The Adelaide Crows say their own reserves team is inevitable as some of the AFL’s non-Victorian clubs consider creating a breakaway second-tier competition.

Adelaide, Port Adelaide, West Coast and Fremantle players not selected in their AFL teams are currently scattered throughout their respective state leagues.

The four AFL clubs believe not having their own stand-alone reserve teams is a disadvantage compared to Victorian-based clubs, who are affiliated with one VFL club.

The South Australian and West Australian clubs believe their reserves players suffer from not being coached under their club’s systems.

Reports suggest the SA and WA clubs are considering forming a breakaway competition to field their own reserves teams – a concept supported by Crows coach Brenton Sanderson.

“I have heard about it and read about it,” Sanderson told reporters on Wednesday.

“It’s important for us, at some point in our future, whether that is next year or the year after, at some point we need our own (reserves) side.

“And we’ll discuss that later, our focus obviously for me and the team is winning this weekend and playing well.

“But at some point, we will have our own reserves side.”

Sanderson said what competition Adelaide’s reserves team played in was largely irrelevant – as long as they played together.

“We have got to prepare our players and develop our players as best we can,” he said.

“And part of that is having a stand-alone side somewhere.

“So we’ll get to that point at some time, but I’m not sure where that is going to be.

“As long as they play together, and we can develop them our way with our coaches … we would love our own stand-alone side.”