It's a great idea, no doubt. If you come up with an idea with how it could happen that would be even greater!

In some respects that structure returns VBA, rather than VBL. Lots of people still say they would like Wednesday night championship back.

Maybe that's the way to do it, run it on a Tues or Weds night. Potentially it could just replace a training session.

'The break for the state leagues and SEABL is too long.'
agreed 100%. Way too long.

'The break for the state leagues and SEABL is too long.'
agreed 100%. Way too long.

Is that the case? Or do those leagues not run long enough? Seems like QBL starts very late, BigV doesn't extend much into September.

Most other winter sports leagues tend to start first weekend in April or a little earlier and then, in Victoria at least, finals are played out well into September.

Someone pointed out to me recently that BigV has really pared back the number of games in a season - so instead of 22 games its like cast in stone that you play 18.

This idea would be absolutely ideal, but there are too many egos in the way and too many people who make decisions who's jobs would be in jeopardy. Unfortunately the few ppl this would affect will not allow this to happen.

TWA888, we sort of started a discussion like this in the SEABL future thread a little while back.

What do you want this league to be? Is the idea that the top division becomes the feeder league to the NBL?

I think you have real weaknesses with promotion/relegation - same problem that the under-pinning league had - teams with shit venues being promoted up, and mens teams being demoted while womens teams from the same becoming unsustainable continuing to play at a higher level.

Nice structure though!

I think either a midweek comp or a summer comp could work. If it's a summer comp it prob needs to be without imports (or working holiday imports only) otherwise teams might be tempted into spending money they cant really afford.

It would be good to see some sort of genuine state champ though, I remember going to watch the VBA as a kid, it actually got a little bit of mainstream press back in the early years.

Venues and their capacity, or overall standard come into play I feel. In the example provided there is a potential top 12 where every team has a venue of a standard or capacity of the current SEABL competition, except Corio Bay.

Notwithstanding the efforts in upgrades and improvements there recently, a crowd of 300 can't compare with that of 1,500 or more.

In this case sharing the Arena could solve an issue and make it viable down here in sleepy hollow...

My point is the same as one above, for this concept to even be considered there would have to be cooperation and egos put aside!

Nice idea though...

If it were a summer league or mid-week comp i think it would be best without imports...but the venue issue could be a probelm as mentioned before.


That said in a perfect world it would be great but in reality with issues like: politics, venues, $$$ just to name a few can't see it really happening.

At what stage will the venue standards issue be shelved? Are you blind bear? When has any seabl game last attracted 1500 people.... I know for a fact it hasn't happened at the Arena for years!
All stadiums have low crowds, look at the images, the clips, the people ain't there like the old days.
Packed smaller gyms are tougher to play in than bit morgues.

Venues isnt an issue if it's separate to SEABL and Big V eg summer or midweek. Look at some of the gyms NBL plays pre-season in.

Bear in the woods.

The venue issue is not just about crowds, its about crappy facilities, crappy changerooms, shared public/team toilets, crappy canteens, crappy sound systems, uncomfortable seating, outhouse quality public toilets....

But, crowds is an issue, and you have to set minimum standards for crowds to be seated publicly. TWA888 I think is proposing a new league from the merger of SEABL/bigV teams and in that environment, you would want better crowds for the top division. You can't promote a team in a venue like Sunbury or Craigieburn (no disrespect to either) to the top flight when there are venues like Bendigo, Knox and Dandenong in the league.

As for crowd numbers, no way you can set a top tier like that at below 600 seating, but then you should be punishing clubs where they are not getting to say 75% of capacity regularly.

Anon two above, there are plenty available if it's at a different time!

Bear In The Woods - The Arena has a seating capacity of 1108 seats, plus corporate boxes, plus bar and standing room. In the years 2010-2012 there were regularly sold out games which had between 1300-1600 people in attendance.

I know for a fact ;)

It would be good for the OP to clarify their intent. I don't think they were talking about adding a new league, or a new timeslot, or mid-week. I got the distinct impression they were proposing a model they believed would improve on what was currently in place.

They were, but the discussion has evolved since then.

Or its got off track. Probably that.

No, I think it's moved to something that might actually be possible, because the likelihood of Big V and SEABL Vic teams merging into one comp is very low.

No. Its got off track. TWA888 has made a reasonably thought out proposal, even if it requires a merger. The chances of the alternatives being proposed here are even lower.

I disagree, I think there are more likely to be games between SEABL and Big V teams in a parallel comp than a merger. Who knows though? Only time will tell.

I can't see it happening, because I am obviously blind...

I know a joke about a bear in the woods, something to do with a rabbit and I will leave it there!