SANFL Juniors - Now getting a paid education as well!

[Squawk]

I heard today from an absolutely impeccable source that at least one SANFL club is paying all the full costs associated with a junior footballer from the country to board at one of Adelaide's most exclusive Boarding Schools to enable him to play underage age footy at the club in question.

Another club I know of also has a country junior who played league last Sat attending the same school.

I'm not sure what the deal is but player (2) missed playing in the intercollegiate match on Sat to play league footy. Player 1 I don't know his name but supposedly college footy comes first before club footy.

Boarding costs would be $15-20k per annum.

In the words of my source, it was the source's view that such an arrangement was meritorious from the club's point of view because the kid gets to live in a disciplined environment; the club does not have to worry about a 'foster family', and of course the kid is getting a damn good education to boot - something no doubt his country parents are pretty happy with.

I'm not sure of what to make of this....

1. if the kid is that good one presumes he is a chance to be drafted at some stage so does the club lose its $40k investment for say 2 years of education or is it calculating that draft payments will cover this?
2. What value is there in this if he has to play college footy first?
3. If a player was playing league footy and getting his boarding school fees paid for, does that bear any impact on the salary cap?

I need to digest this one a bit more but would be interested in the thoughts of others.

[bulldogproud]

I believe that it should definitely be included in the salary cap. However, at the same time I am pretty sure it won't be. The irony is that if the young player is as good as the club think he is, he may be headed to the AwFuL and not repay his investment to the SANFL club - waste of money?
Cheers

[Rushby Hinds]

The mechanations behind the scenes when it goes into junior footy are quite amazing. Young players are swapped from club to club fairly regularly, complete with transfer fee.

One junior star is currently in dispute, as his mum lives in one clubs zone and his Dad lives in another clubs zone...and two SANFL clubs want him.

Also, SANFL club XX is negotiating with SANFL club YYY for a clearance, payable next year, for a lad who is still in primary school. This kid will also be sent to a presigious college if he agrees to change clubs. (Which i believe he will).

More then one SANFL club has players "on scholarships" at prestigious private colleges, Squawk.

The Bays have many juniors from the South East, and three academies for junior development down there, and this costs the GFC an absolute fortune.

If all the costs involved in junior footy development were included in the salary cap then we could hardly afford to pay our league players.

[bulldogproud]

Rushby, is it a wise investment for SANFL clubs to spend so much on these juniors if they are unlikely to ever play league for them?
Cheers

[heater31]

yeah don't spend the money on junior development and some other club will sign them up. just ask the magpies neglect your country zone and they go elsewhere. they have missed out on a few players in Coad, Kay, Gregory, Fitzgerald x 2, Davey and Habner and that's just from Sturt.

[Rushby Hinds]

BDP:


Thinking simply, if the kid

a: Doesn't come on, then no.
b: Turns into a good under 19 player, regular reserves player but then drops off, then presumably not
c: Turns into a regular league player, then yes. Without thinking about it about one quarter of the Bays team on Saturday went thru the junior academies or were recruited from the South East
d: gets drafted, ($$$), plays a few games ($$$$$$) plays lots of games ($$$$$$$$$$$$$$) then a yes as well.

Look at the Bays current reserves team. Very young, and i think nearly all are products of junior development, and are currently top of the ladder.

[am Bays]

Rushby, is it a wise investment for SANFL clubs to spend so much on these juniors if they are unlikely to ever play league for them?
Cheers

IMHO yes becasue not every player is going to get drafted in fact you're more likely to get a league player than drafted player from you country or metro zone.

To be truthfull though for every kid that makes though to SANFL or AFL senior footy there is at least five that don't....

Talent selection / identification is increadibly tough, in 1993 the Australian Sports Commission started the Talent Search scheme with a few to finding potential 2000 olympians. Close to a Million kids entered phase 1 testing over the seven years of the program) the program produced several junior world champions losts of junior world champion participants a couple of world championship participants, but not one 1 talent search athlete made the Sydney olympic team.....

In a nutshell identifying young junior footballers is expensive the same as it is in all sports but how much price can you put on the ultimate success....

[bulldogproud]

Heater, not saying to neglect the juniors. They must be supported, for their own development as much as the club's. However, is it worth spending $20 000 a year on moving a kid from their home to a college in the city if they are likely to go straight to the AwFuL? Also, if you were a parent in the city how would you feel? You would be better off moving to the country so that an SANFL club pays your son's education. Discriminatory?

