View Full Version : NSW rookies performance to date
"Far Lookin" wrote on the bomberblitz message board:
"Scholarship boys.
Simon Davies
Height: 177cm, Weight: 74kg, DOB: 20/09/89
Clubs: Pigeons; North Shore Bombers;
-Played 2 matches for North Shore Seniors in the Sydney League this year. Kicked four goals and featured in the bests both times.
-Played on the weekend against Calder for NSW-ACT; 16 touches (10 kickes, 6 handballs), 8 tackles, 1 mark, 2 behinds
Ben Simon
Height: 199cm, Weight: 90kg, DOB: 14/12/90
Clubs: Northern Heat; Cardiff Hawks; NSW-ACT Rams
-Played 4 games for Cardiff U18s in the 2007 Black Diamond Cup. Ben's kicked 17 goals (one bag of 11) and featured in the bests in each game.
-Didn't play on the weekend for NSW-ACT Rams
That's all for now - feel free to add more! "
I was wondering, can anyone give me any context as to what this might indicate (assuming their form continues). Are these leagues so far below the Victorian/WA/SA equivalents that there's not much to take from it? Or if the kids continue to be in the best every week, is it a good sign they'll be draftable?
Obviously since they don't use a draft pick these kids will need to be as good as players at the back end rather than the top end of the draft, so that improves their chances as well.
I was wondering, can anyone give me any context as to what this might indicate (assuming their form continues). Are these leagues so far below the Victorian/WA/SA equivalents that there's not much to take from it? Or if the kids continue to be in the best every week, is it a good sign they'll be draftable?
In a word.. YES. The NSW competition is a LONG way below the Vic/SA/WA equivalents.
Probably the only team you would consider looking at for parity would be the NSW/ACT Rams, which would be roughly on par with any other TAC Cup team (given previous performances).
You will get a more serious indication of how good they are when or if they play with the Rams in the TAC Cup. Which I think thy play 3 games a year in as well as the U/18 Champs. I think this is correct.
Anyone know how Craig Bird has gone so far this year? Was stiff to get overlooked last year IMO.
Gilly1972
9 May 2007, 23:31
Anyone know how Craig Bird has gone so far this year? Was stiff to get overlooked last year IMO.
He was everywhere last weekend, had a serious case of leather poisoning and was a stand-out for NSW against Calder.
The Royal Sampler
9 May 2007, 23:35
Was listed as second-best for the Rams in a recent win over the Calder Cannons, kicked three goals.
http://taccup.footballvictoria.com.au/?s=results
It's under Round 5.
Anyone know how Craig Bird has gone so far this year? Was stiff to get overlooked last year IMO.
Had 40 touches on the weekend IIRC.
6 rookies made the RAMs team against Calder (many others are too young).
Realistically the chances of guys coming through this system is slight. For mine non-listed guys like Drum and Bird were amongst the best.
Quigley
10 May 2007, 00:08
Lions scholarship player Stephen O'Connor didn't play for the RAMS. Steve is 17 year old, 194 cm tall and 87 kg. He has had a slow start to the year and has been stuck in the reserves for his club. His first mention in the bests for the team was the week just gone. Hopefully his picks things up over the rest of the season.
Guys that played against Calder.
Can be rookie-listed this year - Simon Davies (Ess), Taylor Walker (Port), James Wilsen (Kang), Ryan Davis (WCE).
Rookie-listed next year - Scott Read (Coll), Anthony Stubbs (WCE)
I thought that Wilsen looked OK (195cm key forward). Read played well without being the jaw-dropper as advertised.
Guys that played against Calder.
Can be rookie-listed this year - Simon Davies (Ess), Taylor Walker (Port), James Wilsen (Kang), Ryan Davis (WCE).
Rookie-listed next year - Scott Read (Coll), Anthony Stubbs (WCE)
I thought that Wilsen looked OK (195cm key forward). Read played well without being the jaw-dropper as advertised.
He's actually ours. They wish they had him.
I was pretty sure we couldn't rookie list him until next year though.
Craig Bird is also "taken" under the apprentice scheme (by Sydney).
