2013... rumours.. signings... something..

[Chicken Legs]

Probably becuase they see monarch as a strategic location and need to prop it up

Strategic and Prop interesting choice of words!

[Pekay]

Heard about this months ago but pretty sure you will see an offical announcement from David Lawson stating its birth and how they are there to provide an opportunity for Kids in the South West Region to play footy in the next day or two if not today. Plus how they will be provided with access to the giants coaches and facilities. They are asking for expressions of interest in the coaching role now.

Next step will be the merger of both senior clubs if the AFL has its way - I wont reveal my source on that one though

A Macarthur super club......makes sense. Can't see either being too keen on it though. But, with what was discussed at the Planning Meeting at HQ last year, they would probably like to see a few mergers here and there.

[ShortHalfHead]

From the Camden FB page. Interesting that they are in Div 1. Will mean a big reshuffle....or a D1 team dropping back

This will be posted on the Sydney AFL webpage & papers tomorrow. Should any players have any questions please contact Warren or me.

Macarthur GIANTS U18s AFL team

AFL NSW/ACT is pleased to announce the inclusion of the Macarthur GIANTS into the AFL Sydney Under 18 Competition for the 2013 season.
...
The side is an amalgamation of two clubs, the Camden Senior AFL Club and the Campbelltown Australian Football Club. It will be associated with the GWS GIANTS AFL club who will generously provide coaching assistance and access to the club?s facilities.

The side and committee have been created after extensive consultation with both clubs to ensure that players in the Sydney south-west region have a local U18 team and a clearer pathway into the senior football competition. The committee includes Campbelltown representative Keiran Buckley and Camden representative Warren Back and AFL NSW/ACT representatives.

David Lawson, AFL Sydney Manager said the creation of the team will allow players in the whole region to enjoy U18s football together as they step into senior football.

?Players from these clubs will have a better opportunity to progress their football careers by joining a team that represents their region,? he said.

?Refreshing the U18s competition is a key objective in an exciting period of growth and development in AFL Sydney.?

Training and home matches will be shared between two clubs, the team will play in the U18 Division 1 competition and the jumper design, based on the GIANTS jumper, will be released in the coming weeks.

AFL NSW/ACT is currently accepting expressions of interest for the role of coach for the team, to be directed to Dean Connors, GWS Regional Manager at [email protected]

Interested players and parents are invited to attend an information evening at 6pm on Friday January 18 at Harrington Grove Country Club (1 Forestgrove Drive, Harrington Park NSW 2567). AFL NSW/ACT and club representatives will be present to provide further information.


David Lawson
Manager Sydney AFL

[ShortHalfHead]

Wonder how much homework new Sydney AFL manager, David Lawson has done on the area.

I can only see it ending in tears.

Or have the Cats and Town both agreed not to play their better 18's in the seniors squads.

I will give it round 5 before you wont be able to get a $5 pie before midday at Monarch.

[tara]

Whats more interesting is that the Senior coach at Blacktown Magic is the point of contact for the coaching applicants.

As for homework I doubt much

[Chicken Legs]

Whats more interesting is that the Senior coach at Blacktown Magic is the point of contact for the coaching applicants.

As for homework I doubt much

The more homework you do the more fact and truth you find. I'd say not much homework undertaken in the interests of propping!

[mountainsofpain]

Next step will be the merger of both senior clubs if the AFL has its way - I wont reveal my source on that one though

I hope both clubs tell the AFL to get stuffed.

[justabaraker]

How do you like this for a bit of "join-the-dots" ?..................

...............The AFL badly needs a vibrant junior presence in western Sydney - there's no point in the GWS being there without it. Campbelltown and Camden have not really set the western Sydney world on fire, so the BlacktownMagic/MacarthurGiants/GWS strategy is worked out. Complete with Giants colours indeed, and no doubt with the bottomless pit of money, brains and resources that the AFL & GWS have at their disposal.
And an AFL inside-operative to pull all the levers from the control box.
Campbelltown and Camden are given the option to be "in" or "out" and, after thinking about it for a micro-second, they realise that they are headed for oblivion and irrelevance if they don't sign up.

Mountainsofpain....they might tell the AFL to get stuffed, and, oh wow, I can almost hear the AFL saying, "......bring it on......." !

If Campbelltown and Camden pull the pin or squabble with each other, then PLAN B kicks in with the BlacktownMacarthurGWSMagicGiants having teams and an infrastructure to get AFL rocking in western Sydney.
Meanwhile Campbelltown and Camden go play somewhere else.....no, wait, there's nowhere else for them to play !!!!!!!!

Make sense ?

[Mug Punter]

Heard about this months ago but pretty sure you will see an offical announcement from David Lawson stating its birth and how they are there to provide an opportunity for Kids in the South West Region to play footy in the next day or two if not today. Plus how they will be provided with access to the giants coaches and facilities. They are asking for expressions of interest in the coaching role now.

Next step will be the merger of both senior clubs if the AFL has its way - I wont reveal my source on that one though

Mmmmm, very concerning...

Head Office should not be interfering in existing clubs at all IMO in terms of facilitating mergers etc. Surely they should concentrate on making both those clubs more successful by giving them BOTH more support not by trying to kill them off. An artificially created entity, not by the members but imposed by HQ, will more than likely alienate existing members and possibly see them lost to the game. The idea of contracting clubs in that region is ludicrous - I can see why Blacktown was created as there was a demographic hole there but why oh why meddle in the affairs of other clubs...

