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Alright, here goes, an academy thread. I've seen a lot of Eddie-said-it-so-it-must-be-true BS regarding academies, so let's use facts instead to say why academies are good because if anyone else keeps saying stupid crap about this I will lose it quicker than Barry Hall.
Academies are a good thing. Can people please understand that? That NSW Scholarship thing they had going before the Academies got barely any talent in whatsoever yet people actually want it back because they think it's "fair". The Academies however is a different story. They're bringing in a lot of talent from RL/Soccer heartland that would've been lost to those codes, playing for the Northern clubs so they don't need to rely on interstate players who piss off after 2 good seasons (In Aish's case, 1 good season). Northern clubs recruiting Northern state players through the academies means that Vic talent goes to Vic clubs instead, SA players go to SA clubs and WA players go to WA clubs (it doesn't work like that exactly but my point is it helps with player retention for all sides). It also helps with increasing the talent pool because eventually too many players will be coming through from QLD/ACT/NSW for GWS, GC, Brisbane or Sydney to take, meaning they're fair dinkum for any other club in the draft. Guess what? That's a good thing!
The academies are like the expansion sides, minimal impact short-term but huge impact long-term. They're another area to growing our game to making sure that more players get into footy over rugby or soccer. It's obvious none of you have been to Sydney, Brisbane or Gold Coast because if you did, you'd know that before academies we were fighting a losing war over there in that regard.
And want to know why academies won't work if it's an "AFL" Academy over a club academy? Because a big attraction for these kids in the NE of Australia is being able to play for their city/state rather than a bloody league they wouldn't of had a clue about before getting into the academy.
Academies are working in bringing through talent from places talent wouldn't usually come from, they're a good tool in growing our game and the clubs in RL/Soccer heartland long-term, they help with player retention for all sides and not just 4 (as explained above), it grows the talent pool long term (another supposed problem even though that's fair BS) and overall it gives our code more exposure all over the country.
Overall, academies = a good thing and Eddie McGuire's opinions on them =irrelevant and nonsensical.
Academies are a good thing. Can people please understand that? That NSW Scholarship thing they had going before the Academies got barely any talent in whatsoever yet people actually want it back because they think it's "fair". The Academies however is a different story. They're bringing in a lot of talent from RL/Soccer heartland that would've been lost to those codes, playing for the Northern clubs so they don't need to rely on interstate players who piss off after 2 good seasons (In Aish's case, 1 good season). Northern clubs recruiting Northern state players through the academies means that Vic talent goes to Vic clubs instead, SA players go to SA clubs and WA players go to WA clubs (it doesn't work like that exactly but my point is it helps with player retention for all sides). It also helps with increasing the talent pool because eventually too many players will be coming through from QLD/ACT/NSW for GWS, GC, Brisbane or Sydney to take, meaning they're fair dinkum for any other club in the draft. Guess what? That's a good thing!
The academies are like the expansion sides, minimal impact short-term but huge impact long-term. They're another area to growing our game to making sure that more players get into footy over rugby or soccer. It's obvious none of you have been to Sydney, Brisbane or Gold Coast because if you did, you'd know that before academies we were fighting a losing war over there in that regard.
And want to know why academies won't work if it's an "AFL" Academy over a club academy? Because a big attraction for these kids in the NE of Australia is being able to play for their city/state rather than a bloody league they wouldn't of had a clue about before getting into the academy.
Academies are working in bringing through talent from places talent wouldn't usually come from, they're a good tool in growing our game and the clubs in RL/Soccer heartland long-term, they help with player retention for all sides and not just 4 (as explained above), it grows the talent pool long term (another supposed problem even though that's fair BS) and overall it gives our code more exposure all over the country.
Overall, academies = a good thing and Eddie McGuire's opinions on them =irrelevant and nonsensical.







