- Jan 15, 2015
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Great post and one with some facts for once.
Based on my calculations following last weekend's games the rumoured top spending sides had the following juniors playing:
Greenvale - 13
Strathmore - 10
Abers - 7
Keilor - 5
Pascoe Vale - 4
Avondale - 3
When you add in players who've been at clubs for three years or more it makes up in excess of 60% of the team from GV, SM and Abers.
Hey Puff,
I haven't had a chance to go over your facts but assuming your right I think this only goes to show a couple of things:
1- the good work done by 3 (or 4) clubs to have strong junior programs and the good fortune of having players return and/or stay around for a number of years.
2- the points system will benefit these 3 clubs unless there is something in place to protect clubs with new recruits at other clubs otherwise it will create an uneven competition in which 2 or 3 sides will dominate for at least the next 5 years.. This will surely not be good.
Let me say one other thing which assists a good junior program is when you have ex AFL players as they can educate and teach the juniors things they learned. I'm sure 18s or even some 16s training with these guys greatly helps bring on the juniors at clubs. Abers & Strathmore ( and maybe Greenvale) have recruited plenty over the last 5 or so years, so this should be taken into consideration when we talk junior development programs.,
It would be interesting to see the study of the current points system in the EDFL 2015 and what max points the EDFL clubs will be allowed.
I'm not sure of a "fair" system without really reviewing it closely but It does say that clubs that have been up near the top for a number of years will have less points than clubs at the bottom end. Therefore it might be that Abers, Strathmore, Greenvale will have less points than some other clubs.. Is this fair?? No it's not to these clubs "but" it might be the only way to even out the comp.. But then where do Marby sit as they have won multiple premierships in past years so it will be interesting however they are developing youth so they probably would fall under the points anyway..
This system would allow the Paccos and Avondale's, and probably Keilor to keep players and stay competitive for the initial years, and also not hinder the other sides at the bottom end from recruiting big names..
Great discussion though and keeping it respectful..



