News coming out of Pre Season training !

[Norris Lurker]

Apologies to the people who emailed & PM'd me, I tried to email the draw through to you all but my email seems to be doing weird things and not all of them are getting through.

The draw should (hopefully) be up at the Sydney AFL website soon, and some clubs have already got it up on their websites. Particular thanks and credit to Wollongong, who put the draw up for download very quickly. It can be downloaded at http://www.wlions.com.au and I've also put it up at http://www.geocities.com/mds2005pics2/draw2006.doc

So far as I know, only the Premier Division draw has been released. I think the 1st & 2nd Divisions and the Under-18s fixtures are still being finalised.

[DLH]

The First Division draw is yet to be released as far as I'm aware. Penrith are in the throes of being turfed out from Dukes Oval due to continued whinging from the local cricket association about wear and tear of the centre wicket area. There is a resolution being put to Penrith Council on Monday night to this effect, and despite continued lobbying from the club, it looks like it's back to the bad old days of Greygums Oval.

So much for the AFL's ongoing "commitment" to the development of appropriate facilities in western Sydney. Their attitude has been to throw their hands up and do nothing at all to assist. Basically they couldn't care less, which directly contradicts what it is they're supposed to be trying to achieve.

[swansrock4eva]

Don't even get me started on the whole Dukes/Greygums thing! It's affected the whole Penrith area, from the Seniors, through the 18s to the Juniors, and with more rammifications in some parts than just who can train on which ground

[BeeEmmAre]

It would be interesting to know why the East Coast Eagles were booted off Alan Davidson Oval in favour of UNSW-ES if the Bulldogs are only going to use the ground twice for the year.

Also interesting to know why the NorWest Jets were given such an early deadline to find enough players for promotion when the draw is still not out almost a month later and, I believe, won't be out for another month at least?

[DLH]

Originally posted by swansrock4eva
Don't even get me started on the whole Dukes/Greygums thing! It's affected the whole Penrith area, from the Seniors, through the 18s to the Juniors, and with more rammifications in some parts than just who can train on which ground

Absolutely correct, and it all comes down to a personal vendetta from one man who has nothing better to do than lobby Councillors about getting rid of our sport from the only decent facility we've had. It's been a personal obsession with this bloke and it looks like he's finally worn them down.

The AFL administration should also be ashamed of themselves for their complete inaction and lack of interest. I guess nothing's changed there either.

[tara]

Originally posted by BeeEmmAre
Also interesting to know why the NorWest Jets were given such an early deadline to find enough players for promotion when the draw is still not out almost a month later and, I believe, won't be out for another month at least?

Just another disgrace performance by the AFL up here. I wont be suprised to see more sides in third grade this year. The AFL is happy to promote Auskick and the Junior comps but refuse to support senior sides. Its all about TV money not the game anymore.

[swansrock4eva]

Originally posted by DLH
Absolutely correct, and it all comes down to a personal vendetta from one man who has nothing better to do than lobby Councillors about getting rid of our sport from the only decent facility we've had. It's been a personal obsession with this bloke and it looks like he's finally worn them down.

The AFL administration should also be ashamed of themselves for their complete inaction and lack of interest. I guess nothing's changed there either.

So then who the hell do we go to about it? I've lost my position with my club because they can no longer use Greygums except for Monday and Wednesday nights (when I already work) and I'm devastated!

[humphrey bear]

Its a fact that the NSW AFL has been greatly out of touch with reality for the last decade.

They are only interested in trying to get one or two players drafted each year so they can pat themselves on the back & Auskick numbers so they can artificially inflate the participation rates relative to other football codes.

Any infrastructure problems between these levels is just allowed to meander a long and is not deemed important enough for the custodians of the game in Sydney. As such the SFL and SFA suffer.

Anyone who thinks it will change with the Swans winning a premiership is dreaming.

[Pekay]

Originally posted by swansrock4eva
So then who the hell do we go to about it? I've lost my position with my club because they can no longer use Greygums except for Monday and Wednesday nights (when I already work) and I'm devastated!

you know where there is a place for you.......Its a grand old flag at Bensons.You know where to find me!!

[Pekay]

Originally posted by BeeEmmAre
Also interesting to know why the NorWest Jets were given such an early deadline to find enough players for promotion when the draw is still not out almost a month later and, I believe, won't be out for another month at least?

