So, where to from here?

[Mug Punter]

I doubt it. Apart from the ground being shaped like a hotdog, it is a horrible surface. Southern Power is blessed to have gotten off it after so many years and now call Waratah Oval home.

Well, if Sydney Uni are playing their "home" games there it truly demonstrates what a joke the NEAFL. Seriously, it is so far from their natural habitat it aint funny.... I cannot believe this will happen....

Then again if Balmain cannot afford a home game in Balmain (with at least some genuine supporters) then I fail to see how Uni could afford to play there with their lack of support an structure. Unless of course the NEAFL is funding them to play at Balmain's home ground whilst forcing Balmain to play the other side of the city, which would be truly scandalous if it is correct. If anyone needs an example why the NEAFL is a bad thing for Sydney footy then this is it. Balmain need all the help it can get but the NSWAFL actively move a club into it's home ground and then Balmain play in that club's area. Totally utterly insane, am I the only one to see how stupid this is?

Sydney Uni, be careful what you wish for....

[justabaraker]

Well, if Sydney Uni are playing their "home" games there it truly demonstrates what a joke the NEAFL. Seriously, it is so far from their natural habitat it aint funny.... I cannot believe this will happen....

Then again if Balmain cannot afford a home game in Balmain (with at least some genuine supporters) then I fail to see how Uni could afford to play there with their lack of support an structure. Unless of course the NEAFL is funding them to play at Balmain's home ground whilst forcing Balmain to play the other side of the city, which would be truly scandalous if it is correct. If anyone needs an example why the NEAFL is a bad thing for Sydney footy then this is it. Balmain need all the help it can get but the NSWAFL actively move a club into it's home ground and then Balmain play in that club's area. Totally utterly insane, am I the only one to see how stupid this is?

Sydney Uni, be careful what you wish for....

It's good to know that the internet is now reaching to the outer limits of the universe, MugPunter...glad that you are hearing us on whatever planet it is that you live on.
You just have to drive by Drummoyne to see all the improvements that have been made....at a massive cost. And you just have to look at all the competing banners on the fence to see just how many stakeholders there are now....cricket, union, junior AFL and AFL. There's the new playing surface, the scoreboard, the sheds on the western wing and the clubrooms behind the northern goals. And, hey, those monster light stands that you could see from your world out there in the cosmos somewhere.
The AFL is spending $150mill or so to improve the grounds of NSW and it's so that the standard of AFL can be improved and shown off to best effect.
And that involves putting the best teams on the best playing fields....it's called ground rationalisation and it's been happening ever since Richmond moved out of Punt Road.
What makes you think that a team can automatically play on a ground in their community ? How many AFL-style ovals do you think there are in Sydney ? And where do you get the idea that Balmain should be entitled to play at Drummoyne just because they've been there for a long time ?

The fact is that Balmain has made bad decisions and has been relegated to Div 1 by the AFL handicapper. And you surely don't think that a Div 1 team deserves to play at a swisho venue like Drummoyne just because they've been there a long time.

SydUni NEAFL wouldn't play mostly at No 1 because of the issues with the playing surface, the dimensions, the shape and that tree on the western boundary.

This is the new millenium and we have to jump on board and think new-age rather than old-school.

[ShortHalfHead]

To squash any ideas that the students were playing at Gwawley, it was said tongue in cheek. I apologise if it were taken seriously.

It's really Pioneers Park.

- - - Updated - - -

To squash any ideas that the students were playing at Gwawley, it was said tongue in cheek. I apologise if it were taken seriously.

It's really Pioneers Park.

[The Student]

Well, if Sydney Uni are playing their "home" games there it truly demonstrates what a joke the NEAFL. Seriously, it is so far from their natural habitat it aint funny.... I cannot believe this will happen....

Then again if Balmain cannot afford a home game in Balmain (with at least some genuine supporters) then I fail to see how Uni could afford to play there with their lack of support an structure. Unless of course the NEAFL is funding them to play at Balmain's home ground whilst forcing Balmain to play the other side of the city, which would be truly scandalous if it is correct. If anyone needs an example why the NEAFL is a bad thing for Sydney footy then this is it. Balmain need all the help it can get but the NSWAFL actively move a club into it's home ground and then Balmain play in that club's area. Totally utterly insane, am I the only one to see how stupid this is?

Sydney Uni, be careful what you wish for....

Thanks for the advice about Gwawley Oval sport, I'll be sure pass it onto the people in charge at the club. Have you got any other pearls of wisdom you would like me to deliver while I'm at it?

