Foxtel Cup

[Carn the Lions]

Next year under the foxtel cup schedule will the SFL premier be thrust into the limelight like the ECE for the past 2 years or is that not an option under the new arrangements with the NEAFL??

One would hope not. The ECE got a mighty hammering last year and was a fair indictment on the competition. And with the league dropping in standard this year it would again be embarassing to send a team out.

Thoughts??

PS GG maybe tag Gililand/Furfaro next time you play Mt GRavatt. Surely that came up in your 8 hours of planning thursdya night

[Jupiter]

Carn The Lions - this is a pointless competition (a crumb thrown to Foxtel on their rights deal and another ill conceived AFL marketing frankenstein). If Foxtel can be appeased the comp will probably take a different format altogether I would have thought. The SANFL clubs showed from the get go what they thought of it (they can as they have an independent administration/commission structure) and the AFL clubs are now making noise re: the fixturing issues it causes. Sydney AFL (mores the pity) is not state league standard and is only ever spoken of as such at AFL convenience - should never have had a side in there, the Sydney team's participation was a sacrifice to an AFL experiment - just like Sydney Uni is this year at least in the NEAFL. Wish the effort and resource went into development and promotion of Sydney footy.

[Norris Lurker]

Next year under the foxtel cup schedule will the SFL premier be thrust into the limelight like the ECE for the past 2 years or is that not an option under the new arrangements with the NEAFL??

Hope so. Yes, they'll get thrashed, but that's not important. It's a unique opportunity for one of our clubs to get showcased nationally, and remind the world that footy does exist in Sydney. We may be the weakest of the state leagues, but we do have one. If the other state leagues can get a run, we should get one.

[Tim Freedman]

Norris, I couldn't agree more. The Foxtel Cup is a fantastic opportunity for our Sydney AFL talent to play on a bigger stage in front of a national audience. It may just be the thing that helps a young player go onto bigger and better things in his career. It may actually inspire them. IMO the Sydney AFL premier should DEFINITELY be invited regardless of the NEAFL competition as they are now two completely different comps.

Yes ECE was outclassed in 2011 by Port Adelaide but was this the best fixturing by the AFL? Some would say that the same thing happens in Europe in Soccer such as the FA cup or the Champions League etc. Ultimately they want the best sides playing against each other the longer the comp goes for.

Overall I think the whole experience of this competition for leagues such as ours far outweighs the final result. Anyone who bags it simply doesnt understand that this is a great way for the Sydney AFL to be recognised on the bigger stage. Trust me, it is a great thing to be a part of and the build up and feeling of these games is just like a final. Supporters get a big kick out of seeing there side on national televison in the prime time.

And finally Carn The Lions - next time you play the Eagles I suggest you tag Garlick who had 30+ and kicked 4 from the middle. Not that hard is it??

[Jupiter]

TIM - Its not a state league although I had thought before the NEAFL concept came that the goal was to build Prem Div into one. Instead it is being downgraded. Clearly, NEAFL represents that tier. I agree with your comments on a buzz for some players and fans - I have a good understanding of Sydney AFL and the landscape. I guess the main thrust of my comment is it is a marketing sideshow (as your comments indicate) and I get frustrated seeing something like this spruked when School footy (the key 14 to 18yr old retention and attraction of players issue) is progressing so slowly. Window dressing impresses me far less than real strategy and progress for the Syd comp. There is good progress in some areas (especially since GWS came into the thinking) but it is and has been far too slow - forming NEAFL and sending 2 Syd Prem Clubs to it proves that fact. The plan for years was meant to be make Prem Div strong enough for Swans Ressies to come back to it. Massive fail to the AFL on that score. I'm looking for more evidence that making Sydney AFL comp stronger for its own sake (not just for TAP or for creating more GWS or Swans members) is an AFL priority - and I'm looking for better initiatives than Foxtel Cup.

[Norris Lurker]

I guess the main thrust of my comment is it is a marketing sideshow (as your comments indicate) and I get frustrated seeing something like this spruked when School footy (the key 14 to 18yr old retention and attraction of players issue) is progressing so slowly.

We all get frustrated with the issue of player retention in the 14-18 age range. When an Under 18s team in the top U18s comp gets their score wiped to zero with 15 players on the field, it's a problem. But it's a seperate issue to whether the senior premier team plays on TV.

[Carn the Lions]

Norris, I couldn't agree more. The Foxtel Cup is a fantastic opportunity for our Sydney AFL talent to play on a bigger stage in front of a national audience. It may just be the thing that helps a young player go onto bigger and better things in his career. It may actually inspire them. IMO the Sydney AFL premier should DEFINITELY be invited regardless of the NEAFL competition as they are now two completely different comps.

Yes ECE was outclassed in 2011 by Port Adelaide but was this the best fixturing by the AFL? Some would say that the same thing happens in Europe in Soccer such as the FA cup or the Champions League etc. Ultimately they want the best sides playing against each other the longer the comp goes for.

Overall I think the whole experience of this competition for leagues such as ours far outweighs the final result. Anyone who bags it simply doesnt understand that this is a great way for the Sydney AFL to be recognised on the bigger stage. Trust me, it is a great thing to be a part of and the build up and feeling of these games is just like a final. Supporters get a big kick out of seeing there side on national televison in the prime time.

And finally Carn The Lions - next time you play the Eagles I suggest you tag Garlick who had 30+ and kicked 4 from the middle. Not that hard is it??

Of course the scheduling was right - who in their right mind would play the favourites against each other in the first round and then have the bottom teams making their way through to the final. No one would watch ECE vs Burnie Dockers when compared against Williamstown vs Claremont. Understand its a great experience, but next year the side who represents the SFl will probably cop a similar shelacking as to what Sydney Uni received last week from the Swans.

Is that good exposure? Does that inspire a recruit to join the SFL?? I dont think so

As for Timmy Garlick - hardly a household name. Gililand has won a QAFL league b&f, best on ground in a state game, 2 club b& f's at morningside and the QALF player of the eyar award as judged by the coaches.

Would have thought he could have commanded a decent tag from the start??

GG is being found out at a decent level of footy, cant be long until Houlihan sinks his teeth into the role there....

[Tim Freedman]

I agree GG is being found out mate. Sitting 2nd with 4 wins and 2 losses is a terrible start to his NEAFL coaching career. He should just quit right now

[Carn the Lions]

I agree GG is being found out mate. Sitting 2nd with 4 wins and 2 losses is a terrible start to his NEAFL coaching career. He should just quit right now

95% of the playing list would be pretty happy if that was the case by all reports.

Look forward to your results in the next few weeks against the tigers and swans

[Pekay]

GG is being found out at a decent level of footy, cant be long until Houlihan sinks his teeth into the role there....

Perhaps you just don't like the SHEagles, and all power to you, but to suggest Garner is out of his depth and being found out borders on ludicrous.

[Carn the Lions]

Perhaps you just don't like the SHEagles, and all power to you, but to suggest Garner is out of his depth and being found out borders on ludicrous.

Ive got some great mates there, just offering an opinion and commenting on the rumors floating around the traps.

Makes sense though to have Houlihan in the wings for when the coach stumbles or when the playing group decide they need a change and want to get home before midnight tuesdays and thursdays

[Tim Freedman]

PS Carn The Lions: stay away from my grandma