Swans reserves to join VFL as a stand alone outfit

[floppinab]

Why should the Swans be held accountable for developing the game in NSW, that is the job of the NSW/ACTAFL.

But don't you think if the Swans put their hand up and helped develop the Sydney AFL to standard good enough to help develop younger players (a relative standard that it was at prior to the Swans arriving in Sydney), that would be just as good as putting them anywhere else???

[Robbo]

How is thrashing sides each week and ridding the competition of unpredictability "developing" the league?

[hammo]

How is thrashing sides each week and ridding the competition of unpredictability "developing" the league?

It could be argued that the Swans' presence lifts the standard of the competition. Other posters have indicated how Canberra players tend to lift to test themselves against AFL standard players.

[Push The Limits]

Development of the players is priority

For the future of the Swans, the Reserves need to be playing against better opposition each week.

There is no way the "youngsters" would get better by plaing against the Queensland teams as that competition is slightly better than the Sydney and Canberra comps. I live on the Gold Coast and see the standard of the Qld teams. Sure they have good youngsters and players but even their better players need to leave by either being drafted or play in other states like SA or WA to get better.

This is what having the Swans youngsters playing in a better standard each week is all about.

Now about the reasoning that the Reserves would be getting beaten every week if they play in the VFL. Just remember that the other Victorian AFL clubs would have similar lists to the Swans so a mixture of players so the games would be a better measure of the talent of the players either on the list or rookies.

Our developing players need exposure to the better standard of opposition and every week to help in their development. It gives the coaches a better look at the players and their potential against similar players who are also trying to get into their respective senior ranks.

The Reserves would be challenged each week even against non AFL aligned sides who have picked up de-listed players like Spriggs and Cloke etc.

Bottom line question is how else will the current future of the Swannies -Brabazon, Thornton, Laidlaw, Moore, Phillips, Grundy, Schmidt, Jack, Faulks, Currie, O'Keefe, Simkin, White, Nick Smith, Rowe, Barlow, Brennan, O'Dwyer and Shaw ever get better skills etc and achieve their full potential????

I'm sick of hearing the Melbourne "Experts" say each week that the Swannies are in real trouble because of their lack of depth. Then they wonder aloud when Barlow makes his senior debut and plays well.

We have real talent in the reserves and it needs to be given a chance for the cream to get to the top. Not all of the above I have listed will get there but for god's sake, let's give them a chance by playing in a better standard.

Last point to prove what I'm saying. Look at the listed players who play in the WAFL and SANFL each week. That's why their youngsters are ready to go when they get the chance.

I say get the Swans Reserves into the BEST COMP possible as the Swannies will be the beneficiaries.

[AnnieH]

Yeah, what he (or she) said.

[Robbo]

Most of the blokes who are drafted from states other than NSW are drafted from stronger competitions than the Canberra amateurs, which means when they are drafted, they are put into a weaker competition. This is the worst possible scenario for a draftee but it's reality for us.

[hammo]

I'm sick of hearing the Melbourne "Experts" say each week that the Swannies are in real trouble because of their lack of depth. Then they wonder aloud when Barlow makes his senior debut and plays well.

Last point to prove what I'm saying. Look at the listed players who play in the WAFL and SANFL each week. That's why their youngsters are ready to go when they get the chance.

I don't necessarily disagree, but you've just contradicted yourself.

If the ACTAFL is so crap, why are players like Barlow able to debut and prove they are immediately up to speed just like the WA & SA players you refer to?

[Robbo]

I don't necessarily disagree, but you've just contradicted yourself.

If the ACTAFL is so crap, why are players like Barlow able to debut and prove they are immediately up to speed just like the WA & SA players you refer to?

I wouldn't say Barlow was totally up to speed. Looked very slow in round 21 against the Pies and panicked when he got the ball.

[Push The Limits]

I don't necessarily disagree, but you've just contradicted yourself.

If the ACTAFL is so crap, why are players like Barlow able to debut and prove they are immediately up to speed just like the WA & SA players you refer to?

Are you saying the ACTAFL is a good grounding for the Swans Reserves, Hammo?

Its not that I have contradicted myself, hammo, but as I said cream will come to the top even under the worst of scenarios. I'm not saying Barlow is ready but players like him need to be given the best possible opportunity.

Canberra Comp is going nowhere fast with the loss of the Riverina teams and others struggling and what we the Swans supporters want is a better chance for our youngsters to be give a half a chance.

Its alright to train with the Seniors but you need to be able to show your wares under game conditions against higher standard teams and players. Currently our youngsters don't get that chance given the low turnover of the seniors for whatever reason.

That's all I am saying.

[hammo]

what we the Swans supporters want is a better chance for our youngsters to be give a half a chance.

We all want that but the club, publicly at least, says it's more beneficial for the reserves to be playing together and coached by Swans personnel rather than being farmed out to an aligned VFL team.

If its financially viable for a stand alone Swans team to play in the VFL, then I'm in favour as long as it doesn't send us broke. The club will be weighing up the advantages of such a move as opposed to the cost.

One outcome I wouldn't want is for the Swans to play away every week in the VFL... then we miss out on seeing our young players in action altogether. I wouldn't be surprised if the VFL has this option in mind.

[ScottH]

Based on results in the Canberra GF, we would get slaughtered in the VFL.

After seeing the way the Tigers played in the GF, and the shocking disposal, I think the Swans Reserves would be able to hold their own in the VFL.

[goswannie14]

One outcome I wouldn't want is for the Swans to play away every week in the VFL... then we miss out on seeing our young players in action altogether. I wouldn't be surprised if the VFL has this option in mind.

Why would that happen with us when it doesn't happen with Tassie?

[Glenn]

That's why there is a draft

Yes we get young players in the draft, but are they really going to develop playing the likes of Canberra Wildcats etc, when the leagues they are coming from are more likely then not stronger.

[Glenn]

But don't you think if the Swans put their hand up and helped develop the Sydney AFL to standard good enough to help develop younger players (a relative standard that it was at prior to the Swans arriving in Sydney), that would be just as good as putting them anywhere else???

It would take alot more than what the Swans can do to achieve that IMHO.

[Donners]

A Werribee official was quoted in the front page of the Werribee Banner saying that they would be happy to talk to Sydney about an affiliation. Would be brilliant for me - I could just wander down to the ground every couple of weeks to see the Swans kids running around.

I still remember the days of watching Gerrard Bennett tearing up the VFL a few years back. Wonder what happened to him...