2017 Player & Coach Comings and Goings - Who's Going Where?

[Footy Barista]

Always interesting to see who clubs play during their pre-season trial games. Some clubs choose an easy game or two just to make sure they get everything right without too much pressure. And some choose to play quality opposition to test themselves at a higher level. No right or wrong I suppose. Just interesting to see St.George take on Camden again if they basically wasted their time playing against them last year.

Mudgeys career in Sydney has been as a coach only. Coached through the junior system at Baulkho and Sydney Reps, then senior assistant coach at ECE under Rohan Graham, moved to UNSWES and coached them to a Prelim & Grand Final and then onto St.George. He has a very good record of getting teams into finals, prelims and grand finals with only a premiership evading him to this stage. They will head into season 2017 as raging favorites IMO.

From memory he played his footy mainly in Melbourne in a strong metro competition and I have no doubt he would have liked to play tough.

I disagree, North Shore have to be raging Favourites they have recruited heavily and were not far off with their team from last year.

[Jupiter]

I disagree, North Shore have to be raging Favourites they have recruited heavily and were not far off with their team from last year.

Lets hope its a season with more teams challenging and therefore more interest in the possible results week to week. Eagles should still be strong shouldn't they ? Penno is always thereabouts, and I'd be surprised if all of Bats, Sydney Uni and Bulldogs didn't improve too and take a few scalps.

[saviour01]

Always interesting to see who clubs play during their pre-season trial games. Some clubs choose an easy game or two just to make sure they get everything right without too much pressure. And some choose to play quality opposition to test themselves at a higher level. No right or wrong I suppose. Just interesting to see St.George take on Camden again if they basically wasted their time playing against them last year.

As a div 4 coach I'm just looking for people to come along and get some run in their legs. What is it like in the JLT or what ever its called? I'm a league fan and coaches usually send out 50/50 top team players and reserves. Nothing worse than a long injury in a trial match. I was going to say it would probably be tougher on prems players playing an intra club v our reserves. But it would be, we were a point off winning div 1 and heaps of ex u19s have hung around adding more depth. Hopefully div 4 will get some left overs.

They will head into season 2017 as raging favorites IMO.

I agree with Barista and reckon North shore are raging favourites. ECE apparently got some and lost some. Similar with us. But North shore seems to have recruited some quality players without losing much.

[justabaraker]

Lets hope its a season with more teams challenging and therefore more interest in the possible results week to week. Eagles should still be strong shouldn't they ? Penno is always thereabouts, and I'd be surprised if all of Bats, Sydney Uni and Bulldogs didn't improve too and take a few scalps.

You'd have to include StGeorge in your top five wouldn't you ? They've lost a couple but seem to have mostly kept the playing group together. And they always seem to have juniors progressing upwards.
I'm expecting North Shore to be up there, and for Wests to be big improvers after some good recruiting, especially Nick Salter who has been a gun for a few years.
Not so sure about the Eagles - gained Stubbs and Weekes, but lost Dimery and McConnell - they weren't too flash in last weekend's hitout (but maybe that doesn't say much). What worries me about Eagles is that their senior teams are Prems + Div 2 +Div 4 - not sure they would challenge for a flag with such poor depth.

[Footy Barista]

As a div 4 coach I'm just looking for people to come along and get some run in their legs. What is it like in the JLT or what ever its called? I'm a league fan and coaches usually send out 50/50 top team players and reserves. Nothing worse than a long injury in a trial match. I was going to say it would probably be tougher on prems players playing an intra club v our reserves. But it would be, we were a point off winning div 1 and heaps of ex u19s have hung around adding more depth. Hopefully div 4 will get some left overs.



I agree with Barista and reckon North shore are raging favourites. ECE apparently got some and lost some. Similar with us. But North shore seems to have recruited some quality players without losing much.

North Shore are basically the new east coast, poaching players from every club in Sydney and growing at a rapid rate..... I can see them possibly winning premier div 2 and under 19s .....as for the other clubs its a lottery you generally get a gauge round 1....
I wouldn't read into clearances too much in terms of wests and uts we have done this every other year and look what has happened

[justabaraker]

I wouldn't read into clearances too much in terms of wests and uts we have done this every other year and look what has happened

Yes, I should know better...............

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North Shore are basically the new east coast, poaching players from every club in Sydney and growing at a rapid rate.....

And wouldn't it be great if they did an "East Coast" and put some money into ground improvements !

