Academy Watch

[thoselionslads]

Lots of talk about Allison and Rolls slipping down the order. I was big on Allison, he has all the tools of a modern day footballer. Qld tried to play him more as an inside mid this yet a to improve his contested footy work, so I'm not too concerned as the other tools are there. Rolls I think is a bit vanilla, not real stand out attribute for mine that screams AFL player, solid all round game though, late-rookie pick. Positive side is Watson shooting up in rankings after a really good year, his improvement is a really good sign, I expect the lions to pick him up.

 

[acuguy]

Allison was an AA as an underager, he can kick it 60m, he won't last past pick 25

 

[mpal6]

You don't think there is any benefit in having someone drafted in the 1st round that has no go home factor?

I see what you mean, makes sense. At the same time I'd rather the academy keep producing talent to the level we can grab them on later picks. Like Schache in 2 and Keays in 20s.

 

[mpal6]

Doing very nicely in the VFL fwiw

Mature rookie back to us ?

 

[crispy creme]

Allison was an AA as an underager, he can kick it 60m, he won't last past pick 25

Not having a go in any way but if he is bid on before 25 then I can see him playing at another club. IMO hasn't shown anything to suggest he is worthy of a first or second round bid. Again, only my opinion.

 

[Fatcat08]

Not having a go in any way but if he is bid on before 25 then I can see him playing at another club. IMO hasn't shown anything to suggest he is worthy of a first or second round bid. Again, only my opinion.

While I appreciated your thoughts on this as always Crispy, as a man on a diet i can't help but hold your choice of avatar against you. A pox on your house sir!

 

[Footythewinner]

Just thought I would give you an update on some of the Academy prospects that played in the Under 15 Australian school carnival for Qld recently (I was watching my nephew).
Max Clayton made All Australia, big Tom Wischnat kicked over 15 goals up forward, Will Martyn was very consistent and the Captain Kobi Tozer showed good signs down back. They finished fourth which was a big achievement.

 

[Cockliff38]

Just thought I would give you an update on some of the Academy prospects that played in the Under 15 Australian school carnival for Qld recently (I was watching my nephew).
Max Clayton made All Australia, big Tom Wischnat kicked over 15 goals up forward, Will Martyn was very consistent and the Captain Kobi Tozer showed good signs down back. They finished fourth which was a big achievement.

Is Max related to Jack Clayton (bottom-aged academy prospect)?

 

[Judge]

Is Max related to Jack Clayton (bottom-aged academy prospect)?

Yep, brothers.

 

[Judge]

Just thought I would give you an update on some of the Academy prospects that played in the Under 15 Australian school carnival for Qld recently (I was watching my nephew).
Max Clayton made All Australia, big Tom Wischnat kicked over 15 goals up forward, Will Martyn was very consistent and the Captain Kobi Tozer showed good signs down back. They finished fourth which was a big achievement.

Qld 15's beat WA, so a very good result there.

Qld U12's went OK as well, actually led Victoria in the last quarter before going down by a couple of goals.

Qld junior footy is going pretty well at rep level over the past few years.

 

[SizeMatters]

Generally QLD footy is about on par with most of the footy states but as soon as our youngsters hit U15/16s we drop off severely. I'm not sure why this happens probably sporting culture is different here? Or maybe coaching/facilities access to these players is lacking compared to footy states?

 

[Judge]

Generally QLD footy is about on par with most of the footy states but as soon as our youngsters hit U15/16s we drop off severely. I'm not sure why this happens probably sporting culture is different here? Or maybe coaching/facilities access to these players is lacking compared to footy states?

I think you're right there SM, and that the main reason is that some of the better boys start specialising in just one sport, or stop playing sport altogether for various reasons, at about 15/16.

For example, we tend to lose guys to cricket or the rugby codes once they each a point where they just don't have time to be a sporting all-rounder anymore, or they want to concentrate on their studies in Years 11/12.

And once these boys are gone from the AFL pathway at that age they either never come back or play no higher than QAFL level. If there's a recent exception to that scenario I can't think of it off the top of my head.

 

[dlanod]

And once these boys are gone from the AFL pathway at that age they either never come back or play no higher than QAFL level. If there's a recent exception to that scenario I can't think of it off the top of my head.

A certain K. Hunt comes to mind...

 

[SizeMatters]

A certain K. Hunt comes to mind...

I read somewhere that Lockyer was an aussie rules player when he was younger before transitioning to league. I also think the private school system is another one that siphons off the best athletes on scholarships. I know Aker went to Nudgee College when he was younger and used to get his footy kicked out of the school grounds regularly. They have an aussie rules team but it pales in comparison to their Union set up.

 

[Mr Ripper]

 

[Quigley]

Jack Clayton and Connor Ballenden have been named in the Level 2 AFL Academy for next year.

