubThe Port Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Borough, is an Australian rules football club based in the Melbourne suburb of Port Melbourne and is currently playing in the Victorian Football League ....
- 2006–2007 – split-affiliation with the North Ballarat Football ClubNorth Ballarat Football ClubNorth Ballarat Football Club, nicknamed The Roosters, is an Australian rules football club based at Northern Oval in Ballarat. The club is locally known as the Roosters and plays in the Victorian Football League are current competition premiers and one of only four clubs based outside of Melbourne...
and the Tasmanian Devils Football ClubTasmanian Devils Football ClubTasmania Football Club, nicknamed The Devils, was an Australian rules football club which competed in the Victorian Football League in Australia. Formed in 2001, it was the youngest and the only non-Victorian club in the league. The club was based in the state of Tasmania at Bellerive Oval and was... - 2008–present – split-affiliation with the North Ballarat Football ClubNorth Ballarat Football ClubNorth Ballarat Football Club, nicknamed The Roosters, is an Australian rules football club based at Northern Oval in Ballarat. The club is locally known as the Roosters and plays in the Victorian Football League are current competition premiers and one of only four clubs based outside of Melbourne...
and the Werribee Football ClubWerribee Football ClubThe Werribee Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club, based in Werribee, was formed in 1965 and currently plays in the Victorian Football League. Werribee was defeated by the Sandringham Football Club in the 2005 VFL Grand Final.-History:The Werribee Football Club...
- 2000 – fielded a stand-alone reserves team in the VFL
- 2001–present – affiliated with the Coburg Football Club.
- Coburg changed its nickname from Lions to Tigers when the affiliation was established
- 2000 – fielded a stand-alone reserves team in the VFL
- 2001–2008 – affiliated with the Springvale/Casey Scorpions
- The Springvale Scorpions became the Casey Scorpions in 2006
- 2009–present – affiliated with the Sandringham Football Club
Western Bulldogs
Western Bulldogs
The Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...
- 2000 - split-affiliation with the Werribee Football ClubWerribee Football ClubThe Werribee Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club, based in Werribee, was formed in 1965 and currently plays in the Victorian Football League. Werribee was defeated by the Sandringham Football Club in the 2005 VFL Grand Final.-History:The Werribee Football Club...
and the Williamstown Football ClubWilliamstown Football ClubThe Williamstown Football Club, nicknamed The Seagulls, is an Australian rules football club based in Melbourne and are currently playing in the Victorian Football League... - 2001–2007 – affiliated with the Werribee Football ClubWerribee Football ClubThe Werribee Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club, based in Werribee, was formed in 1965 and currently plays in the Victorian Football League. Werribee was defeated by the Sandringham Football Club in the 2005 VFL Grand Final.-History:The Werribee Football Club...
- 2008–present – affiliated with the Williamstown Football ClubWilliamstown Football ClubThe Williamstown Football Club, nicknamed The Seagulls, is an Australian rules football club based in Melbourne and are currently playing in the Victorian Football League...
Historical VFL/AFL affiliations by VFL club
Bendigo- 2000–2002 – fielded a stand-alone senior team in the VFL
- 2003–present – affiliated with the Essendon Football ClubEssendon Football ClubThe Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
- Changed its nickname from Diggers to Bombers when the affiliation was established
Essendon has announced that it intends to end its affiliation with Bendigo at the end of the 2012 season. Bendigo is expected to once again field a stand-alone senior team from 2013.
Box Hill
- 2000–present – affiliated with the Hawthorn Football ClubHawthorn Football ClubThe Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
- Changed its nickname from Mustangs to Hawks when the affiliation was established
Casey
- Known as Springvale until 2006
- 2000 – fielded a stand-alone senior team in the VFL
- 2001–2008 – affiliated with the St Kilda Football Club
- 2009–present – affiliated with the Melbourne Football ClubMelbourne Football ClubThe Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
Coburg
- 2000 – fielded a stand-alone senior team in the VFL (as Coburg-Fitzroy, a partnership with the former Fitzroy Football ClubFitzroy Football ClubThe Fitzroy Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Lions, is an Australian rules football club formed in 1883 to represent the inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, Victoria and was a foundation member club of the Victorian Football League on its inception in 1897...
