Season 2016 - early days

[ShortHalfHead]

Penrith had a couple of games on the weekend. We had a mixture of Div3/5 players play Mac Uni's D4 side. They had around 30 and we had about 25. No real scores recorded but Mac Uni got on top in the second half and got up by about 4 goals. The Div 2/3 side played Maitland who had around 23 players to Penrith's 25 with Penrith getting up by just under 4 goals unofficially. Great to have both clubs come to Greygums and both games played in great spirit. Hot day with good rotations and some weary bodies by the end of the day

[saviour01]

Things still aren't real healthy in clubland away from the Unis and the Hills district are they?

St George have gone from 3 teams to 5 this season. Not bad. As the person organising the div 4 side though I was hoping to pick up some of those extra 19s every now and then. Good for the club though.

[ShortHalfHead]

Similar on social media - AFL Sydney's Facebook & Twitter have been quiet lately. Hopefully that will pick up when the season gets up & running - social media is great for drumming up publicity and getting messages out there, you get instant feedback, and it doesn't cost a cent.

Agreed it has been quiet. In comparison (I was bored) Black Diamond has posted 7 items since March 10 on their website (Vs 1). 35 on Twitter (Vs 1) and 37 on Facebook (Vs 1)

[Mug Punter]

St George have gone from 3 teams to 5 this season. Not bad. As the person organising the div 4 side though I was hoping to pick up some of those extra 19s every now and then. Good for the club though.

Agreed and good luck for 2016

[Steamboat]

Must be falling apart at Wests, withdrawing from Div 3 and with back to back premiers in 19/2 not providing any numbers or momentum having to form a JV.

With Holroyd Parra losing two games last year (plus the GF) with a % of 400+ and West and SWS JV (these teams finished 1 & 3) wonder who will be the favourites for the flag in 19/2?

- - - Updated - - -

Watched the Norths vs UNSW 19's trial on Sat (allowing for both teams to have players coming back) UNSW looked very skilful and were very competitive.

Disappointing with the current numbers situation but a decision needed to be made on the u19s and DIV 3 rather than dragging out the inevitable.Too many players from both teams as well as the a few from grades above would not commit to playing in 2016.

Some have started apprenticeships with bosses that have no liking of AFL or footy of any code, others have started their own businesses or are tradies and Saturday work is a requirement or offers too much money to turn down.I have no doubt we would have 10-20 more players this year if we played Sundays like the old days but we don't.

As for the JV, it will give those that want to, or can play footy on Saturdays an avenue to run around and stay in the system rather than be lost to the game ,and with a bit of work, 2017 should see better numbers coming through.

On a brighter note, Wests Prems were more than competitive against Penno and led into the last qtr before losing by single figures.

MP, you have been posting since 2009 and i am finding it hard to find a post that has not attacked,a player, coach ,club or committee or the game in general, why do you bother, i am sure you could find something better to do with your time.

[Footy Barista]

Disappointing with the current numbers situation but a decision needed to be made on the u19s and DIV 3 rather than dragging out the inevitable.Too many players from both teams as well as the a few from grades above would not commit to playing in 2016.

Some have started apprenticeships with bosses that have no liking of AFL or footy of any code, others have started their own businesses or are tradies and Saturday work is a requirement or offers too much money to turn down.I have no doubt we would have 10-20 more players this year if we played Sundays like the old days but we don't.

As for the JV, it will give those that want to, or can play footy on Saturdays an avenue to run around and stay in the system rather than be lost to the game ,and with a bit of work, 2017 should see better numbers coming through.

On a brighter note, Wests Prems were more than competitive against Penno and led into the last qtr before losing by single figures.

MP, you have been posting since 2009 and i am finding it hard to find a post that has not attacked,a player, coach ,club or committee or the game in general, why do you bother, i am sure you could find something better to do with your time.

He clearly had a run in with Kev Eneyaud at North Shore back in the day, its all personal.

[Chicken Legs]

UNSW to play out of Kelso for the season?

True or False?

[ShortHalfHead]

UNSW to play out of Kelso for the season?

True or False?

Some games - Here is PD draw

1 02/04/16 (Sat) 14:10 Waverley Oval UTS Bats View
2 09/04/16 (Sat) 14:30 Mortgage Choice Oval North Shore Bombers View
3 16/04/16 (Sat) BYE BYE
4 23/04/16 (Sat) 16:30 BISP No 1 St George Dragons View
5 30/04/16 (Sat) 17:00 Mike Kenny Oval (Greenway Park) Pennant Hills Demons View
6 07/05/16 (Sat) Henson Park Manly Warringah Giants View
7 14/05/16 (Sat) 15:00 Sydney Uni No 1 Oval Sydney University View
8 28/05/16 (Sat) Henson Park East Coast Eagles View
9 04/06/16 (Sat) Kelso Oval Western Suburbs Magpies View
10 18/06/16 (Sat) 14:00 Olds Park St George Dragons View
11 25/06/16 (Sat) 14:30 Weldon Oval Manly Warringah Giants View
12 02/07/16 (Sat) Kelso Oval North Shore Bombers View
13 09/07/16 (Sat) Blacktown ISP Pennant Hills Demons View
14 16/07/16 (Sat) 14:30 Blacktown ISP Western Suburbs Magpies View
15 30/07/16 (Sat) Blacktown ISP UTS Bats View
16 06/08/16 (Sat) 14:00 Kanebridge Oval East Coast Eagles View
17 13/08/16 (Sat) Kelso Oval Sydney University View
18 20/08/16 (Sat) BYE BYE

