sr36
TheBrownDog
You will lose kids who fall by the way side with no school footy and less enjoyable work like VFL/WAFL/SANFL games but little pay who then chase dollars or normal jobs and just give up the ghost.
Many people quit footy post 18 even ones who could of potentially forged a good state career and possibly later another shot at AFL rookie selection.
We are not like the USA which has a very good college system in place to keep the structure around the youths before the transition to pro leagues.
If they were to go down that route then it needs to be done properly not much diff between a 18 and 19 yo imo.
Any increase in age should also see an official under 21s introduced (AFL sponsored) Draft eligible at 20 with TV coverage of said comp (sponsors etc), rookie esque size contracts for those in the "minor" league.
Might be state based sides ie an SA Metro, SA Country, WA Metro, WA Country, NT, QLD, NSW, VIC Metro, VIC Country. 9 team comp playing twice a year and finals, or extended TAC comp to u21s.
I agree with that, but you will still have the same number of AFL players, so you will gain other kids who are keener and more footy focussed. And I think you will get more kids go from Under 18s into senior footy because they will still be chasing the draft dream. Once in senior footy, they will be more likely to stay, thus lower leagues will be stronger and thus the game as a whole will be stronger. That's my theory any way.




