Robb_Stark wrote:SAAFL football has got out of hand in the last 10 years with cost of living on the rise and younger kids looking for easy cash and older players looking for extra cash in the final years of football we are left with what we currently have division 1 and 2 is now out of reach to clubs who struggle to make good income or generate $$$ sponsors ....... the cost of buying players to top up clubs has doubled 200 dollars could get you a gun player but these days that cost is about 400 dollars
Whilst I'm not naieve enough to believe that $$$ doesn't have a significant effect on the upper echelons on amateur football I disagree with the common belief that it is the main or sole reason for success. A quick survey of the current teams in Div 1 and Div 2 would show:
Adelaide Uni - Unique, are truly not like any other club.
SPOC - School runs a hugely participated in football program.
ROCS - School runs a hugely participated football program
Gaza - $$
Goodwood - Large, perennially successful juniors
TTG - Largest junior club in SA
Henley - Links with Henley High School and large junior program
Salisbury North - Large junior program
Port Districts - Large Junior Program
Portland - Large junior program
Broadview - Large Junior program
PHOS - Large Junior Program
Gepps Cross - Large Junior Program
SHOC - Perennially successful football school
Flinders Park - Large junior program
Walkerville - Large junior program
PACOC - School runs a hugely participated in and successful football program.
PNU - Second biggest junior program in SA
SMOSH - School is a perennially successful football school and the club has a junior program
Scotch - School runs a smaller football program.
It's fairly common knowledge that all the above clubs fork out money for football players. Some pay out more than others undoubtedly but all pay to an extent. However, the strength of these clubs is largely a steady influx of players coming as a result of their pre-existing ties with the club whether from School or junior football. Yes the cash helps, but the foot in the door these club's already have is of tremendous advantage. Take PNU's Premiership side. 16 of the 22 players were PNU juniors.