[Mug Punter]

Some games - Here is PD draw

1 02/04/16 (Sat) 14:10 Waverley Oval UTS Bats View
2 09/04/16 (Sat) 14:30 Mortgage Choice Oval North Shore Bombers View
3 16/04/16 (Sat) BYE BYE
4 23/04/16 (Sat) 16:30 BISP No 1 St George Dragons View
5 30/04/16 (Sat) 17:00 Mike Kenny Oval (Greenway Park) Pennant Hills Demons View
6 07/05/16 (Sat) Henson Park Manly Warringah Giants View
7 14/05/16 (Sat) 15:00 Sydney Uni No 1 Oval Sydney University View
8 28/05/16 (Sat) Henson Park East Coast Eagles View
9 04/06/16 (Sat) Kelso Oval Western Suburbs Magpies View
10 18/06/16 (Sat) 14:00 Olds Park St George Dragons View
11 25/06/16 (Sat) 14:30 Weldon Oval Manly Warringah Giants View
12 02/07/16 (Sat) Kelso Oval North Shore Bombers View
13 09/07/16 (Sat) Blacktown ISP Pennant Hills Demons View
14 16/07/16 (Sat) 14:30 Blacktown ISP Western Suburbs Magpies View
15 30/07/16 (Sat) Blacktown ISP UTS Bats View
16 06/08/16 (Sat) 14:00 Kanebridge Oval East Coast Eagles View
17 13/08/16 (Sat) Kelso Oval Sydney University View
18 20/08/16 (Sat) BYE BYE

Well that takes the biscuit as one of the dumber decisions in recent history, having a team from Kensington playing "home" games at Bankstown.

At least with the Manly Giants tie up there was a bag of money involved

[Mug Punter]

He clearly had a run in with Kev Eneyaud at North Shore back in the day, its all personal.

His record really does speak for itself doesn't it? And I'm sure that Wests' record will speak for itself as well this season too

It's really hard to chose between his unlosable GF at North Shore and later on at Wests

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MP, you have been posting since 2009 and i am finding it hard to find a post that has not attacked,a player, coach ,club or committee or the game in general, why do you bother, i am sure you could find something better to do with your time.

Thanks for your concern my feathered friend but I'm just fine right now, you've got more than enough on your plate I'd say without worrying about me

[tara]

Well that takes the biscuit as one of the dumber decisions in recent history, having a team from Kensington playing "home" games at Bankstown.

At least with the Manly Giants tie up there was a bag of money involved

Not the first time that a ground thru no fault of a club has been temporarily unavailable.

Must say though it will be a huge change for them after running around on postage stamps all these years to a ground of Kelso's size.

[Coastal Boy]

With all due respect to UNSW, how does a local council justify a team from the other side of Sydney using their limited playing amenities? Grounds cost a lot to maintain and I'd be furious if I supported a local sporting team which couldn't get a good ground in this council. Admittedly it is only a few games though.
Has the AFL put money into Kelso to secure it for AFL use?

[andreww1]

With all due respect to UNSW, how does a local council justify a team from the other side of Sydney using their limited playing amenities? Grounds cost a lot to maintain and I'd be furious if I supported a local sporting team which couldn't get a good ground in this council. Admittedly it is only a few games though.
Has the AFL put money into Kelso to secure it for AFL use?

There are other sports eyeing Kelso off so it is a good thing that UNSW are using it otherwise it could be lost to AFL. SWSydney use it occasionally as has St.George, plus the relaunched Bankstown juniors. But definitely not on a regular or complete basis. So the more AFL games there the better.
We played a couple of practice matches there this pre-season and it is in superb condition - like a bowling green. Probably best surface in Sydney. Combine that with its size and you will get plenty of fast and free flowing football played there.

[Pekay]

Thought it strange that we are playing UNSW at Blacktown in July....I'm glad it's not Kelso, too old for that ground.

[ShortHalfHead]

Thought it strange that we are playing UNSW at Blacktown in July....I'm glad it's not Kelso, too old for that ground.

Yes, we have 3 games on a day with them at BISP. Almost like a home game for us. We used Kelso last year for a trial. It was pretty cheap rent for the day and a great surface. When you see what they charge for Mahoney/Henson for the day, can't blame them for going West.

The Dogs were smart to schedule Pekay's game at BISP. Will undoubtedly be a sellout.