where do you rate Association footy in importance

[tatts]

I rate it very highly as i think most players would like the opportunity to play a game with the best players in their league.
I will be very interested to hear what people have to say on this topic as it can be quite contentious as to the way it effects some clubs more than others.

[Grape Ape]

I reckon association footy is the best indication of the strength of a league. I think it's the only way to settle the 'which league is stronger' debate. People will always use excuses like the best players dont play association footy but to mind mind this is the same in all leagues to some extent (and most often heard coming from the mouth of one whose league has just been flogged). The quality of team that a league can turn out on a given weekend is always a good indication of the strength and depth of that league.

Personally I've cherrished the opportunites I've had to represent my league and rate them amongst the highlights of my playing carreer. Definately the next best thing after finals footy. The great thing about association footy is that blokes from clubs who won't play finals get the opportunity to perform on a bigger stage.

[tatts]

I reckon association footy is the best indication of the strength of a league. I think it's the only way to settle the 'which league is stronger' debate. People will always use excuses like the best players dont play association footy but to mind mind this is the same in all leagues to some extent (and most often heard coming from the mouth of one whose league has just been flogged). The quality of team that a league can turn out on a given weekend is always a good indication of the strength and depth of that league.

Personally I've cherrished the opportunites I've had to represent my league and rate them amongst the highlights of my playing carreer. Definately the next best thing after finals footy. The great thing about association footy is that blokes from clubs who won't play finals get the opportunity to perform on a bigger stage.

Could not agree with you more.I had the chance to coach association footy and this was the next biggest thing for me next to coaching a flag.

[Shirtfront]

We've spoke about this so many times yet the SAAFL are not budging on the chance to let the Open Age State Team play a game. Whether it be against another state or against the country or southern league, just let the blokes play. Its not their fault they are over 23 years of age. As i have said before, how many Under 23's would make it in an open age state team, very few i would have to say.

[LovinFooty]

I had the oppprtunity to play for the SAAFL U/17's a few years back and it was great! I still have my guernsey's from both years!
I went to Broken Hill and played in the curtain raiser to the Senior match (not u/23) and it was great to sit there with this new bunch of guys and all cheer for the same team (and get pissed with them that night)! Also there was a lot of respect for each other when we played against them again after that! For the record SAAFL won by 3 points and was one of the best games I've watched!

Still to this day if I see these blokes around the place I will always stop and have a chat to them. It is something I have and always will have in common with those blokes!

[Dogwatcher]

I had a similar experience LF when I played with a SAFA under 17s rep team at Bordertown.

We played Tatiara and won by a point.

The A grade lost to Tatiara by a point - kicking about 30 behinds on the day. Athelstone's Garry Chillingworth starred IIRC.

For us, some of the guys who played included Darren Capogreco, Carey Payne, Dee Toch, Ross Brokensha, Danny Silvestri, James Hitaller, Robbie Pitson, Jason Bandtoch.

On the opposition side was Simon Cox.

It was a really good day with great atmosphere - including a sh*t load of chanting from us.

I'll see if I can find the program.