I think this would be the preferred method but to be fair it is a solution that is only really needed by the NSW and Victorian clubs. For the other clubs the VFL, SANFL or WAFL is fine.
Like it or not we're stuck with the NEAFL and just have to hope that the standard increases over time, which I think it will. Sydney Uni are a case in point with most of their increased strength coming from delisted Swans or Academy kids finding their way into their system.
I live in Sth Gippsland. We have 5 Auskick programs in our area which are all booming, a new junior girls comp into it's 2nd year, and a regional womens team playing in the metro comp who are undefeated after 6 rounds. Our local U/12 boys team has a training group of over 40 kids who only get a game every second week. The areas where country footy struggles are areas where there is a lack of people, not a lack of enthusiasm for the game.
The NEAFL is fine. Half of the 18 games are against other AFL teams and add 4 more games against strong sides NT and Uni. Aspley have won two premierships but in a bit of a down patch at the moment while Canberra are having a revival under their new coach Klemke
Anyway looking at results is a bit simplistic if we are talking about developing players for our senior team. We need to analyse whether the NEAFL is hampering our development of players.
If you look at our current team, Lloyd, Newman, Marsh, Hewett, Towers, Jones, Naismith, Melican have all played a significant amount of NEAFL footy. Add to that players on the fringe like Foote, Robinson and Aliir as well as the departed Nankervis, Biggs and Membrey. This gives us a list of players that I would bet compares as well to other AFL clubs who play in stronger second tier comps
I think he's gone for sure.
Melican's arrival and the good development of Maubain will have seen to that. Plus we've also got Aliir in the magoos. And maybe AJ.
Reg still had another good year in him too so Maubain should be cherry ripe by 2019.
Talia seems like a bit of a ratbag (smoke, fire) plus even though he wouldn't be in huge money the money we'd save by delisting him and drafting a KPD with our third rounder would free up some much needed cap space.
Clearances
Swans 38 Giants 37
Fisher 6
Florent 6
Dawson 5
Murray 4
Aliir 3
Tippett 3
Edwards 2
Jack 2
Rohan 2
Foote 1
Fox 1
O'Riordan 1
Osborne 1
Talia 1
To repeat; Fisher top in clearances AND 4 goals.
Doing somethings right
I think you are right long term.
Sydney Uni should continue to go from strength to strength as they get 4-5 academy kids/Swans delists per year. You'd expect in the absence of an alternate offer for BJ to go there on a scholarship next year.
The Brisbane clubs are usually petty well minted as Aspley has a big licensed club, ditto Southport.
Canberra should be viable with the Riverina catchment plus the Canberra GWS Academy cast offs but they may well need some AFL help as understandably GWS won't be helping them at NEAFL level
In time (10 years +) you'd hope the Sydney talent pool will be big enough to look at a second domestic Sydney club but it's really hard to see where that club could come from as Sydney Uni Sports Union are really the only organisation that has the money and ambition to run a NEAFL program locally.
Bookmarks