Academy uproar rears again

[Aprilbr]

A lot of radio chatter today in Melbourne about the "unfair" advantage the Swans apparently receive with our Academy. Typical example was a North supporter who rang in to say that North cannot posdibly compete against Sydney when we have access to "elite talent every year regardless of ladder position". He cited Heeney as an example.

Bob Murphy, who was hosting the radio program, responded by saying that it was not every year that we picked up someone good and North had really stuffed up their list management in recent years. He added that North should be focusing on fixing that up rather than being jealous of the success of others.

[i'm-uninformed2]

There are idiots on bigfooty and radio (one and the same, really) who complain about Warner being available through the Academy.

Like, so stupid they could barely spell their own names.

[dejavoodoo44]

A lot of radio chatter today in Melbourne about the "unfair" advantage the Swans apparently receive with our Academy. Typical example was a North supporter who rang in to say that North cannot posdibly compete against Sydney when we have access to "elite talent every year regardless of ladder position". He cited Heeney as an example.

Bob Murphy, who was hosting the radio program, responded by saying that it was not every year that we picked up someone good and North had really stuffed up their list management in recent years. He added that North should be focusing on fixing that up rather than being jealous of the success of others.

I suspect that in the minds of people like that, the academy, is somewhere between a soviet era sports institute and the secret lair of a Bond villain. And I wonder how much work North put into the development of Tarryn Thomas?

[Kafka's Ghost]

I suspect that in the minds of people like that, the academy, is somewhere between a soviet era sports institute and the secret lair of a Bond villain. And I wonder how much work North put into the development of Tarryn Thomas?

Great post.

[mcs]

I suspect that in the minds of people like that, the academy, is somewhere between a soviet era sports institute and the secret lair of a Bond villain. And I wonder how much work North put into the development of Tarryn Thomas?

Lolnorf fans think everything in the world is out to get them. More to the point, I think its just part of their feeling of sliding into complete irrelevance.

[Bexl]

I suspect that in the minds of people like that, the academy, is somewhere between a soviet era sports institute and the secret lair of a Bond villain. And I wonder how much work North put into the development of Tarryn Thomas?

I have nothing personal against North or their supporters but my 26 year old son who follows football and all the teams far more thoroughly than I do has said to me repeatedly since the draft that he cannot believe North passed on Logan McDonald.

[liz]

I have nothing personal against North or their supporters but my 26 year old son who follows football and all the teams far more thoroughly than I do has said to me repeatedly since the draft that he cannot believe North passed on Logan McDonald.

I can't believe I am defending North, but I reckon retention concerns may have been a valid factor in their decision making. It's very hard for any forward, let alone a young key forward, to be effective in a poor team. By the time of the draft, North would have known they are likely to be a poor team for at least the next two seasons. One of the missing pieces in Freo's rebuild is a quality key forward to help, and then take over from, Taberner. WC may also come knocking when Kennedy has retired, though they are reasonably well placed with Darling and Allen. Two years cooling his feet in a barren North forward line might have made those advances from the WA sides pretty attractive to McDonald in a couple of years time.

I don't have him down as an especially high flight risk. At least not playing in a more cohesive team. But combine possible homesickness with playing in a struggling team and I reckon North would have been correct to identify that as a risk for them.

[Bexl]

I can't believe I am defending North, but I reckon retention concerns may have been a valid factor in their decision making. It's very hard for any forward, let alone a young key forward, to be effective in a poor team. By the time of the draft, North would have known they are likely to be a poor team for at least the next two seasons. One of the missing pieces in Freo's rebuild is a quality key forward to help, and then take over from, Taberner. WC may also come knocking when Kennedy has retired, though they are reasonably well placed with Darling and Allen. Two years cooling his feet in a barren North forward line might have made those advances from the WA sides pretty attractive to McDonald in a couple of years time.

I don't have him down as an especially high flight risk. At least not playing in a more cohesive team. But combine possible homesickness with playing in a struggling team and I reckon North would have been correct to identify that as a risk for them.

Well I understand some of the points you made as my son puts it they just lost a key forward and you have to back your culture in to try and retain players. if you don't take the best player that just simply means you're giving up the best players available in the draft through fear of then losing them later.
Makes it hard to build a strong footy team.

That said I'm glad we got McDonald.

[Thunder Shaker]

Lolnorf fans think everything in the world is out to get them. More to the point, I think its just part of their feeling of sliding into complete irrelevance.

North delisted a quarter of their entire list after last season. Any lack of competitiveness is of their own making.

[liz]

North delisted a quarter of their entire list after last season. Any lack of competitiveness is of their own making.

That I agree with. I don't understand why they booted Ben Brown. He always seemed pretty committed to their club. Put McDonald alongside someone experienced like Brown and maybe he'd have thrived.

And while they booted a dozen or so mediocre plodders, those mediocre plodders at least were familiar with other players at the club and the style (which was pretty reasonable at the end of 2019 when Rhyce first took over). They've replaced them with mediocre recycled plodders who have no connection with the club or their team mates.

They've got a handful of really solid (or better) players who are experienced enough to be playing good football. Goldstein is still a more than adequate ruckman. Cunnington is still pretty good. Ziebell might still be good played as a medium forward, rather than being shunted to the backline. Anderson is good. Simpkin is good. Larkey has potential. Thomas is talented, if still inconsistent. And a couple of their recent draftees looked reasonable in the first quarter last week (which is about all I watched). But they seemed to have absolutely no system for moving the ball. So the gains made in individual contests were pointless because there was nowhere to go once they'd won the ball.

[KSAS]

Switched off watching FC tonight when the topic of our academy was raised. They had Chris Scott in place of Matthew Lloyd who talked the usual academy drivel. Whilst he acknowledged we've done really well with the academy he was trying to make out Sydney has a lot of untapped sporting talent being the biggest city & questioned whether we should have exclusive access to it. He was trying to come across as being diplomatic but you can tell he was having a whinge.

Hutchy then brought up a graphic of how many of our Academy players in total have got to play at least 1 senior game (something like 14 in total) which he said we deserve the success. Caro as usual was defending our academy highlighting more than half on that list would've not played AFL footy. Not sure how they were able to determine that, with Chris Scott highlighting Nick Blakey as one of the exceptions. That's when I turned off as I was getting the impression from Chris Scott (who I can't stand the best of time) that us getting access to Nick via Academy is somehow not fair, joining the usual whinge chorus you hear in Melbourne. I'm so sick & tired of hearing this like penchulalent children.

Caro repeated her prediction the noise surrounding our academy will grow louder again as the season progresses.

[liz]

Chris Scott or Brad? Didn't see it, but Chris would have been coaching until late afternoon so seems surprising he'd have then done media, apart from the normal post-match stuff.

[KTigers]

Why don't the other clubs / the AFL / anyone start their own academy or development pathway in Sydney if there is so much untapped footy talent here?
Oh that's right, it'll take money, effort, leadership, direction.
Dammit! It's so unfair!

[KSAS]

Chris Scott or Brad? Didn't see it, but Chris would have been coaching until late afternoon so seems surprising he'd have then done media, apart from the normal post-match stuff.

Definitely Chris Scott as Caro was going to grill him about his 1/4 qtr time clash against Brisbane the week before as well as discussing that afternoon's Hawthorn game (but I didn't stay up to watch). I was also surprised he agreed to come on the show for this reason. (His vogue long hair & beard had the full dressing room treatment).

[bloodspirit]

I guess coaching doesn't take quite as much out of you as playing doesn't.