What new clubs will Join Sydney AFL in 2012, 2013 and on!

[Norris Lurker]

Obviously things did go pear-shaped and now is not the time but I would think if the game was to grow that there should be room for two teams in that SW Sydney region. Not sure how far apart Pennant Hills and Baulko's home grounds are but I imagine they are as close as Kelso and Rosedale if not closer....

Mike Kenny Oval is closer than Ern Holmes, but even so it's a fair bit further than 8km to Bruce Purser from there.

[Roscoe]

The posibility of Bankstown having a senior club is next to nil

Bankstown juniors flow into basically 3 clubs, being st george , moorebank and wests

Moorebank and Wests now have 3 senior teams, good on 'em

Penshurst used to have a senior team, but sadly now don't even have under 16's

although that will change in the next few years

I'M all for new clubs, but look at the problems that Campbelltown and Balmain have had

with their under 18's. They have had to take a step or 2 back to go forward and I hope

they will

[Pekay]

It's hard to think where a new club would be formed without stepping on the toes of another club really. Maroubra seem to be doing alright, although within a barrel from UNSW, Auburn have set up a niche with their area. St Clair and the blokes they had are all but gone, so perhaps that passion to rebuild has waned. I'd like to see the Katoomba-Lithgow Mountain Lions start again, but that dream is long gone, along with most of their players. All areas seem to be taken (maybe covered is a better word) now, which is a shame.

[Mug Punter]

It's hard to think where a new club would be formed without stepping on the toes of another club really. Maroubra seem to be doing alright, although within a barrel from UNSW, Auburn have set up a niche with their area. St Clair and the blokes they had are all but gone, so perhaps that passion to rebuild has waned. I'd like to see the Katoomba-Lithgow Mountain Lions start again, but that dream is long gone, along with most of their players. All areas seem to be taken (maybe covered is a better word) now, which is a shame.

I think that what we'll more likely see is a lot of is clubs growing organically and adding more teams. Most teams now have a third senior side which is great as it gives more opportunities. Look at how Mac Uni and Manly have expanded their senior lists and the benefits are obvious. Sydney Uni have five when 10 years ago they only had two.

I still think that there is scope for a St Ives/Hornsby team in that upper North Shore corridor and a team in the Blacktown area between Parramatta and Penrith. A team from the Blue Mountains would be great but I would not have wanted to play a night game up there last weekend It will take time but I think there is scope for a couple of newly created teams to come into existence.

Who would have thought UTS would have come into existence with Sydney Uni, Easts and Balmain all on their doorstep. Though to be fair the UNSW sellout basically gifted them the Eastern Suburbs by playing out of Trumper

[Mug Punter]

It's hard to think where a new club would be formed without stepping on the toes of another club really. Maroubra seem to be doing alright, although within a barrel from UNSW, Auburn have set up a niche with their area. St Clair and the blokes they had are all but gone, so perhaps that passion to rebuild has waned. I'd like to see the Katoomba-Lithgow Mountain Lions start again, but that dream is long gone, along with most of their players. All areas seem to be taken (maybe covered is a better word) now, which is a shame.

Forest talked for years about setting up a senior club. That could work as Lionel Watts is a nice venue. Manly would have the lower peninsular and Forest the upper region, much like Warringah and Manly in the rugby.

In the end it takes a group of people to put their absolute hearts and souls into creating something new. A bit of cash doesn't hurt either. UTS are a perfect example of how a new club can be created and thrive. Perhaps UTSBatman can expand but my understanding is that 3-4 blokes really carried that club for the first few years but it now has a really strong culture and is going great guns, despite their lack of PL success this year.....

[Tom Wills]

I have heard a couple of rumors about new teams for 2012. One out of Blacktown?
Any news on new teams of clubs for 2012?

[cos789]

Obviously the pace has quickened for Aussie Rules in Sydney and it's easy to get excited but the fact remains that losing clubs really hurts .Not only did we lose Newtown but the league's ground and now it's impossible to retrieve because it's been snaffled by the rectangular codes .Newtown juniors are building but we've lost the seniors ground .When Easts lost their financial base and merged we were lucky to keep Trumper .The good news are the new grounds and facilities like Waverley Oval and Maroubra's ground .It's going to be difficult to set up new clubs if the demand arises because the failities aren't generally there so the migration will be towards established clubs .

[OLDMATE]

Definately be great to see a side from the Hornsby area.. I would rather see parra and the riff be stronger across a few grades before another team sets up out west. What about another Wollongong side for the lower divisions? Maybe Wollongong Uni? Also is there still talk about Gosford joining?

[Mug Punter]

Maroubra Saints U18s?

[Roscoe]

Maroubra 18's ?

don't think so - too close to UNSW-Easts who were last on the premier 18's (but were very competitive)

need a big growth in numbers , but sure, it would be good for footy in the area

[BeeEmmAre]

Maroubra Saints U18s?

I believe they and Auburn might not be permitted to have an 18s until they've been in for three years due to their proximity to other clubs, which would mean they'd be looking at 2013.

[Mug Punter]

Maroubra 18's ?

don't think so - too close to UNSW-Easts who were last on the premier 18's (but were very competitive)

need a big growth in numbers , but sure, it would be good for footy in the area

Not that close really. I think I am right in saying that Maroubra are the fastest growing junior club in the state and could probably accomodate an U18s team. Just a matter if they want to do it. I remember playing juniors that U18s were the oldest junior age group and all junior clubs had an U18s team, albeit with the better players doubling up for U-19 duty at SFL level. It's insane that we don't have more U18 sides, hopefully this will change going forward

It would also be great to see Newtown back in action through their juniors but I doubt that will ever happen as Sydney Uni are pretty tight with the Newtown juniors I believe.

[felix]

Talking Under 18s.
I was in Melbourne last week and the word is that all Under 18 competitions are being raised to Under 19s.
This could or should be the same in Sydney as too many boys are lost to the game during these teenage years.

[ShortHalfHead]

I think that under the current structure, it would turn more away. The biggest difficulty is getting Under 16's, who are finishing their junior careers, to move to a new club to play 18's. It's daunting for some. If a 16 year old has to play 19 year olds, it could make it more difficult. Most U18's, once they have been a year or two at clubs, seem to want to jump at the chance of playing seniors from what I have seen.

[felix]

They are also going to raise Under 16s to Under 17s. This initiative has been instigated by the AFL who were the ones who originally wiped out the AFL Under 19 competition and then the Reserves. Now many of the clubs have gone back to running their own reserves teams to keep control of the players they have listed and develop within their own ranks.