UTS dropped in strength or just not up to it?

[DLH]

Wow, a thread with sensible and well considered opinion about issues of interest.

I knew it would happen one day.

Interesting stats wise one, what I would say around the issue of promoted sides is that Auburn have jumped two divisions which is a massive leap when you compare the standard of Div 4 to Div 2, and without wanting to speak for Tara, I get the feeling that Moorebank have been a little below strength early on and should improve quite considerably.

[Offal]

The Power should continue to be very competitive this year. While we haven't come up against Manly (this Saturday), Mac Uni, UTS or Sydney Uni, the makings are there for a good season.

Rego numbers have exploded over the past 4 years while our 18s have been back in existence the past 3 years and a third grade side the past 2 years meaning greater depth and more competition for spots.

More importantly, local juniors have a clearer pathway with both St George and the Power offering 18s as the next step from junior football then on to seniors.

Overall, AFL is very health in Sydney's South.

[Pekay]

What chance moving away from Gwawley? Is Lincoln still on the radar Offal?

[Mug Punter]

I reckon one way to safeguard against this is to introduce a compulsory transfer fee for any player that changes clubs within the Sydney AFL Competition.

You're having a laugh aren't you?

This aint the AFL or NRL here. The vast vast majority of players get no payment and pay their fees. They should be able to play for whoever they choose surely. Talk about cracking a walnut with a sledgehammer...

I do agree with most of your post though the reality is there has always been a bit of money flowing around the Sydney comp, it just ebbs and flows with the clubs that have it and the clubs that don't. And there will always be players who are loyal and those who chase the dollar, it's just human nature....

For many years Newtown had a licensed club that funded them bringing up ex-VFL stars each year and allowed them to have Kekovich as CC. Likewise Wests will splah the cash when their licensed club results allow it. North Shore and East Sydney have at various stages had licensed clubs.

Balmain is a somewhat more sinister situation with them selling off assets of a bowling club that they effectively took over by stacking the membership list and using the funds to spend on a level way in excess of what anyone else can afford.

It still isn't any guarantee of success and the success of clubs like Penno who have stuck to a frugal approach combined with developing juniors in recent years is testament to that.

[Offal]

What chance moving away from Gwawley? Is Lincoln still on the radar Offal?

Hey mate,

It's on the cards - we have been working with the local junior club Miranda Bombers, Sydney AFL and the council. An official project called "The Waratah Project" is well underway and you will find it will be sooner rather than later that we are up there - with new facilities adequate for senior AFL (currently there is only 1 change room/equipment room and a canteen).

No Jets v Power clashes this year - that sucks!

[UTSBatman]

UTS results this season form 1st 3 games after halftime.

Opposition : 18 goals 29 to UTS 7 goals 4, not scoring in the 2nd half against Illawarra.

I think you've hit the nail on the head here Wise One - pretty damning stat! We appear to be struggling with the final quarter in particular - If you look at the quarter by quarter results, we haven't been out of the games at 3 qtr time. Why is this? Obviously the step up from Div 1 to Prems is massive, no one is doubting that. The pace of the game is a lot quicker and the bodies are a lot bigger and a lot stronger, not to mention the general increase in skill (which, to be honest, I still don't think is that great across the board from what I've seen).

We probably didn't have a very good pre-season (for Prem Div standards), with a lot of players away for work, personal reasons, etc...The 1sts hadn't really trained as a whole group until the start of the season. This is something we have learnt from (something you can get away with in the lower divisions). I believe it is the major reason as to why we are dying off in the final term and why we have sustained a very high amount of injuries.

As for paying players, I really don't see the value in buying a premiership. As MP says - it still doesn't guarantee any success. We currently have 12 of our top 30 players injured - I can't say what other clubs are experiencing, but this is obviously a very high number. For our game against Balmain there were 9 changes for our 1sts. Even if you add 10 of your best players into a team, you will be a lot more competitive.

Not trying to make excuses as I think our interrupted pre-season could be the catalyst for this, though I don't believe you need to pay players to be competitive (at this stage of Prem Div). Hopefully we will be able to showcase more of our strongest 22 as the season goes on and prove this theory.

[devils_advocate]

Interesting way to look at it, I_Heart_Abbott... perhaps you are speaking from experience considering your own club's efforts to buy a premiership in 2008 & 09, and now that has backfired you are putting on your 'loyalty & dedication' hat, and stressing that both are important.

[Monty Burns2]

Interesting way to look at it, I_Heart_Abbott... perhaps you are speaking from experience considering your own club's efforts to buy a premiership in 2008 & 09, and now that has backfired you are putting on your 'loyalty & dedication' hat, and stressing that both are important.

You appear to have missed the point, Devils Advocate. There were very few inter-league transfers into those sides.

[devils_advocate]

You appear to have missed the point, Devils Advocate. There were very few inter-league transfers into those sides.

You may well be right, Monty, in regards to missing that particular part of the discussion regarding inter-league transfers for your team. However, it must be dissapointing from a club perspective that you wasted resources on people like Jarjoura, Beardsley, Colloupous, Luff, and Underwood who were all obviously only interested in the money on offer from the Bulldogs at the time and had little interest in the club or the people.

