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Moorebanks turn to forfeit this week in the u19s. Will cambletown and southern power go back to back forfeits? If both teams forfeit in a game, does it count as a draw? Good thing saints didn't get that second side....
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we forfeit for the first time in seven years due to player safety. For an educated person you seem to find it hard to answer a questions but rather take cheappot shots. Thank god my kids arnt being educated by someone like your self - god knows what they would learn from you. One thing is apparent your are all about feathering your own nest at the expense of development - something to be admired in a teacher.Comment
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so did cambletown and southern power have a game?Comment
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I was shocked when I was told Moorebank U/19's forfeited today, while I know it is partially due to a long injury list it is also due to a lack U/17's.
This forfeit is a direct consequence of the GSJ rubbing out Bankstown Junior AFL.
Next year Moorebank will probably not be able to field an U/19 side nor will Campbelltown and Penrith will also probably struggle.
Congratulations GSJ Board on your vision and foresight to eliminate this junior club which was soooooooo obviously obstructing the growth of the game.Comment
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As the person responsible for St. George requesting a second U19 team in 2015 it is completely false to say that we submitted a plan based on Power, Moorebank, or Campbelltown not being able to field an U 19s team in 2016. We submitted a list of 73 first year u19s from Sydney South clubs that we were approaching to add to our existing u19s to easily fill 2 teams with players still left over for other clubs. When the AFL rejected our application we obviously pulled back on approaching all these players. I checked last week and of the 73 ex junior players 41 are not playing afl this year. So it is not just st george that have missed out on these players, but sydney afl have lost them as well. Regrettably only a small number went to other clubs in the area as the afl expected, most just switched to another sport.
We have worked for the last 2 years supporting and engaging with junior clubs, players, and parents in our area via the Academy and other initiatives, which is why we have a strong u19s squad. As we don't pay any senior players to play for us we rely totally on our junior clubs to stay strong. I am sure if other senior clubs adopted the same approach then they would not be struggling for u19 players now.Comment
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I dont have a comment about St George and the second under 19 team, but I do have a general view about when Sydney AFL refuses a team. From what I have seen AFL players in Sydney do not travel or change clubs. From Under 19s to Div 5 team or Premier Division and Division 2 teams - when a club drops a team players do not travel to other clubs. This, IMO, is that players have a stronger allegiance to a club than the game of AFL. In other footy states if your club folds, or even if you can't get a game you change clubs... because you love footy, probably as much or more that your club.
The example of St George not being allowed a second sides looks like a Vic approach to footy; assuming players will just go to another club... which as I said is just not the case. I am not associated with St George, but have seen this across many clubs ie North Shore dropping Div 5 added no players to other clubs.
If you check my posts I have never bagged Sydney AFL, but I agree with many, that the Southern state approach to how AFL in Sydney should be run is hurting the game, not helping it.Comment
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^correct
... and still they don't understand why they can't get a Bankstown junior team together, in any age group, that is willing to travel 3 and 4 hour round trips for a game on a Sunday ... go figure!
Based on the St George and Bankstown experience, it would seem that the policy is to leave it alone until the game starts to flourish in a particular area ... then interfere and do whatever is possible to kill the game off ... dumb assesComment
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It's hard to see where the u/19's will come from in the future if the AFL continues in this way.
In Western Sydney GSJ, there are a grand total of 52 competitive junior teams from u/11's to u/17's (hardly "competitive" if you want to look at some of the results!) ... IF every team had 30 players, that is 1,500 players from a population of over 2 million.
Panania RSL Soccer club (who could soon absorb Kelso North AFL ground for soccer) has over 800 registered players, and is just one of 21 soccer clubs in the Bankstown Association.
... pats on the back all round AFL!!!
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Off topic in regards to the above but can any who has been around long enough tell me if North shore have ever won the spoon ?Comment
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Disappointing to be told that Balmain has pulled out of the Under 19 Div 2 competition as of this week. Leaves only 7 teams in the competition with most of them struggling to field full squads.
We only have 14 clubs fielding teams in Under 19 football in Sydney, (Penno have teams in both Divisions). Somewhere between 300 and 350 participants at this age in Australia's most populated city leaves a lot to be desired. The success of Swans and GWS is masking some real problems at grass roots level.Comment
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The transition from under 18s to under 19's has really hurt the competition. Who knows the reasoning for it initially however I suspect someone happy to point out KPIS in junior retention in justifying their existence may be to blame.
For clubs in areas that struggle with 18/19's the problem but raising the age has only accentuated the issue. How many kids in the last year of 19's have taken a trade and are now required to work Sat Mornings? If they had moved to senior footy in almost all grades the earliest they would play is 12 generally. I have lost a number of kids for the year due to this and every week its hit a miss depending on start times. Happy for people to say Im wrong if they use something to support their arguments.Comment
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I am sure a big part of it is the transistion from 18's to 19's.
First of year out of 17's a lot of kids are doing HSC etc.
But also if you track the fall off from 12's though the age groups the numbers decline each year.
I think you will see a pick up in 19's numbers next year as the kids who are in the "second" year of the age transition come back to the fold.
Also I have noticed the rugby clubs have dramatically raised their recruiting efforts for their colts (U/20's) teams, our clubs need to take leaf out of their books.Comment
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I suspect the change from u18s to u19s had something to do with the AFL draft. Back in the 90s the SydneyAFL played an u19s competition however if I recall correctly it was altered to the u18s to come in line with the other states and the national championships and thus the draft. I can only assume the AFL is considering lifting the draft age(rumours) and thus the change back to U19s.
Whilst it obviously affected Riverview's participation in the SydneyAFL I would have thought it would be a positive move for the game....it seems not though.
There's a real problem when a junior competition with 6 or 8 teams cannot funnel enough players into a single u19s team to field a team with plenty to spare.
The old u19s competition was viable....I suspect the forces at work hear are not all age related.
If I am correct and the AFL draft has something to do with it, there will be nothing to change it anytime soon.
I advocate an introduction of u20s or 21s. Give the young guys more time with others their own age before playing seniors.Comment
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