comings and goings for Season 2022

[justabaraker]

Time to start getting excited about the new season....it's shaping up to be a full and uninterrupted one....hooray !! So, who is coming and going ?

North Shore and ECE have apparently lost theirs....two of the best credentialled coaches that we've had for a while, but they never got to show their best.
Penno has promoted the assistant from the past few years.

What have you heard ?

[Norris Lurker]

Can confirm both North Shore and East Coast are looking for Prems coaches. Lloyd Perris & Damien Truslove both joining the Giants coaching staff.
They'd be attractive gigs for any aspiring coach.

[Blinkers28]

Southern Power announced their Senior men’s and women’s coaches today, Dean Rawlinson and Rhys Vance.

[justabaraker]

And for those with long memories, Michael Byrne has been appointed as the new coach of Fiji Rugby.
He played for Hawthorn, then Swans, then North Shore and coached them for a while in the early 90s...did he win them a premiership ?.....while presenting on one of the two very entertaining Saturday morning AFL Sydney footy chat shows on community radio.

How unlikely is it that we would have two radio programmes now ?

[bomber.]

How unlikely is it that we would have two radio programmes now ?

There’s a lot of work to do to get back to the level of exposure we had even 10 years ago. 2 radio programs would be a dream - plus regular articles, TV etc Takes us back pre NSW/ACT AFL.

The AFL pats itself on the back about the promotion of the game, but it only really translates to the promotion of the AFL itself.
The promotion of the game in NSW/ACT is a joke.

Bombers hove lost 6 quality kids interstate in 2 years, on top of another 8 or so players under 26 gone to state league interstate. Not the only club in that position.

Recruiters now actively targeting our comp because the quality of players has improved and the kids translate really well to state league. The kids also don’t have a decent local option.

Re coaches, the question isn’t which prem clubs are changing men’s coaches, it’s which clubs aren’t.

My understanding is that only one or two clubs are retaining 2021 coaches. A couple have been ‘drafted’, but the reality is the effort/reward trade off doesn’t work in Sydney AFL, so clubs keep turning coaches over.

Can’t keep quality young players in Sydney and can’t keep coaches. Don’t need a points system. All we need is ongoing inept management from the AFL.

The standard at the top of the comp will fall again from where it got to 2020, so great news, competition equalization is working. Good work, going well.

[justabaraker]

"There’s a lot of work to do to get back to the level of exposure we had even 10 years ago. 2 radio programs would be a dream - plus regular articles, TV etc Takes us back pre NSW/ACT AFL.

The AFL pats itself on the back about the promotion of the game, but it only really translates to the promotion of the AFL itself.
The promotion of the game in NSW/ACT is a joke.

Bombers hove lost 6 quality kids interstate in 2 years, on top of another 8 or so players under 26 gone to state league interstate. Not the only club in that position.

Recruiters now actively targeting our comp because the quality of players has improved and the kids translate really well to state league. The kids also don’t have a decent local option".


It's a fair point that you make, Bomber - your club has seen the comings and goings over the past couple of years more than most.
But I'm going to defend that AFL here...which must be a FIRST on RWO ! We breed the kids here, fatten them up to be capable and marketable, but then there's nowhere much for them to go - a couple a year might go in the AFL draft, a few more might make it to NEAFL>VFL, but most either have to go interstate or lose interest altogether.
The AFL is trying to set up viable 'pathways' but the sad truth is that there are very few ways to the top if ya wanna rock'n'roll.
I'm thinking that as more and more kids take up AFL, that there will be a better infrastructure, better pathways to an AFL career. But the whole process has been upset by the lack of continuity due to COVID.
I wished I could have seen more of your Bombers over the past two seasons because there were some seriously exciting players and coaches.

[mrns]

SydneyAFL would have to be the most under represented premier AFL league in Australia when it comes to the draft. Don't think a single player was drafted from NSW last two days. There is large a gap that needs to be bridged in this state.

Lets see if any players get lucky in the rookie draft at 3pm today, Luke Parks was a pleasant surprise last year via Glenelg.

[Mr Magoo]

Canberra / Sydney/ Northern NSW should be aiming to have a standalone VFL team. At least then the kids can aim for something outside of the Swans system. As it stands Swans VFL will take a handful of swans kids post academy and the rest just miss out or have no choice but to go interstate if they want to continue their AFL journey . Even amongst those kids taken into the VFL squad last year , only a few got consecutive games (covid didnt help of course) and they are always going to play second fiddle to the development needs of the Swans senior list.

Surely there is enough talent between the canberra / sydney/ north coast leagues to have a vfl team that could draw from those two leagues .

[Pekay]

Until the RAMS get a permanent gig back at 18/19 level against Victorians like the old VSFL and TAC Cup formats, we aren't going to see local names at all.

[Jupiter]

There’s a lot of work to do to get back to the level of exposure we had even 10 years ago. 2 radio programs would be a dream - plus regular articles, TV etc Takes us back pre NSW/ACT AFL.

The AFL pats itself on the back about the promotion of the game, but it only really translates to the promotion of the AFL itself.
The promotion of the game in NSW/ACT is a joke.

Bombers hove lost 6 quality kids interstate in 2 years, on top of another 8 or so players under 26 gone to state league interstate. Not the only club in that position.

Recruiters now actively targeting our comp because the quality of players has improved and the kids translate really well to state league. The kids also don’t have a decent local option.

