Border Mail | Something must be done to stop Tiger domination
This is now my third year and I must admit the reality is disappointing.
It is arguably the most unfair competition in country football.
Not enough has been done to make the league fair.
You can’t be happy with any competition that has had the same two teams in the past six grand finals with a 10-team competition.
It just shouldn’t happen.
In fact, in the past 10 years there has been only four teams win a flag.
Over half the competition has not.
In stark contrast, the AFL is trying everything it can to make its league even more equal.
From taxing clubs who spend too much to schedules to allowances — you name it, they are trying to make the competition fair and they change it when they see an advantage.
There has not been one change that I have seen in the past 10 years that has tried to make the Ovens and Murray equal on any level.
How can that be?
These questions need to be asked about any competition that does not have a salary cap or any form of equalisation measure in place.
If you think I am targeting Albury, you are right. They are the ones who most rort the system to maximise their chances of winning premierships. They have done it for too long.
When I told a former AFL player from this region that I was coaching up here, all he could say was “watch out for Albury, they buy all their premierships”.
They don’t lose much either.
Since the money came back in to the Albury Tigers at the start of the 2009 season, they have lost a grand total of 12 out of 120 games — a 90 per cent winning rate.
Half that total happened in 2013.
If we take out the 2013 year, they would have had only six losses in 100 games at a winning rate of 94 per cent.
They have finished minor premier in five of the past six years, winning four premierships.
That is unheard of in any league that is supposed to be fair and good!
When the Brisbane Lions were at their peak, from 2001-2004, playing in four straight grand finals and winning three of them, the winning percentage was 73 per cent.
If we include the years either side of those grand finals to create a direct comparison, the winning percentage would be significantly less.
This is from a team that was considered one of the best of the modern era.
If that is the case, then surely Albury can claim the mantle of being the best of all time.
Even other lopsided leagues like the English Premier league and American Major League baseball don’t have teams with that type of winning percentage over a six-year stretch.
Doesn’t happen.
Except here.
It is sad and staggering at the same time.
So how to fix it?
Firstly a points system will help.
Twenty-one points ranked on local, state and AFL standard players.
There should be no reduction of points if they are assistant coaches.
As it stands, Albury would be well over the 21 points allowed.
Secondly there should be an anti-contact rule which states that Ovens and Murray clubs cannot contact players of any other club.
However, the players can contact any Ovens and Murray club.
Every player contacted directly would result in a $500 fine from the Ovens and Murray.
You say, “how will they police it?” and “the clubs will get away with it.”
Well, in the leagues that use this system, clubs get caught nearly every time because players talk to players and other clubs.
I can guarantee you that players are happy to dob in clubs.
Especially the clubs who harass players when they don’t want it.
Players who know the rules will learn to contact the right people from the appropriate club.
These simple rules will help this league enormously.
Because it needs more teams to have a chance by developing players and developing good juniors and in turn winning premiership flags.
If you think I am targeting Albury, you are right.
They are the ones who most rort the system to maximise their chances of winning premierships.
They have done it for too long.
No one can have a winning percentage of 90 per cent over six years if they are simply developing and educating their own.
If you don’t like what I am saying, I don’t care.
One-sided leagues are not good for anyone.
It is about time for change.
