top-up players

[google]

who have been the star performers if any?

any a chance to get a few more games and possibly play finals or even gain a spot on the list at yrs end

[SimonH]

I presume that many of the brighter stars, e.g. Ediriwickrama, have been in action with the amazingly successful NSW/ACT U/18 side over the last few weeks, and will start filtering back into the 2nds shortly. Not to mention Swan-in-waiting Craig Bird.

[liz]

I suspect the way so many of these kids - not the brightest NSW prospects recently, as Simon points out - have come in and looked so comfortable with the reserves is an indictment on the standard of competition they are playing in.

It is hard to imagine U18 kids in Victoria who don't make their U18 squads having any chance of making an impact at VFL level. Most would probably look out of place at VFL reserves level.

I've been a relative supporter of the current reserves arrangements but I am beginning to change my mind. I still think it is better to have them all playing together, rather than farming them out to different ACTAFL clubs, or having a dozen play with a VFL affiliate and the rest playing in the Sydney league. But the fact that the second placed team going into the round was only able to muster 2 goals all game is dreadful.

I really hope the AFL is seriously looking at reviving a reserves competition, at least for the Eastern teams. Or alternatively, that they or the club is looking at how the second tier competitions across Sydney, the ACT, southern NSW and maybe even Queensland can be strengthened.

We are slowly seeing increased participation at senior school level locally. The apprenticeship scheme might help, especially since many of those apprentices won't make it onto AFL lists, at least in the short term. But it will take another decade, I suspect, before the quality of players playing local senior football will improve noticeably. And even if they do, they will remain a strictly amateur league for a long long time to come, rather than making the move to the semi-professional set-ups in Victoria, SA and WA.

[ugg]

There was an article in one of the 3 major papers that said the AFL has ruled out a return of a AFL reserves comp. They mentioned that Carlton would be ending their relationship with Northern Bullants and Collingwood may do the same with Williamstown and field their own sides.

[ROK Lobster]

Rumour here is for a Canberra/Sydney/NSW (maybe even SE Qld) comp to get up and running. Heard it from a player so do not know if it is simply being touted around as a good idea, or if it is genuinely being considered,developed etc.

[barry]

Rumour here is for a Canberra/Sydney/NSW (maybe even SE Qld) comp to get up and running. Heard it from a player so do not know if it is simply being touted around as a good idea, or if it is genuinely being considered,developed etc.

That seems logical. Canberra could produces 2 or 3 sides of enough quality. Get one more from greater Sydney, and a 3 or 4 from South East Queensland (including lions 2nds), and we'd have a decent comp of about 8 teams.
Stagger the draw so you play teams in your own state more often, and travel requirements would reduce, and Sydney/Canberra to Brisbane is only 1 hour plan trip.

[ugg]

That seems logical. Canberra could produces 2 or 3 sides of enough quality. Get one more from greater Sydney, and a 3 or 4 from South East Queensland (including lions 2nds), and we'd have a decent comp of about 8 teams.
Stagger the draw so you play teams in your own state more often, and travel requirements would reduce, and Sydney/Canberra to Brisbane is only 1 hour plan trip.

And what do you propose happens to the Canberra clubs that don't get included? Go away and fold nicely? I have my doubts that this kind of competition could get off the ground.