What's going on in the Illawarra?

[Offal]

I would like to think there are rational answers, but I was in shock when I read that Illawarra U19s are out of the comp.

Where have the players gone?

I have a few questions:

1) Have they turned their backs as their pathway to play senior footy at the highest Sydney AFL level has been crushed as their seniors are no longer in Premier Division?
2) Have last year's under 18's been snapped up by Premier Division clubs (quite a few transfers on sydneyafl.com.au but some are seniors)?
3) With last year's under 18's being under 19's this year, they all would be eligible to play in that comp this year so why did a team just one game shy of a Grand Final in the 2013 Under 18 comp disappear?

[Pekay]

I would like to think there are rational answers, but I was in shock when I read that Illawarra U19s are out of the comp.

Where have the players gone?

I have a few questions:

1) Have they turned their backs as their pathway to play senior footy at the highest Sydney AFL level has been crushed as their seniors are no longer in Premier Division?
2) Have last year's under 18's been snapped up by Premier Division clubs (quite a few transfers on sydneyafl.com.au but some are seniors)?
3) With last year's under 18's being under 19's this year, they all would be eligible to play in that comp this year so why did a team just one game shy of a Grand Final in the 2013 Under 18 comp disappear?

It's a shame, another team falls away. Is there any real growth this season, apart from the Womens comps?

[Mug Punter]

It's a shame, another team falls away. Is there any real growth this season, apart from the Womens comps?

You'd have to say that the game is going backwards at the senior level.

Balmain and Illawarra are both on life support, Sutherland and Mac Uni have both dropped teams (expect Mac Uni to drop their U19 team mid season). Auburn were a flash in the pan (as expected) and it remains to be seen how long Blacktown will survive with out head offices partonage and assitance. Clearly the other Unis have grown and Maroubra would seem a long term fixture but the game is hardly flourishing is it?

I guess there are a number of factors. The fact that the local comp is chronically under-funded by an AFL who thinks nothing of blowing tens of millions a year on that Homebush abortion is one reason. Local incompetence is another. And making the SFL a third tier competition cannot be helping matters either - the SFL used to be a compeition to aspire to but it is now nothing more than glorified park footy....

[saviour01]

1) We picked up a few of them. I think so to some extent. Our best 19's play premier div anyway, not 19s. Most gun players surely want to play the highest level, not just have a kick with mates especially when they are young.
2) I think we got 3 or 4. Check the clearances.
3) Guess once one or two bail then a lot of the quality goes. Then you turn into also ran's and it makes getting numbers to training a lot harder.

[Footy Barista]

You'd have to say that the game is going backwards at the senior level.

Balmain and Illawarra are both on life support, Sutherland and Mac Uni have both dropped teams (expect Mac Uni to drop their U19 team mid season). Auburn were a flash in the pan (as expected) and it remains to be seen how long Blacktown will survive with out head offices partonage and assitance. Clearly the other Unis have grown and Maroubra would seem a long term fixture but the game is hardly flourishing is it?

I guess there are a number of factors. The fact that the local comp is chronically under-funded by an AFL who thinks nothing of blowing tens of millions a year on that Homebush abortion is one reason. Local incompetence is another. And making the SFL a third tier competition cannot be helping matters either - the SFL used to be a compeition to aspire to but it is now nothing more than glorified park footy....

Mug punter how happy with life are you mate ? Loving living in the past aren't you mate ..... I doubt anyone generally cares much about your comments anymore as they are the same old for every topic you grumpy old man .....

As for Illawarra this is tremendously sad however travelling up the coast every weekend has to take its toll .... It s sad the 19s are gone they were a powerhouse for a number of years ... I can't see how they recover from here but ? You would hate to see nth dalton park go to soccer or something it's a tremendous facility

[justabaraker]

You'd have to say that the game is going backwards at the senior level.

Balmain and Illawarra are both on life support, Sutherland and Mac Uni have both dropped teams (expect Mac Uni to drop their U19 team mid season). Auburn were a flash in the pan (as expected) and it remains to be seen how long Blacktown will survive with out head offices partonage and assitance. Clearly the other Unis have grown and Maroubra would seem a long term fixture but the game is hardly flourishing is it?

I guess there are a number of factors. The fact that the local comp is chronically under-funded by an AFL who thinks nothing of blowing tens of millions a year on that Homebush abortion is one reason. Local incompetence is another. And making the SFL a third tier competition cannot be helping matters either - the SFL used to be a compeition to aspire to but it is now nothing more than glorified park footy....

If you think our footy is so bad, then go follow another sport that doesn't need to be bagged out so much....it's not hard.
And leave this forum for us footy fans.

[Northern_Swan]

You'd have to say that the game is going backwards at the senior level.

Balmain and Illawarra are both on life support, Sutherland and Mac Uni have both dropped teams (expect Mac Uni to drop their U19 team mid season). Auburn were a flash in the pan (as expected) and it remains to be seen how long Blacktown will survive with out head offices partonage and assitance. Clearly the other Unis have grown and Maroubra would seem a long term fixture but the game is hardly flourishing is it?

I guess there are a number of factors. The fact that the local comp is chronically under-funded by an AFL who thinks nothing of blowing tens of millions a year on that Homebush abortion is one reason. Local incompetence is another. And making the SFL a third tier competition cannot be helping matters either - the SFL used to be a compeition to aspire to but it is now nothing more than glorified park footy....

If you honestly think that Sydney AFL us under funded, you should have a look at how much funding the other leagues around the state get.

The Sydney AFL gets 3x more money invested in it per annum than the next best funded league in the state.

AFL in Sydney (i.e. Sydney AFL and the GSJ) accounts for 75% of the investment in participant leagues in NSW.

Under funded indeed

[Mug Punter]

If you think our footy is so bad, then go follow another sport that doesn't need to be bagged out so much....it's not hard.
And leave this forum for us footy fans.

Usual fare from the NEAFL clowns on this board.....