MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 02: Chris Mayne of the Magpies marks the ball against Reece Conca of the Tigers during the VFL Elimination Final match between the Richmond Tigers and the Collingwood Magpies at Fortburn Stadium on September 2, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
The AFL are planning to unveil a return of their reserves competition for the 2019 season, as reported by Damian Barrett on The Footy Show.
The AFL intends that all 18 teams will have a directly affiliated reserves side, finally making interstate matches possible.
"There will be a return of reserves football, it was talked about yesterday between the presidents and the CEO's of the AFL," Damian Barrett said on The Footy Show.
"Basically, all 18 clubs in the AFL will form a reserves competition, it's being thrashed out as we speak but it needs to be worked out clearly and in great focus."
The competition will allow teams to manage their players internally, making the transfer of players between the senior and reserve team much easier.
Presumably, the 18 reserve teams will form the same season fixture as the senior sides and will partake in the same travel practices, both interstate and locally.
Barrett also alluded to the concept of a curtain raiser event before every senior AFL match, however couldn't confirm any details as of yet.
"Potentially, yes, there will be some curtain raiser component."
A dedicated AFL reserves competition has been abolished since the 1980's and it's return would mean a world of change to the current reserve competitions.
AFL teams' recruiting methods would revert back to the process of developing, assessing and recruiting their young players and draftees through their respecting reserve teams.
Narrowing the path to the AFL will be a welcome change to young players aiming to play in the senior competition and the return of reserve teams would benefit in their development as well.
The VFL will presumably become a stand-alone competition with the insertion of the AFL reserve teams, operating as a local league, maintaining their close ties with the AFL.