Tweet
I can't believe the season's over already - it seems like only yesterday the season got underway. But in the months since then, we've seen some great football climaxing in yesterday's see-sawing grand final.
At the end of the season, North Shore will be celebrating after their success. St George will be disappointed, but can reflect with a great deal of pride at the gains the club has made in 2007. For the other clubs, there were plenty of positives to come out of the season; and hopes will be high that with the right moves over the off-season they can climb higher in 2008.
While it's easy to be critical, the league isn't going as badly as some think.
Only a few years ago, we were regularly getting pumped by the Canberra and Riverina leagues in rep games - but our most recent rep games against the Riverina leagues went comfortably Sydney AFL's way. And the game at Manuka in June showed the gap between our league and AFL Canberra's is narrowing.
When I took over from Troy Garner doing the front page articles on here in 2004, we had 8 teams in Premier Division. We're now up to 10. Wollongong have shown themselves to be worthy of inclusion; despite only winning 3 games this season, to finish in the top-4 in the Club of the Year championship is a tribute to the set-up down there. And with North Dalton now having the best surface in the comp, and with the new lights; it would be an attractive place to recruit players to. Sydney Uni in their first season back had a sharp learning curve, but look to be headed in the right direction. I heard a whisper they're looking to field an under-18s team next season, which would build a junior base for the club.
Our league, in many ways, has become a haven for junior development. In 2004, the league had a quota of under-23s players that every club had to play in each game. Even with no such legislated quota this season; there is not one game from any club this year that would not have complied with the quota had it still been in place. In 2004, we had one under-18s competition with 11 teams and a series of seriously lopsided games. Now we have 2 strong competitions, with teams better matched to their own levels.
2004 was the first year the Sydney AFL used Henson Park for the finals, and from 2005 onwards it has also hosted other showpiece games. It's been a good facility for the league - the only downside has been the condition of the playing area, but that is due to be resurfaced. The Showgrounds also came online as a Sydney AFL venue this season, and it's another venue that has plenty of potential. An additional venue at Blacktown is also being developed that looks promising. North Dalton now looks a top venue, and the Eagles' new ground which is currently under construction at Kellyville looks like being a beauty. It's great for the game to have more quality venues like these becoming available.
To the players and coaches from all the clubs, thank you for putting on some great football. There's been plenty of excitement, plenty of drama and some sensational games. Every player and every club had highlights and lowlights - but every kick you made, every mark you took, every tackle you laid, kept the torch of football burning strongly this season.
Thanks also to the other team in action every week - the umpires. It's easy to be critical, and yes I have seen some shocking calls this season. But the nature of our game is that it's easy to notice the few errors they make during a game but not to notice the vast majority of calls they get right. They do a great job overall, and without them there'd be no game.
To the presidents and committees of each club, thank you for your efforts in keeping their clubs in as good shape as they can. And particularly to the volunteers. Every club has them - wonderful people whose tireless efforts week in week out help keep the clubs and game days running smoothly.
Thanks also to BeeEmmAre, Jacks, Johno74, Caroline Searcy, Spider Everitt and the rest of the Digital Sports team and Aurora TV for the must-see Wednesday night Sydney AFL TV show. They do a first-class job every week. Thanks also to the Sydney AFL website - plenty more news stories this week, doing a great job in keeping information about our competition updates.
On this board, thank you to the majority of posters whose intelligent contributions and passion for their club and for game creates a forum for good footballing discussion. I won't name the wonderful posters, because I'd leave someone out who deserves to be there - but the people who are looking to build up their club and the game.
(to the not-so-wonderful posters, keeping the hits coming in is one thing; but please think about what sort of image you want to project for the game and our league. remember, we want people to get involved with our league, not put them off).
I've enjoyed the footy this season. It's been a lot of fun, and I'll definately miss it during the off-season. Bring on 2008, when hopefully the football will be better than ever.
At the end of the season, North Shore will be celebrating after their success. St George will be disappointed, but can reflect with a great deal of pride at the gains the club has made in 2007. For the other clubs, there were plenty of positives to come out of the season; and hopes will be high that with the right moves over the off-season they can climb higher in 2008.
While it's easy to be critical, the league isn't going as badly as some think.
Only a few years ago, we were regularly getting pumped by the Canberra and Riverina leagues in rep games - but our most recent rep games against the Riverina leagues went comfortably Sydney AFL's way. And the game at Manuka in June showed the gap between our league and AFL Canberra's is narrowing.
When I took over from Troy Garner doing the front page articles on here in 2004, we had 8 teams in Premier Division. We're now up to 10. Wollongong have shown themselves to be worthy of inclusion; despite only winning 3 games this season, to finish in the top-4 in the Club of the Year championship is a tribute to the set-up down there. And with North Dalton now having the best surface in the comp, and with the new lights; it would be an attractive place to recruit players to. Sydney Uni in their first season back had a sharp learning curve, but look to be headed in the right direction. I heard a whisper they're looking to field an under-18s team next season, which would build a junior base for the club.
Our league, in many ways, has become a haven for junior development. In 2004, the league had a quota of under-23s players that every club had to play in each game. Even with no such legislated quota this season; there is not one game from any club this year that would not have complied with the quota had it still been in place. In 2004, we had one under-18s competition with 11 teams and a series of seriously lopsided games. Now we have 2 strong competitions, with teams better matched to their own levels.
2004 was the first year the Sydney AFL used Henson Park for the finals, and from 2005 onwards it has also hosted other showpiece games. It's been a good facility for the league - the only downside has been the condition of the playing area, but that is due to be resurfaced. The Showgrounds also came online as a Sydney AFL venue this season, and it's another venue that has plenty of potential. An additional venue at Blacktown is also being developed that looks promising. North Dalton now looks a top venue, and the Eagles' new ground which is currently under construction at Kellyville looks like being a beauty. It's great for the game to have more quality venues like these becoming available.
To the players and coaches from all the clubs, thank you for putting on some great football. There's been plenty of excitement, plenty of drama and some sensational games. Every player and every club had highlights and lowlights - but every kick you made, every mark you took, every tackle you laid, kept the torch of football burning strongly this season.
Thanks also to the other team in action every week - the umpires. It's easy to be critical, and yes I have seen some shocking calls this season. But the nature of our game is that it's easy to notice the few errors they make during a game but not to notice the vast majority of calls they get right. They do a great job overall, and without them there'd be no game.
To the presidents and committees of each club, thank you for your efforts in keeping their clubs in as good shape as they can. And particularly to the volunteers. Every club has them - wonderful people whose tireless efforts week in week out help keep the clubs and game days running smoothly.
Thanks also to BeeEmmAre, Jacks, Johno74, Caroline Searcy, Spider Everitt and the rest of the Digital Sports team and Aurora TV for the must-see Wednesday night Sydney AFL TV show. They do a first-class job every week. Thanks also to the Sydney AFL website - plenty more news stories this week, doing a great job in keeping information about our competition updates.
On this board, thank you to the majority of posters whose intelligent contributions and passion for their club and for game creates a forum for good footballing discussion. I won't name the wonderful posters, because I'd leave someone out who deserves to be there - but the people who are looking to build up their club and the game.
(to the not-so-wonderful posters, keeping the hits coming in is one thing; but please think about what sort of image you want to project for the game and our league. remember, we want people to get involved with our league, not put them off).
I've enjoyed the footy this season. It's been a lot of fun, and I'll definately miss it during the off-season. Bring on 2008, when hopefully the football will be better than ever.
Comment