We had none named in the Div 1 squad for next year. Only Bailey Scott from the GC was named from Qld.

 

[jjami15]

Jack Clayton and Connor Ballenden have been named in the Level 2 AFL Academy for next year.

We had none named in the Div 1 squad for next year. Only Bailey Scott from the GC was named from Qld.

I blame GWS and their access to the Riverina!

 

[Quigley]

Nick Blakey (son of John) is also in the bottom aged squad and is available to us as a father son (and to North and Sydney as an Academy player).

 

[Nunez]

Jack Clayton and Connor Ballenden have been named in the Level 2 AFL Academy for next year.

We had none named in the Div 1 squad for next year. Only Bailey Scott from the GC was named from Qld.

That's a name that surprised me to read. I thought Div 1 for sure.

 

[KissKiss]

Im a little confused by the wording of the AFL Academy Squads. The way I read the article is that Level 2 is draft eligible 2017 and Level 1 is for 2018 draft.

 

[jjami15]

That's a name that surprised me to read. I thought Div 1 for sure.

Im a little confused by the wording of the AFL Academy Squads. The way I read the article is that Level 2 is draft eligible 2017 and Level 1 is for 2018 draft.

You correct KK, level 2 are draft eligible next year and level 1 are draft eligible 2018.

 

[Nunez]

You correct KK, level 2 are draft eligible next year and level 1 are draft eligible 2018.

I admit I didn't read the article, silly me!

 

[Covertackle]

Generally QLD footy is about on par with most of the footy states but as soon as our youngsters hit U15/16s we drop off severely. I'm not sure why this happens probably sporting culture is different here? Or maybe coaching/facilities access to these players is lacking compared to footy states?

My thoughts on this are that there are 4 main factors of why QLD sides do well in pre-pubescent years;

Early skill levels; There are a few factors of why some kids pick up 'learned skills' earlier than others. Dads that spend time with them, kids with older brothers that kick with them, and kids that are naturally athletic. Often they are smaller players.

Maturity; Some kids just mature quicker than others. Some u12s have facial hair and pimples. Some are still playing cars under their high set Queenslanders. The gulf in maturity settles down a bit by 15-16 yo, and cancels a bit of the advantage some have at an earlier age. But not all.

Natural talent; A boy may have all the natural talent in the world, but if he doesn't display the maturity or skill levels of kids who have these advantages due to Dad not kicking the ball with him, or having no brothers, and maybe late going into puberty, they boy will not get selected in rep teams or wont go very far even if he gets into an entry level team. In QLD that bemused talented boy has options. He can go and play Queenslands most popular sport, RL like the rest of his school mates. He'll cop less crap by not playing AFL as well. Gary Ablett missed some rep sides as a 12-13yo, gave up AFL and went surfing with his mates for 2 seasons. If he was on the GC, he may never have come back, and certainly he may have played RL with his mates instead.

Talent pool; Competency wont cut it to play AFL. There are a lot of competent kids running round and they compete well at an early age as evidenced by young pre-pubescent and pubescent QLD sides. But once the extra MOST IMPORTANT determining factor, 'Natural flair and is added in the boys with competency and nothing else, get left behind. In the states with the largest talent pools they naturally have a lot more kids with that 'god given talent'. They are the cream that rise, as these boys 'learned skills' begin to catch up with their natural flair and talent, the pieces of the AFL footy player come together. The kid must have both parts; 'learned skills and natural skills'.

Its a fact that of the kids who play in the QLD state AFL schools u12 carnival each year, only 1.5 of them historically go through and play AFL. It is the above mentioned factors that are contributing to this. Kids are selected on the competency they display 'now' not what they will be capable of after maturity. At this years carnival I watched kids with huge natural ability get overlooked in favour of competent kids with good skills but little upside. The selection was for 'now' not for the years ahead. These are not academy selections, they are teams selected by school teachers.. look at their success rate....

From what I can see the Academy does look to address problem this as many kids who enter the academy are selected from entry level rep sides. It isn't imperative kids make the QLD side, and at the 1.5 per season success rate the school teachers 'enjoy', thank god for that!!

Anyway, that's my answer to your question for what its worth. Competency and good learned skill level means everything before maturity, but only till maturity. It counts for nothing later. To make a dent the boy needs what you cant teach. God given raw talent, speed and flair. It is after 15-16yo that this part of the equation becomes more obvious. We haven't the talent pool in (in Aussie Rules) QLD to match the other states. This is when it shows. When kids with nothing but competency begin playing young men with natural talent. The difference can be seen after maturity.

