2025 player moves - ins and outs

[MortlockWatcher]

I'd reckon there'd be more than two.

There would be a fair few clubs who may follow their lead and go to the SFL, EFL or NFL based on how the Bullants fare. The divisional clubs in the VAFA are only seen as a revenue source from affiliation fees by HQ and they get little in return as they play second fiddle to the old boys clubs. I reckon that the VAFA will lose a division's worth of clubs to other leagues inside the next 5-10 years.

 

[localfootylegend23]

I've heard two other VAFA clubs are watching the Bulleen Templestowe move with eyes on their own future. Interesting times ahead.

Which ones? I heard some faint rumors on aquinas OC, they have had number and home ground problems with the school, not had u19s for a while (1700 kids from yr7-12 there). Only thing is the EFNL women's secton is nowhere near the VAFA's quality (no reserves, 6 team top division for a while there. A club wide vote might not work there.

Others might be eley park or box hill north, BHN have established a 3rds team and really sorted themselves out over the last couple of years, i wouldn't expect them to go into the unknown. Eley would cop bigger scores than nunawading and CNMLOC when they first started, wouldn't make much sense for them to go there either.

 

[localfootylegend23]

I'd reckon there'd be more than two.

There would be a fair few clubs who may follow their lead and go to the SFL, EFL or NFL based on how the Bullants fare. The divisional clubs in the VAFA are only seen as a revenue source from affiliation fees by HQ and they get little in return as they play second fiddle to the old boys clubs. I reckon that the VAFA will lose a division's worth of clubs to other leagues inside the next 5-10 years.

I've heard they are trying to address these issues as more & more leave. There a few positive stories of non old boys clubs, fitzroy coming to a couple of kicks away from staying up in the top division, Glen eira and parkside have had 3/4 promotions in a row now into the top 3 divisions, its not all doom and gloom. (glen eira have actually hooked a school into being a feeder program now through their u19s)

I'm not sure its the 100% the Vafa's fault for bulleen temp having a terrible club culture + nobody hanging around past u19 level even though they have a great junior club. Some onus has to be on the them, moving league will hopefully kickstart addressing some of those issues in the long run.

 

[The jouneyman]

I thought south Belgrave are going to be on the decline,I don't think so, loading up for another tilt.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

I thought south Belgrave are going to be on the decline,I don't think so, loading up for another tilt.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/localfooty/efl/efnl-2025-exafl-hawk-clay-tucker-among-south-belgrave-package-of-recruits/news-story/bdd4392fc4661e903bd9bbba75e7b1e1

Tucker initially told clubs before Christmas he either wasn’t going to play footy - was completely over it - or was just going to play with mates at Upper Gully.

SB have made him an eye watering offer.

I see the new coach is right on board parroting the bullshit company line.

No salary cap at South Belgrave!

Incoming South Belgrave coach Kristan Height said the package of recruits had existing connections at the club and would provide a lift across the ground.

“The main avenue there is because they’ve got mates at the club,” he said.

“That’s what you play local footy for – is to play with your mates and a few of those guys were just looking for a change.

 

[Shootfromthehip]

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/localfooty/efl/efnl-2025-exafl-hawk-clay-tucker-among-south-belgrave-package-of-recruits/news-story/bdd4392fc4661e903bd9bbba75e7b1e1

Tucker initially told clubs before Christmas he either wasn’t going to play footy - was completely over it - or was just going to play with mates at Upper Gully.

SB have made him an eye watering offer.

I see the new coach is right on board parroting the bullshit company line.

No salary cap at South Belgrave!

Incoming South Belgrave coach Kristan Height said the package of recruits had existing connections at the club and would provide a lift across the ground.

“The main avenue there is because they’ve got mates at the club,” he said.

“That’s what you play local footy for – is to play with your mates and a few of those guys were just looking for a change.

This is humorous coming from a bloke who travelled to the borders of the state to maximise his earnings . Would be better off saying nothing than produce that crap

 

[Saint]

It's pretty likely that guys from Upper Gully would be friends with people from Sth Belgrave. That whole area is all zoned to Upwey High.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

I’m sure he knows people there.

I’d dispute that’s the “main avenue” for him to the club.

The main avenue is the money they’re paying him under the table.

They’re cheats, simple

Anyway, good luck to those D1 clubs playing by the rules. You’ll need it.

 

[Th3B1gD0g]

I’m sure he knows people there.

I’d dispute that’s the “main avenue” for him to the club.

The main avenue is the money they’re paying him under the table.

They’re cheats, simple

Anyway, good luck to those D1 clubs playing by the rules. You’ll need it.

Shots fired!

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Shots fired!

Tbf you never know what clubs are paying players.

I’m sure there are a few bending rules but some make it completely ridiculous.

If South Belgrave and Doncaster East aren’t paying under the table then I’ll be a monkey’s arse.

 

[localfootylegend23]

Tbf you never know what clubs are paying players.

I’m sure there are a few bending rules but some make it completely ridiculous.

If South Belgrave and Doncaster East aren’t paying under the table then I’ll be a monkey’s arse.