[heater31]

Heater, not saying to neglect the juniors. They must be supported, for their own development as much as the club's. However, is it worth spending $20 000 a year on moving a kid from their home to a college in the city if they are likely to go straight to the AwFuL? Also, if you were a parent in the city how would you feel? You would be better off moving to the country so that an SANFL club pays your son's education. Discriminatory?

sorry should rephrase that to a limited budget, then let all the other clubs look at them in the championship carnivals.

[Rushby Hinds]

Heater, not saying to neglect the juniors. They must be supported, for their own development as much as the club's. However, is it worth spending $20 000 a year on moving a kid from their home to a college in the city if they are likely to go straight to the AwFuL? Also, if you were a parent in the city how would you feel? You would be better off moving to the country so that an SANFL club pays your son's education. Discriminatory?

I believe/have heard that there are kids who live in the city who are also having their education costs paid.

But don't spread the word, they will all want it................

The particular lad i'm thinking of is NOT a Bays junior.

But I wish he was.

[bulldogproud]

BDP:


Thinking simply, if the kid

a: Doesn't come on, then no.
b: Turns into a good under 19 player, regular reserves player but then drops off, then presumably not
c: Turns into a regular league player, then yes. Without thinking about it about one quarter of the Bays team on Saturday went thru the junior academies or were recruited from the South East
d: gets drafted, ($$$), plays a few games ($$$$$$) plays lots of games ($$$$$$$$$$$$$$) then a yes as well.

Look at the Bays current reserves team. Very young, and i think nearly all are products of junior development, and are currently top of the ladder.

Good points, but are you happy with winning Reserves premierships and not making finals at league level? If you are going to move a kid to the city, why not board him with a local family and have him attend Brighton High? A heck of a lot cheaper and for the same result as having him board at Westminster. Btw, what are the amounts now paid to a club for players who get drafted, play matches etc at AwFuL level?

[am Bays]

BDP:


Thinking simply, if the kid

a: Doesn't come on, then no.
b: Turns into a good under 19 player, regular reserves player but then drops off, then presumably not
c: Turns into a regular league player, then yes. Without thinking about it about one quarter of the Bays team on Saturday went thru the junior academies or were recruited from the South East
d: gets drafted, ($$$), plays a few games ($$$$$$) plays lots of games ($$$$$$$$$$$$$$) then a yes as well.

Look at the Bays current reserves team. Very young, and i think nearly all are products of junior development, and are currently top of the ladder.

Good points, but are you happy with winning Reserves premierships and not making finals at league level? If you are going to move a kid to the city, why not board him with a local family and have him attend Brighton High? A heck of a lot cheaper and for the same result as having him board at Westminster. Btw, what are the amounts now paid to a club for players who get drafted, play matches etc at AwFuL level?

The Clubs's already thought of that, thats what the club does for juniors from the SE unless the parents want to pay more and they go to Westminster or Sacred Heart...

[bulldogproud]

Thanks for that, Tassie.
I guess that Central are lucky with our country zone being so close to our metropolitan one. I would think that we don't have to worry quite so much about getting kids to move to the city.
Cheers

[Rushby Hinds]

Good points, but are you happy with winning Reserves premierships and not making finals at league level?

Wouldn't know.

If you are going to move a kid to the city, why not board him with a local family and have him attend Brighton High? A heck of a lot cheaper and for the same result as having him board at Westminster.

Absolutely, and yes agree is a better option. I guess every case must be looked at individually. And i'm not aware of the BAYS paying any school fees for any of our junior players.

Btw, what are the amounts now paid to a club for players who get drafted, play matches etc at AwFuL level?

A lot.

Do any of the Central's juniors go to Roseworthy?

Do any of them study at Adelaide Uni?

[LBT]

BDP:


Thinking simply, if the kid

a: Doesn't come on, then no.
b: Turns into a good under 19 player, regular reserves player but then drops off, then presumably not
c: Turns into a regular league player, then yes. Without thinking about it about one quarter of the Bays team on Saturday went thru the junior academies or were recruited from the South East
d: gets drafted, ($$$), plays a few games ($$$$$$) plays lots of games ($$$$$$$$$$$$$$) then a yes as well.

