The Academies - 2016

[BluesRule]

I think they have gone too far the other way.

And the GWS academy with 5 top 30 picks is too much. This is more players than WA had last year and probably this year as well.

Picks is based on Young Talent Time draft, which has 6 GWS players before pick 35.

The zone needs to be rained in very quickly.

Maybe if the discount of 20% on points required was reduced to 10% it would be fairer and is a simple solution for the AFL to fix this.

I liked the way the draft worked last year but it is pretty obvious the academy benefit is too big and unfair on the teams that do not have an academy.

I think it makes sense to push NSW players to the NSW teams,etc. but could also be WA players to the WA teams and VIC players with the Vic teams.
This would allow every team to set up an academy and actually develop juniors to boost AFL against other sports.

 

[dlanod]

The unspoken problem is what happens when the AFL does move the Riverina out of the GWS zone, as seems likely.

The facts are still that it produced next to no draftable talent for 10 years. Now someone is out there identifying it and there's multiple top picks coming through every year, so obviously it's there - it just needed nurturing. If the AFL is taking the Riverina off GWS, I really hope they step up to the plate because otherwise there's no doubt the Riverina will go back to producing rookies and players who have to move state to get noticed.

Maybe they should look into basing a TAC Cup team out of Wagga. Instead of getting zoned to the Bushrangers, with the two hour one way travel to Wangaratta for training, they get local training and talent identification, ala the academy work, it's run by the AFL and all clubs get dibs. Hopefully that way the Riverina kids coming through don't get screwed because their mates were just too good in 2015 and 2016.

 

[Suma Magic]

Do you think they had Himmelberg rated the 16 best player? Do you think they had Flynn that high??

Absolutely not but they had to match bids. This is not to say they are not nice players but if there was no incentive would they have reached? I'm not sure they would.

With 3 early picks this year will they overlook a jet without an incentive, what if the key is in a needed position.

I just think the real issue was the stuff that happened earlier and this reaction is more sour grapes.

They don't have to match bids.

For every player that other clubs rate higher than GWS there are players that GWS rate higher than other clubs. It evens out.

 

[BluesRule]

I think Eddie and his mates want to have a bit of a think about this latest knee jerk reaction to the Riverina.

As it stands GWS has 3 1st round selections in the 2016 Draft which for all intents and purposes will be used on Academy kids. For this they will pay a heavy price particularly if all 3 kids are bid on in the first round which appears likely.

If the Riverina zone is removed the Giants will have no choice but to use these 3 picks on the best available talent aka Bowes, McCluggage, Petrevski-Seton etc and not have to pay a cent!!

They can then parlay this into the 2017 superdraft by trading McCarthy, Tomlinson, Patton, Stewart, Marchbank, Steele and again get a bunch of 1st and 2nd rounders which will be used without paying a cent.

If the Riverina Zone remains in place yes GWS will secure Macreadie, Setterfield and perhaps Mutch and maybe Brander and Spargo in 17'. For that they will forego higher rated talent and will pay through the nose.

I think the Riverina whilst providing closer to home grown talent could potentially be a negative for the Giants as they ignore better players and pay heavily for the privilege. As the team continues to get stronger and win more the lure of home will dissipate for those getting a game and the others would be encouraged to move on whilst they have currency.

The more I think of it ole Ed and co may be doing the expansion clubs a favour!!

I think the real problem is GWS get access to so much discounted talent and have already stockpiled plenty of trade currency. GWS will not give away the best of their talent (ie. Treloar, Boyd, etc.) unless well compensated (winning trades that make GWS even stronger).

You mentioned Macreadie, Setterfield and perhaps Mutch, but what about these guys below who are also being ranked in the top 15. And GWS have even more ranked in the top 30. Problem is too many. If GWS win the flag this year, AFL need to withdraw concessions to level up the playing field asap as GWS already have the talent to win several Cups and it will get pretty boring for everybody else.

