Sydney Footy

[Old Dragon]

Those relatively 'new' to Sydney football must get their heads around the fact that Sydney footy has not significantly changed since 1970 when an additional division was formed.

And just a word on Davo's contribution: He presided over the greatest number of open age teams participating in Sydney in 1992 after some good ground work was established in the years immediately preceding.

Today there are around 4.5 million people living in Sydney with how many open age teams? - well under 50. Where do all those young men go who get to 17 or so and go no further. The major league clubs just concentrate on the elite to let other others wither and die. And in any case, all those 'elite' from the Under 18 competitions don't go on either.

Sydney will never even begin to look like a footy mecca until the respective junior associations field all-age teams. That means junior clubs are encouraged to field open age sides so that we have (what?) 60 or so open age teams participating in suburban competitions around Sydney. I am not suggesting ditching the premier division, just a restructure of the rest and junior clubs.

There has been a one-track mentality for football in Sydney for 100 years and it doesnt work, even with three fulltime employees at Moore Park pushing the buttons.

It is high time that 'someone' looks at the Sydney footy scene from outside the square - and takes some action. It will take some radical thinking, the trashing of some traditions, more grounds, umpires, administrators and the list goes on. Otherwise you will be reading this type of rhetoric in 20 years time.

Increasing junior numbers in Sydney is great but if there is no ending to the story all that money, time and effort is wasted. More people playing open age footy in Sydney is the answer!