U18 Div 2 Championships

[Pmcc2911]

[QUOTE=Mug Punter;721315]That team list shows a really even split between North Shore, UNSW, Penno, St George and Manly. Whilst I guess a lot of these kids will play a fair bit of senior footy this year it should also be a cracking U19 comp.QUOTE]

Like you MP I looked at the clubs on the list and pondered the split of clubs where the kids came from from, as you say pretty even.
Then I thought about the clubs not represented, I guess ECE players are in the GWS camp, and I think there are 1 or 2 Penno players in the GWS camp as well.
UTS no one, well you can understand that. Wests are the worry, I cant recall an elite 18's player from Wests in recent times, (happy to be proven wrong). They have a couple good lads, Zoppo and McVoy-Gray but other that not much. (talking about elite players).
Sydney Uni are the interesting ones, they are starting to build there junior connections but again don't seem to ever have any one in the elite 18's squads.

[Meg]

I was told by one of the recruiting media that the rookie system will be changing this year. Apparently the clubs will be able to continue to bid beyond pick 80 in the draft. Players taken over bid 80 will be on a one year contract and there will no longer be a rookie draft or any upgrades for long term injury list. That is all I know.

Interesting. That would be consistent with various proposals that have been floated for doing away with a separate rookie list, a position taken by the AFL Players Association for some time.

Sounds as if there might be a change coming in the CBA which STILL hasn't been finalised. There must be at least one point of difference that the parties are having difficulty in resolving. Extraordinary - about to start Round 4 of the AFL season and there is still no official salary cap for this year.

[Mug Punter]

[QUOTE=Pmcc2911;721319]

That team list shows a really even split between North Shore, UNSW, Penno, St George and Manly. Whilst I guess a lot of these kids will play a fair bit of senior footy this year it should also be a cracking U19 comp.QUOTE]

Like you MP I looked at the clubs on the list and pondered the split of clubs where the kids came from from, as you say pretty even.
Then I thought about the clubs not represented, I guess ECE players are in the GWS camp, and I think there are 1 or 2 Penno players in the GWS camp as well.
UTS no one, well you can understand that. Wests are the worry, I cant recall an elite 18's player from Wests in recent times, (happy to be proven wrong). They have a couple good lads, Zoppo and McVoy-Gray but other that not much. (talking about elite players).
Sydney Uni are the interesting ones, they are starting to build there junior connections but again don't seem to ever have any one in the elite 18's squads.

I am not sure if Wests are in the Swans or GWS zone. Whatever zone they are in they are in a world of pain with their demographic, it's going back a bit now but Greg Stafford did genuinely come through there. With the pathway of elite talent going the way of other clubs then you have to have concerns for their future at the elite level (and UTS too)

Sydney Uni are a club that everyone has an opinion on. On one level they run a college like program that pumps a huge amount of money into AFL development in this city. But then if they offer an elite level junior a scholarship that takes them away from their junior pathway then is that poaching? I can see why the junior clubs resent that if those kids play in the SFL U19s. What I can't see them resenting is the opportunity that Sydney Uni provides for elite level kids to play at NEAFL level in an alternate pathway. I am not sure what the controls are for Sydney Uni these days to stockpile talent down the grades but I think that the NEAFL squad os pretty much quarantined.

Also it really is up to the district clubs to smarten up their acts as destination clubs but it is entirely reasonable for a kid attending Sydney Uni to want to play for Sydney Uni (whatever the grade) regardless of where he played his junior footy.

Longer term for their pathway I think Sydney Uni have two main junior feeder clubs, Newtown Swans and Moore Park Cats and they also have an interest in the Glebe Greyhounds and Drummoyne Power (given Balmain's demise). The real pipeline for them though at U19 level will be when the private school system start spitting out good players in numbers, of which the other Unis will also benefit. But it is hard to see Uni supplying to may at the U16 or U18 level

[Mug Punter]

I hope they don't, but rather stay out of any public debate. It was bad enough for Heeney and Mills to have to become spokesmen for what the academy had done for them but they didn't have other clubs laying claim to them (in any specific way). This is an individual lad and he doesn't deserve to become the centre of a public spat. He has a certain degree of control over where he wants to play and he should be allowed to make that choice privately, not be used as a political pawn to defend or attack the academy system.

