Is it time for an Under 18's competition

[eaglehaslanded]

I know this has probably been mentioned before but I was just wondering whether it maybe time for the SANFL to adopt the Under 18's concept like the TAC Cup etc. I think this would be good because you can play all 3 grades 18's, Reserves and League at the 1 venue. What are your thoughts?

[am Bays]

Cue: BPBRB......

Carefull EHL when we discussed this topic 12-18 months ago ME complained what would he do if heir were no junior games.....

[Blue Boy]

I know this has probably been mentioned before but I was just wondering whether it maybe time for the SANFL to adopt the Under 18's concept like the TAC Cup etc. I think this would be good because you can play all 3 grades 18's, Reserves and League at the 1 venue. What are your thoughts?

Yes should be done !!!

[Ecky]

I'd like to see some stats on how many U19 players are currently playing Reserves/League, how many U17 players are currently playing U19s, and how young some of the U17 players are.

I suspect that the results would show that the current setup of having U17/U19 grades is fairly pointless.

[Benchwarmer]

I don't think the SANFL should rush into any change though. As we are all aware, the AFL is doing a review of the second-tier and Victoria are the prime candidates in the gun barrel of change ... best to wait and see what is recommended over there before copying their setup.

Personally, I think the Victorian system is flawed because there is no direct pathway between the Under 18 clubs and the VFL clubs and it causes talent to filter into metro and country comps where they chase the dollars and have an inflated opinion of their game because "they played TAC Cup".

[eaglehaslanded]

Cue: BPBRB......

Carefull EHL when we discussed this topic 12-18 months ago ME complained what would he do if heir were no junior games.....

I just think it makes a lot more sense to have 1 competition to basicaly cover the existing 2 junior grades.

[eaglehaslanded]

I don't think the SANFL should rush into any change though. As we are all aware, the AFL is doing a review of the second-tier and Victoria are the prime candidates in the gun barrel of change ... best to wait and see what is recommended over there before copying their setup.

Personally, I think the Victorian system is flawed because there is no direct pathway between the Under 18 clubs and the VFL clubs and it causes talent to filter into metro and country comps where they chase the dollars and have an inflated opinion of their game because "they played TAC Cup".

That is exactly why a U18's competition would work in the SANFL because you have the direct link.

[Benchwarmer]

League
Reserves
Under 18s

... just like at least 80% of all competitions nationwide.

[MightyEagles]

Cue: BPBRB......

Carefull EHL when we discussed this topic 12-18 months ago ME complained what would he do if heir were no junior games.....

I'll end up watching the League if that happened. And I started helping juniors to get away from a certain Eagles supporter (EHL knows who that is).

[BPBRB]

Cue: BPBRB......

Carefull EHL when we discussed this topic 12-18 months ago ME complained what would he do if heir were no junior games.....

Yep get rid of the 17's and 19's - North has been the strongest voice in advocating this change but strangely enough Centrals are the most opposed to the proposal despite the current in fighting and issues amongst their junior grades and the fromer player running the show at Elizabeth. Their are other clubs for and against but those against have no real supporting facts to retain the staus quo where as the reasons for change are obvious, practical, common sense and puts us in line with the rest of Australia.

[Strawb]

Make it under 20's that would be a better option. These kids who are getting drafted by the AFL their careers will not last long because half of them are still developing as footballers. The SANFL will benefit more for crating an under 20's competition. There is a trend developing in the AFL where players who are in their early 20's are being drafted later on instead of kids and also in the SANFL it will give the kids who are not quite ready for reserves after 19's football a fighting chance.

[Sojourner]

No I dont agree on that one, I favour retaining the current U17 & U19 and Reserves Teams.

My reason is that I feel that having three sides to feed into the league side raises the standard of the competition. Players in all three teams can push for selection if their form is good enough. Also players can be late starters, a footballer may have a poor ability at age 17, yet at 19 may well hit top gear with the right training from the club over enough time.

I think that there may be some merit in rotating the first game, rather than having the reserves every week, maybe a couple of times a year have the U17's go first to give the supporters a look at how the juniors are going.

[Wedgie]

U18s is much better, crowds would be up, less volunteers and officials would be needed by playing at the same ground, costs would be down.
Im not aware of too many players still playing U19s at the top of the age range that went on to be league stars and would have taken up another sport or lower comp.
Most 17s or 19s who get the chop dont stay involved with the club anyway so its not as though the club would be losing out long term.
Most reserves teams would have half of their players who are eligible for underage games anyway.

[am Bays]

Long over due change required - I can not recall one player in my time at Glenelg who played the full two years of under U/19 footy without going up to ressies or league - who then went on to make his league debut.

In other words if a player hasn't played ressies or leagues footy by the age of 18 they are unlikely to make it anyway....

To cater for that eventuality you would find that each club would be allowed to play 4-6 overage (i.e 18 yo) players in the U/18s to cater for the late developers (tall players) or young players in ressies who have been forced back down becasue of low injury rates. The young player can stay with his league club rather than play for the alligned amateur or SFL club.

All league clubs have an alligned amateur or metro clubs they can farm players out to to keep an eye on the 19-20 yo players who aren't making the 2s side but as I said by the age of 19-20 and they aren't regular twos players they are unlikely to make it anyway.

Clubs wills till be watching the amateur, metro and country leagues to get players to come back as mature age players as their is a pathway to get players back into a league footy club - Darling at Sturt this year Fishlock (who I hear you say) at Glenelg in the mid 90s.

It won't really solve the volunteers crises as you would still need separate training nights for the U/18s and it is probably unrealistic to expect one lot of trainers and roomb staff to look after three grades at a league club - it will be a long day from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm by the time you set up, strap, rub, hand out, mix, sort, fold and pack up after a day at the footy...

Clubs will probaly introduce shifts to cope with it all...

[giffo]

If all teams played on the same day, same venue, it would also give the grounds a rest to recover between games.

[LBT]

Fishlock?? strewth that is obscure... Trent Reilly of barking mad fame?

[Macca19]

Im another vote for changing it.

Play all the games on the one day.

Make x amount of players available to play as overage players in the U18 league.

The only negative would be if there would be a loss of players who are maybe a touch under developed and arent good enough for reserves yet.

[TroyGFC]

All in for it.

[silicone skyline]

Whyalla was the only remaining league in SA last year to have an 18s competition.
This year is the first that has been played as U14's, U17, B grade and A grade.
But 18's was good while it lasted.

[am Bays]

The only negative would be if there would be a loss of players who are maybe a touch under developed and arent good enough for reserves yet.

Yep, but if they're good enough and they want it enough they'll make it....

even when players were too old for U/19s but not make ressies a league club will let them train with the ressies if they are good enough....That way teh club can keep a closer eye on them and help work on any deficiencies that they may have.