Camden Valley

[Rafters]

I heard a whisper that a few clubs are a bit disgruntled with the Sydney AFL & are considering affiliating with the Camden Valley comp next year.

What's the story guys? Anyone care to elaborate a bit more?

[shearer]

Rafters were you running around in the Magoos for Wollongong yesterday?

[Norris Lurker]

Does such a league exist?

[Rafters]

Originally posted by shearer
Rafters were you running around in the Magoos for Wollongong yesterday?

Sure was.

[Rafters]

Originally posted by Norris Lurker
Does such a league exist?

All I know is that Peter Free ex Wests, Campbelltown & SWS is coaching a side in a comp down there.

[william wallace]

Re: Camden Valley

Originally posted by Rafters
I heard a whisper that a few clubs are a bit disgruntled with the Sydney AFL & are considering affiliating with the Camden Valley comp next year.

What's the story guys? Anyone care to elaborate a bit more?

What has prompted thier state of mind? Standard of play? Umpiring? Discrepancy between top and bottom teams? One could assume campbelltown would be a little sick of losing. Though i have to say i saw campbelltown play earlier in the year, they have plenty to look forward to. Plenty of young talent, they just need to ensure that no one poaches them!

[Norris Lurker]

Originally posted by Rafters
All I know is that Peter Free ex Wests, Campbelltown & SWS is coaching a side in a comp down there.

There is a Camden club playing in the South Coast AFL, but that's not going to help any club not happy in Sydney unless they're looking at jumping to the South Coast league.

[Rafters]

Re: Re: Camden Valley

Originally posted by william wallace
What has prompted thier state of mind? Standard of play? Umpiring? Discrepancy between top and bottom teams? One could assume campbelltown would be a little sick of losing. Though i have to say i saw campbelltown play earlier in the year, they have plenty to look forward to. Plenty of young talent, they just need to ensure that no one poaches them!

Didn't here Campbelltown's name (nor any other SFL club) mentioned - but a few SFA Div1 & Div 2 clubs mentioned ... apparently they are sick of paying high affiliation fees without substantial benefits?? Lack of umpires in their respective comps??? Diffeerence between first & last an issue as well.

[william wallace]

Re: Re: Re: Camden Valley

Originally posted by Rafters
Didn't here Campbelltown's name (nor any other SFL club) mentioned - but a few SFA Div1 & Div 2 clubs mentioned ... apparently they are sick of paying high affiliation fees without substantial benefits?? Lack of umpires in their respective comps??? Diffeerence between first & last an issue as well.

A fair point on the umpires i'd say. A friend of mine plays in div2 seniors and said that at times they have had to have a player from each team put on white shirts and umpire. the umpires then swapped at each quarter break. This may be unavoidable, but if league affiliation costs are high, i would assume that these clubs would not be too happy.

[msabenny]

Who were the clubs involved Rafters?

[Rafters]

Originally posted by msabenny
Who were the clubs involved Rafters?

Prefer not to say as it was not necessarily the most reliable source in the world & wouldn't want to put my foot in it if rumour is false.

[tara]

Rumour are not false. Cronulla, South West and other have spoken. Sick to death of being screwed by the league. Why play fees to the league when you are lucky to get one over officious full of self worth small dick individual with no umpiring skills show up.

All the Western Sydney clubs want is to see where our money goes and for decent services to be provided.

Last weekend the under 18s at gipps road had plenty of umpires. The ressies game that followed had none except for a parramatta official/CHEAT. What transpired in that game was a digrace. If Holroyd take pleasure in winning by cheating good luck to them.

Pete just as J for a run down.

[Norris Lurker]

Welcome to RWO Tara, and in particular to the local footy board. You've posted some great stuff on the Sydney AFL on BigFooty, so it's good to have you on here.

I wasn't at Gipps Rd last weekend, but it's a bit strange if they can't get at least one field umpire. I know umpires are hard to find, but possibly they could look at spreading them around a bit more. If the home club's officials are umpiring, then that's a recipe for disaster.

[tara]

Welcome

Thanks Norris for the welcome.

I just find it frustrating the lack of support clubs receive from the AFL. Im 34 now and my body is shot. I enjoyed the game last week playing in the centre for the ressies but copped a big hit and at the time just shrugged it off but my back has been stuffed all week since. Its pretty hard pulling up after each game these days.

The sad thing is that since I started at Bankstown around '91 is that the game seems to be going backward up here. I know that Auskick is taking off but senior footy if really struggling badly. At the Bombers at that time we had strong junior numbers and under 20's side and plenty of senior players now with merged side 25 to training is a good night. Id love to just sit back now and be a spectator but would feel guilty not pulling on the boots and trying to keep the club going. Hopefully with a non playing committee for 2006 we will be able to move forward again.

Id really like to be able to get involved in the Blacktown area if a club was to take off when I stop playing. Never in a coaching capacity but a support role assisting with fittness and matchdays. That way I could stay involved keep fit but not have to travel too much either. As it is ive lived in Illawong, Revesby, Cronulla, Blacktown and now Quakers Hill and only played for the one club (Bankstown - SWS). Id be nice not travelled 40+ minutes to and from training.

Regards

Mark

[Northern_Swan]

On the issue of Umpires, its pretty common practice around the traps to have Umpire number troubles. Up here in the BDAFL, we too have troubles with numbers and generally the association does one of two things-
1- the Under 18 Umpires do the Reserve grade fixture also
2- Club umpires (i.e one from each club) officiate.
Either way it has gone without trouble. In saying that you have to find 2 fair dinkum guys to do the game.
What the clubs want to happen (but so far the umpires assocaiation has not agreed to) is have one official run with either club member to mentor them and perhaps assist in their recruitment. The theory is that if the club guys become more competent & confident, they will feel compelled to cross over to the orange shirt brigade and give something back (other than sinking tinnies & remembering how good they thought they were!)