T
Years ago
There is plenty of talk with Ringwood, Eltham, Waverly, Keilor, Werribee and now Casey all 'going to SEABL' next year.
Any truth to any of these clubs doing anything?
Reality
Years ago
The scuttle butt is SCM and SEABL to merge with two divisions in SEABL with promotion/relegation.
not all SCM teams will make the move but thats the word.
Apparently a few of the SCM clubs are worried about the declining standard of play over the last few years and the talent is spread pretty thin between the bottom end SEABL & SCM clubs which is hurting the depth/level of both comps in Victoria.
A number of the SCM clubs now understand its either step up and fund senior programs correctly or they'll forever be second/third tier clubs in Victoria which will then follow down into there respective junior programs.
Problem is BA run SEABL and BV run Big V / SCM
Makes sense to do something like that though
While I think this would be a good move in the long run for the quality of the 'SCM' league or whatever it winds up becoming. It would take a pretty significant short term hit. There would be a significant loss of the more mature talent who are good players but not interested in the weekend travel to compete in the SEABL competition. Due to family or work commitments etc.
Reality
Years ago
You might loose a few players but the vast majority of games will still be in Melbourne as more Melbourne teams are in the comp.
The other issue if guys really don't want to the travel is how poor a comp are they willing to play in if the top talent in SCM moves into a combined league? Do they stay motiviated to play in a D1 thats even lighter on in talent?
Until its done its obviously very hard to predict how such a move would effect not only SCM teams moving but SEABL teams like Frankston etc who would be in danger of being relegated pretty quickly.
For the senior game and second tier in Australia it really makes sense and hopefully a top division of say the best 8 SEABL/SCM combined teams would create a super tough and competitive league with no easy games. PLus the second Div would be ultra comptitive with teams trying to advance...could make for some cut throat play-in promotion/relegation tournament weekend on the Saturday before the GF
SEABL should go it alone. Get some more sponsors and increase their footprint in Winter. They can be an officially sanctioned BA league, not necessarily rubber stamped as the official Winter League (but everyone knows it is better quality).
Maybe trim a team or two from Melbourne.
Get away from BA.
Do not get involved with the Big V SCM / SCW.
Keep the interstate teams and maybe try and expand it slowly.
Promotion/relegation works where?
I don't understand why people mention promotion/relegation as a saviour for competition. Will create a bidding war and more club-hopping rather than be good for associations.
How can we say it works in soccer when it's the same clubs near the top of all the pro leagues around the world. And every year we see clubs relegated into absolute oblivion. Look at the massive player movement once their contracts are voided due to movement. Do we really want that for our local associations?
Most of the movement in BigV is club choice and more teams are promoted by applying to the league rather than by winning a title, so can they say their promotion/relegation system is successful?
SEABL leaving BA will be a good thing.
Reality
Years ago
The cream will rise to the top and the poor run organistions fall down the ladder.
Its always that way across the soccer leagues globally.
Some clubs in both SEABL & SCM have pretty much phoned it in before a season has even started by rolling out terrible teams with little hope of win more than a handful of games, hows that good for anyone?
Players might move if a team is relegated but most won't automatically stay in the higher div if they are a key part of the reason for relegation.
Also a larger number of players move associations each year anyway
Bring back the old VBA style mid week games playing across SEABL, Big V, MMBL etc..
Big V Fan
Years ago
SEABL should be moved to align with NBL. Local SEABL players could then continue playing Big V / SCM over winter. Clubs that run both SEABL and Big V Teams such as Geelong could spread the cost and the volunteer work load over the year. This also allows us die hard supporters to attend both Leagues. Win Win
What ever happened to the old VBA and its mid week games?
SNAFU
Years ago
I think some of you may have forgotten some of the underlying problems with the majority of clubs. It's called financing. The majority of senior programmes run a significant loss.
Many clubs cannot afford to run the arms race of import players to stay in SEABL or in some cases, senior champ.
Yinka Dare
Years ago
Considering most of the seabl teams are in Melbourne, I'd barely say travelling about five weekends a season would be a big factor. A lot of the time Ballarat and Bendigo are trips too
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