Academy uproar rears again

[KSAS]

I just missed Errol Gulden being interviewed on SEN as I only caught Dwayne Russell commenting on how a great interview it was (Looking forward to the podcast). But it caused the usual Vic reaction to our Academy with callers complaining we're getting an unfair advantage. This has now spilled over to Andy Mahr / Bod Murphy show who are further discussing our Academy. They will be interviewing Jared Crouch later in their show.

During his interview, Errol stressed he would've never got drafted if it wasn't for the Academy. I heard a few Swans supporters defending the Academy, with one caller who's son went through Academy stressing it's more than just trying to unearth good players as it also promotes the growth of Aussie Rules in NSW.

Errol's father rang in just before the end of Dwayne Russell's shift and added Errol would've been playing soccer if it wasn't for the Academy, eluding he would've followed in his older brother's footsteps who is talented in that sport.

There was even hypothetical suggestion whether the Academies will eventually have to follow the new NGA rules whereby clubs won't be able to match bids that come in the top 20. Sam Edmund said that won't be happening anytime soon.

These discussions will only further intensify if Gulden & Campbell have eye catching seasons and we tear up the ladder. This always rears it's ugly head whenever we threaten the competition as if our success is soley due to our Academy and our player development/recruiting gets sorely overlooked!

[TheBloods]

**** em

Did Jamarra, Isaac quaynor, Connor downie, Tarryn Thomas etc just come from nowhere ? Vic supporters would STFU then

[Mel_C]

**** em

Did Jamarra, Isaac quaynor, Connor downie, Tarryn Thomas etc just come from nowhere ? Vic supporters would STFU then

My thoughts exactly. How much time and money was spent developing those players?

[Thunder Shaker]

The Swans have lost dozens of players through the "go home" factor. The Academies are intended to counter this.

If the Academies are to be curtailed, the ones suggesting this must offer an alternative. Perhaps three-year trade bans for any club that has poached too many players from the northern clubs?

[stevoswan]

This is as totally predictable as it is pathetic. Vic media just can't handle interstate success, particularly from NSW and like trolls, feed the league every excuse to placate the jealous, 'soon to be wailing like Clarkson' masses in the heartland. Totally pathetic and petty......and counter productive to the leagues development in non footy states.....but let's face it, the Melbourne media don't care about this aspect as long as the heartland dominates. They don't have the intelligence or the will to see 'the big picture'.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

There was a RWO discussion about the anticipated backlash against the northern academies pre-season (after the NGA change), which included KSAS, TheBloods and Thunder Shaker's points.

General footy chat Horse was on Footy Classified - Page 3

Swans chat Our club: the Board, corporate structure and governance - Page 6

[liz]

I have some sneaky sympathy about access to the top end talent - ie I'm not sure (purely on the basis of draft equity, ignoring the fact the competition is far from a level playing field in other aspects) we should have been able to draft both Campbell and McDonald. But the fact we got Gulden at 32, and thus kept next year's draft currency intact, is purely down to the other clubs. I was staggered he lasted to 32.

Predictably, one of the first questions Horse was asked in his post-game interview was about the benefits the club has reaped from the academy system. His immediate answer was (paraphrased) " I should think so. It costs us a lot."

I'm also surprised by how little the football commentators seem to understand about how the academies are set up. Dermot commented during the broadcast that it was amazing that a player could be identified at age 10 as a potentially elite footy player. But of course that's not how it works. One hundred or so boys join the academy each year. Around 30 or so (maybe fewer this year) last beyond age 15. Of those, half a dozen might make it as far as the U18 Allies team in the National Championships. And one or two might then make it onto an AFL list. (More probably should, than have, but hopefully that will gradually change.)

Dermot has worked with the Giants so I am surprised he, of all commentators, isn't more knowledgeable.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

I have some sneaky sympathy about access to the top end talent - ie I'm not sure (purely on the basis of draft equity, ignoring the fact the competition is far from a level playing field in other aspects) we should have been able to draft both Campbell and McDonald.

Right, that's the naughty corner for you Liz.
It will be a long time before the Academy compensates this club for losing Rhys-Jones, Capper, Mitchell, Evans, Goss, Teasedale, Morwood, Foschini, Daniher, Pitura, Walsh, Foschini, Rantall, Gull, Smith, Ackerly, Bedford, Frangalas, Stewart etc. etc.

[Scottee]

I have some sneaky sympathy about access to the top end talent - ie I'm not sure (purely on the basis of draft equity, ignoring the fact the competition is far from a level playing field in other aspects) we should have been able to draft both Campbell and McDonald. But the fact we got Gulden at 32, and thus kept next year's draft currency intact, is purely down to the other clubs. I was staggered he lasted to 32.

