A Section Premier A 2026

[Mr Platinum]

Old Brighton feel like they've been strong in U19's for the last few years.

The Simon McPhee factor, every kid with a pulse who can kick a footy on Sandy Dragons list is offered a full scholarship to Brighton Grammar. Hence their Old Boys being very strong year after year.

 

[bedford]

The Simon McPhee factor, every kid with a pulse who can kick a footy on Sandy Dragons list is offered a full scholarship to Brighton Grammar. Hence their Old Boys being very strong year after year.

what a joke

 

[Flyingleslieskite]

The Simon McPhee factor, every kid with a pulse who can kick a footy on Sandy Dragons list is offered a full scholarship to Brighton Grammar. Hence their Old Boys being very strong year after year.

Thats until they decide to play for the cash elsewhere

 

[Max Leader]

what a joke

I call a lot of BS.

If I am sending my child to Brighton Grammar and my fees go to fund one sporting team, I won’t be happy. Massively over stated issue.

Brighton Grammar has a great catchment area. Pretty simple.

 

[Mr Platinum]

I call a lot of BS.

If I am sending my child to Brighton Grammar and my fees go to fund one sporting team, I won’t be happy. Massively over stated issue.

Brighton Grammar has a great catchment area. Pretty simple.

Facts don’t lie, between them, Caulfield and Haileybury, I doubt many of their Coates League kids pay school fees. Well known in APS circles.

 

[CARLTON2011]

Facts don’t lie, between them, Caulfield and Haileybury, I doubt many of their Coates League kids pay school fees. Well known in APS circles.

Not many of them were at the school in Year 9.

 

[bedford]

I call a lot of BS.

If I am sending my child to Brighton Grammar and my fees go to fund one sporting team, I won’t be happy. Massively over stated issue.

Brighton Grammar has a great catchment area. Pretty simple.

Jack Higgins got a Caulfield scholarship , god help us , that just showed what bullshit it is

 

[Mr Platinum]

As did Jamarra, Josh Battle…..

Jack Higgins got a Caulfield scholarship , god help us , that just showed what bullshit it is

From an article on the AFL website last year: Scholarships have become increasingly common in the APS system. If you're not providing enough of them, you can't compete.
Only three teams win flags in that comp, the aforementioned above.

 

[FWIW]

FWIW pretty sure there is a school footy thread

 

[Jimmyjack]

I call a lot of BS.

If I am sending my child to Brighton Grammar and my fees go to fund one sporting team, I won’t be happy. Massively over stated issue.

Brighton Grammar has a great catchment area. Pretty simple.

The impact on local and non-APS school-based clubs goes beyond just kids on scholarships. For some APS schools the football program is an industry. I read somewhere that Haileybury’s senior school team have 6 coaches, all ex or current AFL players. They have line coaches, forward scouts, statisticians, a match day analysis team, multiple physios other medical and strength and conditioning staff and access to a world class gym. When I was at school the maths teacher coached the footy team, and the science teacher coached the cricket team. Neither had much idea!

Delusional parents who think their son is capable of playing AFL are sending them to APS schools in greater numbers now rather than ACC, AGSV or public school as they think it give them the best chance of making it. No question the APS competition is outstanding but only so many kids can get drafted each year.

BGS not shy about handing out scholarships but also benefit for the reasons stated above. They do have a great catchment and geographically less competition than the schools in the Hawthorn, Kew, Toorak belt.

 

[bedford]

The impact on local and non-APS school-based clubs goes beyond just kids on scholarships. For some APS schools the football program is an industry. I read somewhere that Haileybury’s senior school team have 6 coaches, all ex or current AFL players. They have line coaches, forward scouts, statisticians, a match day analysis team, multiple physios other medical and strength and conditioning staff and access to a world class gym. When I was at school the maths teacher coached the footy team, and the science teacher coached the cricket team. Neither had much idea!

Delusional parents who think their son is capable of playing AFL are sending them to APS schools in greater numbers now rather than ACC, AGSV or public school as they think it give them the best chance of making it. No question the APS competition is outstanding but only so many kids can get drafted each year.

BGS not shy about handing out scholarships but also benefit for the reasons stated above. They do have a great catchment and geographically less competition than the schools in the Hawthorn, Kew, Toorak belt.

Great post
I know a few kids like KB's grandson have given up playing APS and rather stay in the Coates League as it's better for draft prospects
OH is a joke , no wonder the fees are off the planet

 

[SMP]

The impact on local and non-APS school-based clubs goes beyond just kids on scholarships. For some APS schools the football program is an industry. I read somewhere that Haileybury’s senior school team have 6 coaches, all ex or current AFL players. They have line coaches, forward scouts, statisticians, a match day analysis team, multiple physios other medical and strength and conditioning staff and access to a world class gym. When I was at school the maths teacher coached the footy team, and the science teacher coached the cricket team. Neither had much idea!

Delusional parents who think their son is capable of playing AFL are sending them to APS schools in greater numbers now rather than ACC, AGSV or public school as they think it give them the best chance of making it. No question the APS competition is outstanding but only so many kids can get drafted each year.