10. Harry PERRYMAN
Ht: 184cm | Wt: 75kg | Collingullie/GWS Academy
Smart mid/forward who played at half back last year, so has great versatility. He isn't overly quick but always gets to the ball first where he has great ball control and balance on both sides. Played alongside GWS’s Matt Kennedy in the seniors at Collingullie for the past two seasons, booting four goals in last year’s grand final and among the best in the 2014 decider as a 16-year-old. Great to watch each week.

15. Todd MARSHALL
Ht: 197cm | Wt: 87kg | Murray Bushrangers/GWS Academy
The former cricketer has turned his sights to footy and quickly caught the eye of scouts in matches with the Bushrangers and Giants reserves in the NEAFL. He is lightly framed but knows where to run and shows good speed to separate from defenders and a good kicking technique. Having come into the system so late, he has plenty of areas to work on, but his upside is big.

Read more at http://www.sen.com.au/news/afl/05-16/afl-draft-academy-stars-top-first-big-board#HOgV79RMxprqhza0.99

 

[LynchysMob]

Yeah I had a look at the NSW Rams state squad. All Giants academy barring three players for Swans. What a joke.

 

[go_the_dockers]

The unspoken problem is what happens when the AFL does move the Riverina out of the GWS zone, as seems likely.

The facts are still that it produced next to no draftable talent for 10 years. Now someone is out there identifying it and there's multiple top picks coming through every year, so obviously it's there - it just needed nurturing. If the AFL is taking the Riverina off GWS, I really hope they step up to the plate because otherwise there's no doubt the Riverina will go back to producing rookies and players who have to move state to get noticed.

Maybe they should look into basing a TAC Cup team out of Wagga. Instead of getting zoned to the Bushrangers, with the two hour one way travel to Wangaratta for training, they get local training and talent identification, ala the academy work, it's run by the AFL and all clubs get dibs. Hopefully that way the Riverina kids coming through don't get screwed because their mates were just too good in 2015 and 2016.

2. Harrison Macreadie - 195cm, 82kg defender from Henty (GWS)
12. Kobe Mutch - 184cm, 75kg midfielder from Bendigo Pioneers (GWS)
15. Will Setterfield - 189cm, 73kg midfielder from Sandringham Dragons (GWS)
20. Harrison Perryman - 184cm, 75kg midfielder/forward from Collingullie (GWS)
24. Todd Marshall - 197cm, 87kg forward from Murray Bushrangers (GWS)
34. Zac Sproule - 193cm, 81kg forward from Murray Bushrangers (GWS)
37. Thomas Highmore - 189cm, 80kg midfielder from Eastlake (GWS)

How many of these players come from the Riverina area?

 

[go_the_dockers]

That just proves how well the academy is working and what happens when effort is poured into the region. I don't doubt the Riverina will be phased out but will probably not happen for a minimum of 2-3 years I imagine. Helps having a hopper available when player the caliber of treloar walks out of the club

If Fremantle had the entire WA as a zone, we wouldn't net as good as the players you have available.

The above statement should make it clear, than the zone is way too strong.

 

[Nuggs Bunny]

Endless BF conjecture. Over on the Giants site, their is a list of players out of the Riverina in the last 20 years. Interesting reading.

Has anyone asked the junior football clubs of the Riverina what they think.
Are GWS intrusive and cherry-picking, or are they resourceful and community based?
Has the GWS Academy helped Riverina kids play Aussie Rules at the highest level?

Well, it's things like http://www.dailyadvertiser.com.au/story/2974134/riverina-afl-team-of-the-century/that make me really question the last point you make.

 

[coniglio_number1]

Well, it's things like http://www.dailyadvertiser.com.au/story/2974134/riverina-afl-team-of-the-century/that make me really question the last point you make.

compare that team of the century to a victorian team of the decade, or half decade

 

[isamedthegiants]

Well, it's things like http://www.dailyadvertiser.com.au/story/2974134/riverina-afl-team-of-the-century/that make me really question the last point you make.

Can you name for me the team of the decade from 2000-2009 to come from the Riverina please?

I'd be interested to see that.

 

[Nuggs Bunny]

Can you name for me the team of the decade from 2000-2009 to come from the Riverina please?

I'd be interested to see that.

