Is Canberra worth it?

[goswannies]

Given the increasing restrictions placed on the Swans to make the Canberra cometition more even, is it really worth them playing in it? One of the advantages that the Swans got out of playing a team in Canberra (as opposed to the Crows/Power players in the SANFL or the Eagles/Dockers players in the WAFL playing with different clubs) was that the team get to play together, developing strategies/bonding and playing players in positions preferred by the club. By severely limiting the number of Swans listed players on the field, this benefit would seem to be considerably diminished.
Is the Sydney football league any stronger? When Western Sydney and the Gold Coast come in, why not have the Lions, GC, WS and the Swans all play their reserves in a common comp? (the strongest of the Qld/NSW comps) or revert to playing in the VFL? I know it comes down to cost but where the benefit in playing in the Canberra comp?

[AnnieH]

Nick Davis gets to travel by bus??

[jono2707]

They would be better off playing for a Melbourne team in the VFL, or at least sending a few developing players down there. There they would be playing against teams that include the players on the lists of the Melbourne based AFL clubs, plus plenty of other guys with some AFL experience. I reckon playing down there would teach the players a lot more than they'd ever pick up playing in Canberra.

Develop these guys as players first and the teamwork and combinations will come easily enough if they're good enough to make the step up to AFL level.

[goswannie14]

IIRC the Swans signed a 5 year agreement with the ACTAFL before this season.

My preference would be to go as a stand alone team in the VFL.

There was a thread about this in the off season.

[ROK Lobster]

There was a thread about this in the off season.

There is a thread (or 8) about this every off season. Come back Saturday

[TheMase]

We may be able to have an arrangement where we rotate some players with a current VFL club.

[Robbo]

We may be able to have an arrangement where we rotate some players with a current VFL club.

Now that's a good idea.

Having our ressies playing in the Canberra comp every week can't be healthy for their development. It's a bit like studying for a year 12 exam with year 3 material.

[australian_made]

There is a thread (or 8) about this every off season. Come back Saturday

Yeah come back Sunday... the 28th!

[SimonH]

'Rotate a few players here, a few players there' isn't a solution. It's giving up the big advantage that we now have: a unified team under a single coach operating as a part of the Swans' organisation.

What's the advantage of the Canberra comp? While not the VFL or SANFL, it's good enough, it's local and it's a step up in quality from the Sydney comp.

Of course a combined ACT/NSW/Qld comp would be a very strong comp, provided money was found for the not-inconsiderable travel expenses (and Canberra, Sydney and Qld clubs could cop the inevitable mergers and/or rep teams). The introduction of GC17 and western Sydney will hopefully provide the impetus for this to happen.

While I don't agree with the idea that you play finals under different rules to the minor round, I can understand the motivation: for the Swans' reserves it's all about developing players, and you don't lose a whole lot of development if you play 18 minor round games but are forced to miss the finals. Whereas for the Canberra sides it's all about winning flags, and so they should have a decent dip at it.

[Xie Shan]

Come back Saturday

NARF!!! Have a little faith!

[bedford]

We may be able to have an arrangement where we rotate some players with a current VFL club.

that was offered by port melbourne at the start of the year and knocked back by sydney

[dimelb]

Yes, we need to get out of Canberra. The blokes who have come through that system have all been duds and would have done much better if they'd played for the Bullants or Port Melbourne.

[goswannie14]

Yes, we need to get out of Canberra. The blokes who have come through that system have all been duds and would have done much better if they'd played for the Bullants or Port Melbourne.

Yeah, Moore, Vespremi, Jack are all duds aren't they?

[dimelb]

Yeah, Moore, Vespremi, Jack are all duds aren't they?

Absolutely! () - irony GS14
My fault for not using an emoticon in the first place.

[goswannie14]

Absolutely! () - irony GS14
My fault for not using an emoticon in the first place.

No worries, that's always the problem with not talking face to face.