Port Melbourne vs the AFL sides.

Without trying to be the devils-AFL advocate here, I want to throw this out for discussion. In the VFL 90+ % of the sides are professional AFL players with the same numbers as the Crows and the Power. Yet Port Melbourne still remain competitive with no AFL listed players nor affiliation with any AFL club. How do they manage that in comparison to our own sides that appear to be struggling against the Crows/Power Reserves?

I believe they're very strong financially, and they have a lot of experienced, strong-bodied, good-quality State League footballers like Baird, Valenti, Pinwill, Cain, Pleming, Marigliani, Bonaddio, Fanning, Magner and Connors.

It's also worth noting though that the bottom three positions on the ladder are taken up by stand-alone clubs.

There's been a bit of talk of the non affiliated clubs starting a breakaway comp. not sure where that is now that Bendigo is folding.