Mac Uni U18 Forfeit

[Mug Punter]

Anyone know what went on there?

Didn't we have their Pres on here (I am I am) saluting this program and his visionary approach a couple of months ago? Doesn't sound like a good start to me.

History shows that tie ups between SFL and SFA clubs very rarely work given that the SFL clubs usually just look after themselves, pilfer the players they want and leave the junior partner to pick up the pieces.

Surely that area can support at least two U18 teams with the strength of their juniors and the facilities available. Perhaps Westbrook, as one of Sydney's strongest junior clubs, should look at fielding a senior team in Div 4 next year as this would be a more co-ordianted approach - surely they'd be able to get their old boys back to kick it all off. Wouldn't expect Penno would like that, just as they did all they could to nobble Baulko when they had the temerity to start a senior club......

[ShortHalfHead]

Anyone know what went on there?

Didn't we have their Pres on here (I am I am) saluting this program and his visionary approach a couple of months ago? Doesn't sound like a good start to me.

History shows that tie ups between SFL and SFA clubs very rarely work given that the SFL clubs usually just look after themselves, pilfer the players they want and leave the junior partner to pick up the pieces.

Surely that area can support at least two U18 teams with the strength of their juniors and the facilities available. Perhaps Westbrook, as one of Sydney's strongest junior clubs, should look at fielding a senior team in Div 4 next year as this would be a more co-ordianted approach - surely they'd be able to get their old boys back to kick it all off. Wouldn't expect Penno would like that, just as they did all they could to nobble Baulko when they had the temerity to start a senior club......

Worrying signs early with the withdrawal of Riverview in Challenge Cup and now, it seems that Mac Uni are struggling. Would like to think that many of the boys are on their annual skiing trip to Aspen , though. Credit to Campbelltown for getting an 18's up and running. Not good to see the result of their first game with Penno towelling them up. Saw the game and it was played in good spirit though. If I was involved with the Blues, I would have fought tooth and nail to get them placed into Challenge Cup where they would have been a bit more competitive. A couple of more defeats like today might see their numbers become very thin. Would have been good for the comp overall, with 10 in Prem and 8 in challenge.

[beameup]

Worrying signs early with the withdrawal of Riverview in Challenge Cup and now, it seems that Mac Uni are struggling. Would like to think that many of the boys are on their annual skiing trip to Aspen , though. Credit to Campbelltown for getting an 18's up and running. Not good to see the result of their first game with Penno towelling them up. Saw the game and it was played in good spirit though. If I was involved with the Blues, I would have fought tooth and nail to get them placed into Challenge Cup where they would have been a bit more competitive. A couple of more defeats like today might see their numbers become very thin. Would have been good for the comp overall, with 10 in Prem and 8 in challenge.

Why can't it still happen? Commonsense should always prevail. If that was their best team and so far off the pace then let them go down to Challenge Cup. Just changes around the byes and such

[Steamboat]

Unfortunately, we have 5 u16s that are quite talented and were at state rep carnival on the weekend, which would have made a little difference to the score, but we also have 7 players in the team that played on the weekend that have either not played before or have not played for some time.

They never gave up trying and for that have to be commended, but pathway list is a fair way out of local area and we did not really get anyone from it, playing numbers are diminishing at junior levels and that is why the few clubs that actually field u16s have to travel a distance to get a game, not looking good for the future but plans are being developed to address but it may take a while.

[beameup]

Unfortunately, we have 5 u16s that are quite talented and were at state rep carnival on the weekend, which would have made a little difference to the score, but we also have 7 players in the team that played on the weekend that have either not played before or have not played for some time.

They never gave up trying and for that have to be commended, but pathway list is a fair way out of local area and we did not really get anyone from it, playing numbers are diminishing at junior levels and that is why the few clubs that actually field u16s have to travel a distance to get a game, not looking good for the future but plans are being developed to address but it may take a while.

Good luck with that one Steamboat

[tara]

They never gave up trying and for that have to be commended, but pathway list is a fair way out of local area and we did not really get anyone from it, playing numbers are diminishing at junior levels and that is why the few clubs that actually field u16s have to travel a distance to get a game, not looking good for the future but plans are being developed to address but it may take a while.

The pathway list in our area is a joke - what kid in his right mind would travel all the way from Emu Plains or the Blue Mountains to play at any of Camden, Campbelltown or Moorebank? As for plans being developed if your referring to adding Bankstown to the region all that will do is worsen the situation as kids will exit Bankstown en-masse.

