Under 18's @ SANFL level

[Snaggletooth Tiger]

Westies supporters remember the name 'Tate Silverlock' from Happy Valley!
Mate who I go to Crows games with's lad...
Known the kid since he was a little tacka... gonna be a star!

[Thiele]

Westies supporters remember the name 'Tate Silverlock' from Happy Valley!
Mate who I go to Crows games with's lad...
Known the kid since he was a little tacka... gonna be a star!

played an excellent games in the u17s grand final last year for the bloods

[redandblack]

Westies supporters remember the name 'Tate Silverlock' from Happy Valley!
Mate who I go to Crows games with's lad...
Known the kid since he was a little tacka... gonna be a star!

I don't think he'll play much for Westies, ST. He'll be drafted early when the time comes.

Can play.

[Blue Boy]

FWIW, I'm opposed to an Under 18 comp, but not for reasons to do with times.

What are your reasons then? Not trying to start an arguement, just trying to understand another perspective.

Fair question.

I think that many players are lost to football with an Under 18 comp before they have had time to develop. I'm pretty sure that's what is happening in Vic and looking at the players coming through my club, many are the better for having that extra year at underage level.

The highly talented players are going to be drafted at 18, but the next level down are the ones we're looking to come through for SANFL. I would suspect the majority of these have played Under 19's. I also think it's not correct to say if they're not ready at age 18 they're not good enough.

Although all players are different, I doubt you'd see too many young ruckmen ready to play Reserves at 18.

I think an Under 18 comp in SA might benefit the AFl, but certainly not the SANFL.

Big concern for me is 15 yo kids playing against 18 yo kids, could be a huge difference in body development there.

Probably wouldnt see to many 15 year olds in a comp like this - must say though two of our under 16 lads are bigger than some boys who are 19 !!!

[am Bays]

Doesn't matter what the age groups are from the ages of 12 - 19 you are always going to have body size differences that raise safety issues because piturity glands become active at different times in different individuals......

I mean right now you have small 15-16 year olds playing against U/19s at some clubs late in the season as the better U/19s start playing twos and the good U/17s start playing U/19s......

Changing age groups and groupings wont help that issue.....

R&B are you aware of the change to the TAC Cup U/18s comp last year where each club was allowed to have 2 U/19s play each week to specifically allow for the late developers such as the tall gangly ruckman who takes time to "learn" the game of footy.....

I think you'll find such a rule would be part of the change to an U/18s grade to allow for the late developers.

[redandblack]

Yes, that would be a good rule if it came in, TM.

[smac]

Works both ways too... Shannon Hurn was BOG in 19's GF a few years ago, as a 15 year old - pretty close to the most physically developed player on the field.

If a 15 year old isn't up to it, then they wait a year. If they are up to it, they play. If the development squads are also changed (to 14's, 15's and 16's) then the gap from development squads to underage footy is the same as it is currently.

[eaglehaslanded]

I think it's a fantastic idea, I have been wanting this to happen for years now. Great idea, now if the SANFL would actually listen to their supporters and get off their ass and do something about it.

[croc11]

A very good subject guys. This is one of my pet peeves with the SANFL. My opinion - not that it probably counts is to definitely scrap the current 17's and 19's and adopt an Under 18's Comp. This is not for the state of the Victorian Competition - this is to ensure that the local clubs can get their kids back and that you can share resources with your SANFL clubs in a much more productive manner. Every local club struggles for trainers - with the 18's playing on the same day as the league and ressies, you would hope that the spare trainers (not that many) from the league clubs could assist the local clubs. And having watched a number of 19's games a few years ago, I was appalled at the lack of real education and knowledge of these kids. If they are playing Under 19's they are not going to be playing league footy and should go back to their local clubs and can bolster the ranks there. The quality kids would make the 18's a very good SANFL league - you would have the best coaches in the 18's league and junior development would be stronger. Let's face the fact - that some SANFL clubs with the current structure pillage the local clubs just to ensure that they have the numbers each Saturday, but they too realise that these kids are only like 'meat'. They get used, they get abused, they lose interest and it is often a tough time to get them back to the local clubs where at least they get a real tribal feel of grassrots footy. As for kids dropping out - they do this regardless of whether there is an Under 17's, 19's or 18's, but at least we can try and get thedse kids back quicker into local leagues with the adoption of the SANFL 18's. I know North Adelaide and South Adelaide are very keen for this comp to happen - why can't the rest of the clubs see the merit of all of this!!!!

[Stevie_K]

you have some valid points