comings and goings for Season 2022

[andreww1]

As I understand it ( still in the planning stage), the top 4 Sydney AFL Prems team (men and women) will join with the top 4 ACT teams to form a state league.
By taking the top 4 Prems teams out of the Sydney comp ( and effectively replacing them with reserve grade teams) should make the overall comp more competitive.
The State league should provide a stronger comp so the upper level players don’t have to go interstate.

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The AFL discussion paper does not specify the number of teams from each comp. They have tabled a broad concept of creating a state league positioned in between Premier League and VFL for both men and women. By their own admission there is still a lot of detail to be worked out. As others in this discussion have noted there are some key issues that will need to be addressed for it to work. Hence why it’s target commencement is not until 2024.
It is all part of their Pathways Project which looks at all aspects of AFL across NSW/ACT starting with Ozkick and working its way thru juniors, seniors, and then to this ‘elevated’ state league.
Lots of work still to be done but if (and its probably a very big If) they can get the funding and people to run it and support it then the overall Pathways Project will be a big positive for AFL in this state.


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[WomblingFree]

The State League conversation is over 30 years old and it’s stale as hell.

Sydney and ACT clubs don’t have the resources to fund such a comp.

The players don’t what to have to spend half these their weekends to essentially play for nothing.

It’s all an admin wank.

We have a pathway for the elite players that miss the draft, it’s the VFL squads of the Swans and Giants.

Save the money and invest in properly funding senior footy in Sydney and that means ALL divisions.

The only club in Sydney that wants a state comp is the wankers from Sydney Uni

[Pmcc2911]

Slightly different scenario with 4 teams from ACT and 4 from Sydney means (in theory) a 14 round comp with only 4 away (ie out of Sydney) games and 10 in Sydney.
And vica versa for the ACT teams.

[justabaraker]

On the mooted state-wide comp....
And I went to a helluva lot of NEAFL matches in Canberra with just 4 or 5 visiting supporters, and another helluva lot in Sydney with just 4 or 5 visiting supporters...haunting echoes but no cheering and you can hear every word spoken by every player on the field....like turning up on training night.

[Pmcc2911]

North Shore Australian Football Club is very pleased to announce that Andrew “Buck” Rogers has been appointed as Men’s Senior Coach for the 2022 season.
Buck comes to North Shore with tremendous credentials in our game. Originally from South Australia, he played 242 games for Woodville-West Torrens in the SANFL, captaining the Eagles for six years and also captaining South Australia. Buck was also drafted into the AFL, playing eight games for Essendon and 75 for Geelong, including the 1992 Grand Final.
Since his playing days, Buck coached at Woodville-West Torrens, at West Adelaide under Andy Collins and was the runner for the Port Adelaide AFL side under Ken Hinkley. After moving to Sydney, he coached at Manly for four years, so knows the Sydney footy landscape very well.
After finishing his first session at Gore Hill in North Shore colours Buck said “I’m really excited and honoured to be appointed the Senior Men’s Coach for a club that I have long admired for their professionalism and culture. I’m looking forward to becoming part of the club, developing the players further and ultimately, contributing to sustained success over many years.”
Commenting on Buck’s appointment North Shore President John Goode said “This process has been about appointing someone with the knowledge, passion and commitment to continue the development of players, coaches and support staff in our senior men’s group, as well as the desire to contribute across the whole club. Buck’s football bio speaks for itself, but having observed his personal contribution in our competition in recent years, we’re confident he is a great fit for us”.

[justabaraker]

I would expect that teams would have to apply against set criteria, not just ladder position, although you expect ladder position to be a big part of it.

Surely yes PMCC...it would have to be voluntary for those top four, with some kind of 'sniff test' based on:-
- their willingness to endure the logistics of frequent travel,
- meager financial compensation for player inconvenience,
- cost to the club,
- ability to provide volunteers,
- sustainability (not just who is in the top four places at 'cut-off' time)
- ability of the club to survive 'back home'
- whether the supporters were willing to travel.
- ability to stretch the support staff in two directions on a weekend.

And, needless to say, it wouldn't solve the current problem of the better players deserting the lesser clubs to play where the opportunities are fruitiest

I think if you asked the Eagles how it was for them during those early NEAFL years then they'd say that it's better to be below the line at cut-off...and that's why they came back.

An interesting idea and I'd like to see it kicked around - who knows, it might be a winner.
We need something.

[Pmcc2911]

I would expect that teams would have to apply against set criteria, not just ladder position, although you expect ladder position to be a big part of it.

[Blinkers28]

Be interesting to see how the ‘top 4’ is determined, provided it goes ahead as what Pmc has alluded to.

Would it be the top 4 of 2023? Which could be hypothetically Inner West, East Coast, UTS and Manly. Or ‘top 4’ based on recent results i.e. UNSW, Syd Uni, North Shore and Penno.

[Pmcc2911]

As I understand it ( still in the planning stage), the top 4 Sydney AFL Prems team (men and women) will join with the top 4 ACT teams to form a state league.
By taking the top 4 Prems teams out of the Sydney comp ( and effectively replacing them with reserve grade teams) should make the overall comp more competitive.
The State league should provide a stronger comp so the upper level players don’t have to go interstate.

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[justabaraker]

"...in preparation for the state-based competition in 2024....''

Can someone fill us in on what that will be ? Other commentators on this post have wished that we could have a better plan for the best and brightest, and now it seems that something is in the planning stage.
BRING IT ON !!

