Forfeits

[tara]

Shaun Wicken played one year of 18s at both clubs his last at moorebank then played every game of seniors at saints last year then decided to come back to us this year I think that should answer your question mp

[mountainsofpain]

The state of U18 football is a terrible indictment on the game's position in Sydney. Don't know what the solution is but this bureaucratic model that creates huge work just so a handful of kids can't better themselves by going to one of the few clubs that have a decent program in place is pure craziness. My mail is that it is illegal anyway and I believe that Sydney Uni are keeping a legal challenge up their sleeve should commonsense not prevail.

You'd hope they wouldn't go down that path, but it wouldn't surprise in the slightest if they did given the club involved.

I don't know what the perfect system is, but one where a strong club can simply leech the best young playing talent from other parts of the city (in particular those areas which are still trying to grow the game) is highly undesirable.

I don't know what your club allegience is - it could be Sydney Uni as far as I know. But if it isn't - I presume you wouldn't have a problem from what you have written if anywhere up to half a dozen or so of your best junior players wandered off to Sydney Uni each year rather than play for your club?

[ShortHalfHead]

As has been stated many times, there was no problem with Collingwood assembling their scholarship players in one team. Our concerns were that it was all done all secretly with indications given to the non-scholarship boys that there were scholarships available if they joined up as well as the other inducements (UAI points etc). No scholarships were handed out as far as I am aware. They weren't the only club making promises to starry eyed kids. The pathway programme has had some issues, but generally I think has been successful in maintaining some fairness in the even distribution of players

[unconfuseme]

Interesting that Sydney Uni are dangling all the carrots to field 18's.

Yet Saints on the other hand, I understand offer nothing - no money, no scholarships, no UAI points, no "best junior coach in the universe" (sorry Bear!) - they do not even guarantee any kid a game, yet still they come???

Maybe C'town and some others should look into what works for them.

The young kid who just wants to play with his mates does not seem to be discouraged, and still does that with Power or Magpies.

So far as the best club in CC being a "stand alone", that will change from year to year, that is the nature of 18's, if Penriths 14-16 y.o stocks are not so hot, they will struggle in a year or 2

Also interesting, notice Southern Power looks set to the 2nd best CC team yet again (3rd year in a row?)! ... here's hoping that if it happens, they are coached to cope with it with some dignity for a change!

[tara]

Interesting that Sydney Uni are dangling all the carrots to field 18's.

Yet Saints on the other hand, I understand offer nothing - no money, no scholarships, no UAI points, no "best junior coach in the universe" (sorry Bear!) - they do not even guarantee any kid a game, yet still they come???

Maybe C'town and some others should look into what works for them.

The young kid who just wants to play with his mates does not seem to be discouraged, and still does that with Power or Magpies.

So far as the best club in CC being a "stand alone", that will change from year to year, that is the nature of 18's, if Penriths 14-16 y.o stocks are not so hot, they will struggle in a year or 2

Also interesting, notice Southern Power looks set to the 2nd best CC team yet again (3rd year in a row?)! ... here's hoping that if it happens, they are coached to cope with it with some dignity for a change!

My dealings with St George have shown that they will not stand in the way of any player who wants to transfer to us and generally any clearances have gone through immediately and I havnt found them ringing my players trying to convince them to cross over mid season - at least this year I have no doubt how phone numbers have been obtained, will be interesting at the end of the year though to see if the rumours of coaching and player moves out in the general west eventuate.

[snow leopard]

Rumour has it that MU18's have this week forfeited the bye!!!!!!!

[The Student]

Unfortunately Uni don't have a junior competition to feed their senior club. As you said, do what works for you. Things seem to be working for us at the moment...

Interesting that Sydney Uni are dangling all the carrots to field 18's.

Yet Saints on the other hand, I understand offer nothing - no money, no scholarships, no UAI points, no "best junior coach in the universe" (sorry Bear!) - they do not even guarantee any kid a game, yet still they come???

Maybe C'town and some others should look into what works for them.

The young kid who just wants to play with his mates does not seem to be discouraged, and still does that with Power or Magpies.