Add a few others to this. Balwyn, Vermont, probably east ringwood now. Balwyn's last two coaches probably on $75k+

For south belgrave. Height's been a mercenary himself outside his whitefriars stints, one stint where he was 'working' a couple of days a week at the school doing sweet F all and getting paid. He would know how to sell it. I'd be worried if I was WF, he'd be after their best offering $$$$$ legit or not

 

[The jouneyman]

Tbf you never know what clubs are paying players.

I’m sure there are a few bending rules but some make it completely ridiculous.

If South Belgrave and Doncaster East aren’t paying under the table then I’ll be a monkey’s arse.

South will want to make sure the money doesn't run out.
Because if it does, they could be in trouble
In there 2024 1st semi final loss to beacy they had 4 players who had played juniors at south
In there reserves 2024 flag side they had 3 players that had played juniors for south,mind you 2 of them played in the seniors first semi final team weeks earlier
But that being said,they should be in premier division 2026.

 

[Nvent]

Tbf you never know what clubs are paying players.

I’m sure there are a few bending rules but some make it completely ridiculous.

If South Belgrave and Doncaster East aren’t paying under the table then I’ll be a monkey’s arse.

You’re right about player payments although it’s not hard to spot blatant rorting.

What is surprising is the lack of scrutiny from the controlling bodies. One has to ask if it’s more beneficial to the leagues to turn a blind eye.

 

[eflreceiver]

A new year and it's the same talk about the salary cap. Nothing will be done unless a player or official comes forward. Mind you There are so many loopholes I don't feel anyone can be held accountable. As for ignoring the issue of course they are as it's about egos. Our league is better than the others.

 

[Brown Bottle]

You have to make it to a Grand Final to get audited. If you're rorting it and not being successful then whose problem is it except yours?

 

[Nvent]

You have to make it to a Grand Final to get audited. If you're rorting it and not being successful then whose problem is it except yours?

Audit only catches out honest clubs.

 

[Bowlers Name]

Audit only catches out honest clubs.

Honest clubs don't rort the system in the first place.

 

[Nvent]

Honest clubs don't rort the system in the first place.

It’s generally slip ups or oversights that get found out is what I’m saying. The clubs that deliberately cheat rarely get caught no matter how obvious it is.

 

[Richard Lounder]

A new year and it's the same talk about the salary cap. Nothing will be done unless a player or official comes forward. Mind you There are so many loopholes I don't feel anyone can be held accountable. As for ignoring the issue of course they are as it's about egos. Our league is better than the others.

last one i heard was the cricket club rumour . Everyone knew about it and the EFL either swept it under the carpet or they did a thorough investigation and found nothing to see here. Maybe it depends on which club you are...

 

[eflreceiver]

I haven't seen a club being done for breech of the cap, it may have happened but I haven't seen it. The point system is where clubs have been caught out. In my view, the points should be decreased even further. The salary cap can't be policed as there are too many loopholes.

 

[eflreceiver]

It's been a while since the EFNL updated the Player Transfers on their Website.

 

[ultimate warrior]

Add a few others to this. Balwyn, Vermont, probably east ringwood now. Balwyn's last two coaches probably on $75k+

For south belgrave. Height's been a mercenary himself outside his whitefriars stints, one stint where he was 'working' a couple of days a week at the school doing sweet F all and getting paid. He would know how to sell it. I'd be worried if I was WF, he'd be after their best offering $$$$$ legit or not

Height was fulltime school employee for years. The notion of anything else is wildly inaccurate.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

It's been a while since the EFNL updated the Player Transfers on their Website.

Pretty sure transfers are closed over December and January and reopen in Feb. not sure why, maybe everybody wants a break.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

I haven't seen a club being done for breech of the cap, it may have happened but I haven't seen it. The point system is where clubs have been caught out. In my view, the points should be decreased even further. The salary cap can't be policed as there are too many loopholes.

The points cap is objectively not doing the job it was designed for.

When it was introduced (along with the salary cap) the stated aim was to encourage building from juniors, hence the huge discount (1 point) for home players).

But with the points at 47, it’s almost totally irrelevant.

Nearly every player in the state in 3 points. And after just one season they’re 2 points.

This is a perfectly acceptable mix that still has you under the limit:

8x 3 pointers
8x 2 pointers
6x 1 pointers

How can having just 6 homegrown players of 22 be within the rules if they want to encourage growth from juniors?

And that squad will drop by 16 points next year, so even more room to go buying players.

This is how the likes of South Belgrave operate.

The total is too high

Dropping every player by 1 point every year is too much. Maybe they could drop a point every second year? I don’t know.

The biggest issue, as it so often is, is with the leagues. They are narrow empires-building operations that do not want any of these measures because they want their league to be better than the league next door. When really, who gives a ****?

 

[Carn The Berries]

Add a few others to this. Balwyn, Vermont, probably east ringwood now. Balwyn's last two coaches probably on $75k+

For south belgrave. Height's been a mercenary himself outside his whitefriars stints, one stint where he was 'working' a couple of days a week at the school doing sweet F all and getting paid. He would know how to sell it. I'd be worried if I was WF, he'd be after their best offering $$$$$ legit or not

I'm pretty sure he was a teacher at the school for a number of years and was head of the PE department for at least a couple, as well as teaching science. Not exactly the sort of roles that would be given to someone "phoning it in" under and circumstances.