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From this round's SydneyAFL Record:
For some reason AFL Sydney receives a lot of negative comment regarding the standard of football in relation to other State Leagues. Whether this criticism is warranted or not is open to debate however there is no doubt AFL Sydney is definitely on the improve.
What cannot be debated however is that one area AFL Sydney struggle to match their more fancied State Leagues is in terms of finances, with all clubs struggling to find sponsors in a tough and competitive environment, that being Sydney.
An analysis of all Premier Division Clubs undertaken at the end of the 2008 season showed that the average turnover was approx $150K ,which would be well down on that of other State League clubs. It is rumoured that a club not that far down the highway receives an annual grant of $750K from their Licensed club.
With the lack of funds available, the ability of the clubs to go and chase high profile former AFL players and the like is not possible, however we are lucky that 2009 has seen a significant number of talented players move to Sydney from Interstate for a variety of reasons. The introduction of these players lifts the standard and also the profile.
A major factor for the improvement of AFL Sydney footy is the number of talented young local players who a making the jump from junior football into the senior ranks. This is a credit to the Greater Sydney Junior clubs and their coaches, and also to the Talented Player Program which is now well established under the expert guidance of Darren Denneman.
The clubs themselves should be congratulated also, as they have been willing to take the punt and select these youngsters in first grade. This may not have been the case several years ago however with the game now based on speed ,clubs realise that a good mix of experience and youth is the way to go.
An analysis of the sides which took the field for Round 1 this year saw an average age of just 23.18 years, with a club by club break up as follows:
Balmain Dockers 25.23 years
Campbelltown 22.18
East Coast Eagles 24.27
North Shore 21.95
Pennant Hills 21.95
St George 22.27
Sydney University 23.68
UNSW/ES 23.86
Western Suburbs 24.91
Wollongong 21.45
The future of football in Sydney is bright, and as these youngsters gain experience and become elite players in the competition, who knows what other players it will attract!!!
What cannot be debated however is that one area AFL Sydney struggle to match their more fancied State Leagues is in terms of finances, with all clubs struggling to find sponsors in a tough and competitive environment, that being Sydney.
An analysis of all Premier Division Clubs undertaken at the end of the 2008 season showed that the average turnover was approx $150K ,which would be well down on that of other State League clubs. It is rumoured that a club not that far down the highway receives an annual grant of $750K from their Licensed club.
With the lack of funds available, the ability of the clubs to go and chase high profile former AFL players and the like is not possible, however we are lucky that 2009 has seen a significant number of talented players move to Sydney from Interstate for a variety of reasons. The introduction of these players lifts the standard and also the profile.
A major factor for the improvement of AFL Sydney footy is the number of talented young local players who a making the jump from junior football into the senior ranks. This is a credit to the Greater Sydney Junior clubs and their coaches, and also to the Talented Player Program which is now well established under the expert guidance of Darren Denneman.
The clubs themselves should be congratulated also, as they have been willing to take the punt and select these youngsters in first grade. This may not have been the case several years ago however with the game now based on speed ,clubs realise that a good mix of experience and youth is the way to go.
An analysis of the sides which took the field for Round 1 this year saw an average age of just 23.18 years, with a club by club break up as follows:
Balmain Dockers 25.23 years
Campbelltown 22.18
East Coast Eagles 24.27
North Shore 21.95
Pennant Hills 21.95
St George 22.27
Sydney University 23.68
UNSW/ES 23.86
Western Suburbs 24.91
Wollongong 21.45
The future of football in Sydney is bright, and as these youngsters gain experience and become elite players in the competition, who knows what other players it will attract!!!
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