big mistake it is exactly why the NBL is not that popular - all leagues need disparity, it is what makes the competition, even teams takes away underdogs, dynasties not to mention gambling when you look at nbl etc - the better the disparity the more popular a sport will be, it builds story lines and development pathways once in the league.

Only 1 team per division advocates at work

Any system would need to ensure that juniors are not compromised. It would be terrible to see a player who started in U10's not be able to play CABL due to an administrative ruling. Perhaps those players who have come through the junior ranks are exempt.

I think the real issue with the CABL is the distribution of elite players between the clubs. Having a draw like the Crows used to have could help, but having elite players play is better than not having them play at all. (ie dummy spit because they are forced to play somewhere)

I know a former SOS member was talking about allocating a Sixer per club to try to build the relationships between clubs and the Sixers, but never grew legs.

As with any system, planning is the key. Why is it needed in the first place? What are the aims? How will one know if it is working? What is the process to refine it if needed?

I brought this up a little while ago as I have seen it work in Country Football really well.

Here's my previous thoughts...


Here would be my recommendations....

The league need to make every team as competitive as possible.

We need to try and keep the Sixers here in SA playing in the CABL somehow. Sometimes I think is this a restriction of trade but on the flip side I think it is in the Sixers best interest to keep the players local so they can work on their games individually.

So here's a couple of idea's.

How much is it worth to the Sixers to keep their players local? Is $3,500 out of the question? Add this amount onto the contract with a requirement that they play CABL and that the team they are playing for will at a maximum match it.

My guess is $400 a game would be a decent match payment for these guys. This also allows local clubs to not spend their whole budget on one player.

Introduce a draft type system like the SANFL do with AFL players. Going on last season the bottom team has the first selection and so on down to Forestville. Allow the clubs to select the players that best suits their requirements.

The first season will see all teams pick up a player who has no affiliation to a local club. Players who have an affiliation have the opportunity to play for that club.

Then on top of that, as country football leagues do, introduce a points system not unlike the NBL one where each player has a points rating. NBL/Euro/Imports get allocated 3 points, 2 points say for SEABL players, 2 points for a player from a team within the league and 1 point for local players, 0 points for players under 18 years of age.

The allocate points to each team, say 12 points per team (10 players each night to be selected) or even as some clubs do, allocate them according to where they finish on the ladder at the end of the minor rounds, so say 10 points for top 2, 11 points 3-5, 12 points 6th and 7th and 14 points for the bottom 2 teams, (obviously this would need to be looked at in more detail).

This system at first was introduced because the salary cap just wasn't working, just like in the NBL. But I feel looking at a lot of local football leagues they haven't been this close in a long time. You also see teams who finish down the bottom move up the ladder a lot quicker.

This would also stop teams from stacking their teams with NBL players like Norwood have, would restrict poaching players from other clubs as much and would also encourage clubs to play local players and promote juniors.

Surely three things that supporters and clubs want is an even competition, NBL players in our league and locals playing for their home club?

big mistake it is exactly why the NBL is not that popular

what is norwoods womens abl team looking like this season ?

I can appreciate the argument as any new lightning programme player seems to go to norwood.

But we dont want juniors being forced away.

I reckon they be referring to national league players in abl teams isn't it capped at 2 plus bench / restricted minutes players? So you couldnt have Ange Laura and Emma they all be starters in wnbl.

Well now Lewis is playing low minutes that means Norwood will probably help themselves to another Lightning player seen as Lewis wouldn't qualify as a restricted player I don't believe. So nothing is going to be different to any other year. Hard to compete with really.

Yes the Norwood team has lightning players, but the difference is the depth that they have in the team. Most teams have 6 good/solid players, Norwood have atleast 8.

Most teams have good solid players??? Someone is dreaming if you really think that.

I meant 6 good solid players. My point is, most teams do not!

The rest probably do. I don't think you are aware of the decline in the women's competition. There is a very large gap between the top 5 and the bottom.