, but not an affiliation in the sense described here) - 2001–present – affiliated with the Richmond Football ClubRichmond Football ClubThe Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
- Changed its nickname from Lions to Tigers when the affiliation was established
Frankston
- 2000–present – fielded a stand-alone senior team in the VFL
Murray
- 2000–2002 – established and became affiliated with the North Melbourne Football ClubNorth Melbourne Football ClubThe North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
. The new club was established in joint-venture between North Melbourne and the Ovens & Murray Football LeagueOvens & Murray Football LeagueThe Ovens and Murray Football League, often referred to locally as the O&M, is a semi-professional Australian rules football league based around ten clubs in north-eastern Victoria and the southern Riverina region of New South Wales, and affiliated with the Victorian Country Football League... - 2003 – club folded
North Ballarat
- 2000–2005 – fielded a stand-alone senior team in the VFL
- 2006–present – partially affiliated with the North Melbourne Football ClubNorth Melbourne Football ClubThe North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
Northern Bullants/Blues
- 2000 – fielded a stand-alone senior team in the VFL
- 2003–present – affiliated with the Carlton Football ClubCarlton Football ClubThe Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
- Changed its nickname from Bullants to Blues in 2012, the tenth year of the affiliation
Port Melbourne
- 2000 – fielded a stand-alone senior team in the VFL
- 2001–2002 – partially affiliated with the Sydney SwansSydney SwansThe Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
- 2003–2005 – affiliated with the Kangaroos Football ClubKangaroos Football ClubThe North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
(North Melbourne). - 2006–present – fielded a stand-alone senior team in the VFL
Sandringham
- 2000–2008 – affiliated with the Melbourne Football ClubMelbourne Football ClubThe Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
- 2009–present – affiliated with the St Kilda Football Club
Tasmania
- 2001–2005 – fielded a stand-alone senior team in the VFL
- 2006–2007 – partially affiliated with the Kangaroos Football ClubKangaroos Football ClubThe North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
(North Melbourne). - 2008 – fielded a stand-alone senior team in the VFL
- 2009 – club folded
Werribee
- 2000 - partially affiliated with the Western BulldogsWestern BulldogsThe Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...
- 2001–2007 – affiliated with the Western BulldogsWestern BulldogsThe Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...
- 2008–present – partially affiliated with the North Melbourne Football ClubNorth Melbourne Football ClubThe North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
Williamstown
- 2000 – partially affiliated with the Western BulldogsWestern BulldogsThe Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...
- 2001–2007 – affiliated with the Collingwood Football ClubCollingwood Football ClubThe Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
- 2008–present – affiliated with the Western BulldogsWestern BulldogsThe Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...
South Australian and Western Australian clubs
South Australia and Western Australia both have two AFL teams (Adelaide and Port Adelaide; and West CoastWest Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
and Fremantle
Fremantle Football Club
The Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed The Dockers, is an Australian rules football team which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in the port city of Fremantle at the mouth of the Swan River in Western Australia...
), and a strong nine-team state league (the SANFL
South Australian National Football League
The South Australian National Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in South Australia....
and the WAFL
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
). In both states, the AFL clubs are currently affiliated with the entire state league, rather than with an individual club as is seen in Victoria. In the case of South Australia, the arrangement is governed by the annual "AFL–SANFL Interchange Agreement".
The method used to allocate players to the state league teams currently varies depending upon whether the player is in his state of origin, or has come from interstate:
- Players from the AFL club's state remain allocated to the SANFL or WAFL club from which they were recruited. These players would originally have been allocated to their state league clubs as juniors under each league's zoningZoning (Australian rules football)In Australian rules football, zoning refers to a system whereby a given area, either region or lower-level football league, is reserved exclusively for one club....
rules. - Players from interstate are allocated to the SANFL or WAFL clubs based on a "mini-draft". Each year, the pool of players available in the mini-draft consists solely of AFL-listed players in their first pre-season with a South Australian or Western Australian AFL club; the state league teams then draft players in reverse-finishing order from the previous season. State league clubs may choose players from either of their state's two AFL clubs.
