Round 23: the other games. Is it that time already?

[Bloods05]

If the academies are "supposed to develop kids who would otherwise not be playing footy" why is the Swans Academy taking
so many kids from areas in Sydney where there have been large junior clubs that go back 25 years. These clubs are way bigger
than the junior clubs in the Riverina. Compared to Sydney, no one lives in the Riverina.

Seriously? There is a deep and rich footy culture in the Riverina. There is simply no comparison.

[KTigers]

Seriously? There is a deep and rich footy culture in the Riverina. There is simply no comparison.

I think the locals call that the past man.

[Bloods05]

I think the locals call that the past man.

That's an incredibly superficial comment. The football culture in the Riverina is a vibrant and living tradition. It is not some shining artefact of the past. The region continues to produce large numbers of AFL footballers, and sadly, other parts of NSW don't.

[barry]

OK then, explain to me why basing the GWS academy zone in the Riverina is not a travesty, given that academies are supposed to develop kids who would otherwise not be playing footy.

That's not the reason for the northern academies. They are to provide a pathway for local players into local teams which the NRL can offer by default.

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I see GWS has selected their new coach already...Adam Kingsley.

GWS Giants lock in long time Richmond Adam Kingsley as new senior coach

I wonder how deep they were into Clarkson?. He said he didn't want to leave Melbourne, and if you coach the kangaroos, you really must love Melbourne.

[Bloods05]

[QUOTE=barry;854272]That's not the reason for the northern academies. They are to provide a pathway for local players into local teams which the NRL can offer by default.

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Not sure what you mean here. Perhaps you could try to explain in a little more detail.

My concern about the GWS academy is that compared to ours, they have a huge advantage in that they are drawing on a much larger pool of talent. Is that not so?

[barry]

I don't know what more to say. Riverina kids, if good at both AFL or NRL have a pathway to play for a NSW club ( direct recruitment in NRL, and academies in AFL). It allows the AFL to level the playing field against NRL for access to young talent.

[Ludwig]

I'd give up the Riverina for an academy zone in South Sudan.

[Bloods05]

I don't know what more to say. Riverina kids, if good at both AFL or NRL have a pathway to play for a NSW club ( direct recruitment in NRL, and academies in AFL). It allows the AFL to level the playing field against NRL for access to young talent.

How does that relate to my point about the relative strengths of the two academy zones?

[dejavoodoo44]

I'd give up the Riverina for an academy zone in South Sudan.

Ghana might also be handy: Amartey, Quaynor, some excellent music.

[Blood Fever]

How does that relate to my point about the relative strengths of the two academy zones?

Poster doesn't get the history and sporting culture of the Riverina. It is chalk and cheese.

[Bloods05]

Poster doesn't get the history and sporting culture of the Riverina. It is chalk and cheese.

I would have thought that was glaringly obvious, but apparently some of our supporters can't see that far south.

[Blood Fever]

I would have thought that was glaringly obvious, but apparently some of our supporters can't see that far south.

Spot on in this case