Is the Sydney Competition the strongest it has ever been?

[Pmcc2911]

The academy is encouraging a lot of its 17yo to play in the 19's and a number of the 18yo to play in the seniors.

[Mug Punter]

The academy is encouraging a lot of its 17yo to play in the 19's and a number of the 18yo to play in the seniors.

That's a fair call and for 15 and 16 year olds a decent standard U19 comp should provide exposure.

I accept both views re the senior comp's standard but I think there can be no doubt that the U19 comp is much much lower in quality than it was in the 80s and 90s. Let's hope it improves.

Did I also see that the pathway programme has been abolished? Although I had reservations about it that the NSWAFL spent so much time developing a program that was so bureaucratic in response to one club's activities (you know who) and then completely throws it out typifies that NSWAFL (lack of) management really.

I guess with Uni having their NEAFL team pretty much quarantined and Baulko back where they belong it takes away the big selling point football wise. Having said that I do think the scholarship system has some merit as really anything that invests money into the game and keeps young talent in the game is probably a good thing.

A cursory glance at the U19 ladder and some things really stand out. North Shore, Penno and St George have always been the traditional powerhouses so no surprises there but Easts being there probably reflects very much on Maroubra Juniors and possibly some private school activity. I can see Maroubra rebranding themselves as South Sydney and making a push for a SFL side within 5-10 years assuming their admin is in order.

Baulko's position is truly dire and probably a reflection of the NEAFL experiment that ripped the guys out of the club, one would hope it is only a matter of time before they regenerate their U19 program. Sydney Uni would be giving a chance to a lot of guys that would probably have traditionally gone to North Shore (esp the Riverview types) and probably also recruit a fair number of country kids who board at their exclusive colleges.

Hard to see South Coast being a long term participant without the structure of a senior club. the Newcastlke/CC Hunters showed that to be a flawed model and I'm sure it has badly affected the Illawarra junior comp....

Then you look at the Second Div and it is a mere 7 team comp with only three teams that haven't forfeited.

This is an area where divisionalisation hasn't worked. The match day where you have all three grades every week and where the U19s showcased young talent was a good model. I think that a hybrid system with two three team comps (ideally - with substantial NSWAFL investment to get the U19 teams on the paddock) with a further 2-3 grades of one team comps facilitating divisionalisation could helps re-establish the U19 comp

[Mug Punter]

Anyone else see this article in the Australian yesterday? ?They are proving more expensive than our broad forecasts suggested,? he said. Did the AFL really expect them to turn up, do nothing with the local community and have a swans level of support instantly?

The lack of community engagement with the GWS model is something that really has me lost and it really is typified by the Manly sponsorship. I was out there a few weeks ago and it really is terrible the way their jumpers have been hijacked. And make no mistake the players and the oldtimers absolutely hate it. They still refer to themselves very pointedly as the Wolves....

And the sad thing is they wouldn't have had to do much to get real bang for their buck. They could have funded five existing proud senior clubs (Campbelltown, Penrith, Liverpool, Parramatta and Camden) with, say, a $500,000 investment per year covering development officers, equipment, administration support, coaching support and facilities development and it would have been paid back many times over...

[tara]

Sorry to sound like a broken record MP but if your going to add liverpool then please add Bankstown. Moorebank wouldnt exist if not for Bankstown.

[Pekay]

The lack of community engagement with the GWS model is something that really has me lost and it really is typified by the Manly sponsorship. I was out there a few weeks ago and it really is terrible the way their jumpers have been hijacked. And make no mistake the players and the oldtimers absolutely hate it. They still refer to themselves very pointedly as the Wolves....

And the sad thing is they wouldn't have had to do much to get real bang for their buck. They could have funded five existing proud senior clubs (Campbelltown, Penrith, Liverpool, Parramatta and Camden) with, say, a $500,000 investment per year covering development officers, equipment, administration support, coaching support and facilities development and it would have been paid back many times over...

Sorry to sound like a broken record MP but if your going to add liverpool then please add Bankstown. Moorebank wouldnt exist if not for Bankstown.

Yeah, we've been around since the 1970s too.

[The Student]

The lack of community engagement with the GWS model is something that really has me lost and it really is typified by the Manly sponsorship. I was out there a few weeks ago and it really is terrible the way their jumpers have been hijacked. And make no mistake the players and the oldtimers absolutely hate it. They still refer to themselves very pointedly as the Wolves....

And the sad thing is they wouldn't have had to do much to get real bang for their buck. They could have funded five existing proud senior clubs (Campbelltown, Penrith, Liverpool, Parramatta and Camden) with, say, a $500,000 investment per year covering development officers, equipment, administration support, coaching support and facilities development and it would have been paid back many times over...

Which local clubs do your beloved Swans give money to? Or lift a finger for, for that matter?

