VFL's 'eastern seaboard' growth plan
The Sunday Age
Sunday March 7, 2010
THE VFL would welcome Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney into what shapes as an expanded "eastern seaboard" competition from 2011.However, the competition's make-up next year depends on whether both clubs want to play in the VFL €” with Gold Coast participating this season and GWS expected to graduate from the TAC Cup and follow suit next year.AFL Victoria chief executive Peter Schwab believes Gold Coast may not wish to remain in the VFL after this season because of travel costs.."Whether they've got any interest in [continuing to play in the VFL], they probably won't know until they start playing," Schwab said. "I think they'll weigh up how beneficial it has been with the logistics of travelling because they're going to have to travel at least nine times to Melbourne this year."It's a cost factor as well. Do you want to be flying your reserves side around?"Really, at this stage, all we're doing is providing an opportunity for Gold Coast, so they can [best prepare] to play AFL. As far as the long-term future goes, that's up to them."In a scenario mooted by the AFL's head of game development, David Matthews, in The Age on Friday, Brisbane Lions and Sydney Swans could also play their reserves in the competition, which would potentially give it 17 teams and make it a de-facto reserves competition for 14 of the eventual 18 clubs."We'd have to discuss that," Schwab said. "I think the whole thing is being based around the future of the northern states rather than Victoria. It's about trying to find a competition that suits Greater Western Sydney and the Gold Coast."With Gold Coast's entry into the VFL this year, the bye caused by the loss of Tasmania after the 2008 season will be eliminated and games will be played in Southport, Cairns, Labrador and Broadbeach.–Bendigo Bombers coach Shannon Grant has talked up his team's chances after its first win in more than a season yesterday in a practice match against a depleted Collingwood at Gosch's Paddock.The Bombers, last year's easybeats, showed enough to suggest they may be a surprise packet this year after their 61-point win."It wasn't really about the win today, it was more about their intent and the way they went about it. We worked on a lot of things over the pre-season," Grant said."Everyone's keen, everyone's prepared well and I thought their tackling efforts were fantastic."Trent Shinners, Paul Scanlon and skipper James Flaherty were impressive, as was former Essendon and Adelaide midfielder Hayden Skipworth.Former Calder Cannon Serhat Temel, a key player in last year's TAC Cup grand final, took a couple of nice grabs around the half-forward line.Grant admits his team has a point to prove."Not only certain players but also as a club as well," he said. "We still have a fair way to go as the competition continues to get better, but I think we're on the right track."We've recruited well; we've got a mix of experienced players and some younger players coming through."
© 2010 The Sunday Age
