Punk Rooster wrote:the reality is that all clubs have to recruit. Some just do it better than others (re North v Glenelg for the Nick Gill Cup, North v Norwood for the Leigh Ryswyck Cup...).
Look at Aussie Rules today- the AFL is the top tier, SANFL 2nd, VFL/WAFL 3rd & 4th etc so what you have, is 640 players in the AFL system, approx 360 in the SANFL etc & so on, so players are grouped according to ability & opportunity, so really, if you have a player at your club that come up through the junior ranks, & was good enough for SANFL, yet not good enough for AFL, then you've had a big win, as I think you'd find this to be the exception, rather than the rule. This is also why Barrrie Robran left Whyalla & joined North- opportunity.
Let's face it, the way society functions today, people barely talk to their neighbours, yet will drive 1/2 to see friends. The players & clubs have a similar train of thought.
When Ron Barrassi crossed from Melbourn to Carlton, that signalled the end of clubs being full of home grown heroes.
Take a look around the SANFL clubs- West, South, Port, North, WWT (probably all clubs) have the same/similar ratio of home grown to imports. The quality of the player at the club is what stands out, hence the envy shown currently towards North- North have recruited, but they've also recruited smarter.
From 1900 to 2000 the sides that promoted juniors were as a rule
the most successful clubs.I refer mainly to Port Adelaide who dominated
in this era of football.
With the advent of the Crows/Port Power and the expansion of the AFL
the juniors are now disapeering before the sanfl clubs can utilise them.
The blueprint for success from 2000+ is to recruit heavily from interstate
and KEEP them.
South have recruited extensively but have this inabilty to KEEP recruits
Centrals have recuited extensively 6 years ago and KEPT that talent.
North Adelaide have recruited very very well.
North Adelaide would be closer to bottom than top without those players
listed in jest in my superteam .
Clubs that are wealthier will invariably be successful these days.
Clubs are now naming ovals after sponsors to get that status.
The one positive Ive got out of this North foreign legion is that at
least they play spectators footy and deserve the accolades.