Sure, it would be ass. Just like the team of the decade from the Bendigo Pioneers from that same period and still later.

So are the pios going to be zoned to Sydney or GWS next year?

 

[Nuggs Bunny]

compare that team of the century to a victorian team of the decade, or half decade

Yes well, when you compare a region of 200,000 people to a state of 4 million people, things tend to scale in a similar fashion.

 

[Jeffcrowe]

Todd Marshall and Max lynch recently signed up this year.
Eligible for the 20% discount supposably.

http://m.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news...-come-under-new-scrutiny-20160419-goa8se.html


http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/a...m/news-story/8f0c11b65b9c7561d5bf134055e4d6f8

This is where the rules are poor

No way GWS has had anything to do with their development to this point

Should be at least 2 yrs minimum criteria with a cap on he intake per season per age group

 

[coniglio_number1]

Yes well, when you compare a region of 200,000 people to a state of 4 million people, things tend to scale in a similar fashion.

ok how about calder cannons team of the half decade, just 1 TAC cup team

 

[isamedthegiants]

Sure, it would be ass. Just like the team of the decade from the Bendigo Pioneers from that same period and still later.

So are the pios going to be zoned to Sydney or GWS next year?

Yeah, sure, all we have to do is get the Queensland Rugby League officials who have no sense of borders to "appropriate" Bendigo as part of the Riverina.

 

[coniglio_number1]

This is where the rules are poor

No way GWS has had anything to do with their development to this point

Should be at least 2 yrs minimum criteria with a cap on he intake per season per age group

they wont be eligible just like lachie weller wasnt eligible for GC

 

[Nuggs Bunny]

ok how about calder cannons team of the half decade, just 1 TAC cup team

A bit more similar I guess. The population of the Riverina would be contained in a maybe a 10k radius from Cragieburn. Yeah the Calder Cannons are a pretty good side, don't know how they do it but I love their work.

But then you've got Bendigo, which covers from Castlemaine to Mildura, and they've produced maybe half a dozen genuinely decent players in the last ten years, and maybe another 5 in the ten years before that.

Sooo, when is central victoria being included in the academy? Might be AFL heartland and two hours to Melbourne but something must be done! God forbid we have sparsely populated regions having lean draft years!

 

[isamedthegiants]

A bit more similar I guess. The population of the Riverina would be contained in a maybe a 10k radius from Cragieburn. Yeah the Calder Cannons are a pretty good side, don't know how they do it but I love their work.

But then you've got Bendigo, which covers from Castlemaine to Mildura, and they've produced maybe half a dozen genuinely decent players in the last ten years, and maybe another 5 in the ten years before that.

Sooo, when is central victoria being included in the academy? Might be AFL heartland and two hours to Melbourne but something must be done! God forbid we have sparsely populated regions having lean draft years!

2 players from 2000 until 2014 isn't lean.

It's anorexic and two gasping breaths from death.

 

[theteamtobeat]

I think the real problem is GWS get access to so much discounted talent and have already stockpiled plenty of trade currency. GWS will not give away the best of their talent (ie. Treloar, Boyd, etc.) unless well compensated (winning trades that make GWS even stronger).

You mentioned Macreadie, Setterfield and perhaps Mutch, but what about these guys below who are also being ranked in the top 15. And GWS have even more ranked in the top 30. Problem is too many. If GWS win the flag this year, AFL need to withdraw concessions to level up the playing field asap as GWS already have the talent to win several Cups and it will get pretty boring for everybody else.

10. Harry PERRYMAN
Ht: 184cm | Wt: 75kg | Collingullie/GWS Academy
Smart mid/forward who played at half back last year, so has great versatility. He isn't overly quick but always gets to the ball first where he has great ball control and balance on both sides. Played alongside GWS’s Matt Kennedy in the seniors at Collingullie for the past two seasons, booting four goals in last year’s grand final and among the best in the 2014 decider as a 16-year-old. Great to watch each week.