 

[Forward We Go]

My thoughts on this are that there are 4 main factors of why QLD sides do well in pre-pubescent years;

Early skill levels; There are a few factors of why some kids pick up 'learned skills' earlier than others. Dads that spend time with them, kids with older brothers that kick with them, and kids that are naturally athletic. Often they are smaller players.

Maturity; Some kids just mature quicker than others. Some u12s have facial hair and pimples. Some are still playing cars under their high set Queenslanders. The gulf in maturity settles down a bit by 15-16 yo, and cancels a bit of the advantage some have at an earlier age. But not all.

Natural talent; A boy may have all the natural talent in the world, but if he doesn't display the maturity or skill levels of kids who have these advantages due to Dad not kicking the ball with him, or having no brothers, and maybe late going into puberty, they boy will not get selected in rep teams or wont go very far even if he gets into an entry level team. In QLD that bemused talented boy has options. He can go and play Queenslands most popular sport, RL like the rest of his school mates. He'll cop less crap by not playing AFL as well. Gary Ablett missed some rep sides as a 12-13yo, gave up AFL and went surfing with his mates for 2 seasons. If he was on the GC, he may never have come back, and certainly he may have played RL with his mates instead.

Talent pool; Competency wont cut it to play AFL. There are a lot of competent kids running round and they compete well at an early age as evidenced by young pre-pubescent and pubescent QLD sides. But once the extra MOST IMPORTANT determining factor, 'Natural flair and is added in the boys with competency and nothing else, get left behind. In the states with the largest talent pools they naturally have a lot more kids with that 'god given talent'. They are the cream that rise, as these boys 'learned skills' begin to catch up with their natural flair and talent, the pieces of the AFL footy player come together. The kid must have both parts; 'learned skills and natural skills'.

Its a fact that of the kids who play in the QLD state AFL schools u12 carnival each year, only 1.5 of them historically go through and play AFL. It is the above mentioned factors that are contributing to this. Kids are selected on the competency they display 'now' not what they will be capable of after maturity. At this years carnival I watched kids with huge natural ability get overlooked in favour of competent kids with good skills but little upside. The selection was for 'now' not for the years ahead. These are not academy selections, they are teams selected by school teachers.. look at their success rate....

From what I can see the Academy does look to address problem this as many kids who enter the academy are selected from entry level rep sides. It isn't imperative kids make the QLD side, and at the 1.5 per season success rate the school teachers 'enjoy', thank god for that!!

Anyway, that's my answer to your question for what its worth. Competency and good learned skill level means everything before maturity, but only till maturity. It counts for nothing later. To make a dent the boy needs what you cant teach. God given raw talent, speed and flair. It is after 15-16yo that this part of the equation becomes more obvious. We haven't the talent pool in (in Aussie Rules) QLD to match the other states. This is when it shows. When kids with nothing but competency begin playing young men with natural talent. The difference can be seen after maturity.

100% agree with everything you say Tigernova. To take it another step forward, once boys start to become young men, they have many different options in life....girls, cars, careers, moving out of home... the list goes on. I have been involved in community footy now for a long time up here since moving from Melbourne a little while ago and another BIG issue up here compared to down south is the state of our u16's & up is the lack of support from the AFL (or AFLQ to be more precise) IMO the cost to get these young men on the footy ground should be dramatically subsidised. Instead it keeps going up almost every year to the extent where it has a significant effect on drop off rates. Boys have plenty of things to do with only a limited amount of $ to do so. Footy is expensive when you account for fees ($400 - $450.00), boots (over $100.00 for a decent pair) , shorts/socks (most clubs do not provide these for free) and time involved to train/play & travel. If a boy is recruited in the Academy, more time & resources add to that growing expense. If we want to nurture talent at this age group, we need to be more supportive.

 

[Fatcat08]

100% agree with everything you say Tigernova. To take it another step forward, once boys start to become young men, they have many different options in life....girls, cars, careers, moving out of home... the list goes on. I have been involved in community footy now for a long time up here since moving from Melbourne a little while ago and another BIG issue up here compared to down south is the state of our u16's & up is the lack of support from the AFL (or AFLQ to be more precise) IMO the cost to get these young men on the footy ground should be dramatically subsidised. Instead it keeps going up almost every year to the extent where it has a significant effect on drop off rates. Boys have plenty of things to do with only a limited amount of $ to do so. Footy is expensive when you account for fees ($400 - $450.00), boots (over $100.00 for a decent pair) , shorts/socks (most clubs do not provide these for free) and time involved to train/play & travel. If a boy is recruited in the Academy, more time & resources add to that growing expense. If we want to nurture talent at this age group, we need to be more supportive.

Geez that is cheap. If you want to continue playing hockey past u12/14 level you're looking at more than $2K a year for rego, insurance and artificial turf hire fees. That's before you even get to equipment and uniforms. Lucky buggers.