Re coaches, the question isn’t which prem clubs are changing men’s coaches, it’s which clubs aren’t.

My understanding is that only one or two clubs are retaining 2021 coaches. A couple have been ‘drafted’, but the reality is the effort/reward trade off doesn’t work in Sydney AFL, so clubs keep turning coaches over.

Can’t keep quality young players in Sydney and can’t keep coaches. Don’t need a points system. All we need is ongoing inept management from the AFL.

The standard at the top of the comp will fall again from where it got to 2020, so great news, competition equalization is working. Good work, going well.

This is a spot on assessment. Covid and less $ in the AFL coffers was the latest excuse for them to provide no vision, no leadership and no execution off the back of what I understand were a bunch of consultant reports and surveys telling clubs what they know and providing no solutions. Justa - very defeatist assessment your side, drafted or bust is just not good enough - local clubs and competitions in Sydney ought to have a meaningful role in footy development - they do anyway, DESPITE the league, whose disinterest is shameful.

[Old Puppy]

You have to feel for the clubs who continue to loose under 23-25 talent interstate or too the VFL for higher standard opportunities, unfortunately AFL Locally has indicated a higher competition structure but waiting until 2024 when the local competition standard and exposure is expected to be lower than the last couple years at least.
For those who have not seen the new 2022 VFL rules pertaining to list sizes, AFL clubs have a list of 30 (GWS/Swans) made up 15 primary/15 development (Under 22 of which a minimum 7 development listed must play in the team of 23 game day.
Those involved at club land cannot wait until the 30 development players are selected, expecting the a high percentage will come from community clubs. But there's more............
Clubs can make up to 16 list changes during home and away season (6 Primary, 10 Development) and the kicker is.......
with any player signed after 30th June needing to play 3 games to qualify for finals.
For those bit slow on uptake here - GWS & Swans can take any player after 30th June and add too their list- those could come from anywhere but given local proximity to AFL community footy it would be fair to assume the better performing clubs may loose players leading into their local finals campaigns.
VFL is a 18 game season with GF scheduled week before AFL GF, 3 weeks after local comp finishes.

Finally, happy early XMAS for those clubs who will soon receive the annual "HAND OUT" wrapped up as "competition balance" or otherwise known as AFL Sydney PPS Policy for 2022.

Bring it on......

[Pmcc2911]

***UNSW-ES BULLDOGS APPOINT PREMIERSHIP LEADERS TO HEAD COACHING ROLES IN SEASON 2022***
The UNSW-Eastern Suburbs AFL Club is pleased to announce the appointment of Darren Pfeiffer, and Tom Williamson and Cameron McKinlay, as Men’s and Women’s Premier Division head coaches for seasons 2022 and 2023.
Darren returns to the Club after lead coaching roles with the NT Academy and the AFL for the last four years, and needs no introduction to local football followers, having been both the assistant coach and a premiership player in our 2019 Men's Premier Division premiership win. A former AFL and SANFL star during an illustrious playing career, Darren holds a Level 3 coaching accreditation and is well credentialed to take on the role of Men's Premier Division Head Coach as we work towards a state-based NSW competition in 2024. Darren's belief in Sydney footy brings him back to the Bulldogs with lasting experience from his time in NT, as well as at elite levels within the SANFL and AFL competitions. In welcoming Darren back to our Club, President Stephen Dunkley also announced the establishment of the “Eastern Suburbs AFL Academy”, which will aim to fast-track talented boys and girls in preparation for the state-based competition in 2024. Darren will lead this program - underpinned by our partner at UNSW - with a clear aim to align Academia & Sporting excellence.
We are also thrilled to announce that Tom Williamson and Cameron McKinlay will lead our Women's Premier Division program. Both Tom and Cameron are well known locally (Willo and Weavers!) and bring the experience of both premierships and senior football coaching to our women's group. Having coached our 2020 Men's Premier Division Reserves team to ultimate success, both are looking to bring this experience to our developing talent list at the Bulldogs. "We are extremely excited to be given the opportunity to lead the women’s program, with a keen eye on the 2024 state competition opportunity, along with a clear focus on continuing the Club’s strong pathway program to AFLW", said Tom.
In other exciting news, former Sydney Swan and UNSW-ES legend Jake Brown will continue to lead our Under 19 program, ably assisted by Steve Chichester, Rob Cheval, John Naiman, and Tim Atkins, and will proudly field two teams in the 2022 competition.

[justabaraker]

"...in preparation for the state-based competition in 2024....''

Can someone fill us in on what that will be ? Other commentators on this post have wished that we could have a better plan for the best and brightest, and now it seems that something is in the planning stage.
BRING IT ON !!

[Pmcc2911]

As I understand it ( still in the planning stage), the top 4 Sydney AFL Prems team (men and women) will join with the top 4 ACT teams to form a state league.
By taking the top 4 Prems teams out of the Sydney comp ( and effectively replacing them with reserve grade teams) should make the overall comp more competitive.
The State league should provide a stronger comp so the upper level players don’t have to go interstate.

- - - Updated - - -

[Blinkers28]

Be interesting to see how the ‘top 4’ is determined, provided it goes ahead as what Pmc has alluded to.

Would it be the top 4 of 2023? Which could be hypothetically Inner West, East Coast, UTS and Manly. Or ‘top 4’ based on recent results i.e. UNSW, Syd Uni, North Shore and Penno.