[Pmcc2911]

***UNSW-ES BULLDOGS APPOINT PREMIERSHIP LEADERS TO HEAD COACHING ROLES IN SEASON 2022***
The UNSW-Eastern Suburbs AFL Club is pleased to announce the appointment of Darren Pfeiffer, and Tom Williamson and Cameron McKinlay, as Men’s and Women’s Premier Division head coaches for seasons 2022 and 2023.
Darren returns to the Club after lead coaching roles with the NT Academy and the AFL for the last four years, and needs no introduction to local football followers, having been both the assistant coach and a premiership player in our 2019 Men's Premier Division premiership win. A former AFL and SANFL star during an illustrious playing career, Darren holds a Level 3 coaching accreditation and is well credentialed to take on the role of Men's Premier Division Head Coach as we work towards a state-based NSW competition in 2024. Darren's belief in Sydney footy brings him back to the Bulldogs with lasting experience from his time in NT, as well as at elite levels within the SANFL and AFL competitions. In welcoming Darren back to our Club, President Stephen Dunkley also announced the establishment of the “Eastern Suburbs AFL Academy”, which will aim to fast-track talented boys and girls in preparation for the state-based competition in 2024. Darren will lead this program - underpinned by our partner at UNSW - with a clear aim to align Academia & Sporting excellence.
We are also thrilled to announce that Tom Williamson and Cameron McKinlay will lead our Women's Premier Division program. Both Tom and Cameron are well known locally (Willo and Weavers!) and bring the experience of both premierships and senior football coaching to our women's group. Having coached our 2020 Men's Premier Division Reserves team to ultimate success, both are looking to bring this experience to our developing talent list at the Bulldogs. "We are extremely excited to be given the opportunity to lead the women’s program, with a keen eye on the 2024 state competition opportunity, along with a clear focus on continuing the Club’s strong pathway program to AFLW", said Tom.
In other exciting news, former Sydney Swan and UNSW-ES legend Jake Brown will continue to lead our Under 19 program, ably assisted by Steve Chichester, Rob Cheval, John Naiman, and Tim Atkins, and will proudly field two teams in the 2022 competition.

[Old Puppy]

You have to feel for the clubs who continue to loose under 23-25 talent interstate or too the VFL for higher standard opportunities, unfortunately AFL Locally has indicated a higher competition structure but waiting until 2024 when the local competition standard and exposure is expected to be lower than the last couple years at least.
For those who have not seen the new 2022 VFL rules pertaining to list sizes, AFL clubs have a list of 30 (GWS/Swans) made up 15 primary/15 development (Under 22 of which a minimum 7 development listed must play in the team of 23 game day.
Those involved at club land cannot wait until the 30 development players are selected, expecting the a high percentage will come from community clubs. But there's more............
Clubs can make up to 16 list changes during home and away season (6 Primary, 10 Development) and the kicker is.......
with any player signed after 30th June needing to play 3 games to qualify for finals.
For those bit slow on uptake here - GWS & Swans can take any player after 30th June and add too their list- those could come from anywhere but given local proximity to AFL community footy it would be fair to assume the better performing clubs may loose players leading into their local finals campaigns.
VFL is a 18 game season with GF scheduled week before AFL GF, 3 weeks after local comp finishes.

Finally, happy early XMAS for those clubs who will soon receive the annual "HAND OUT" wrapped up as "competition balance" or otherwise known as AFL Sydney PPS Policy for 2022.

Bring it on......

[Jupiter]

There’s a lot of work to do to get back to the level of exposure we had even 10 years ago. 2 radio programs would be a dream - plus regular articles, TV etc Takes us back pre NSW/ACT AFL.

The AFL pats itself on the back about the promotion of the game, but it only really translates to the promotion of the AFL itself.
The promotion of the game in NSW/ACT is a joke.

Bombers hove lost 6 quality kids interstate in 2 years, on top of another 8 or so players under 26 gone to state league interstate. Not the only club in that position.

Recruiters now actively targeting our comp because the quality of players has improved and the kids translate really well to state league. The kids also don’t have a decent local option.

Re coaches, the question isn’t which prem clubs are changing men’s coaches, it’s which clubs aren’t.

My understanding is that only one or two clubs are retaining 2021 coaches. A couple have been ‘drafted’, but the reality is the effort/reward trade off doesn’t work in Sydney AFL, so clubs keep turning coaches over.

Can’t keep quality young players in Sydney and can’t keep coaches. Don’t need a points system. All we need is ongoing inept management from the AFL.

The standard at the top of the comp will fall again from where it got to 2020, so great news, competition equalization is working. Good work, going well.

This is a spot on assessment. Covid and less $ in the AFL coffers was the latest excuse for them to provide no vision, no leadership and no execution off the back of what I understand were a bunch of consultant reports and surveys telling clubs what they know and providing no solutions. Justa - very defeatist assessment your side, drafted or bust is just not good enough - local clubs and competitions in Sydney ought to have a meaningful role in footy development - they do anyway, DESPITE the league, whose disinterest is shameful.

[Pekay]

Until the RAMS get a permanent gig back at 18/19 level against Victorians like the old VSFL and TAC Cup formats, we aren't going to see local names at all.

[Mr Magoo]

Canberra / Sydney/ Northern NSW should be aiming to have a standalone VFL team. At least then the kids can aim for something outside of the Swans system. As it stands Swans VFL will take a handful of swans kids post academy and the rest just miss out or have no choice but to go interstate if they want to continue their AFL journey . Even amongst those kids taken into the VFL squad last year , only a few got consecutive games (covid didnt help of course) and they are always going to play second fiddle to the development needs of the Swans senior list.

Surely there is enough talent between the canberra / sydney/ north coast leagues to have a vfl team that could draw from those two leagues .