[The Runt]

The problem isnt the pathway its the fact that the numbers of 16s seem to be getting less every year that is just a feeling from the western suburbs. Does anyone know how the numbers in the west in 16s now stack up against the numbers of 3 to 8 years ago

[Mug Punter]

The pathway list in our area is a joke - what kid in his right mind would travel all the way from Emu Plains or the Blue Mountains to play at any of Camden, Campbelltown or Moorebank? As for plans being developed if your referring to adding Bankstown to the region all that will do is worsen the situation as kids will exit Bankstown en-masse.

Wasn't this pathway going to be the solution to our junior development problems?

Sounds like a nighhtmare (1) to understand, and (2) to administer.

Hey, but it prevents young lads playing for Sydney Uni or ECE if they want to so I imagine it has served its purpose.....

[ShortHalfHead]

The problem isnt the pathway its the fact that the numbers of 16s seem to be getting less every year that is just a feeling from the western suburbs. Does anyone know how the numbers in the west in 16s now stack up against the numbers of 3 to 8 years ago

Numbers have increased slowly out in the Penrith region.
In 2005 the local comp had a three team 16's comp playing 10 aside. Was a bit embarrassing for the kids as when the 14's finished, we would move the boundries back in to Under 12's regulations. I was involved with Emu Plains and the coach probably holds an unbeatable record. How many teams have gone through a season without a win and made the prelim final. Well, we did that year. Bit boring playing Penrith 9 times in the season though.
The following year proved better with Hawkesbury, St Clair, Mountain Lions (Blue Mountains and Emu Plains merge) played in the Wollongong comp with two Illawarra teams and the Razorbacks making up a 6 team comp, but at least it was gfair dinkum 18 aside footy.
We now have Hawkesbury and Quakers Hill (Though not in our Seniors pathway) both fielding 16's, along with Blue Mountains, Emu Plains, Penrith, St Clair, Campbelltown, South Campbelltown and Razorbacks making up the local comp and it's 18 aside too ! I know that Penrith have a squad of about 26 and Emu have about 27 so the numbers are reasonable. Real pity that Holsworthy couldn't get a team up this year to make it a 10 team comp.

Many people tell me that if an 18's player is capable of playing seniors, then he should test himself and do just that. It's not a theory I fully subscribe to. Sure it might help in the deveopment of his own game but I feel clubs should urge them to play 18's while they can. It helps the 18's comp. Weakening your 18's by elevating the best to seniors can mean poor results (talking here about the clubs that struggle with 18's) which means kids will drop out of the game quickly if they are getting flogged each week. if your 18's go down the drain, your club is in serious trouble

[ShortHalfHead]

Wasn't this pathway going to be the solution to our junior development problems?

Sounds like a nighhtmare (1) to understand, and (2) to administer.

Hey, but it prevents young lads playing for Sydney Uni or ECE if they want to so I imagine it has served its purpose.....

Kids from the Mountains were never going to go running to Campbelltown en masse. I know of a couple that did go to some early training sessions and for whatever reason, decided not to continue there. If they wanted to play Premier Cup, they had to go there and not get swallowed up by hollow EPE or Uni promises. That's fair enough. Concept was good and I doubt many, if any, have given up the game because of it.
Pathways will do more good than harm out West. In the past, with the best juniors leaving the area to follow a trophy, it becomes tough to become competitive and teams just disappear. Get your 18's competitive and happy at the club and you will get a majorty of them be there for the next 10 years

[-Doogs-]

When do the 16's play in Sydney? What has worked in Newcastle and now on the Central Coast is playing the U16s on a Friday night. In Newcastle they found that kids playing league would play rules on Friday night and league on Sunday, with the chance that some might drop league for rules at some point. It also allowed for the better 16s to back up for the 18s on the Saturday. It definitely strengthened the competition for both 16s and 18s. I might be talking out of turn here and maybe it was introduced in Sydney as well?

[ShortHalfHead]

When do the 16's play in Sydney? What has worked in Newcastle and now on the Central Coast is playing the U16s on a Friday night. In Newcastle they found that kids playing league would play rules on Friday night and league on Sunday, with the chance that some might drop league for rules at some point. It also allowed for the better 16s to back up for the 18s on the Saturday. It definitely strengthened the competition for both 16s and 18s. I might be talking out of turn here and maybe it was introduced in Sydney as well?

