Penrith

[Splinters]

Bad signs to see Penrith forfeiting Ressies - could we be looking at a 6 team SFA next season.

Given their role in killing off St Clair should they be given the same dispensation as SWS if they widh to field a team in Div 2 instead?

FWIW I believe everything humanly possible needs to be done to help this club as they SHOULD with proper support and finance be an SFL team in time. To lose that club would be the ultimate proof that the NSWAFL are utterly and completely incompetent. Forget SFL, this should be right at the top of their radar along with nursing SWS back to health and monitoring the parlous situation at Balmain.

[Pekay]

Bad signs to see Penrith forfeiting Ressies - could we be looking at a 6 team SFA next season.

Given their role in killing off St Clair should they be given the same dispensation as SWS if they widh to field a team in Div 2 instead?

FWIW I believe everything humanly possible needs to be done to help this club as they SHOULD with proper support and finance be an SFL team in time. To lose that club would be the ultimate proof that the NSWAFL are utterly and completely incompetent. Forget SFL, this should be right at the top of their radar along with nursing SWS back to health and monitoring the parlous situation at Balmain.

Too right, they need help badly from the look of things. Our results arent much better but we're still filling two full teams every week, and getting good numbers on the track despite ladder position. They need help and quickly.Not to say we couldnt use a hand or two in certain areas, but overall the drop to Div2 did wonders for our club, we're safe as houses.If Rams need to drop down(or even if the AFL sort out this grading system by next year)they should be able to, as it will save their club.

[DLH]

Given their role in killing off St Clair should they be given the same dispensation as SWS if they widh to field a team in Div 2 instead?

I keep seeing this assertion, can someone please tell me what "role" Penrith played in "killing off" St.Clair, apart from me stating an opinion on this forum? I think you'll find that the relevant by-law makes provision for existing First Division clubs to drop back on a temporary basis, although hopefully that won't be necessary.

Unfortunately, we've had about 40 players who ran around last year who've not returned, including six of our First Grade side who went to Pennant Hills, and we're just not in a position to cover those sorts of player losses. The club has decided to stop the practice of players backing up, which in the past would have papered over the problem of lack of numbers, hence there have been three forfeits in Reserve Grade this year.

It's difficult to attract good people out here, both players and coaches, and Penrith's about as rabid a League area as you can get. The Penrith Emus in the Rugby have similar problems in being competitive on a Sydney wide basis for the same reasons. We're trying to develop good relationships with the junior clubs, however, the problem comes when talented kids see that they can't play locally at the highest level, so they travel to play with Premier Division clubs instead. There are a number of very good players such as Alistair Richardson and Mark Egan who have played senior football for Penrith, but eventually they seek a greater challenge and move on which you can understand.

I'm not sure what the AFL can do to help in a tangible sense, assuming that they have any interest anyway. I'm not a great fan of affirmative action generally, but perhaps they need to look at something.