Hoops

ABL basketball

18 worked a charm this year, What I was saying that if it were moved to 27, then every team plays 9 double-headed weekends and 9 single-headed weekends.

Although I know the player incognito is talking about, and fair enough for some it would take some toll on the body. Perhaps then squad development and the money saved by enforcing the salary cap goes into developing juniors to fill these situations?

Not denying that this would happen sometimes splinter... but the longer a season goes, the more injury management issues there are.

On balance, I still think an 18 round season is best for the fans, players, volunteers.

To splinter and Black sheep, I cannot agree with your idea that the growth in interest in ABL has occurred in spite things occurring such as short season ans salary cap which "halt it's progress".

I say that the short season alone had the effect of heightening interest.

For one, the clubs - who rely on vulunteer labour to run an ABL game ere happy. The burden was not too high, and they put on a good show as a result.

For those that havent worked it out, basketball is also a numbers game. Simply, an 18 round competition will always be closer than an 27 round competition. For one the small gaps between clubs do not magnify as much as more and more games are played. also clubs with limited benches are not hit by fatigue and injury as much in a shorter season. It all works toward a closer season.

As far as the salary cap is concerned, I wholeheartedly support it - as long as there is a draft system in place. You only have to remembers back to that great final last year, to see the effect of evening out teams. As you will recall, this was not planned - but just a result of injury and players being withdrawn because of 6ers training requirements. Imagine what could be achieved if there was a system for all teams to access their fair share of talented players - an which limited the ability of one team to dominate. You only need to look at football to understand the benefit of this.

ABL is well placed to go ahead in leaps and bounds over the next few years, providing people get over the pettiness of club politics and get on with making decisions that benefit the competition as a whole.

Finally, crowds desert competitions that are lop-sided - fast - even if they support the stongest club. Who would be interested in a 10 club competition, dominated by 3 teams who win avery year. Not I, and,I suspect not most of those people who attended ABL this year and saw many fine contests and got value for their money.

Mid week games would interrupt senior compettion (both district and social) too much. Considering things like social leagues are BASA's bread and butter (big income, little outlay), they wouldnt want to incovenience them too much more.

I know when I was reffing at The Dome on a Wednesday night, the program was continually interrupted by NBL and other functions.

Also, remember that the NBL season is only 33 games. The players in ABL get paid CONSIDERABLY less than NBL players, and we are asking them to train and play twice as long, whilsyt placing salary cap restrictions on what they can be paid?

Hands up if you would work twice as hard to be told your income will not increase, and quite possibly decrease?

Surely 27 weeks is too long? I thought 18 weeks was just perfect this year. 27 games is a good idea, 9 double-headers?