Look at the Bays current reserves team. Very young, and i think nearly all are products of junior development, and are currently top of the ladder.

Good points, but are you happy with winning Reserves premierships and not making finals at league level? If you are going to move a kid to the city, why not board him with a local family and have him attend Brighton High? A heck of a lot cheaper and for the same result as having him board at Westminster. Btw, what are the amounts now paid to a club for players who get drafted, play matches etc at AwFuL level?

I had a couple of S.E juniors in my year at Brighton. One in particular, Adam Merritt won a Tompkins medal, Went back to Penola, popped up at Port in 2004 and is now Playing back for one of the MT Gambier sides

[bulldogproud]

Good points, but are you happy with winning Reserves premierships and not making finals at league level?

Wouldn't know.

If you are going to move a kid to the city, why not board him with a local family and have him attend Brighton High? A heck of a lot cheaper and for the same result as having him board at Westminster.

Absolutely, and yes agree is a better option. I guess every case must be looked at individually. And i'm not aware of the BAYS paying any school fees for any of our junior players.

Btw, what are the amounts now paid to a club for players who get drafted, play matches etc at AwFuL level?

A lot.

Do any of the Central's juniors go to Roseworthy?

Do any of them study at Adelaide Uni?[/quote]

Adelaide Uni?????? We are talking Central here!! *grins*

Only joking, guys! Not sure about current players and their education but I do know that Luke McCabe boarded at Sacred Heart when he played for Central. Was a great student of mine!
Cheers

[bulldogproud]

BDP:


Thinking simply, if the kid

a: Doesn't come on, then no.
b: Turns into a good under 19 player, regular reserves player but then drops off, then presumably not
c: Turns into a regular league player, then yes. Without thinking about it about one quarter of the Bays team on Saturday went thru the junior academies or were recruited from the South East
d: gets drafted, ($$$), plays a few games ($$$$$$) plays lots of games ($$$$$$$$$$$$$$) then a yes as well.

Look at the Bays current reserves team. Very young, and i think nearly all are products of junior development, and are currently top of the ladder.

Good points, but are you happy with winning Reserves premierships and not making finals at league level? If you are going to move a kid to the city, why not board him with a local family and have him attend Brighton High? A heck of a lot cheaper and for the same result as having him board at Westminster. Btw, what are the amounts now paid to a club for players who get drafted, play matches etc at AwFuL level?

I had a couple of S.E juniors in my year at Brighton. One in particular, Adam Merritt won a Tompkins medal, Went back to Penola, popped up at Port in 2004 and is now Playing back for one of the MT Gambier sides

Good to hear that you are a former Brighton High student, LBT. All of my nieces and nephews either attend there now or did attend there - Martin and Lock families.
Cheers

[pipers]

One junior star is currently in dispute, as his mum lives in one clubs zone and his Dad lives in another clubs zone...and two SANFL clubs want him.

Almost correct. Except it is two players. And one club doesn't want either of them, however they do want the $5k transfer...

[smac]

One junior star is currently in dispute, as his mum lives in one clubs zone and his Dad lives in another clubs zone...and two SANFL clubs want him.

Almost correct. Except it is two players. And one club doesn't want either of them, however they do want the $5k transfer...

I have always been told that the mum's residence is the default used in these situations? Shouldn't be a dispute if that is still the case (I recall reading it in some SANFL documentation when I coached an under 15 development squad a few years ago).

[pipers]

One junior star is currently in dispute, as his mum lives in one clubs zone and his Dad lives in another clubs zone...and two SANFL clubs want him.

Almost correct. Except it is two players. And one club doesn't want either of them, however they do want the $5k transfer...

I have always been told that the mum's residence is the default used in these situations? Shouldn't be a dispute if that is still the case (I recall reading it in some SANFL documentation when I coached an under 15 development squad a few years ago).

Correct, but has never really been tested. In these cases both players are on Club A's list and have listed addresses within Club A's zone, however one player's mother lives in Club B's zone. Club B is arguing that Club A can have him, but must fork out the $5k transfer as per the previous interpretation. Club A are arguing that his mother has had nothing to do with his footy and he has been supported totally in his football by his father who lives in their zone.

The other kid's case is a bit different and his mother does live in Club A's zone, but Club B still believe they have some claim over his "development". I don't know enough about that case to work out what...