Where are the good SA midfielders

[CrowsB4hoes]

Prior to 2012 we went through a really poor development patch. WA has been through one over the last 5 years as well.
Reality is that the AFL has neglected Jr development in both SA and WA prefering to spend their time and money with the TAC cup and NSW/Qld. It could also be noted that Tasmania has gone backwards for many years.
But the AFL doesnt give a shit, and neither do most SA football supporters.

Are you saying WA has been through a poor development patch?

Their State of Origin team would give any other State a hiding.

 

[jackster83]

Even the ones taken with first round picks often end up being plodders at best (Toumpas, Aish, Trengove).

The SANFL U/18 teams always seem to feature mids who are small, slow players with average kicking skills. Guys like Battersby and Colqhoun who end up being decent SANFL players but not enough weapons for the top level.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Should SA enter a couple of teams in the TAC Cup rather than have the players spread all over the SANFL U18's, reserves and league competitions?

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Should SA enter a couple of teams in the TAC Cup rather than have the players spread all over the SANFL U18's, reserves and league competitions?

Definitely not .....the Vics are envious that our good juniors get to play against men in SANFL, which speeds their development and allows recruiters to get a better guage of the player

Leave it as it is

 

[Cleric]

Are you saying WA has been through a poor development patch?

Their State of Origin team would give any other State a hiding.

Absolutley. Look at their U18s for the last few years. Last years draft was terrible for WA as was the year before.
There is alot of talk about falling Jr participation in WA.

 

[Cleric]

And its not just mids, what great forwards have we produced?

 

[CrowinNT]

Goodwin, Roo, Hart McLeod, Bock for starters...
Greg Anderson?

Hey hands off our Darwin born McLeod

 

[CrowsB4hoes]

Absolutley. Look at their U18s for the last few years. Last years draft was terrible for WA as was the year before.
There is alot of talk about falling Jr participation in WA.

It just seems like every other player who comes along and impresses is from WA.

Fyfe, Martin, O'Meara - even Charlie Cameron.

 

[Cleric]

It just seems like every other player who comes along and impresses is from WA.

Fyfe, Martin, O'Meara - even Charlie Cameron.

Hogan, Coniglio etc.

 

[Tex200]

I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with develpment pathways in SA. It's more of s statistical reality that we have a lower pop base and we simply aren't going to get as many elite juniors.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Definitely not .....the Vics are envious that our good juniors get to play against men in SANFL, which speeds their development and allows recruiters to get a better guage of the player

Leave it as it is

Do the stats say that it's better?

Number of players drafted, number of AFL games by draftees, other measures of quality (eg B&F votes) etc?

 

[DJ75]

Out of interest - did anyone see the SA U18 trial on the weekend? Keen to hear if anyone got to watch it.

 

[Bacon8]

Richmond's Shane Edwards is from the Roosters.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Do the stats say that it's better?

Number of players drafted, number of AFL games by draftees, other measures of quality (eg B&F votes) etc?

Oh FFS ......stats .....could you guys have any opinion if there were no stats

It's an opinion based on coaches and recruiters feedback at the U18 championships .....sorry no stats on that

 

[morris086]

Out of interest - did anyone see the SA U18 trial on the weekend? Keen to hear if anyone got to watch it.

I tried watching a bit but i have no idea who's who.

 

[Footypie32]

Would be interested to hear the thoughts of someone like Chris25 on the current lack of SA talent and reasons behind it.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Oh FFS ......stats .....could you guys have any opinion if there were no stats

It's an opinion based on coaches and recruiters feedback at the U18 championships .....sorry no stats on that

Even anecdotally though, the State of Origin team we could pick now compared to 10, 15, 20, 25 years ago SUCKS and is getting worse as Pavlich, Burgoyne, Thompson finish up.

Some of the more recent SA early draftees Aish, Mayes, Trengove haven't exactly set the world on fire either.

I think in yesteryear playing SANFL football against men would have been an advantage. However, we're now seeing a weakened SANFL and a more professional TAC Cup.

The TAC Cup allows all the best 17-18 year olds to play each weekend against each other in the same environment. Much easier for recruiters to measure players against their peers than in SA where players would be spread out over U18's, Reserves and League. Also the SANFL clubs are fairly old school - still have big oafs like Alleway parked at full forward - whereas the TAC Cup team are mini versions of an AFL set up. All the zones, defensive set ups, clearing out your forward line etc. Remember how Bassett revolutionised the SANFL by bringing a few AFL strategies in?

