Recruiting Zones

[Waspy79]

Until we need key position players and the best ones are all gone to zone selections before the `first' round.

We would be participants in the zone selections, no?

 

[Portia]

You are either missing the point or just being obtuse.

SA does not produce sufficient AFL quality KPPs to keep both SA teams healthy. By necessity, we are net importers of genuine KPPs.

 

[Portology]

You are either missing the point or just being obtuse.

SA does not produce sufficient AFL quality KPPs to keep both SA teams healthy. By necessity, we are net importers of genuine KPPs.

I think by "produce" here you mean "allow to develop successfully to AFL standard in the local comp". Nice thought for a young WA or Vic KPP being drafted here. Anyway, to replace high quality imports, you need to have a local industry focus on import replacement not just on import recycling and low cost goods.

'91-'00, excluding anyone over 20 in 1990, SA "produced" Mead, Tredders, Poole, Chad, Pav, Hart, 2x Wakelins, 2x Hollands and many lesser lights 2x Robrans, Kent Kingsley, McGregor, Bullus, McKinnon, Chalmers. Now add those who played like KPPs that we'd probably now call small for the roles, McKay, O'Laughlin, Pike, Michael Murphy for starters.

We used to be able to develop what was required for KPP roles. We still produce seemingly AFL quality modern size rucks in some quantity (jury out on developing), so its not that SA has a shorter population, or a "leakage" of talent to basketball.

What brought SA's KPP "production" to a halt ? Could it be the SANFL focus on mature bodies, making it harder for a young KPP (or ruck) to develop Vs playing WAFL, VFL or SANFL reserves ? Or is it something else here ? In future, KPP sized kids may find it easier to focus on cricket with the rise of 20/20, may dilute our pool of that type of talent further. Fair question(s) for David Hutton in his role as SANFL "junior pathways" person.

Anyways my '91-'00 list is still only ~2 local KPP/draft. Had there been "a" zone selection per draft back then, the two local clubs would have felt huge pressure to get it 100% right, every time if they spent it on a KPP vs a mid. Or a flanker </ducks head>. Another reason why zones aren't the solution to improving our competitiveness.

 

[Ebert80]

I'd like to see us be able to at least "bid" for some local South Australian lads, similar to the way clubs bid for father/son selections. Either that or clubs get the option to select 1 player from their zone before the draft commences.

Given the strength of SA football and SA state of origin sides over the years, I think its ridiculous locals clubs can't benefit from this. It certainly helps to be able to identify more with the players at your club, and is preferable to the situation of having 2 of the states best young midfielders playing at the Bulldogs (Cooney/Griffen).

With the looming free agency rule, its pretty important that we get some quality young SA lads to the club. Over our journey, a large amount of quality SA juniors have already been taken by our pick, meaning we've picked up a lot of interstate lads. Now we "enjoy" the prospect each year of them considering a return to their home state to play. When free agency comes in, the percentage of interstate players we lose we'll presumably be higher.

If i had have known during our glory years of 88-90, that a large percentage of our players in our AFL squad once we were admitted, weren't SA born, I would have actually queried the point of even seeking admittance.