SAAFL State Open Age Team.

[Blacks130]

Every one makes good points about the credibility of the current U/23 concept but the reasoning behind it's introduction needs to be remembered which puts every thing into perspective as to why we're where we are today.
In short it was designed with an element of "handicapping" behind it .With WA's Amateur competition in tatters in the late 90's and early 2000's, they were still able to field an open team and the Victorians were only to choose players from their Div 3 & Div 4 competitions and still with the U/23 age limit as with us. It was left open for some tinkering from the relative bodies in the hope that intra comp games would be closer in the score lines rather than the 20 goal plus thrashings that the WAAFL and the SAAFL were copping at the hands of the Vics so I guess if anyone has grounds to complain at the concept it's "the Big V ".
Those same 20 goal thrashings were making the Open Age State game less attractive to play in and the standard line about being injured/unavailable was very prevalent which then had a domino effect on the policing of that from the SAAFL by threatening the relative player/club with a suspension the following week.
Originally, the purists agreed to the U/23 concept with the condition that it was refered too as a "representative" side and not a "state" side per say but gradually the naming has crept back in prompting the original post.
The VAFA competition at it's best is not a 10 goal less competition than this state & I would imagine them claiming the need to have selection rights from some better Divisions in the future to bridge the gap and so the cycle continues.
The reality is that had all states been able to shoose from an open pool and not just WA, the posts on this website today would probably be to the tune of "why do we bother" because yesterday the result would have been markedly different.

I see the real issue being the naming of the concept to retain a little respect for the open age "state " sides from yesteryear that did earn the tag of being recognised as a state player

[Shirtfront]

Interesting debate? How many of the current U23 side would make an open State side and who are they?

Only two i can think of are Cutting and Jordan from Sals North. Forward line players. Could not possible see any Under23 reps kicking out the likes of Bartel, Smith and Casey from the Midfield or Stevens, Mortimer and Spencer from the backline. Honestly i think the reason for the Under 23 comp is weak, why not have the open age State team play a coutry team or southern team if they really don't want them to play agains the other states. But i hear on the radio thismorning that Victoria have an Open Age rep team. WHY NOT HAVE A ANNUAL SA V VIC OPEN AGE GAME???????

[grassroots31]

I reckon an annual city v country open age could happen

I guess a question is how do you know the elite will commit

Hills Football have first hand experience

Well done for listening this morning Sharky..glad someone did

[Shirtfront]

I reckon an annual city v country open age could happen

I guess a question is how do you know the elite will commit

Hills Football have first hand experience

Well done for listening this morning Sharky..glad someone did

Think you'll find that the older players are just waiting for the chance to jump into a State guernsey. Could be one of the best standards displayed too.

[Blacks130]

[b][b]WHY NOT HAVE A ANNUAL SA V VIC OPEN AGE GAME???????[/b][/quote][/quote][/b]

Sharky, that's my very point of refering to how the U/23 concept came about. The SAAFL and it's affiliate clubs were questioning the need for a game only to be thrashed by plenty by Victoria. The VAFA decided and with good reason I'd suggest that the Victorian open team would play against other competitions within Victoria such as the VCFL which as it turns out was only decided by a point on Saturday in a heart stopper with a couple of thousand turning up to watch and an U/23 side from their lower divisions to play SAAFL U/23 & WAAFL Open. That said, if we want an open team to show our best it has to be against an SA Country or similar. I think you are grossly overestimating the competitiveness of a SA open side to that of a Vic Open side. Some of the names running around in that competition are only a season or two out of AFL footy and whilst you mention some very good players in their own right, they are not in the same league as Mercuri, Montagna etc etc. I guess there's one way to fix it, make sure your own club/clubs votes against the current schedulle and give it a go.

[Shirtfront]

Heard that the SAAFL Under 23's got spanked by the Country on Sat before the Crows. I understand that they will never get the Open Age back into the system due to funding and other states not wanting an Open Age comp, which i think is poor form. Why then would the SAAFL play these kids against the Country Open team. Surely they wouldn't have really got any form guide out of the game. Plus, how many of these players would have missed a trial game with their home club, which surely is more important at this stage of the year.

[Pag]

Heard that the SAAFL Under 23's got spanked by the Country on Sat before the Crows. I understand that they will never get the Open Age back into the system due to funding and other states not wanting an Open Age comp, which i think is poor form. Why then would the SAAFL play these kids against the Country Open team. Surely they wouldn't have really got any form guide out of the game. Plus, how many of these players would have missed a trial game with their home club, which surely is more important at this stage of the year.

Full credit to Lyndon Parham, ruckman from SMOSH, played in the rep game before the Crows, then got out to Salisbury to play the second half of the A Grade trial for SMOSH.

The city v country game could be used for open-age. It doesn't have to be recognised as a 'state' game, as it's not state v state like the Under 23s are, but surely an open-age 'metropolitan' team vs an open-age 'country' team would be a great game to watch, and would allow the open-age boys to play some rep footy, even if it isn't classified as a 'state' game.

[Shirtfront]

Heard that the SAAFL Under 23's got spanked by the Country on Sat before the Crows. I understand that they will never get the Open Age back into the system due to funding and other states not wanting an Open Age comp, which i think is poor form. Why then would the SAAFL play these kids against the Country Open team. Surely they wouldn't have really got any form guide out of the game. Plus, how many of these players would have missed a trial game with their home club, which surely is more important at this stage of the year.

Full credit to Lyndon Parham, ruckman from SMOSH, played in the rep game before the Crows, then got out to Salisbury to play the second half of the A Grade trial for SMOSH.

The city v country game could be used for open-age. It doesn't have to be recognised as a 'state' game, as it's not state v state like the Under 23s are, but surely an open-age 'metropolitan' team vs an open-age 'country' team would be a great game to watch, and would allow the open-age boys to play some rep footy, even if it isn't classified as a 'state' game.

Totally agree, i'd make the trip to where ever it was to be played, could be a great game, with bragging rights for the next year.

[Dogwatcher]

Country did smack City in that game.
Country using it for a trial for a state game later this year.

[Not Scared]

Interesting discussion. The u/23's certainly did not match up favourably to the SA Country team, but both sides were practicing for their matches later in the year. It is more of a trial match than anything. As I remember it, the SAAFL open team was scrapped largely due to a lack of interest from gun players. Perhaps that has changed now that they have all had a few years without those opportunities.

The under 23 side could still exist as a way of giving opportunity to young players who may want to have another crack at league footy.

The country guys of all ages are currently keen as mustard to play representative footy, as there is a week long Australian Championship in Shepparton and Melbourne later in the year.