The benefits of this scheme will be seen, if at all, in the mid to longer term, rather than necessarily with the crop available to be drafted this year or next.
As I understand it, the purpose is to put a structure in place that helps to identify the best athletes and ball players in their early teens and, via their affliation with an AFL club, encourage them to stick with AFL at a stage where many might be also contemplating careers in union and/or league and/or soccer and/or basketball. It may also provide additional motivation and financial resources to those who would otherwise lose interest in a professional sports career - there are lots of competing calls on the time and attention of a 15 or 16 yo.
There may be an incidental effect of fast-tracking their development via the odd training session spent with their host club. However, the ability of the absolute cream of the crop to develop AFL levels skills quickly once they join an AFL club even if they haven't played the game before suggests this will be a relatively minor influence on whether they are able to have a long term AFL career. Examples include the Irish imports like Kennelly and Begley, plus those who concentrated on other sports locally throughout their teenage years (Brogan and Pendlebury - basketball, Goodes - soccer, Roberts-Thompson and Brad Moran - union, and I am sure there are numerous other examples).
However, mostly it is about attracting and retaining the best youngsters rather than developing them before they reach drafting age.
He's actually ours. They wish they had him.
I was pretty sure we couldn't rookie list him until next year though.
My apologies on both fronts. I misread David Linsen is above him in the footy record and an Adelaide candidate this year (but did not make the team).
http://penrithswans.aflnswact.com.au/
http://penrithswans.aflnswact.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&aid=119429
Two more scholarship winners just announced from my local junior club, well done to both boys.
Nick Perry to Collingwood and Jake Pianta to Carlton. Both are turning 15 this year and are around 6 foot so play as talls at their age level.
Guys that played against Calder.
Can be rookie-listed this year - Simon Davies (Ess), Taylor Walker (Port), James Wilsen (Kang), Ryan Davis (WCE).
Rookie-listed next year - Scott Read (Coll), Anthony Stubbs (WCE)
I thought that Wilsen looked OK (195cm key forward). Read played well without being the jaw-dropper as advertised.
Can you give us a bit of a rundown on him Weaver? Strengths/Weakness's, possibility of being drafted, afl suited etc?
Sherminator.
31 May 2007, 00:15
Ben Simon sounds like a tank, could he become a force in u-18s?
Kirky8865
31 May 2007, 08:41
Great, another area where people are talking about the scholarship scheme that does NOT include areas of NSW and ACT. There are some pretty handy players in these areas that can't get a scholarship because apparently we are a developed region with AFL the only game played. (RRRRRRRRRR). Gee this annoys me and other people from our area.
The Canberra Raiders (league) and Brumbies (union) are fairly big in the area. Forget who our AFL team is?:confused::confused::confused::confused:
There are some pretty handy players in these areas that can't get a scholarship because apparently we are a developed region with AFL the only game played. (RRRRRRRRRR).
There are some very handy players in the other states who can't get scholorships as well.
Gee this annoys me and other people from our area.
I am sure there are people in Darwin who could have done with a scholorship for their kid who are a little annoyed too.
Kirky8865
31 May 2007, 09:26
You hit the nail on the head weaver. They are OTHER states, I thought we had a state border and I know I live in NSW, so a NSW/ACT afl scholarship should be available to ALL NSW/ACT players not just some depending on where they live or go to school. That is the annoying part. The other states might have other schemes ( I don't know) but it is all about raising the profile of the game in this area and being excluded from anything gives the other codes more ammunition to hit us with. I might sound repetitive but it must be one in all in.
The whole scholarship thing is a bit stupid if they only have it in New South Wales.
I can appreciate the arguments about the scheme's merits and the fact that plenty of people from other states would like to have access, however, the fact remains that Sydney is a pretty special case.
The most densely populated area in Australia which basically produces zero footballers at the top level and in relative terms has a tiny participation rate for junior football.
Perhaps it should be renamed the Sydney scholarship scheme as I can understand the frustrations of those from southern areas of NSW/ACT given the name.
giantroo
13 Jul 2007, 00:23
Yeh how did James Wilsen go?