Regardless of which method is used to allocate the player, he typically remains allocated to the same SANFL or WAFL club for his entire career. However, there are provisions in the rules for players to be re-allocated to a different club on a case-by-case basis, to ensure that the AFL-listed players are given the appropriate opportunities to develop; e.g. an AFL club could seek a re-allocation for a developing key forward on its list, if the player's opportunities are limited by the presence of an established key forward in his allocated team.
This arrangement, or a variation of it, has been the primary mechanism for distribution of reserves players throughout the history of the South Australian and Western Australian clubs. Only for a three-year period in Western Australia was there a WAFL/AFL affiliation structure, known locally as a "host-club arrangement", which functioned the same way as modern affiliations in the VFL.
Historical arrangements by club
- 1991–present – established and affiliated with the entire SANFLSouth Australian National Football LeagueThe South Australian National Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in South Australia....
- 1995–1998 – established and affiliated with the entire WAFLWest Australian Football LeagueThe West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
- 1999–2001 – affiliated in a host-club arrangement with the South Fremantle Football ClubSouth Fremantle Football ClubThe South Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed the Bulldogs, is an Australian rules football club, based in Fremantle, Western Australia, playing in the West Australian Football League...
- 2002–present – after the WAFL clubs voted to end host-club arrangements, returned to an affiliation with the entire WAFL.
- 1997–present – established and affiliated with the entire SANFLSouth Australian National Football LeagueThe South Australian National Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in South Australia....
- 1987–1998 – established and affiliated with the entire WAFLWest Australian Football LeagueThe West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
- 1999 – affiliated in a host-club arrangement with the Claremont Football ClubClaremont Football ClubThe Claremont Football Club, nicknamed the Tigers, is an Australian rules football club in the West Australian Football League . Its official colours are navy blue and gold....
- 2000–2001 – affiliated in a host-club arrangement with the East Perth Football ClubEast Perth Football ClubThe East Perth Football Club, nicknamed the Royals, is an Australian rules football club that is a member of the West Australian Football League...
- 2002–present – after the WAFL clubs voted to end host-club arrangements, returned to an affiliation with the entire WAFL.
New South Wales and Queensland clubs
In New South Wales and Queensland, all four current AFL clubs field stand-alone teams in the North East Australian Football LeagueNorth East Australian Football League
The North East Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league in New South Wales, Queensland, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory in Australia...
; in the case of Greater Western Sydney, the club's senior team is playing in the NEAFL in preparation for joining the AFL in 2012.
Historical New South Wales and Queensland affiliations
Brisbane BearsBrisbane Bears
The Brisbane Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Bears was an Australian rules football club and the first Queensland-based club in the Victorian Football League . The club played its first match in 1987, but struggled on and off the field until it made the finals for the first time in 1995...
- 1987–1988 – established and affiliated with the entire QAFL
- 1989–1992 – fielded a reserves team in the VFL reserves/AFL reserves/VSFL competition
- 1993–1996 – returned to an affiliation with the entire QAFL
Brisbane Lions
Brisbane Lions
The Brisbane Lions is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Brisbane, Queensland. The club was formed from the merger of the Brisbane Bears and the Fitzroy Lions in 1996...
- 1997 – established (from the merger of Fitzroy and Brisbane Bears) and affiliated with the entire QAFL
- 1998–present – fielded a stand-alone reserves team in the QAFL, which became the NEAFL Northern ConferenceNorth East Australian Football LeagueThe North East Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league in New South Wales, Queensland, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory in Australia...
in 2011. The reserves team was initially known as the Lion Cubs, became known as the Suncoast Lions from 2004, and finally as simply Brisbane Lions from 2011.
- 2010 – fielded a stand-alone senior team in the VFL, as preparation for joining the AFL in 2011.
- 2011–present – fielded a stand-alone reserves team in the NEAFL Northern Conference.
- 2011 – fielded a stand-alone senior team in the NEAFL Eastern Conference, as preparation for joining the AFL in 2012.
- From 2012 – will field a stand-alone reserves team in the NEAFL Eastern Conference.
- Until 1981 – based in Melbourne and known as the South Melbourne Football ClubSouth Melbourne Football ClubSouth Melbourne Football Club can refer to:*Sydney Swans, an Australian rules football club formerly known as the South Melbourne Football Club until 1982...