Early deadline was agreed to by the Jets and the league,and was also made to keep the draw stable-we dropped pretty close to the season start last year,sending the Div 1 draw into chaos.So we agreed to do it early A.for other clubs,and B.for the admin at Jets.I wasnt prepared to put two teams in without MASSIVE PLAYER RECRUITMENT.Everyone used to love playing Hawkesbury or early NorWest because it was easy points,most of the time the magoos and ones were the very same team-and after years of 50 goal hidings,its extremely hard to retain players.So those days are behind us,and werent prepared to re-visit them,for the sake of making the draw look pretty.On the other hand,it gave me no opportunity to hit the UWS campuses out here,or any potential RAAF blokes,who were all on holidays,even after the deadline passed.But we need another year to consolidate our position, get some much needed funds and cash in the coffers,before we do anything.BMR-i was out with the girl on sunday,thats why i couldnt respond to your call-sorry bro.

[Pekay]

Originally posted by tara
Just another disgrace performance by the AFL up here. I wont be suprised to see more sides in third grade this year. The AFL is happy to promote Auskick and the Junior comps but refuse to support senior sides. Its all about TV money not the game anymore.

My 250th post.heee yaaaaa.I agree Tara, its particularly hard for us and you,because of our defence force affiliation.Its been suggested to us that we lose the RAAF affiliation-that would spell the end of footy out here,without a doubt.I took on registrar in 2003,hoping to turn our list from RAAF reliance to RAAF supplement,using all civillians and filling the gaps with RAAF-it was a pipe dream.We need those boys as much as we need footy boots-they are essential to our survival.More teams in Div 2 is likely.I notice Mac Uni has Roses and Wookie from Goannas on their list-with their losses last year,how many more do they have?

[DLH]

Originally posted by swansrock4eva
So then who the hell do we go to about it?

Not much more that can be done now. Council meet tonight and we have lobbied individual Councillors and lodged a written submission with each of them, although it doesn't look good as the Parks Manager has put forward a report with the recommendation that the senior club be moved.

The best the AFL could do was provide us with a link to the Penrith Council website and wish us all the best. It makes you wonder what certain people do in there to earn their money. The least they could have done was provide us with a bit of assistance in lobbying but it seems when you're talking grassroots senior footy you're on your own.

[tara]

Originally posted by DLH
Not much more that can be done now. Council meet tonight and we have lobbied individual Councillors and lodged a written submission with each of them, although it doesn't look good as the Parks Manager has put forward a report with the recommendation that the senior club be moved.

The best the AFL could do was provide us with a link to the Penrith Council website and wish us all the best. It makes you wonder what certain people do in there to earn their money. The least they could have done was provide us with a bit of assistance in lobbying but it seems when you're talking grassroots senior footy you're on your own.

They are public servents who do jack @@@@ all day. A few years ago when Peter Hiscock was on board things were better. He actually attended games and would see how things were at the coalface so to speak. Since he left I havent seen anyone from the AFL at any of our games. They are happy to Label clubs in the West as undisciplined and trouble makers without ever seeing a game. The fees keep on rising yet we get less in return - no umpires - no support promoting ourselves - piss poor insurance etc etc.

I would hate to have to go back to playing at Grey Gums, the playing surface isnt up to scratch. I broke my L2 Verterbrae there about seven years ago on an exposed sprinkler head, but didnt bother suing as im not a fan of litagation (although in hindsight I should have). I know of a few others who have done knees there slipping on the sprinkler covers. Hopefully you get to stay at Dukes because the facilities there are quite good.

I hope the various clubs band together to tackle the AFL's indifference head on. I would love to see the AFL ask the clubs what they need to become more viable, instead of just telling us about pipe dreams that we dont really feature in.

[Treefrog]

Originally posted by DLH
Not much more that can be done now. Council meet tonight and we have lobbied individual Councillors and lodged a written submission with each of them, although it doesn't look good as the Parks Manager has put forward a report with the recommendation that the senior club be moved.

Please let us know the result.
*crosses fingers*

[swansrock4eva]

Any word yet?

And I personally found the councillor with the large chip on his shoulder too.. Right old p***k that one!