I hope you don't get any emails from a Nigerian prince any time soon, you'd believe anything.

[The Student]

Just had a quick squizz at the NEAFL draw. All matches and venues are up, except for Sydney Uni home games, with the exception of the Uni V Queanbeyan match to be played at Uni #1, the rest of the home games are "TBA"

They still negotiating with Drummoyne Council? Or possibly looking at Gwawley?

Also saw that there are just 4 NEAFL games scheduled for BISP. Might be turning into a white elephant. Bet Blacktown Council are impressed.

Very good, btw, Mug Punter. He must have been impressed by the Shegurls finals catering effort, which to their credit, was excellent.

Not sure why the delay in naming venues but it is definitely going to be Drummoyne. Maybe a couple at No. 1 Oval. Obviously we would love to play there every game, but it's not up to scratch. And Henson is also off limits for some reason. So Drummoyne it is. And Gwawley of course!

[Pekay]

To squash any ideas that the students were playing at Gwawley, it was said tongue in cheek. I apologise if it were taken seriously.

It's really Pioneers Park.

- - - Updated - - -

To squash any ideas that the students were playing at Gwawley, it was said tongue in cheek. I apologise if it were taken seriously.

It's really Pioneers Park.

Next thing you'll be telling us is that the Rams have access to Howell Oval!

[Jupiter]

It's good to know that the internet is now reaching to the outer limits of the universe, MugPunter...glad that you are hearing us on whatever planet it is that you live on.
You just have to drive by Drummoyne to see all the improvements that have been made....at a massive cost. And you just have to look at all the competing banners on the fence to see just how many stakeholders there are now....cricket, union, junior AFL and AFL. There's the new playing surface, the scoreboard, the sheds on the western wing and the clubrooms behind the northern goals. And, hey, those monster light stands that you could see from your world out there in the cosmos somewhere.
The AFL is spending $150mill or so to improve the grounds of NSW and it's so that the standard of AFL can be improved and shown off to best effect.
And that involves putting the best teams on the best playing fields....it's called ground rationalisation and it's been happening ever since Richmond moved out of Punt Road.
What makes you think that a team can automatically play on a ground in their community ? How many AFL-style ovals do you think there are in Sydney ? And where do you get the idea that Balmain should be entitled to play at Drummoyne just because they've been there for a long time ?

The fact is that Balmain has made bad decisions and has been relegated to Div 1 by the AFL handicapper. And you surely don't think that a Div 1 team deserves to play at a swisho venue like Drummoyne just because they've been there a long time.

SydUni NEAFL wouldn't play mostly at No 1 because of the issues with the playing surface, the dimensions, the shape and that tree on the western boundary.

This is the new millenium and we have to jump on board and think new-age rather than old-school.

Great post, thank you. I'm not a fan of NEAFL either, I've said it before - its a cop out to developing Sydney AFL itself, a shortcircuit for the AFL clubs etc. However as you say the Mug and others need to realise its an AFL beast, based on AFL KPIs, its a reality and all clubs are making the best they can of that reality as ever. I've little doubt one or more Sydney clubs wont be there in a year or three and the comp itself will have changed again. In the meantime though the theoretical upside is higher standard footy being played in Sydney and I' can't even bring myself to type it, further P...th...ays!

[Benchwarmer]

If anyone needs an example why the NEAFL is a bad thing for Sydney footy then this is it. ...... Totally utterly insane, am I the only one to see how stupid this is?

Sydney Uni, be careful what you wish for....

Interesting article in the Telegraph this morning about ARU introducing a new tier of competition between Club Rugby and Super 12.. (think NEAFL)

Seems Gordon, Warringah, Manly and Norths are aligning to submit a joint venture team "North of the Harbour".
The reasons for the joint venture rather than stand alone applications?
The Clubs have recognised the cost and stress that would be imposed on them as a solo.
They also share the view that the entry of stand alone clubs into this new tier of competition will have serious negative consequences for the integrity of the local comp.

Makes you wonder if the NEAFL model of stand alone clubs is the right one for Sydney Football.

I am with you one this one Mug P.
Seems some of our cousins in the Union are as well.

[Mug Punter]

What makes you think that a team can automatically play on a ground in their community ? How many AFL-style ovals do you think there are in Sydney ? And where do you get the idea that Balmain should be entitled to play at Drummoyne just because they've been there for a long time ?

The fact is that Balmain has made bad decisions and has been relegated to Div 1 by the AFL handicapper. And you surely don't think that a Div 1 team deserves to play at a swisho venue like Drummoyne just because they've been there a long time.