Is a problem when you have bureacrats rather than football people running the game.

For mine Town as PL, SWS as Div 1 and Camden as Div 2, all with at least two or three strong senior clubs and U18s, backed by a massively resources Academy that benefits ALL clubs is the preferred option.

I suspect some boy wonder with a business plan will rule the day though.

[mountainsofpain]

Mmmmm, very concerning...

Head Office should not be interfering in existing clubs at all IMO in terms of facilitating mergers etc. Surely they should concentrate on making both those clubs more successful by giving them BOTH more support not by trying to kill them off. An artificially created entity, not by the members but imposed by HQ, will more than likely alienate existing members and possibly see them lost to the game. The idea of contracting clubs in that region is ludicrous - I can see why Blacktown was created as there was a demographic hole there but why oh why meddle in the affairs of other clubs...

Is a problem when you have bureacrats rather than football people running the game.

For mine Town as PL, SWS as Div 1 and Camden as Div 2, all with at least two or three strong senior clubs and U18s, backed by a massively resources Academy that benefits ALL clubs is the preferred option.

I suspect some boy wonder with a business plan will rule the day though.

Agree with just about all of this.

The bolded in particular.

[Go Cats]

Cant see the cats entering into any kind of senior merger with anyone.

The club is the strongest it has been since its return to Sydney footy in 2008. Solid committee, good sponsorship base, settled coaching staff, more player numbers than ever as well as much improved results last season, along with a strong junior connection.

If the league were to try and force a merger between town and Camden there would be players walking away from the game altogether.

Not sure about Town - PL, SWS Div 1 and Cats Div 2 Mug Punter. Played each other twice last year in div 2 and both games won by Camden.

[DLH]

Presume this is the first step in a TAC Cup like regional 18's structure.

Anyhow, must go, I need to get back to the phone in case I miss the call from the Giants offering to assist my club as well....

[The Runt]

What has happened to allow this to occur, one would think that a club in Prem Div would be the place that any young bloke would want to play at, but why then is this happening is Ctowns culture that bad that the footy gods have to interfere, To me they should be rewarding the clubs that actually get out do the work and build a club that blokes want to be involved in not kicking them like this. If I was one of the young fellas in question I would be looking around Parra Penrith SWS all have 18s all appear to be building a strong club based culture. If the Giants involement is as stated are the other clubs in their area going to ignored or reap some benefit as well. Just smells a little the whole deal

[ShortHalfHead]

Presume this is the first step in a TAC Cup like regional 18's structure.

Anyhow, must go, I need to get back to the phone in case I miss the call from the Giants offering to assist my club as well....

Haha. Penrith must be Western Districts. maybe the Broken Hill comp.
I recall the meetings 2-3 years ago with the Giants saying how important Penrith were, how they were going to run community training camps in the area and assist with coaching etc etc.

Had zilch, despite making repeated requests, including asking them to join us in a national TV segment. I started to believe that Western Sydney ended at Greystanes. Been re-aligned now to Homebush/Hills/Canberra.

if I was one of the key persons at Macarthur, I wouldn't hold my breath for the GWS promises.

Good luck to 'em, though.

[Chicken Legs]

Presume this is the first step in a TAC Cup like regional 18's structure.

Anyhow, must go, I need to get back to the phone in case I miss the call from the Giants offering to assist my club as well....

Just to clarify a few things here for all:

HISTORY

1- Gary B verbally told Camden that after the demise of Town's 18's last year if Camden could get 30 numbers by season end Camden could have an 18's in 2013.
2- Camden has 31 expressions of interest for 18's to play in 2013. Expressions of interest at this stage which was all that was required.
3- Gary B "left" and the original conversation dismissed as "that never happened."
4- Meanwhile Camden ran BBQ's during and after season end, promoted AFL in the area and had a handful of men dedicate a lot of time to get an 18's team in Camden for 2013.
5- Camden have a major sponsor willing to cover ALL costs for the 18's side for 2013. This includes rego, uniform etc..... Not one 18's or parent would have to pay a cent.
6- This major sponsor and some players have already said they are not interested in a JV.
7- Approximately 10 player parents have written to the Sydney AFL voicing their concerns with no reply.
8- More than 75% of the players live in the Harington Park region and no where near the slightly burnt Monarch.

NOW

1- Sydney AFL want a TAC cup style comp in 2014 which will include many more merges.
2- There is a meeting at Harington Grove at 6pm on Friday the 18th! Harley and Lawson presenting to the parents and players. All welcome, I am going to see what it means for my club next year.
3- The details I am aware of include. Players now must pay rego, training split, games split, committee split, three players have been singled out to play PL for Town and are not in the mix
4- GWS input at this stage is a set of jerseys (not shorts and socks this has to be clarified), the use of their facilities (which is logistically crazy for parents) and Blacktown Magics Coach making decisions for this new JV?????

What I can say is GWS and SAFL will want this team to look successful so if its struggling my guess is some back up will be close by.

I think some of the above comments are easily what can be perceived from outside but I think you'll find Camden did a lot of hard work and have been denied the opportunity and it wouldn't matter what had been done as we all now have this Sydney AFL review booklet that is going to change things for everyone.

I can not speak for Town as i have no source there but I believe that their committee may feel similar to that of the above. My only question to Town is why did they have to play up so many 18's in PL last year that they had to fold the 18's?

Once again I encourage all that have posted above to get to this meeting on Friday to see what is going on and have your say.