Whilst the current feeder system will still operate (and those of you who haven't sent me players had better do it soon or miss out), a new and exciting innovation will also come into being for next season.

Twenty sides (sides will be picked based on coach involvement) will receive a genuine 'feeder club', which will compete in a completely separate 'third division'. Games will be run by Anthony Magro, whilst myself and Nathan Hoy will still oversee the running of the competition as a whole.

The twenty selected clubs will effectively have a seperate squad of players below them- who are contracted to the side, but cannot be used at will. The third division will run as the ASRL does at the moment. Sides are coached, sides play a full season, and players can be picked for ASRL representative games.

The use of this system? The twenty sides selected will be able to 'borrow' players from this season squad (comprised of 20-25 players) at a set price for one game. The price will most likely be $60,000- meaning it is only a worthy investment in dire circumstances. Players in the division will not be as good as Premier League or Division Two stars- but the concept is designed to nurture young stars- and make the feeder system more useful. As it is, most clubs would be cutting all of their new players to hold onto better statted stars.

At the end of the season, the parent club may 'trade' players in and out of their feeder. For example, Gold Coast may deem Kade Snowden is worthy of promotion to top-flight football. They bring him into their 25, and they might drop Christian Walker down to the lower level.

This division is not a way for clubs to exploit the cap. Restrictions on borrowing and 'storing' expensive players will mean that these Division Three clubs will effectively be unique entities- save for an affiliation with a stronger club.

No player with a salary of more than $215,000 may play for a Division Three side. These players will have to be dropped, traded off, and squeezed under the cap some other way. Likewise, this 'separate club' will share finances with its parent- meaning a coach will have to find a balance between his top flight club and grooming his juniors. Clubs involved in this initiative will receive $100,000 for their troubles- but must show a decent level of involvement or lose their club. Players in Division Three cannot buy form, but can be trained as a normal player- this $100,000 bonus is only useable in training juniors. It cannot be squandered elsewhere.

As mentioned, twenty clubs will be given feeder status. The clubs chosen must name their side (it must reflect the area. Central Coast could have the Wyong Jets or The Entrance Rips, whilst Sydney could have Balmain) and also provide a list of players from their chosen feeder club. Squads will then be filled from the player pool, players 'dropped' from their parent club (and fitting under the $215,000), and whatever other means.

At present the following clubs have been given feeder status:
- Gold Coast Crusade
- Central Coast Falcons
- Wellington Cougars
- Sydney Oilers
- Parramatta Vikings
- Suva Suns
- Surfers Paradise Punks
- South Queensland Crushers
- Hawkesbury Mavericks
- Port Moresby Power
- North Sydney Newbloods
- Manly Cannons
- Central Phoenix
- Tamworth City Titans/Canberra Chargers (Steve must chose)
- Perth Taipans

The remaining five spots will be filled based on 'submissions' made by coaches on the behalf of their clubs. Post in ASRL Discussion and convince me why your side should get a feeder. Don't blow smoke up my ass. I want to know what you contribute to the ASRL, and some proof that you intend to continute that trend.

The rules stated are by no means concrete, this is a scheme in its embriotic stages. Credit for this concept should also be shared. Magro and I hashed it out this afternoon with the aid of Nathan and Dave- but Jelly Adams and Marshal Boyd both had similar concepts come to light earlier in the ASRL's history.

If you have questions, comments, or suggestions- post them in the thread I've created in the ASRL Discussion section.

Chris

Just getting it to the top.

Chris