News Future of Vic U18 Elite Pathways

[ItsAllAboutMe]

The AFL just ‘ripped the heart out’ of its elite pathway — and clubs are livid at the ‘neglect’

The AFL just ‘ripped the heart out’ of its elite pathway — and clubs are livid at the ‘neglect’

www.foxsports.com.au

Interesting development from the AFL, which is clearly about reducing costs and reallocating some of these costs for the girls.

If the only aim of the u18 comp is to develop AFL players then there may be some logic to it, how valuable are the U18 games when the APS & AGSV kids are not playing? May as well reduce the season and send those not in private school's back to their local clubs to play with mates, or even better get exposure playing senior country and metro footy.

 

[PMBangers]

If the only aim of the u18 comp is to develop AFL players then there may be some logic to it, how valuable are the U18 games when the APS & AGSV kids are not playing? May as well reduce the season and send those not in private school's back to their local clubs to play with mates, or even better get exposure playing senior country and metro footy.

That's exactly what is happening

 

[ItsAllAboutMe]

Yes am aware, just wondering if any of the draft experts here expect it to have much impact as Tom Morris is reporting?

 

[Jen2310]

AFL quickly got a phone hook up after that article came out.

AFL calls emergency phone hook-up over fears around pathway revamp

AFL calls emergency phone hook-up over fears around pathway revamp

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[PMBangers]

Yes am aware, just wondering if any of the draft experts here expect it to have much impact as Tom Morris is reporting?

My main concern is that less well off kids aren't going to get the same level of exposure (even if APS and AGSV is prioritised by recruiters regardless) meaning that we stray further and further towards our system being Americanised, and the 'prestige' of schools holding even more weight than they already do. In terms of shortened pre-season and all that, I don't see the big deal, kids will be training with local clubs to keep their skills up and doing extra sessions for fitness regardless

 

[Bostonian]

The boys pathway is far more important than the girls. Shouldn't be cutting corners on what has been an invaluable source of players for a long time now.

If you don't have a strong male product to prop up the financial side of the female side of the game both products will ultimately suffer because of it.

 

[PMBangers]

The boys pathway is far more important than the girls. Shouldn't be cutting corners on what has been an invaluable source of players for a long time now.

If you don't have a strong male product to prop up the financial side of the female side of the game both products will ultimately suffer because of it.

The biggest changes aren't even related to coaches filling the dual roles in boys and girls, it's not about which pathway is more important currently it's the fact there's a significant shift to give those private/ grammar school students MORE priority and high level exposure than before

 

[Bostonian]

My main concern is that less well off kids aren't going to get the same level of exposure (even if APS and AGSV is prioritised by recruiters regardless) meaning that we stray further and further towards our system being Americanised, and the 'prestige' of schools holding even more weight than they already do. In terms of shortened pre-season and all that, I don't see the big deal, kids will be training with local clubs to keep their skills up and doing extra sessions for fitness regardless

Training at local clubs could have a detrimental impact on a young player.

This is where bad habits or bad training practices can be an issue.

 

[PMBangers]

Training at local clubs could have a detrimental impact on a young player.

This is where bad habits or bad training practices can be an issue.

So you wouldn't have NAB League listed players training at local level at all?

 

[Bostonian]

The biggest changes aren't even related to coaches filling the dual roles in boys and girls, it's not about which pathway is more important currently it's the fact there's a significant shift to give those private/ grammar school students MORE priority and high level exposure than before

Are the boys programs starting later due to some coaches being tied up?

Are they getting less time with high level coaching than previously?

The two programs shouldn't be connected imo.

 

[PMBangers]

Are the boys programs starting later due to some coaches being tied up?

Are they getting less time with high level coaching than previously?

The two programs shouldn't be connected imo.

By a grand total of 2 to 3 weeks the Boys are starting later for their full training yes

 

[Bostonian]

So you wouldn't have NAB League listed players training at local level at all?

Not if it could be helped.

It's the last resort scenario.

You want them training with the elite for as much as possible. The aim is to get the best out of them, the experience and the footba education that can be provided to benefit their game and prepare them for AFL level professionalism. .

 

[Bostonian]

By a grand total of 2 to 3 weeks the Boys are starting later for their full training yes

That a decent chunk of time in a preseason when a lot has to be undertaken and achieved.

 

[PMBangers]

That a decent chunk of time in a preseason when a lot has to be undertaken and achieved.