Predictably, one of the first questions Horse was asked in his post-game interview was about the benefits the club has reaped from the academy system. His immediate answer was (paraphrased) " I should think so. It costs us a lot."

I'm also surprised by how little the football commentators seem to understand about how the academies are set up. Dermot commented during the broadcast that it was amazing that a player could be identified at age 10 as a potentially elite footy player. But of course that's not how it works. One hundred or so boys join the academy each year. Around 30 or so (maybe fewer this year) last beyond age 15. Of those, half a dozen might make it as far as the U18 Allies team in the National Championships. And one or two might then make it onto an AFL list. (More probably should, than have, but hopefully that will gradually change.)

Dermot has worked with the Giants so I am surprised he, of all commentators, isn't more knowledgeable.

I have absolutely no sympathy. Trying to draw equivalence between the dodgy NGAs and the Swans Academy is an exercise in fraud. There is no comparison between what the Swans Academy and the NGAs. How many players have they actually developed? How many have they actually converted to the sport? Differentiating players based on their parentage/nationality should have nothing to do with it. They typically like to forget that AFL is the dominant sport in Victoria by a mile. It is the most contrived system possible to give Victorian Clubs an unfair advantage in obtaining players that would have ben drafted even if the NGAs did not exist.

The northern clubs have every right (and need) to run proper academies and not be penalised for it. The AFL must not be swayed by the parochialism of the Vic clubs. The norther clubs are not exactly dominating the competition as yet (Lions success is on the back of years of bottom finishes, the Giants success is based on concessions that have ceased and their success may not last very long, as for the Suns ) . Perhaps they had better wait until there is a clear imbalance with the northern clubs dominating before getting concerned about the competition. If the northern clubs do start dominating then they have achieved one of their main objectives of growing the game.

[Doctor]

I have some sneaky sympathy about access to the top end talent - ie I'm not sure (purely on the basis of draft equity, ignoring the fact the competition is far from a level playing field in other aspects) we should have been able to draft both Campbell and McDonald. But the fact we got Gulden at 32, and thus kept next year's draft currency intact, is purely down to the other clubs. I was staggered he lasted to 32.

Predictably, one of the first questions Horse was asked in his post-game interview was about the benefits the club has reaped from the academy system. His immediate answer was (paraphrased) " I should think so. It costs us a lot."

I'm also surprised by how little the football commentators seem to understand about how the academies are set up. Dermot commented during the broadcast that it was amazing that a player could be identified at age 10 as a potentially elite footy player. But of course that's not how it works. One hundred or so boys join the academy each year. Around 30 or so (maybe fewer this year) last beyond age 15. Of those, half a dozen might make it as far as the U18 Allies team in the National Championships. And one or two might then make it onto an AFL list. (More probably should, than have, but hopefully that will gradually change.)

Dermot has worked with the Giants so I am surprised he, of all commentators, isn't more knowledgeable.

Spot on. I was watching on draft night and could not believe he got through that far. Was no other club watching what he was doing for the last 10 years? Every level he was promoted to, he rose to. He should have been a top 10 and I am stunned that he fell that deep. Other clubs can whinge about our Academy all they want (and I don't think they are any more to be fair, I think it's confected Victorian News Corp media fodder) but them letting him fall that deep in the draft is on them, not us.

[Velour&Ruffles]

I have some sneaky sympathy about access to the top end talent - ie I'm not sure (purely on the basis of draft equity, ignoring the fact the competition is far from a level playing field in other aspects) we should have been able to draft both Campbell and McDonald. But the fact we got Gulden at 32, and thus kept next year's draft currency intact, is purely down to the other clubs. I was staggered he lasted to 32.

Predictably, one of the first questions Horse was asked in his post-game interview was about the benefits the club has reaped from the academy system. His immediate answer was (paraphrased) " I should think so. It costs us a lot."

I'm also surprised by how little the football commentators seem to understand about how the academies are set up. Dermot commented during the broadcast that it was amazing that a player could be identified at age 10 as a potentially elite footy player. But of course that's not how it works. One hundred or so boys join the academy each year. Around 30 or so (maybe fewer this year) last beyond age 15. Of those, half a dozen might make it as far as the U18 Allies team in the National Championships. And one or two might then make it onto an AFL list. (More probably should, than have, but hopefully that will gradually change.)

Dermot has worked with the Giants so I am surprised he, of all commentators, isn't more knowledgeable.

Surely you jest. He will always stick to the narrative that suits the Melbourne power clubs (aka the McChins view). He has no powers of analysis for anything beyond basic on-field stuff. Even on-field, he can't get past certain prejudices.

[barracuda]

Perhaps the interstate clubs could get off their arses and take sydney talent more seriously. They have neglected the kids for too long and as a consequence academies are required. Imagine how many talented kids from sydney were overlooked, ignored over the years.