15. Todd MARSHALL
Ht: 197cm | Wt: 87kg | Murray Bushrangers/GWS Academy
The former cricketer has turned his sights to footy and quickly caught the eye of scouts in matches with the Bushrangers and Giants reserves in the NEAFL. He is lightly framed but knows where to run and shows good speed to separate from defenders and a good kicking technique. Having come into the system so late, he has plenty of areas to work on, but his upside is big.

Read more at http://www.sen.com.au/news/afl/05-16/afl-draft-academy-stars-top-first-big-board#HOgV79RMxprqhza0.99

Jacob Hopper hasn't even played a game yet, GWS hasn't even won a final, let alone a flag. For all we know they won't win a flag for the next 100 years. We have to wait and see. All this issues people have concerns over are based on future predictions that may not even happen. A knee-jerk reaction. We need at least another year or two to determine if it is a massive advantage for GWS to have the Riverina zone or not.

 

[Nuggs Bunny]

2 players from 2000 until 2014 isn't lean.

It's anorexic and two gasping breaths from death.

Yeah, because they're totally going to stop playing Australian Football in Griffith.

Literally dozens of better ways that the Riverina could be managed while GWS can then get to work on developing players from non-traditional AFL backgrounds like what the academies are supposed to do. Not sure why Sydney, Brisbane and GC should be expected to train kids how to kick the ball properly while GWS get to play with kids who've played australian rules their entire life. Perhaps the rest of the competition would be more receptive to academies if they were being used as intended.

 

[bird_man]

As someone that lives in the heart of the Riverina I think at first this was a good thing for the region, and it still probably is for juniors as we have more kids being drafted than before. But I think it is ridiculously unfair. AFL has always been extremely popular in our region also, it's not like Western Sydney where no one had picked up a Sherrin before so it doesn't really make sense.

I think it was important to make sure that GWS and Gold Coast would be strong to build a fan base but I think for a fair competition it needs to be reeled in big time.

 

[isamedthegiants]

Yeah, because they're totally going to stop playing Australian Football in Griffith.

Literally dozens of better ways that the Riverina could be managed while GWS can then get to work on developing players from non-traditional AFL backgrounds like what the academies are supposed to do. Not sure why Sydney, Brisbane and GC should be expected to train kids how to kick the ball properly while GWS get to play with kids who've played australian rules their entire life. Perhaps the rest of the competition would be more receptive to academies if they were being used as intended.

So we have no academy's at all in Western Sydney?

Really? Thanks for the heads-up. I thought that we were running Auskick and Holiday Camps and Developmental programs from Concord to Katoomba.

We actually don't put in any work at all?

Charlatans.

Now I know why you hate us so.

 

[isamedthegiants]

As someone that lives in the heart of the Riverina I think at first this was a good thing for the region, and it still probably is for juniors as we have more kids being drafted than before.

You're welcome.

But I think it is ridiculously unfair. AFL has always been extremely popular in our region also, it's not like Western Sydney where no one had picked up a Sherrin before so it doesn't really make sense.

It makes perfect sense. We can only have a Western Sydney academy, sure. How long will it take to actually find one draftee from the region that has never played AFL before and who's parents only follow League or Soccer? It would take 15 years, at a minimum.

I think it was important to make sure that GWS and Gold Coast would be strong to build a fan base but I think for a fair competition it needs to be reeled in big time.

Sure. No more father / sons for the rest of the league until we have an eligible player. That's fair, surely.

 

[Nuggs Bunny]

So we have no academy's at all in Western Sydney?

Really? Thanks for the heads-up. I thought that we were running Auskick and Holiday Camps and Developmental programs from Concord to Katoomba.

We actually don't put in any work at all?

Charlatans.

Now I know why you hate us so.

You tell me, where are all the draftees from Canberra? Dubbo? Bathurst?

 

[bird_man]

You're welcome.



It makes perfect sense. We can only have a Western Sydney academy, sure. How long will it take to actually find one draftee from the region that has never played AFL before and who's parents only follow League or Soccer? It would take 15 years, at a minimum.



Sure. No more father / sons for the rest of the league until we have an eligible player. That's fair, surely.

How many father sons get drafted to each club every year? Probably about the same as if you just based your academies in Western Sydney I'd presume.

I think we've had 2 since I can remember.