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Wow! There was some pretty strong language after the EM photo. It's good to see the northern clubs are fighting back. I was hoping that the soft stand taken on the trading ban would be offset by some fierce resistance to undercutting the academies. There are some indications that it might.
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It's notable that it's the journo delivering the message. I imagine he has listened closely to the clubs' management but they are his words, not quotations from others (who may well fear reprisal).
Interesting to see the comments following: two dopes who want them all back in Victoria and a realist who thinks Melbourne has too many teams. Guess which ones Eddie is aiming at.He reminds him of the guys, close-set, slow, and never rattled, who were play-makers on the team. (John Updike, seeing Josh Kennedy in a crystal ball)Comment
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GWS were given the ACT and Riverina as part of their zone, as I'm sure many of you know. It certainly appeared to be a way of ensuring that they'd continue to get first crack at some quality young players. If the lad was from Liverpool rather than Leeton it might be a different argument.Today's a draft of your epitaphComment
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Those who have the greatest power to hurt us are those we love.Comment
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The punchline was interesting too; 'It was because the rules meant the Lions could not guarantee they would draft them.' This illustrates a further hurdle to enticing players to AFL in the northern states that even the Academies have to live with. Facts are that no player is guaranteed of being drafted to any team, however for an elite young Queenslander choosing between codes, the thought of ending up in WA or SA might be just enough to tip the scales v choosing AFL. While having to move interstate to play is part of AFL 'culture' I suspect it is not the same with the other codes.
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Great article. And the image of that Cheshire Cat (I have better terms for him) sums it up perfectly. Why don't we see articles like this coming out of Sydney? Let's hope those four players who left AFL do well in their new careers and we can point the finger at Fat Eddie and the AFL.Last edited by S.S. Bleeder; 17 February 2015, 08:37 PM.Comment
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2015 academy discussion thread
We are lucky we kept Heeney away from the temptations of other sports (or perhaps I should say the Swans managed Heeney very professionally). Did you read what his father said about Isaac's talents? My jaw dropped!!
"In his soccer he scored 68 goals in 12 games, when they were really young. But then he picked up a cricket bat and played an age above himself in division one up here in Newcastle and his batting average was 216.
"He also played rugby league for the school in a couple of carnivals and they went to Sydney and won some tournament down there with the school and he scored five tries in the final."Comment
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Yes I read that. Pretty impressive.
This kid could have gone to any sport he chose and would have most likely been a success. Yet, our academy (and the Swans themselves) were able to sell the benefits of AFL better than any of the other codes or cricket.
If our sport is to compete against the other codes (I see soccer as our biggest threat at the moment given their recent success and the way in which they are promoting their code), we must not only retain the academies but expand them. If we don't we might as well revert back to the old VFL days and be satisfied with being a minor code.
BTW, David Gallop would have done a great job running the AFL. He was the man we really needed instead of an insider who got the job on a promise and in return for favours.Comment
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2015 academy discussion thread
According to this article, club submissions re the proposed bidding system went to the AFL yesterday. Sounds as if the Swans put appropriate emphasis on the broader objectives of the academies with Tom Harley quoted:
?Some (academy) players are going to end up talented players on AFL lists and some aren?t. They are going to be participants in the game and have a greater chance to become lifelong supporters.?
No Cookies | dailytelegraph.com.auComment
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How the northern football academies work - AFL.com.au
This is a really information piece from the AFL website, describing how the four academies work in practice, and comparing them in scope.Comment
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Useful article to keep bookmarked for reference.
I'm afraid this quote from the Swans might get used against us - I know what he meant but out of context ....
"Success will be determined when we have players we've groomed playing against us."Comment
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And if this article has an accurate insight into the clubs' submissions on the proposed bidding system, it seems as if virtually every diverse opinion you can think of has been presented. How the AFL picks through that ......
Clubs keen on live bidding for father-son and academy picks - AFL.com.auComment
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The bidding system for picks is totally out of whack if the academies are being run and funded by the clubs. Why should we need to match another clubs pick with multiple picks if we've fostered the kids interest in the game and kept them within the code.
If the AFL funded and ran the academies in conjunction with the relevant clubs coaching systems then by all means, provide an opportunity to lock down the superstar coming through with additional picks with the basis of that being that you can tell the local kids they can stay local.
That would be a win - win system. The AFL gets a bigger draft pool, and the academy club still pays the "market rate" for the superstar coming through.
If we have two clubs in Sydney and two in Brisbane as well as 10 in Melbourne, then you needs more kids in the system simple as that.He ate more cheese, than time allowedComment
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Western Bulldogs president Peter Gordon's views:
www.smh.com.au - Academies must benefit all clubs, say BulldogsComment
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