Swans Academy and player watch

[liz]

The combined ignorance and self-interest from those quotes from Eddie are breathtaking. We all know the reasons why NSW and Qld have academies, and it's a fantastic initiative that was long overdue. Leaving the numbers who make it to the AFL aside, the knock on effect at local level is immense. Kids who are getting expert training from the Swans, Giants, Suns or Lions are playing their club footy at a much higher level, which improves the level of junior players across the board. Eventually, this may mean a much higher standard of junior players coming through, which helps ALL AFL clubs.

This is what is being missed by so many who are ignorant of the purpose and set up of the scheme. It is not about cherry picking a handful of promising 15 and 16 year olds. It is about giving hundreds of youngsters from around age 10 or 11 the chance of high level training (appropriate to their age group). If you read about the Academy's philosophy on the Swans' website, it is also about encouraging them to play many other sports, at least until their mid teens, and also about encouraging them to keep playing football at their local junior club. It is therefore about engaging a far, far wider group of young boys in AFL and raising the standards right across the board. If the odd Heeney or Mills emerges from the system, great. If the state eventually provides another half dozen or so draftable kids each year, even better. But it is about so much more of that.

You would think that McGuire, having lived up in Sydney for a couple of years and having a son of junior footballing age, he would have learned something about how limited the development opportunities are compared to those for kids in other states.

[111431]

There is nothing like self interest !

[Doctor]

This is what is being missed by so many who are ignorant of the purpose and set up of the scheme. It is not about cherry picking a handful of promising 15 and 16 year olds. It is about giving hundreds of youngsters from around age 10 or 11 the chance of high level training (appropriate to their age group). If you read about the Academy's philosophy on the Swans' website, it is also about encouraging them to play many other sports, at least until their mid teens, and also about encouraging them to keep playing football at their local junior club. It is therefore about engaging a far, far wider group of young boys in AFL and raising the standards right across the board. If the odd Heeney or Mills emerges from the system, great. If the state eventually provides another half dozen or so draftable kids each year, even better. But it is about so much more of that.

You would think that McGuire, having lived up in Sydney for a couple of years and having a son of junior footballing age, he would have learned something about how limited the development opportunities are compared to those for kids in other states.

Spot on. In the case of my son, he was (and still is) a very handy soccer player who trialled for the Academy on the basis of exactly what you have stated Liz - engaging a wider group of boys. He'd never played a game of footy when the Swans took him on and now he has been playing club footy for 3 years, lots of representative stuff and so on. He was taken on the basis of potential and cross-sport talent. I'm sure lots of other boys have been taken on the same basis. Kids like that may have either been lost to footy or not had the chance to give it a go if it wasn't for the Academy. I'm so grateful for the training he has had, as there's no way I could have developed him to the extent he has been. He has great coaches at club level, but it's still not the same as what the Academy exposes you to.

[Auntie.Gerald]

i went and watched my old club recently and I was amazed how much the under 19 comp has improved in standard from 20yrs ago

But that is 20yrs later and things take time in a non AFL city !

Obviously the Academy is vital for the Swans but there is no doubt the 100's of kids who go thru the academies at the Swans and GWS take their skills back to their clubsif they dont make the cut for the SWANS

The local clubs dont have the resources to create academies to the same level

This groundswell of kids inspired by AFL and being taught at a qualified level not only lifts the standard of sydney clubs but it also creates inspired parents of the future who will influence their kids to play the great game !

[Mel_C]

If Mcquire was our President and could exert so much influence on the AFL, then we would love him!

My cousin is a Collingwood supporter and she can't stand him!

[Matt80]

I've sung my praises for David Koch in another forum and one of the advantages of Koch is that he can shield Port from any sort of bull crap that Eddie can throw up.

Eddie knows Koch is a bigger T.V Star than he is, and does not pick a fight with Port anymore. I've not heard Eddie go on about the Port Guernsey for years. Koch's audience trumps Eddie audience and Eddie understands who is who in the Zoo.

[Melbourne_Blood]

Perhaps since they adopted their current guernsey ?

[Ruck'n'Roll]

You would think that McGuire, having lived up in Sydney for a couple of years and having a son of junior footballing age, he would have learned something about how limited the development opportunities are compared to those for kids in other states.

He may well have learned that Liz, just as he learned and publicly recognised that Sydney has a far higher cost of living. But that was then and this is now, and like most demagogues, expedience is everything.
It might be worthwhile remembering that this is at least his second attempt at damaging the development of the game in NSW for petty short term advantage - has everyone forgotten the farcical "NSW Scholarship Scheme" - so from Eddie's point of view it's worked once, why not do it again.
We'll just have to hope Gil has a stronger backbone than Andy - otherwise he will succeed again.

[Reggi]

We are over rating Eddie's influence

[Matt80]

We are over rating Eddie's influence

Are we?

Is Eddie McGuire the most powerful man in football?

[dimelb]

Shepherd weighs in, swings crook

I don't have a lot of time for this bloke, but I'm right with him here.

'Spud' jibe riles Greater Western Sydney Giants

Where Eddie is wrong is that there are not too many teams in the competition, but (if the unpleasant truth be spoken) there are too many teams in Melbourne.

[YvonneH]

Lee Matthews in the Age has a go back regarding the Northern States Academies.
Good on him.

[Auntie.Gerald]

2013 draft prospect: Jack Steele - AFL.com.au

he is turning 19 this year

[troyjones2525]

Great news if you have got Foxsports. According to the AFL site, the u18 championship game between NSW Act Rams and Queensland will be televised. The game is on Wednesday July 2 at 3.00pm.

A great chance to see and compare Heeney, Mills, Davis etc. against players their age.

Also the Vic Country match is on straight after it so a chance to see Josh Dunkley in action.

Just had a look at the 2nd on my foxtel guide app to set up to record the games and they weren't listed on there? I know that it's usually on every year so I'm expecting it to be on. Anyone seen any more confirmation of them both being telecast?

[Melb Blood Bro]

Lee Matthews in the Age has a go back regarding the Northern States Academies.
Good on him.

Not sure if there is an article by Leigh Matthews but there is this article which quotes him;
Leigh Matthews says AFL does not fathom it has four expansion clubs in Queensland and NSW