Where our squad comes from - a comparison to West Coast

[NMWBloods]

Agreed - we need to address that or we will go nowhere.

[Newbie]

Originally posted by Sean
Not sure if you could really quantify the disadvantage but I think it's there. I'd be happy to have some type of loan system re-introduced into the AFL so we could send some of our kids to the WAFL, SANFL or VFL for a year.

Glad that you concur with me . I see no reason why we could not loan our players to some VFL clubs (or SANFL, WAFL clubs for that matter) for a year, particularly since we have a policy of not playing first year kids.

To be really inventive, the club should also be looking at friendly matches (may be twice a year) against the Lions reserves.

[ROK Lobster]

Originally posted by Newbie
Glad that you concur with me . I see no reason why we could not loan our players to some VFL clubs (or SANFL, WAFL clubs for that matter) for a year, particularly since we have a policy of not playing first year kids.

To be really inventive, the club should also be looking at a friendly matches (may be twice a year) against the Lions reserves.

I suggested that with regard to LRT a few weeks back. Someone (barry I think) commented that I obviously had no idea of how the draft rules work. I admitted that I didn't but this was never explained to me. Why couldn't players like LRT go to an affiliate VFL/SAFL/WAFL club for a year. Someone explain pls, because I think the idea has merit.

[Northern_Swan]

To jump on the bandwagon-
AFL in NSW & ACT (i.e AFL NSW/ACT & the Swans) MUST find the capital to reintroduce the Swans Reserves and the NSW/ACT RAMS back into the VFL & TAC Cup on a Permanent Basis. If not, we may as well drop out of the AFL- as we're not going to be able to cut it with our opponents who are playing at the level we need to be on a weekly basis.

[barry]

Originally posted by ROK Lobster
I suggested that with regard to LRT a few weeks back. Someone (barry I think) commented that I obviously had no idea of how the draft rules work. I admitted that I didn't but this was never explained to me. Why couldn't players like LRT go to an affiliate VFL/SAFL/WAFL club for a year. Someone explain pls, because I think the idea has merit.

Couldnt have been me I'm far too polite, but the problem with sending LRT off interstate is that new club's priority is to win games, not develop players who wont be there next year. LRT will be played in the ruck, CHF, FF, bench, whereever. Wont learn much about CHB.

[Schneiderman]

Re: Where our squad comes from - a comparison to West Coast

Originally posted by NMWBloods
I had a look through our 22 against West Coast's 22 to see if they have a huge advantage of high draft picks over us. In some cases I converted trades into draft pick levels, so it is only approximate, but it gives some idea. This is the split.

Well your comparison points out the obvious: There is not much between the two squads.

Who said there was? So far the record over the last five years is 6-3, and 2-2 since 2003 (and we still have a home game against them this year to go).

If anything, the Eagles have been as much a disappointment over the previous two years, as we have been over last year and this. Good enough to beat anyone, but just as capable at dropping the games they were favourite to win. Last years EF was a classic example.

There is only two clear differences between the two teams IMO - Judd and Cousins. Neither of which we had any opportunity to secure.

A comparison with Brisbane or Port might be more worthwhile, or even one with the Saints, who at the least has beaten us when it mattered most.

[ROK Lobster]

Originally posted by barry
Couldnt have been me I'm far too polite, but the problem with sending LRT off interstate is that new club's priority is to win games, not develop players who wont be there next year. LRT will be played in the ruck, CHF, FF, bench, whereever. Wont learn much about CHB.

But surely given his defensive prowess he would be snapped up quickly by a VFL side as a CHB and help them to win games?

[Newbie]

Originally posted by ROK Lobster
But surely given his defensive prowess he would be snapped up quickly by a VFL side as a CHB and help them to win games?

The positional problem could be solved with some contractual clauses and may be some monetary incentives as well. For instance, we could have a clause that forces team A to play LRT at CHB at least 50% of his time on the field. And if LRT was able to play in the team more more than 10-15 games per season (with at least 70% of game time), we will pay them an extra X amount.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

My memory is hazy on this subject but Money wasn't the only reason we ended the alliance with Port Melbourne.

In some cases the Melbourne clubs are getting miffed that there reserves playes aren't getting a game in the VFL firsts and that they are also plaed out of position.

While this year the ACTFL is proving easy going for our reserves, it wasn't the case last year or prior to that.

Similarly the Lions show no sign of wanting to rejoin the VFL, although the abandoned there habit of doling out their players to all teams in thhe QAFL instead playing them all in the one team (as we do in the ACTFL).

[floppinab]

Yep, no doubt at some stage you need to ask yourself the question, Is it the development or the recruiting????

Rarely is there a simple answer, often a combination of a number of things. Poor local league development options, poor talent identification, etc. etc.

One thing that perhaps needs to be considered in your comparison, somehow , is the relative quality of the drafts from which those selections came.