SydUni NEAFL wouldn't play mostly at No 1 because of the issues with the playing surface, the dimensions, the shape and that tree on the western boundary.

This is the new millenium and we have to jump on board and think new-age rather than old-school.

Your post is surely a wind up

Yeah, funny enough I do believe that clubs do have a right to be able to play in the community they represent. How outrageous that Balmain should think they should be able to play in Balmain. Comparisons to the AFL model are ridiculous and ignorant as they actually have fans and are multimillion dollar businesses. The SFL should be a community based comp and surely clubs having decent facilities in THEIR communities (not someone elses) is essential to that.

If Sydney Uni's ground is not up to scratch then I would have thought they had two options

(1) The logical one, given they are so ambitious and the amount of money they have, is to develop #1 Oval to NEAFL standard
(2) Find a ground near them that does but which is not another team's existing ground, like Henson Oval
(3) Play in a comp where #1 Oval is acceptable.

On many many levels Sydney Uni playing out of Drummoyne Oval and Balmain playing out of Henson is a disgraceful situation. Balmain playing out of Newtown has no future whatsoever, none at all. Then again all you care about is your own little empire.

[Mug Punter]

Interesting article in the Telegraph this morning about ARU introducing a new tier of competition between Club Rugby and Super 12.. (think NEAFL)

Seems Gordon, Warringah, Manly and Norths are aligning to submit a joint venture team "North of the Harbour".
The reasons for the joint venture rather than stand alone applications?
The Clubs have recognised the cost and stress that would be imposed on them as a solo.
They also share the view that the entry of stand alone clubs into this new tier of competition will have serious negative consequences for the integrity of the local comp.

Makes you wonder if the NEAFL model of stand alone clubs is the right one for Sydney Football.

I am with you one this one Mug P.
Seems some of our cousins in the Union are as well.

For starters I don't think we need NEAFL, the Swans and GWS topups were more than enough of a development pathway, plus Rampe shows that a strong SFL can be a pathway. An 8 team NEAFL comprised of Swans, GWS, NT Thunder, PNG, Cairns and ACT would have been a formidable comp as opposed to the joke we currently have. Or even better, have the four AFL sides feeding into an expanded SANFL.

I actually don't think the rugby model would work as the new comp is, I believe, after the local comp finishes. That way Sydney club rugby acts as a genuine feeder.

Basically, the NEAFL is a dumb idea. It adds little except giving the Swans et al slightly better competition for their reserves. It has ripped the guts our of the local comp and itself generates very little interest.

[Tim Freedman]

Change the channel Mug Punter. Repeats are boring

[OnLooker]

$150M eh - money so well spent that the first sign of dampness, even an errant spit out the window of a passing lost V8 Commodore down Bayswater St and the ground will be closed even to to the local stray dogs. Yep great for footy...

[saviour01]

Your post is surely a wind up

Yeah, funny enough I do believe that clubs do have a right to be able to play in the community they represent. How outrageous that Balmain should think they should be able to play in Balmain. Comparisons to the AFL model are ridiculous and ignorant as they actually have fans and are multimillion dollar businesses. The SFL should be a community based comp and surely clubs having decent facilities in THEIR communities (not someone elses) is essential to that.

If Sydney Uni's ground is not up to scratch then I would have thought they had two options

(1) The logical one, given they are so ambitious and the amount of money they have, is to develop #1 Oval to NEAFL standard
(2) Find a ground near them that does but which is not another team's existing ground, like Henson Oval
(3) Play in a comp where #1 Oval is acceptable.

On many many levels Sydney Uni playing out of Drummoyne Oval and Balmain playing out of Henson is a disgraceful situation. Balmain playing out of Newtown has no future whatsoever, none at all. Then again all you care about is your own little empire.

But surely everyone agree's with that. If Sydney uni came to play at Old's because we just did up the club house and the ground and we had to go play elsewhere I wouldn't even bother any more.

[DLH]

Next thing you'll be telling us is that the Rams have access to Howell Oval!

Don't go there Pekay for goodness sake!

[unconfuseme]

$150M eh - money so well spent that the first sign of dampness, even an errant spit out the window of a passing lost V8 Commodore down Bayswater St and the ground will be closed even to to the local stray dogs. Yep great for footy...

How much of that is NOT being spent on Skoda or BOP ...? ... and how much of that is not being spent on admin? ... and how much of the left overs is just simply being mismanaged?

Blacktown Magic are getting plenty of bang for their rego buck!

The AFL has NEVER SPENT A CENT on KELSO PARK ...