BGS not shy about handing out scholarships but also benefit for the reasons stated above. They do have a great catchment and geographically less competition than the schools in the Hawthorn, Kew, Toorak belt.

Great summary of the ‘chasing relevance’ factor thru the school footy program(s).
BGS also is not a huge school in numbers so the recurring success is under pinned by this approach.
A mate with a young fella there told me they only have ONE sports field - ‘ONE’!
Zip for any other outdoor sports, hence majority of all teams will ncl. footy have to make do with negotiated usage of community facilities. mmmm…. Some set up then.

That said onwards to VAFA it’s not translated into any sort of sustained A grade flag success. Contenders sure, while silverware….elusive.

 

[Hippster]

Hippbet Odds:

Brighton $1.90
Claret & Stout $2.20
Hail $35.00
Scotch $60.00
SKOB $80.00
St Bern $80.00
Blacks $100.00
Blues $100.00
Wesley $250.00
DLS $500.00

 

[bedford]

Hippbet Odds:

Brighton $1.90
Claret & Stout $2.20
Hail $35.00
Scotch $60.00
SKOB $80.00
St Bern $80.00
Blacks $100.00
Blues $100.00
Wesley $250.00
DLS $500.00

DLS 500 ,should be 50,000

 

[XXXXAFL]

Hippbet Odds:

Brighton $1.90
Claret & Stout $2.20
Hail $35.00
Scotch $60.00
SKOB $80.00
St Bern $80.00
Blacks $100.00
Blues $100.00
Wesley $250.00
DLS $500.00

Let’s fast forward to the Friday GF
Braahton 1 pointers vs XAVsWAFL

 

[Hippster]

Wheels falling off at Skobland?
I’m hearing some rumblings. Particularly around selection integrity. Watch this space.

Coming to a head….

 

[bedford]

Coming to a head….

Brian's head ?

 

[Hippster]

Brian's head ?

He’s been warned off. Zero comments will come from him.

 

[Mike Olotripo]

So, after yesterday’s slow start, the lions got back into the game, but our wayward kicking at times cost us.

We just don’t have the polish we did a couple of years ago, but the 22 out there have a fair crack every single week.

I am optimistic that the boys can put in a final 9 weeks of good footy starting with this week’s game against De La, but it’s not going to be easy, no relegation battle ever is.

De La will build this up as their best chance to finally get a win on the board, and in my view it will be the game of the round down at Waverley this coming Saturday.

 

[Mr Platinum]

So, after yesterday’s slow start, the lions got back into the game, but our wayward kicking at times cost us.

We just don’t have the polish we did a couple of years ago, but the 22 out there have a fair crack every single week.

I am optimistic that the boys can put in a final 9 weeks of good footy starting with this week’s game against De La, but it’s not going to be easy, no relegation battle ever is.

De La will build this up as their best chance to finally get a win on the board, and in my view it will be the game of the round down at Waverley this coming Saturday.

When was the last time the same A grade club had a draw two weeks in a row? Jascave may know?

 

[Eddie Woloschek]

When was the last time the same A grade club had a draw two weeks in a row? Jascave may know?

Not recently. Good luck finding that. There have been only 16 draws since 2011. Old Trinity and Uni Blues each has had six draws in that period. Collegians have three. Two draws occurred in R3 of 2011 (and there was also a 1-point result that day, when Xavs robbed Blues of a seventh tie!)

 

[SMP]

So, after yesterday’s slow start, the lions got back into the game, but our wayward kicking at times cost us.

We just don’t have the polish we did a couple of years ago, but the 22 out there have a fair crack every single week.

I am optimistic that the boys can put in a final 9 weeks of good footy starting with this week’s game against De La, but it’s not going to be easy, no relegation battle ever is.

De La will build this up as their best chance to finally get a win on the board, and in my view it will be the game of the round down at Waverley this coming Saturday.

Looks like Collegians somehow dug out of the erratic form hole they’ve been in….with De La battling to find the same. Unless a dramatic & sustained turn-around pops up, could be ta ta A grade alas for them.
But the Lions are far from off the hook…They & Blues in a tight tussle.
Next couple of weeks will be telling for both, with St Bearnies early fast form in the rear view mirror. They may well be staring down the barrel of

 

[God Yeah]

Looks like Collegians somehow dug out of the erratic form hole they’ve been in….with De La battling to find the same. Unless a dramatic & sustained turn-around pops up, could be ta ta A grade alas for them.
But the Lions are far from off the hook…They & Blues in a tight tussle.
Next couple of weeks will be telling for both, with St Bearnies early fast form in the rear view mirror. They may well be staring down the barrel of

I had my boys from Dairy Bell going down at HT in round 1.

Aim for the season is to now win 1 game and not have the dreaded doughnut.

 

[bedford]

Hippbet Odds:

Brighton $1.90
Claret & Stout $2.20
Hail $35.00
Scotch $60.00
SKOB $80.00
St Bern $80.00
Blacks $100.00
Blues $100.00
Wesley $250.00
DLS $500.00

Half of Brighton are at Tulla

 

[Max Leader]

Half of Brighton are at Tulla

Heard they only had 15 for the 2’s