Why shouldn't the club stand up and refute the lies that other clubs make about the Academy?

Nobody is suggesting Blakey get involved, I just would like the club to defend itself a bit more vigorously next time the Academy System is under attack.

- - - Updated - - -

I was told by one of the recruiting media that the rookie system will be changing this year. Apparently the clubs will be able to continue to bid beyond pick 80 in the draft. Players taken over bid 80 will be on a one year contract and there will no longer be a rookie draft or any upgrades for long term injury list. That is all I know.

The swans performance in the championship has hopefully changed some perceptions but the selections for the allies will be the test. If the swans go on and win the comp then they should get 6-8 spots in a 26 player squad. Regardless the change to the championship has been great for sydney footy. Last year with the Rams most of the Swans kids were dumped for the championships for GWS players. This year the swans kids have been able to play on their own merits.

Hi Barra, this may have been asked before but is Carroll in the U18s any relation to Dennis?

The rookie list is beyond it's use by date as all rookies take on a full time load, expanding the list with shorter minimum contracts as you state would make sense

[Boddo]

Why shouldn't the club stand up and refute the lies that other clubs make about the Academy?

Nobody is suggesting Blakey get involved, I just would like the club to defend itself a bit more vigorously next time the Academy System is under attack.

- - - Updated - - -



Hi Barra, this may have been asked before but is Carroll in the U18s any relation to Dennis?

The rookie list is beyond it's use by date as all rookies take on a full time load, expanding the list with shorter minimum contracts as you state would make sense

I'm in full agreement MP. Call out the lies and hypocrisy by the VFL clubs. On one hand they'll say the academy is only for developing players with no pathway or would not have been involved in Aussie rules but on the other hand not say one word about Thomas n Penrith from Norfs & Carltons NGA.

Fully agree with taking the rookie list away.

[barracuda]

Why shouldn't the club stand up and refute the lies that other clubs make about the Academy?

Nobody is suggesting Blakey get involved, I just would like the club to defend itself a bit more vigorously next time the Academy System is under attack.

- - - Updated - - -



Hi Barra, this may have been asked before but is Carroll in the U18s any relation to Dennis?

The rookie list is beyond it's use by date as all rookies take on a full time load, expanding the list with shorter minimum contracts as you state would make sense

Hi, Mikey Carroll is not related to Dennis Carroll.

[Ludwig]

I don't know what all the worry is about for Nick Blakey. Yes, the media will report that he can go to North or Brisbane, but it's not going to happen. He's an academy kid whose father is a coach of the Swans. Let's get real. It's not like he goes to North because of some birthright. This is not the Middle Ages.


This the AFL, a modern progressive organisation.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

I've heard the same as barracuda that the rookie list will be gone, which is great for us, since we've got so many good players on our rookie list atm. I hope the new CBA, whenever it gets done, puts an end to this anachronism and all those silly machinations that we have to go through with the LTIL and rookie elevations.

This is the 21st century AFL, not he Middle Ages.

[Boddo]

I don't know what all the worry is about for Nick Blakey. Yes, the media will report that he can go to North or Brisbane, but it's not going to happen. He's an academy kid whose father is a coach of the Swans. Let's get real. It's not like he goes to North because of some birthright. This is not the Middle Ages.


This the AFL, a modern progressive organisation.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

I've heard the same as barracuda that the rookie list will be gone, which is great for us, since we've got so many good players on our rookie list atm. I hope the new CBA, whenever it gets done, puts an end to this anachronism and all those silly machinations that we have to go through with the LTIL and rookie elevations.

This is the 21st century AFL, not he Middle Ages.