, fielded a reserves team in the VFL reserves. - 1982–1999 – relocated to Sydney, and continued to field a reserves team in the VFL reserves/AFL reserves/VSFL.
- 2000 – fielded a stand-alone reserves team known as the Redbacks in the Sydney AFLSydney AFLThe "AFL Sydney" is an Australian rules football League, based in metropolitan Sydney, Australia.The AFL Sydney competition comprises 21 clubs playing across 5 senior divisions with 2 under 18 competitions.-History:...
. The Redbacks team proved to be much too strong for the Sydney-based league, and the club elected not to participate in the finals. - 2001–2002 – partially affiliated with the Port Melbourne Football ClubPort Melbourne Football ClubThe Port Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Borough, is an Australian rules football club based in the Melbourne suburb of Port Melbourne and is currently playing in the Victorian Football League ....
in the VFL, and also fielded the Redbacks as a stand-alone team in the Sydney AFL. In practice, Port Melbourne served as a reserves affiliation for experienced players, and the Redbacks served as a development team for inexperienced players. - 2003–present – fielded a stand-alone reserves team in the ACTAFLAFL CanberraAFL Canberra is the governing body for Australian rules football in the Australian Capital Territory.In November 2010 the five AFL Canberra Premier Division clubs merged with the Premier Division clubs of the Queensland Australian Football League to form the North East Australian Football League...
, which became the NEAFL Eastern Conference in 2011.
Future of reserves competitions
In 2011, there has been considerable interest by many AFL clubs in forming stand-alone reserves teams. A large contributing factor to this interest is the perception that the developmental autonomy and enjoyed by fielding stand-alone reserves teams in the VFL was responsible for the very strong senior AFL performances of those two clubs between 2007 and 2011.In Victoria, Essendon has formally announced its intention to ends its affiliaton with Bendigo, and St Kilda has publicly expressed a desire to end its affiliation. The AFL prefers that its Victorian clubs retain VFL-affiliations, and as such has offered a strong disincentive, in the form of an inflated licence fee, for fielding a stand-alone team; however, the AFL will not otherwise prevent teams from fielding stand-alone reserves teams if they are willing and able to pay the fee. The total licence and running costs for a stand-alone team are estimated to be $500,000 per year.
In South Australia and Western Australia, the debate is more heated. The league affiliation system primarily benefits the state leagues, by helping to ensure that none of their clubs gains an advantage through preferential access to professional AFL-listed players, and by helping to minimise the drain of talent from the league; but this is to the detriment of player development at the AFL clubs, since reserves players end up playing for a variety of different teams, under a variety of different game-plans, and not necessarily in the positions that the AFL clubs would prefer. As far back as 1988, West Coast Eagles coach John Todd
John Todd (footballer)
John Todd is a former Australian rules footballer and coach. After becoming youngest ever winner of the Sandover Medal in his first year of senior football he suffered a serious knee injury, which affected his playing career...
was calling for the Eagles to enter a reserves team in the VFL reserves, a plan which the West Australian Football Commission would not permit.
In 2011, Adelaide, Port Adelaide, Fremantle and West Coast are actively seeking to enter stand-alone reserves teams in their respective state leagues from 2012. There is considerable opposition from the SANFL and WAFL teams about the proposal, who are still concerned about the impact this would have on depth of talent, league competitiveness, and gate takings. The SANFL and WAFL have initially rejected the proposal from the AFL clubs, and they can continue to block the AFL clubs from entering reserves teams in their leagues if they cannot agree to terms. The AFL clubs are continuing to push for stand-alone reserves teams.
In September 2011, the Western Australian AFL clubs and the WAFL presidents proposed a compromise: the AFL clubs would each establish a reserves team, but those teams would not play in the WAFL; rather, a separate, parallel competition would be established, with significant prize money on offer, in which WAFL clubs play against the AFL reserves clubs during their WAFL bye weeks
Bye (sports)
A bye, in sports and other competitive activities, most commonly refers to the practice of allowing a player or team to advance to the next round of a playoff tournament without playing...
. The proposal will be assessed during the 2011-12 off-season, and if approved would be established for the 2013 season.