[Tim Freedman]

I'm expecting North Shore to be up there, and for Wests to be big improvers after some good recruiting, especially Nick Salter who has been a gun for a few years. Not so sure about the Eagles - gained Stubbs and Weekes, but lost Dimery and McConnell - they weren't too flash in last weekend's hitout (but maybe that doesn't say much). What worries me about Eagles is that their senior teams are Prems + Div 2 +Div 4 - not sure they would challenge for a flag with such poor depth.

Justa - can you talk me through your statement re ECE having a Div 2 side and not being able to challenge for a flag as it reflects the depth? However in the sentence above that you state North Shore will be up there and yet they also have their reserves in Div 2. Not sure your logic is correct on that one

Personally I believe that it's time Premier Division went back to Seniors, Reserves & U18s. There are now only 4 Premier Division Clubs with a team in Division 1 which is less than half. I would much prefer to go back to the old structure stated above. Still have a Division 1 and all other divisions if that helps to grow the game however our top tier of footy in Sydney needs a review.

And finally ECE were beaten by five goals against Belconnen on the weekend which is ten goals closer than they got last pre-season........... might not be a flash result but it is an improvement on last year!

[justabaraker]

Justa - can you talk me through your statement re ECE having a Div 2 side and not being able to challenge for a flag as it reflects the depth? However in the sentence above that you state North Shore will be up there and yet they also have their reserves in Div 2. Not sure your logic is correct on that one

Yes, I wondered that too when I was checking my typing...but I stuck with it.
Firstly, of the 60+ teams in men's Sydney footy, only three have been relegated from last year - and two of them are ECE teams. You might say that's just a re-adjustment and that might be so, but it means that the lower teams are playing lesser opposition and that doesn't sharpen them up for higher things.
Secondly, Norths and Manly achieved whatever they achieved last year with the same structure that they have this year so will carry on with that. Whereas ECE will have to adjust to diminished reserves and presumably less depth. Compare that to Penno, who now has Prems + Div 1 +Div 2 - presumably stronger depth.
But you can say that depth isn't everything and I would nod my head in agreement.

And now that you've popped your head over the parapet TimF, as one who seems to be up-to-speed on matters Purser, how are you seeing ECE circa 2017 ?

[bomber.]

[QUOTE=Footy Barista;718277]North Shore are basically the new east coast, poaching players from every club in Sydney and growing at a rapid rate

Who do you reckon we've poached and how do you reckon we poached them?

[justabaraker]

Who do you reckon we've poached and how do you reckon we poached them?

I wish you'd poach the groundsman from Purser and send some of your grumpy old men out there to the wide open spaces.

[bomber.]

Yes, I should know better...............

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And wouldn't it be great if they did an "East Coast" and put some money into ground improvements !

Ground redevelopment starts this year. Should be great.

[5yearplan]

I agree on all points there

Justa - can you talk me through your statement re ECE having a Div 2 side and not being able to challenge for a flag as it reflects the depth? However in the sentence above that you state North Shore will be up there and yet they also have their reserves in Div 2. Not sure your logic is correct on that one

Personally I believe that it's time Premier Division went back to Seniors, Reserves & U18s. There are now only 4 Premier Division Clubs with a team in Division 1 which is less than half. I would much prefer to go back to the old structure stated above. Still have a Division 1 and all other divisions if that helps to grow the game however our top tier of footy in Sydney needs a review.

And finally ECE were beaten by five goals against Belconnen on the weekend which is ten goals closer than they got last pre-season........... might not be a flash result but it is an improvement on last year!

[Tim Freedman]

And now that you've popped your head over the parapet TimF, as one who seems to be up-to-speed on matters Purser, how are you seeing ECE circa 2017 ?

ECE have played in 7 grand finals in the last 11 years winning 4 of them. I'm not as close as I used to be, however I would be confident enough to go out on a limb and say they will be around the mark.

I think it is safe to say that the Top 4 will be the usual's with each having a genuine opportunity to win it. Penno, St.George, North Shore, ECE. Then it's open for that 5th opportunity between UTS & Manly IMO.

[ShortHalfHead]

Ground redevelopment starts this year. Should be great.

When does it start, Bomber. Would have to be at end of season, as games scheduled all year

[bomber.]

When does it start, Bomber. Would have to be at end of season, as games scheduled all year

I've heard July. Last game is scheduled for 29/7. So hopefully not before that!!

Last game on the on old deck and the old club rooms is vs St George. Should be a cracking day.