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Balmain 18s are out of the competion after forfieting two of thier first six games.
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Is this a club or league decision? -
If this is fact, it is a major dissapointment for the Balmian Club & Sydey Football. Surely the NSWAFL should be apporached to direct & assist this Club to provide juniors a player pathway & support that will ultimately result in their numbers strenghtening. I understand that Junior Football in the Inner City Regions is growing strongly? Hope they get this area of the Club right.Comment
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The lack of Under 18's could have something to do with Balmain (and the senior coach) wiping out any culture and tradition that was present at the club by importing an entire senior team of mercenaries who are simply chasing cash. The Under 18's are left out in the cold as there is no pathway to senior football.
Balmain could be left with no club in the next few years. They have no juniors coming through the ranks and when all of the soldiers of fortune in First Grade realise that the money has dried up, they will leave the club at the drop of a hat. In my opinion, the club lost any sense of tradition when they got rid of President Meade. One of the few good things to come out of that club.Comment
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Very disappointing if that is the case, especially considering it was looking more promising for them a couple of years ago when they won the premiership in the Under 18s.
I was surprised they forfeited when the seniors had the bye - they've got plenty of under-18 players in the senior team who could have topped up the numbers enough to make sure they had a game.
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In my opinion, the club lost any sense of tradition when they got rid of President Meade. One of the few good things to come out of that club.
Cant believe they would get rid of someone like Meadey, he was the heart and soul of the place.
Obviously the carrott of playing at Subiaco wasnt enough to keep the kids at Balmain. If they were getting overlooked by nuffies from everywhere else they probably had reason to not keep playing.Comment
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Doesnt make much sense to me either. Kev has always come across as a great bloke and even when he was umpiring was one of the few that you could have some banter on the field with without him taking it personal and would come and have a beer afterwards. If you talk to him now he even says that they are too precious and have no interpretation of the game and everything is too black and white. Def put his heart and soul in from what i saw, unless their was some underlying issue i think its a bad move.The edge is not the limit, It's just the starting point...Comment
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Dont think you are correct in regards to "wiping out any culture and tradition that was present at the club by importing an entire senior team of mercenaries who are simply chasing cash".
Really looks as if they are trying to build a new culture and get some good boys down there. Not all are playing for cash and many love the game and are looking forward to more years at the club.Comment
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Really looks as if they are trying to build a new culture and get some good boys down there. Not all are playing for cash and many love the game and are looking forward to more years at the club.
How do you get blokes to a club that hadnt won a game for a year, cant be promise of playing finals footy, must be da $$$$$$.
If they go bellyup(not saying they will) do you think those blokes will stay and play for nothing?Comment
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Miksta is on the money i think.
they are a very young team and have apparently bonded very well.
they could easily have 3 or 4 wins this year
there are guys there for the coin, but thats the same at every club. Anyone who thinks otherwise has no clue. maybe penno is the exeption.
but there is also alot of guys who went to balmain for oppurtunity in 1st grade
It will be very interesting to see how balmain goes in their recruiting next yearComment
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This event certainly raises the issue of viability of clubs playing in the premier division.
Should the league be reviewing clubs playing premier division and their commitment to developing football which junior programs play an important role?
Should clubs not meeting criteria around junior development then be ruled ineligible for premier division the following season?
These are questions which potentially the league need to start adressing if Sydney AFL is serious about improving the standard of competition.Comment
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Good post spectator, I think it all comes back to structure & if a club does not have the all the fundamentals in place the cracks will form. This leads to the focus then being survival, let alone development of Juniors.Comment
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Have you played Finals every year Boris, and what about a grand Final. I think not pal. So on your logic you should just leave and go to a club that played in the GF last year.
Maybe the new boys are friends of friends, or relo's played there. Maybe they met with people from a couple of clubs, and it was not the lure of the $$ that influenced their decision but the direction the club was going.Comment
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You don't really believe that do you Miksta? The lure of money is the SOLE reason 90% of Balmain's new recruits transferred to the club. I understand that a small number of players may have moved to Balmain to play first grade in a weaker team, but take out the pay packets and you can take out most of the new recruits.
When Balmain finally reach the bottom of their supposedly deep pockets, half of the First Grade team will move on to the next club that will offer them money and the club will crumble. Throwing money around is hardly a way to build a new culture.Comment
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