My concern has never been Blakey. It's always been the utter lies & hypocrisy from the Melbourne clubs & media. I agree he'll more than likely be at Sydney but it's all the bs that comes from Melbourne. I'll say it again. Where is the hysteria over Penrith & Thomas? Every single argument over the changes to the GWS academy are exactly what is happening with both those players. Both players had a pathway that both were involved with before the advent of NGA's, both are not new to the game of Aussie rules & both are rated top end talent. I agree the rookie list was made redundant a number of years ago n only is a rookie list by name.

[56-14]

I don't know what all the worry is about for Nick Blakey. Yes, the media will report that he can go to North or Brisbane, but it's not going to happen. He's an academy kid whose father is a coach of the Swans.

What relevance is Blakey's father?

[Ludwig]

I don't know what all the worry is about for Nick Blakey. Yes, the media will report that he can go to North or Brisbane, but it's not going to happen. He's an academy kid whose father is a coach of the Swans.

What relevance is Blakey's father?

You would think John would have the most influence on where his son plays. Nick's eligibility to play as a FS selection is because of his father. But I would fully expect that John would say that he would prefer his son to play for the club that he's now been associated with for so many years. I can't imagine that he would want his son to benefit a competitor. Yes, John was Shinboner, but that was a along time ago. And has been pointed out, Nick has grown up in Sydney. I'm sure his mates are other academy players and would prefer staying with his friends and family. Life throws up many surprises, so who knows? Maybe Nick hates his old man and wants to live in Cambodia.

[Doctor]

I don't know what all the worry is about for Nick Blakey. Yes, the media will report that he can go to North or Brisbane, but it's not going to happen. He's an academy kid whose father is a coach of the Swans.

What relevance is Blakey's father?

That's why he's in Sydney in the first place.

[Meg]

Maybe Nick hates his old man and wants to live in Cambodia.

Or in Thailand where he's heard there are some zany Swans' fans he can hang out with?

[barracuda]

You would think John would have the most influence on where his son plays. Nick's eligibility to play as a FS selection is because of his father. But I would fully expect that John would say that he would prefer his son to play for the club that he's now been associated with for so many years. I can't imagine that he would want his son to benefit a competitor. Yes, John was Shinboner, but that was a along time ago. And has been pointed out, Nick has grown up in Sydney. I'm sure his mates are other academy players and would prefer staying with his friends and family. Life throws up many surprises, so who knows? Maybe Nick hates his old man and wants to live in Cambodia.

Based on my observations over a number of years, although I have only met John a couple of times, I would suggest the Blakeys are a normal family and Nick is well guided by his dad. Their demeanor at all the academy games and functions is no different to any other family, and I don't think any other parent would spoil things by asking questions about where Nick might go.

I speculate that the swans would have discussed Nick's future and either a commitment has been made or not. Either way it does not appear to have any influence over the Academy staff or the family. Nick is treated like any other player and John like any other parent.

My own perspective, not based on anything, is that if John was to take a senior coach role in Melbourne that might influence the decision. However if John remains with the swans, and I don't see why not, then from my observation the relationship between John and Nick from a professional perspective is not likely to be a problem. On that basis if I was John I could think of nothing more amazing than to be able to win a premiership with your son. For me it would be added incentive to make the best decisions for the team and to work harder.

If I felt I could not bring out the best in my son as a coach and father then I would suggest he would be better at another club. Again, in my limited opinion I do think John brings out the best in Nick. Nick has one of the best footy minds of any junior I have seen over 30 years of playing and 7 years of junior coaching. That would largely come from John.

[Boddo]

Does anyone know if there is a live stream of today's academy game v Lions? And if there is any changes from the last game?

[liz]

It can be a bit hard to find results sometimes, but the Swans' Academy side had a reasonably comfortable win over the Lions yesterday. They are unbeaten with just one game to go (against Tasmania), which means they have the championship wrapped up already.

U18: Small forward fuels Sydney Academy win - AFL.com.au