If it is working up on the coast thats great, but I could see opposition to it here. Generally, the Northside/Sydney Harbour clubs play Sunday (Changed from Saturday a few years ago) mainly to accomodate the private school kids who were tied up with Saturday sport with their schools. Western Sydney still goes traditional with Saturday Football depite pressure from the league in the past to change. The main problems I see is having to set up a ground on Friday for one match and getting to games in the Sydney traffic on Friday night can be somewhat of a nightmare. It also alienates the 16's from the rest of the club. I have noticed that many from the junior sides stick around to watch the 16's play after they have finished their games. A couple of night games would be a novelty and the kids do like it from my past involvement, but week to week is another question. A few of our kids play gridiron on Friday night and they were smart in doing that, but are we that obscure sport that we need to "give up" and hand the premium days to socer and league? I would personally like to see the 16's align more with there senior clubs and play games where possible before the 18's match so they can see that the step up to 18's/seniors isn't a big jump

[Pekay]

If it is working up on the coast thats great, but I could see opposition to it here. Generally, the Northside/Sydney Harbour clubs play Sunday (Changed from Saturday a few years ago) mainly to accomodate the private school kids who were tied up with Saturday sport with their schools. Western Sydney still goes traditional with Saturday Football depite pressure from the league in the past to change. The main problems I see is having to set up a ground on Friday for one match and getting to games in the Sydney traffic on Friday night can be somewhat of a nightmare. It also alienates the 16's from the rest of the club. I have noticed that many from the junior sides stick around to watch the 16's play after they have finished their games. A couple of night games would be a novelty and the kids do like it from my past involvement, but week to week is another question. A few of our kids play gridiron on Friday night and they were smart in doing that, but are we that obscure sport that we need to "give up" and hand the premium days to socer and league? I would personally like to see the 16's align more with there senior clubs and play games where possible before the 18's match so they can see that the step up to 18's/seniors isn't a big jump

Try selling it to the junior league. Its the smartest idea I've heard on here, one I've been a big advocate for recently. Also, gets away from the bulls@@t junior politics that have almost killed our junior clubs. Parents with agendas equal nothing but trouble.

[beameup]

Numbers have increased slowly out in the Penrith region.
In 2005 the local comp had a three team 16's comp playing 10 aside. Was a bit embarrassing for the kids as when the 14's finished, we would move the boundries back in to Under 12's regulations. I was involved with Emu Plains and the coach probably holds an unbeatable record. How many teams have gone through a season without a win and made the prelim final. Well, we did that year. Bit boring playing Penrith 9 times in the season though.
The following year proved better with Hawkesbury, St Clair, Mountain Lions (Blue Mountains and Emu Plains merge) played in the Wollongong comp with two Illawarra teams and the Razorbacks making up a 6 team comp, but at least it was gfair dinkum 18 aside footy.
We now have Hawkesbury and Quakers Hill (Though not in our Seniors pathway) both fielding 16's, along with Blue Mountains, Emu Plains, Penrith, St Clair, Campbelltown, South Campbelltown and Razorbacks making up the local comp and it's 18 aside too ! I know that Penrith have a squad of about 26 and Emu have about 27 so the numbers are reasonable. Real pity that Holsworthy couldn't get a team up this year to make it a 10 team comp.

Many people tell me that if an 18's player is capable of playing seniors, then he should test himself and do just that. It's not a theory I fully subscribe to. Sure it might help in the deveopment of his own game but I feel clubs should urge them to play 18's while they can. It helps the 18's comp. Weakening your 18's by elevating the best to seniors can mean poor results (talking here about the clubs that struggle with 18's) which means kids will drop out of the game quickly if they are getting flogged each week. if your 18's go down the drain, your club is in serious trouble

Big problem is that if you hold up a talented younster they are likely to walk making your club weaker anyway. There needs to be a balance and if they can play senior footy for a number of games it will often keep them happy.
What should happen in my mind is that clubs should pick their best team for seniors every week and if that includes some U18s then so be it.

[beameup]

Try selling it to the junior league. Its the smartest idea I've heard on here, one I've been a big advocate for recently. Also, gets away from the bulls@@t junior politics that have almost killed our junior clubs. Parents with agendas equal nothing but trouble.

Parents and committee people with agendas that are not aligned with the clubs best interest are both trouble.