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The standard of the Reserves comp (ACTAFL) has finally bitten us on the posterior.
I knew it would kick in eventually but it was masked due to the fact our Senior players have been so resilient - look at how many of our blokes have played 50-60 in a row.
Comparison:
VFL comp: Kennelly, O'Keefe, Kirk (yep he played for Port Melb.), Fosdike, J.Bolton, Buchanan, Schneider, Doyle (injuries have buggered him), Ablett and LRT. Also some players who played with Port at the same time are: Scott Stevens (no star but OK for Adelaide), Nick Gill (same) and Michael Rix (Saints - not much good though)
ACTAFL: Malceski, Schmidt, Dempster and bugger all else. In fact I'd say that a few players careers have stalled because of it - eg: Moore and I reckon Willoughby might still be with us if he was tested against a better standard.
The rumour is that we will have a team in the VFL next year as the stand alone Sydney Swans - best move the club could make. Stuff the 200K or whatever extra cost there will be. They simply need to get experience in the 2nd best comp in Australia. We have already destroyed the ACTAFL and I simply don't see any other option.
Ask yourself this: if your son was drafted by the Swans where would you like him to learn his trade? We can play all of our Reserves in the VFL plus any promising youngsters from NSW - and in the positions they want to play them. We already have a large rookie list so we should be exposing them to the best level of competition.
This is the most IMPORTANT decision the club will make to decide our future over the next 10-15 years - maybe by then it will be viable to play in a Sydney comp. I struggle to comprehend how players are expected to cope with the jump from ACTAFL to the AFL - too big a gap and almost harsh to expect someone to handle it.
On an unrelated topic - who will be the first club to start recruiting from other countries - besides Ireland? I reckon we should send a talent scout to South Africa - surely we can find some kid with the athletic ability to give a chance. Mark my words - clubs will be scouting in other countries from here on in.
Anyway footy season is over now - all I can say is go Cats....hate all the others.....
I knew it would kick in eventually but it was masked due to the fact our Senior players have been so resilient - look at how many of our blokes have played 50-60 in a row.
Comparison:
VFL comp: Kennelly, O'Keefe, Kirk (yep he played for Port Melb.), Fosdike, J.Bolton, Buchanan, Schneider, Doyle (injuries have buggered him), Ablett and LRT. Also some players who played with Port at the same time are: Scott Stevens (no star but OK for Adelaide), Nick Gill (same) and Michael Rix (Saints - not much good though)
ACTAFL: Malceski, Schmidt, Dempster and bugger all else. In fact I'd say that a few players careers have stalled because of it - eg: Moore and I reckon Willoughby might still be with us if he was tested against a better standard.
The rumour is that we will have a team in the VFL next year as the stand alone Sydney Swans - best move the club could make. Stuff the 200K or whatever extra cost there will be. They simply need to get experience in the 2nd best comp in Australia. We have already destroyed the ACTAFL and I simply don't see any other option.
Ask yourself this: if your son was drafted by the Swans where would you like him to learn his trade? We can play all of our Reserves in the VFL plus any promising youngsters from NSW - and in the positions they want to play them. We already have a large rookie list so we should be exposing them to the best level of competition.
This is the most IMPORTANT decision the club will make to decide our future over the next 10-15 years - maybe by then it will be viable to play in a Sydney comp. I struggle to comprehend how players are expected to cope with the jump from ACTAFL to the AFL - too big a gap and almost harsh to expect someone to handle it.
On an unrelated topic - who will be the first club to start recruiting from other countries - besides Ireland? I reckon we should send a talent scout to South Africa - surely we can find some kid with the athletic ability to give a chance. Mark my words - clubs will be scouting in other countries from here on in.
Anyway footy season is over now - all I can say is go Cats....hate all the others.....