RECENTLY AFL Victoria announced the abolishment of the VFL Development League, which in reality is a reserves competition for the VFL.
Of the 14 clubs competing in the VFL, only eight field a Development League team.
The five AFL Clubs with teams in the VFL and North Ballarat, do not field a Development League team.
Next season North Melbourne will sever ties from Werribee and field a stand-alone VFL team but no Development League team, whilst recent media speculation suggests that Frankston are looking to return to the VFL fielding a senior team only.
The addition of these two senior teams creates a further imbalance between those VFL clubs with a Development League team and those without.
In announcing the abolishment of the Development League at the end of 2017, AFL Victoria CEO Steven Reaper sighted financial difficulties and a lack of administrative resources as key reasons for the decision.
"With only eight of the 14 clubs fielding a development team, scheduling difficulties have grown each year; adding pressure to staff and volunteers with games increasingly being played at different grounds and often on different days to senior VFL games," Reaper said.
"The cost of running the DL currently sits in excess of $1 million between the competition and the clubs, and this is both not viable nor the best possible use of investment into the future, when we are seeing clubs experience financial difficulties."
There has been plenty of rebuttal emanating from VFL Clubs, but if the investment in the Development League does in-fact exceed $1 million, then it is reasonable to suggest that there are better ways for the Victorian football industry to spend $1 million on development programs than by running a VFL Reserves competition.
Many VFL clubs and their coaches are arguing that the Development League is vital to the development of players who are not recruited immediately from the TAC Cup competition.
The development of Essendon’s Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti is evidence that players can still be developed into AFL quality players. Anthony joined Essendon’s VFL team out of the TAC Cup and when not selected in Essendon’s senior VFL team, Anthony played for Aberfeldie in the EDFL, playing in the 2013 Grand Final against Greenvale.
Having shown form, talent and potential at both EDFL level and VFL level, Anthony was selected by Essendon in the 2015 Rookie Draft. Anthony would later be upgraded to Essendon’s AFL list and has gone on to play 38 AFL games for the Bombers.
Anthony’s development was assisted by playing in the EDFL and the VFL senior competition, completely bypassing the Development League. Anthony’s progression from the TAC Cup, through the EDFL and the VFL to the AFL demonstrates that player development is possible without the Development League.
Greater responsibility will shift to community leagues to ensure that players not selected for their senior VFL team continue to develop and progress to the AFL, in the same manner as Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti.
Enjoy the weekend.
Marc Turri, EDFL CEO