[tara]

Student the Swans dont care about local footy but they have never pretended to either. They do not play favourites with local clubs. GWS in their infinite wisdom decided to get involved and when they did couldnt have picked a club further from their demographic.

[Mug Punter]

Student the Swans dont care about local footy but they have never pretended to either. They do not play favourites with local clubs. GWS in their infinite wisdom decided to get involved and when they did couldnt have picked a club further from their demographic.

Apologis for not commenting on Bankstown

I disagree in terms of the Swans, I think the Swans have always tried to develop the game as much as possible whilst still bearing in mind it is the NSWAFL's responsibility to grow the game.

But in the case of GWS you would have thought that, given they need to grow a new supporter base pretty much from scratch, and that they are funded massively to do so, that they would have embraced the courted the local community rather that a team so outside their demographic it isn't funny.

Also in response to Peanut's prior response, the Swans academy's level of investment is many times that of GWS and most of that benefits the Sydney clubs in its catchment zone.....

[The Student]

Apologis for not commenting on Bankstown

I disagree in terms of the Swans, I think the Swans have always tried to develop the game as much as possible whilst still bearing in mind it is the NSWAFL's responsibility to grow the game.

But in the case of GWS you would have thought that, given they need to grow a new supporter base pretty much from scratch, and that they are funded massively to do so, that they would have embraced the courted the local community rather that a team so outside their demographic it isn't funny.

Also in response to Peanut's prior response, the Swans academy's level of investment is many times that of GWS and most of that benefits the Sydney clubs in its catchment zone.....

So what you are saying is that the Giants should have handed over six figure sums to local clubs because the Swans run an academy largely for their own benefit? Fair enough, that's a great business plan.

As for the spend on academies, I wasn't able to find any figures for GWS - although I know the Swans spend a lot of money because they love telling everyone about how civic minded and magnanimous they are every time their little setup gets threatened, so I'll have to take your word that there is a significant difference between the two. After all, you do know everything.

[saviour01]

I disagree about handing over 6 figure sums to local clubs, but it is a bad look when they hand over 50k to a non local club. The worst part is the Manly people still pretend they are the wolves.

[Mug Punter]

I disagree about handing over 6 figure sums to local clubs, but it is a bad look when they hand over 50k to a non local club. The worst part is the Manly people still pretend they are the wolves.

Is it that much?

Hard to blame Manly for taking the cash really but there should be serious questions about why they are sponsoring a club that is in the Swans academy footprint

A truly insane decision...

[mountainsofpain]

So what you are saying is that the Giants should have handed over six figure sums to local clubs because the Swans run an academy largely for their own benefit? Fair enough, that's a great business plan.

Actually, no.

The argument is that if the clowns at the Giants are going to pump resources into local senior football, then it should go into the geographical area that they are supposed to represent, not the northern beaches.

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I disagree about handing over 6 figure sums to local clubs, but it is a bad look when they hand over 50k to a non local club. The worst part is the Manly people still pretend they are the wolves.

Tell me that's not true. Please.

[Footy Barista]

Manly received no money from the Giants that's the biggest load of garbage

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I disagree about handing over 6 figure sums to local clubs, but it is a bad look when they hand over 50k to a non local club. The worst part is the Manly people still pretend they are the wolves.

What a crock of crap manly got no coin u idiot

[tara]

Manly received no money from the Giants that's the biggest load of garbage

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What a crock of crap manly got no coin u idiot

I have no idea regarding $ and don't doubt physical cash wasn't involved however no one changes their identity for nix. At the very least all of their on and off field apparel would have been covered. Given its blk branded and 5 teams are involved that alone would be around the 25 k amount so I'd say the 50k figure being bandied about may have some substance.

[Mug Punter]

Actually, no.

The argument is that if the clowns at the Giants are going to pump resources into local senior football, then it should go into the geographical area that they are supposed to represent, not the northern beaches.

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Tell me that's not true. Please.

The Student seems to have little concept of grass roots football living in his Sydney University Bubble, quite sad really that he cannot even see the idiocy of the GWS sponsorship of Manly and thinks that GWS has no responsibility to Western Sydney at all.

He really is quite hard to follow at times, his kneejerk reaction to attack everything I say sees him contradicting himself on a regular basis.

Quite bizarre logic really for such a learned fellow

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I have no idea regarding $ and don't doubt physical cash wasn't involved however no one changes their identity for nix. At the very least all of their on and off field apparel would have been covered. Given its blk branded and 5 teams are involved that alone would be around the 25 k amount so I'd say the 50k figure being bandied about may have some substance.

There is hardcore dissent down at Weldon re this so there must be a compelling business case, I am reasonably good mates with one of their stalwarts and he absolutely hates it....

But it aint hard to stack up the numbers. 150 jumpers @ $100 each = $15,000 plus their branded shorts, t shirts etc and it isn't hard to get soft assistance close to the $25K.