So far as the best club in CC being a "stand alone", that will change from year to year, that is the nature of 18's, if Penriths 14-16 y.o stocks are not so hot, they will struggle in a year or 2

Also interesting, notice Southern Power looks set to the 2nd best CC team yet again (3rd year in a row?)! ... here's hoping that if it happens, they are coached to cope with it with some dignity for a change!

[mountainsofpain]

Unfortunately Uni don't have a junior competition to feed their senior club. As you said, do what works for you. Things seem to be working for us at the moment...

Maybe they should actually put a bit of work in at ground level and form a local junior club or two?

[unconfuseme]

heard on the grapevine that C'town DID NOT forfeit 18's today! ... had seven players all ready to go, but ground manager called it off due to state of the pitch

[ShortHalfHead]

Was quite a surprise that they canned games at Monarch as it has the reputation of one of the best wet weather grounds in Sydney. Up the road at Rosedale, three games were played on a cricket field and it was in good shape.

[Mug Punter]

Maybe they should actually put a bit of work in at ground level and form a local junior club or two?

Thing is 17 and 18 year old kids aren't a pice of property that should be told where and when they can play footy, especially when they are paying for the privilege.

The Unis do an immense amount of work developing the code on campus, the stark reality is that without the University teams' involvement in the code in Sydney we would have an absolute shambles of a competition. This is an undeniable FACT whether you like it or not. To say they should also be creating additional junior teams when clubs like Campbelltown, with all their sides out there, can't put a team on the paddock, and then blame the Sydney Uni for it is too riduclous for words.

[Mug Punter]

As has been stated many times, there was no problem with Collingwood assembling their scholarship players in one team. Our concerns were that it was all done all secretly with indications given to the non-scholarship boys that there were scholarships available if they joined up as well as the other inducements (UAI points etc). No scholarships were handed out as far as I am aware. They weren't the only club making promises to starry eyed kids. The pathway programme has had some issues, but generally I think has been successful in maintaining some fairness in the even distribution of players

Can anyone explain to me how Sydney Uni AFC can adjust the UAI score the the Department of Education give to year 12 students? I had no idea that the club had so much pull....

[Mug Punter]

Rumour has it that MU18's have this week forfeited the bye!!!!!!!

Their Pres has been mighty quiet on here recently.

Must be busy trying to finally get that Sportsman's lunch with Goodesy and Micky O organised

[ShortHalfHead]

Thing is 17 and 18 year old kids aren't a pice of property that should be told where and when they can play footy, especially when they are paying for the privilege.

The Unis do an immense amount of work developing the code on campus, the stark reality is that without the University teams' involvement in the code in Sydney we would have an absolute shambles of a competition. This is an undeniable FACT whether you like it or not. To say they should also be creating additional junior teams when clubs like Campbelltown, with all their sides out there, can't put a team on the paddock, and then blame the Sydney Uni for it is too riduclous for words.

Of the eight players targetted from Penrith, it was surprising to find that all were above ability on the footy field. Was that a coincidence? Why didn't they advertise to all and sundry and target the skinny, brainy nerds who might have shone with academic abilty. Of course they just wanted to give kids an opportunity to play football...but only interested in the good 'uns.

I have it on very good authority that exemptions can me made when students are a few UAI points short that "concessions" can be made. My God-Daughter is doing a vets couse and she was short, but an interview got her there when they realised her love for it

[Mug Punter]

Of the eight players targetted from Penrith, it was surprising to find that all were above ability on the footy field. Was that a coincidence? Why didn't they advertise to all and sundry and target the skinny, brainy nerds who might have shone with academic abilty. Of course they just wanted to give kids an opportunity to play football...but only interested in the good 'uns.

I have it on very good authority that exemptions can me made when students are a few UAI points short that "concessions" can be made. My God-Daughter is doing a vets couse and she was short, but an interview got her there when they realised her love for it

Well since they were sporting scholarships I don't think it unreasonable for the Uni to target the better players do you? That is why they are S_P_O_R_T_I_N_G scholarships not A_C_A_D_E_M_I_C scholarships, which by the way are also offered.

As long as the player is enrolled at Sydney Uni as a student I fail to see what the issue is. If Sydney Uni are prevented from playing a player who is a student at their university because of this idiotic, bureaucratic over-reaction then they have every right to take whatever steps it takes to get it removed IMO.