It's 4-6 sessions for kids that would've been running and had a ball constantly in their hand since the last season ended, in the grand scheme of things I think it's relatively inconsequential, especially for those that have the attitude to make it to the next level

 

[Bostonian]

It's 4-6 sessions for kids that would've been running and had a ball constantly in their hand since the last season ended, in the grand scheme of things I think it's relatively inconsequential, especially for those that have the attitude to make it to the next level

If it's inconsequential it probably wouldn't be a story however obviously many find it as a whole problematic.

Along with as you say disadvantaging players with differing backgrounds and from different locations.

 

[PMBangers]

If it's inconsequential it probably wouldn't be a story however obviously many find it as a whole problematic.

Along with as you say disadvantaging players with differing backgrounds and from different locations.

The shortened preseason doesn't disadvantage anyone in particular though, it's a slight inconvenience all round, what disadvantages particular populations is the stop in NAB League games to accommodate APS/AGSV games, this is where kids in public schooling or out of school completely will lose their exposure, this is where they'll lose what that had prior to the changes. Sure your Josh Sinn's who have finished school will get their opportunities at VFL level in that time, but those NAB players that aren't established stars are going to be heavily disadvantaged during that period

 

[RedmanWasHere]

When did draft chatter start becoming more and more obsessed with private schoolkids?

 

[ItsAllAboutMe]

My main concern is that less well off kids aren't going to get the same level of exposure (even if APS and AGSV is prioritised by recruiters regardless) meaning that we stray further and further towards our system being Americanised, and the 'prestige' of schools holding even more weight than they already do. In terms of shortened pre-season and all that, I don't see the big deal, kids will be training with local clubs to keep their skills up and doing extra sessions for fitness regardless

This is completely accurate, and probably more concerning for the country kids than metro. Also the older and overaged kids that will have finished school and no longer playing school footy. They will not get the exposure and development.

 

[ItsAllAboutMe]

When did draft chatter start becoming more and more obsessed with private schoolkids?

It started with Paul Roos at Sydney who had an unofficial policy of only drafting kids from private schools because he believed that they were easier to coach and came with less ego than those from non private backgrounds.

 

[PMBangers]

This is completely accurate, and probably more concerning for the country kids than metro. Also the older and overaged kids that will have finished school and no longer playing school footy. They will not get the exposure and development.

Especially with the cuts to recruiting staff at AFL Level, a lot harder to cover 80+ local league games a week than NAB League + APS, the metro kids will have it easier to get VFL games/ training

 

[ItsAllAboutMe]

Especially with the cuts to recruiting staff at AFL Level, a lot harder to cover 80+ local league games a week than NAB League + APS, the metro kids will have it easier to get VFL games/ training

I just wonder if perhaps it might organically change the age kids are getting drafted, particularly those outside of the first round which are usually less speculatively. Clubs might be reluctant to take a risk drafting an 18yo kid with limited exposure, instead choose to pick a 19 or 20yo who is playing VFL.

 

[PMBangers]

I just wonder if perhaps it might organically change the age kids are getting drafted, particularly those outside of the first round which are usually less speculatively. Clubs might be reluctant to take a risk drafting an 18yo kid with limited exposure, instead choose to pick a 19 or 20yo who is playing VFL.

Always a possibility, and probably the best result. My fear is that it'll just see more speculative APS kids picked

 

[andleanback]

It's 4-6 sessions for kids that would've been running and had a ball constantly in their hand since the last season ended, in the grand scheme of things I think it's relatively inconsequential, especially for those that have the attitude to make it to the next level

Yeah but you have to think, nab league boys starting in feb, compared to sanfl and wafl boys starting in november - huge disadvantage. Massive difference to local level training and nab league.

 

[andleanback]

Always a possibility, and probably the best result. My fear is that it'll just see more speculative APS kids picked

And recruiters have even told kids they probably wont make it to local level games, so how are they meant to be spotted. Massive unfair adavantage, but APS schools will get what they want with more parents willing to let their kids go and board in melbourne. The nab league comp should be the premier pathway, period. Even the difference of facilities some clubs get is grossly unfair already. This will just further the gap wider.

 

[PMBangers]

Yeah but you have to think, nab league boys starting in feb, compared to sanfl and wafl boys starting in november - huge disadvantage. Massive difference to local level training and nab league.

oh comparatively nationally this is absolutely detrimental, in isolation within victoria not so much. I think regardless of changes or not, Vic boys were always going to have this later start, especially with ground allocations this time of year as well, girls and boys running concurrently was difficult to expect