All of this makes me think maybe the non-payment option is not as silly as it sounds.

Be nice to avoid having mercenaries like all of the above at your club.

[tellitlikeitis]

However, it must be dissapointing from a club perspective that you wasted resources on people like Jarjoura, Beardsley, Colloupous, Luff, and Underwood who were all obviously only interested in the money on offer from the Bulldogs at the time and had little interest in the club or the people.

Be nice to avoid having mercenaries like all of the above at your club.

HAHAHAHAHA

Zing!

Devils Advocate, FROM DOWN TOWN, FOR 3!!!


Woah, SWISH.

HAHAHAHA

[devils_advocate]

HAHAHAHAHA

Zing!

Devils Advocate, FROM DOWN TOWN, FOR 3!!!


Woah, SWISH.

HAHAHAHA

Thanks.

Mind you, that shot was not at the club concerned but more the players involved.

That club is now deservedly experiencing the after affects.

Speaking of which..... Balmain has had the club-spirit of a used condom over the past decade, and the numbnuts who have signed the cheques for the dad's army they've bought this season must be filthy that they have already incurred season ending injuries to players they have paid large sign-on fees.

Until Balmain's club administrators display any signs of intelligent life, they will be sucked dry by footballers all over the country who are willing to play for a price and then @@@@ off when the next offer comes.

I feel sorry for Balmain as they once had arguable the strongest culture in Sydney in the late 90's and were a proud, feirce tough club.

Now they wear purple and buy misfits from around the country !

[DLH]

Given the alleged circumstances around Balmain's new found wealth as outlined by MP, I'm not sure how anyone can feel sorry for them to be honest.

Surprised said bowling club hasn't been boycotted by the older membership given what seems to have occured.

Nice post though!

[Monty Burns2]

You may well be right, Monty, in regards to missing that particular part of the discussion regarding inter-league transfers for your team. However, it must be dissapointing from a club perspective that you wasted resources on people like Jarjoura, Beardsley, Colloupous, Luff, and Underwood who were all obviously only interested in the money on offer from the Bulldogs at the time and had little interest in the club or the people.

All of this makes me think maybe the non-payment option is not as silly as it sounds.

Be nice to avoid having mercenaries like all of the above at your club.

Yeah it is disappointing, but hindsight is a wonderful thing and it is not surprising, really. Bit harsh on Luffy, but Jarjoura (8 clubs in 7 years), Colloupous (4 Sydney clubs to date), Beardsly (2 Sydney clubs in 2 years) and Underwood (about 5 clubs in 6 years) there should be no surprise. Having said that though, what do you do? At that time the coach had the final say on who got the available coin and he was understandably in it for immediate gains, as that was how he would be judged.

Heartening to see local juniors like Collett and Jeremey Keil knock back up to $500 per game at Balmain to stay (despite some temptation).

[Midfield]

Painting players as mercenaries for accepting match payments is a load of rubbish. We are talking about the premier league of Australian Rules Football in the country?s largest city. There are a number of people on this forum who will take a shot at the clubs who do things right all because their club is run by people with the mind set they are in charge of an under 10?s netball team (not withstanding these people have good intentions).

A club?s football budget from year to year is best indication of how well the club is being run and for about the last 10 years the ECE have easily been the benchmark of the competition. Their business model should be copied rather than ridiculed.

Fostering the development of the juniors is one thing, but those same juniors should strive to make it into a top level team with genuine footballers encouraged from other states to be part of a top level competition. Until all the premier division clubs realise this we will continue to be the poor cousin to the ACTAFL and we will continue to read rubbish about clubs ?buying premierships?.

[Mug Punter]

Painting players as mercenaries for accepting match payments is a load of rubbish. We are talking about the premier league of Australian Rules Football in the country?s largest city. There are a number of people on this forum who will take a shot at the clubs who do things right all because their club is run by people with the mind set they are in charge of an under 10?s netball team (not withstanding these people have good intentions).

A club?s football budget from year to year is best indication of how well the club is being run and for about the last 10 years the ECE have easily been the benchmark of the competition. Their business model should be copied rather than ridiculed.

Fostering the development of the juniors is one thing, but those same juniors should strive to make it into a top level team with genuine footballers encouraged from other states to be part of a top level competition. Until all the premier division clubs realise this we will continue to be the poor cousin to the ACTAFL and we will continue to read rubbish about clubs ?buying premierships?.

I have no problem whatsoever with ECE's approach. They have a strong proud history of producing junior footballers and invest heavilly in that program. I amn sure if you had a look at their top two teams the vast majority would be home grown. That area is also a spot where a lot of expats tend to gravitate too (don't know why)

They can afford and do top up their list with some quality players, usually from interstate, who they can afford. If they have a robust business model and culture that can accomodate that then good on them.

As opposed to Balmain who couldn't even get an U18s team on the paddock. All that money wasted on mercenaries that would be so much more responsibly spent on junior development. It will probably win them a prem eventually but that money from the bowling club will run out one day and what then?