Do TAC Cup players miss out on playing against adults but adapt to the AFL system quicker? Is the SANFL system - that was once a strength - now a liability?

 

[Wayne Swan]

For those writing off Mackay, didn't you give him a four year contract to end of 2018?

I found that strange because I reckon he's just fringe. Gave him four years yet offer Lynch and Jenkins just two years. Something wrong in all that.

 

[Footypie32]

For those writing off Mackay, didn't you give him a four year contract to end of 2018?

I found that strange because I reckon he's just fringe. Gave him four years yet offer Lynch and Jenkins just two years. Something wrong in all that.

 

[Mr MysteryGuest]

For those writing off Mackay, didn't you give him a four year contract to end of 2018?

I found that strange because I reckon he's just fringe. Gave him four years yet offer Lynch and Jenkins just two years. Something wrong in all that.

Mackay is probably part of the reason why we're now a bit reluctant to offer more years. It was overs at the time and even worse now, but he was definitely considered best 22 by the club at the time of his signing.

 

[mistylake]

Well blow me over if we need to go that far back.

Anderson, Hart, Roo all grew their footy skills in the 80s at junior level.

Wasnt McLeod from NT?

This is over 25+ years ago.

More a generational thing than a phase.
Oddly we claim our SANFL as the next best league behind the AFL, or is it full of imports?

 

[mistylake]

Richmond's Shane Edwards is from the Roosters.

Where did Puopilou come from B4 Norwood?

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Some of the more recent SA early draftees Aish, Mayes, Trengove haven't exactly set the world on fire either.

Yes but look at the clubs these players have been drafted to .....none of the lower clubs have had success over the last decade with draftees comparing the number of success's versus the number of top 10 picks ......poor development, poor culture

I think in yesteryear playing SANFL football against men would have been an advantage. However, we're now seeing a weakened SANFL and a more professional TAC Cup.

The TAC Cup allows all the best 17-18 year olds to play each weekend against each other in the same environment. Much easier for recruiters to measure players against their peers than in SA where players would be spread out over U18's, Reserves and League. Also the SANFL clubs are fairly old school - still have big oafs like Alleway parked at full forward - whereas the TAC Cup team are mini versions of an AFL set up. All the zones, defensive set ups, clearing out your forward line etc. Remember how Bassett revolutionised the SANFL by bringing a few AFL strategies in?

IF this is the case ....and remember most clubs have spotters in each state ....it's to the advantage of the Sth Aust clubs ......why would you want to make the recruiters jib easier in the Eastern states .

The TAC teams are set-up to benefit the AFL recruiting program ....players are selected on their potential to develop along the AFL pathway ......the best players at the time are not necessarily chosen ....winning isn't the be-all.

In the SANFL it's the opposite .....they play to win, the choose best available .....this has to be the best environment for the more developed players to progress .....but there's also the fall-back of playing reserves or U18

Do TAC Cup players miss out on playing against adults but adapt to the AFL system quicker? Is the SANFL system - that was once a strength - now a liability?

IMO ...no

You have to remember still that the Vic population is 4 times bigger than Sth Austr

Also remember that where traditionally the Vic Metro side has been a powerhouse .....in recent years it has been mediocre, with 4 times the population???

If you were correct , and the TAC was a better program .....shouldn't the Vic Metro side be dominating .....it's the fact that the Sth Aust side has done well, which has had the recruiters studying our development path

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Depends how you measure success though. Is the purpose of the U/18 carnival to have your team win? Or is it to have players drafted / developed for AFL?

I'm not saying SA should have as many footballers drafted as Victoria. I'm asking whether SA is now producing footballers of the same quality as we did previously.

 

[Jeffcrowe]

Should SA enter a couple of teams in the TAC Cup rather than have the players spread all over the SANFL U18's, reserves and league competitions?

No

The advantage SA has is promoting talented juniors into senior footy which helps fast track them

SA is a small state and is going fine - 2 nationals champs wins attest to this in last 3 years and even last year were 2nd to a v dominant vic country team

It's vic metro ( and WA) which is struggling per capita not SA so no point joining them