Momentum is reportedly building for an AFL national reserves competition, with Port Adelaide flagging concerns with its 146-year run in the SANFL.
Since the amalgamation of the VFL and NEAFL, only West Coast, Fremantle, Adelaide and Port Adelaide do not participate in the same state-league competition as the rest of the AFL clubs.
Talks continue to bubble up about a full national reserves league, allowing for a cleaner second tier competition. This would force the WA clubs to remove themselves from the WAFL, and Adelaide and Port Adelaide to leave the SANFL.
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The latter would be the most dramatic departure given the Power, as the Magpies, have been the most dominant force in the country’s oldest league since its inception in 1877.
Yet Power chairman David Koch, speaking at the club’s best and fairest count recently, flagged their concerns with the current set-up.
“The two AFL clubs (including Adelaide) play under different rules to the other SANFL clubs which makes success difficult and frankly, has a detrimental impact on the development of our AFL players,” Koch said.
“No other AFL clubs have this imposition on their player development. It is an issue we are working to solve in the near future one way or another, and we will solve it.
“We need to be in the best second tier competition which allows us to develop our players.”
Long-time South Australian journalist Michelangelo Rucci believes Port Adelaide wishes to leave the SANFL.
“That was the red rag to the bull, wasn’t it,” he said on SEN SA’s The Run Home.
“The SANFL and Port have met, let’s call it a no-blame divorce.
“Because the SANFL has got to look after its competition and the eight traditional clubs.
“Port Adelaide has got to look after its development program and its needs in the AFL. They don’t match anymore.”
He continued: “So it’s only a matter of time now.
“It’s now up to the AFL to leave the platform, as we heard West Coast say only last week. They’re waiting for this national reserves (competition).
“Port will be in straight away and Adelaide will be close behind them.
“This is real now, very real.
“Adelaide is right there with Port, but won’t be as vocal. And you can understand why, their history with the SANFL and so forth. They’re quite happy to let Port be the frontman for it.
“They will be there.”
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