Beware of the Magpie (West Supporter)

[Magpiespower]

PS if Jeremy Clayton is not better than 20 or 25 of the Port Power list id jump, as well as a few other AFL sides, how unlucky are you not to be redrafted after a medal...

Didn't nominate for the draft.

Reckoned his injury would have robbed him of a proper pre-season which would have put him behind the eight ball and seen him playing catch up for the rest of the year.

In other words, he didn't want to get delisted at the end of the year because he couldn't give his all.

Besides, I thought he was more interested in playing for the Eagles than reviving his AFL career?

[redandblack]

I see the SANFL have appointed a salary cap investigations committee.

[Booney]

I see the SANFL have appointed a salary cap investigations committee.

What are the chances of them acting upon something?

Jeremy Clayton is with out a doubt a class above the average SANFL player,but so too is Thomas,Haynes and many more.The problem now is,the gap between the SANFL and AFL is getting bigger and bigger by the year,giving these guys little time to get the high levels of strength and fitness required to make it in the big time.They are constantly playing catch up,and because of this,and as Thomas has shown,they will receive little opportunity in the AFL.

[Adelaide Hawk]

I see the SANFL have appointed a salary cap investigations committee.

What are the chances of them acting upon something?

They ARE acting. They're pretending to do something about it

[doggies4eva]

I see the SANFL have appointed a salary cap investigations committee.

What are the chances of them acting upon something?

Jeremy Clayton is with out a doubt a class above the average SANFL player,but so too is Thomas,Haynes and many more.The problem now is,the gap between the SANFL and AFL is getting bigger and bigger by the year,giving these guys little time to get the high levels of strength and fitness required to make it in the big time.They are constantly playing catch up,and because of this,and as Thomas has shown,they will receive little opportunity in the AFL.

Booney, why do you say the gap is getting bigger? I think that its pretty cut-throat. There are a number of players like Thomas who get little opportunity and get cut. Personally I think he is good enough - like the others you mentioned. It seems that unless a player gets drafted at 17 or 18 and goes through the club system, particularly in Victoria they have little chance. If the gap is getting bigger between AFL and SANFL what is happening with the rest? As SANFL is still the 2nd best comp!

[drebin]

Spot on doggies. The gap is not that big and does an injustice to those players who have gone to the AFL via the SANFL. For example Kilpatrick and Tuck via West. Particulary Tuck, who because of his SANFL exposure earned the chance and is the most consistent performer for Richmond since the start of 2005. Paul Thomas is another example and I still for the life of me cannot work out how he was delisted after 1 year? Of the games I saw him play I thought he was more than useful and looked like he fitted in and not like some skinny struggling 18 yr old that often gets thrown into the fray. He is at least the equal (if not better IMHO) in terms of skill, pace and strength than a couple of players on the Crows list that orignate from that Crows feeder club - the Eagles!

You would be suprised to hear some of the reasons why some of the high profile ex-AFL players are not playing AFL anymore but enjoying their footy in the SANFL. Who says that a large percentage of them could not go back given luck and a chance.

[JK]

Yep fair call .. I too am amazed that Thomas wasn't given more (read: reasonable) opportunity, when from the few times he played for the Bombers he looked more than serviceable to me

[Booney]

The reason I think the gap is getting bigger has less to do with the players out there in the SANFL,and more to do with the style of play that the SANFL adopts.I only made mention to a few blokes on Saturday at Alberton,the rules for both comps are more or less the same,but the way the game is played is so different.I think this gives the recruiting people at AFL clubs a bit of a misleading view of some of the more mature age players in the SANFL.(Clearly they like to take players of 17-19 years of age)

This means the 20-something 80-odd game SANFL player is past his chance,according to recruitment scouts anyway.

[doggies4eva]

The reason I think the gap is getting bigger has less to do with the players out there in the SANFL,and more to do with the style of play that the SANFL adopts.I only made mention to a few blokes on Saturday at Alberton,the rules for both comps are more or less the same,but the way the game is played is so different.I think this gives the recruiting people at AFL clubs a bit of a misleading view of some of the more mature age players in the SANFL.(Clearly they like to take players of 17-19 years of age)

This means the 20-something 80-odd game SANFL player is past his chance,according to recruitment scouts anyway.

I think there are a lot of 20 somethings who could be very successful at AFL. The AFLs loss and SANFL's gain.

As far as the styles being different - i'm not sure that they are - I think styles between clubs vary more than styles between SANFL and AFL. Some of the the tactics employed at AFL level require very fit and very skilled players to carry them out. The fact that these players are professional and able to train more is more relevant to the discussion I think.

[Macca19]

AFL clubs are always looking for that future 10-12 year AFL regular. This is why they always go for 17-19 year olds instead of 21+ year olds.

There are a reasonable amount of older playres that get re-drafted...most of them were AFL regulars or close enough. Clubs dont seem to care about looking for an early 20s dominant state league player that can come in and do a half decent job. There arent many at all. I dont think its about the gap....the gap isnt too big, only fitness really.

Tuck has done wonderfully well and almost won Richmonds BnF last year. Sam Fisher, who to me was hardly a dominant player for Westies has made that third tall defender spot his own at St Kilda. Theres a few other success stories like Peverill and Davey who were overlooked a few times (Peverill 7 times I think) but have become regular AFL players.

[doggies4eva]

I seem to remember a bloke called Blight who went over there well into his 20s and won a Brownlow. Another called Platten won one too. I think the AFL teams are making a bad call in thinking that to have 50 or 100 SANFL games under the belt is a bad thing.

[GWW]

I seem to remember a bloke called Blight who went over there well into his 20s and won a Brownlow. Another called Platten won one too. I think the AFL teams are making a bad call in thinking that to have 50 or 100 SANFL games under the belt is a bad thing.

Yeah but the thing is Blight and Platten wouldnt be in the SANFL in their mid 20's if it was today because if they wre playing today they would have gotten drafted to the AFL 7 or 8 years earlier.

[doggies4eva]

I seem to remember a bloke called Blight who went over there well into his 20s and won a Brownlow. Another called Platten won one too. I think the AFL teams are making a bad call in thinking that to have 50 or 100 SANFL games under the belt is a bad thing.

Yeah but the thing is Blight and Platten wouldnt be in the SANFL in their mid 20's if it was today because if they wre playing today they would have gotten drafted to the AFL 7 or 8 years earlier.

Yes I know. My point is - playing in the SANFL didn't harm their development. The question about whether it is better to take a player at 17 or allow him to develop in the SANFL is what I am debating - I perceive that there is a lot of talent falling by the wayside who would be better off playing SANFL until they are ready to go straight into AFL.

[CENTURION]

Hey Gash61, like last year, I will remind you at the end of the season of your previous post. You have been warned, just like cckingston was last year.

[sydney-dog]

dash61

lets wait and jusge port on more then two games, it's only round 2, i remember a lot of critics writing Centrals off mid way through last year and what happened.........

Premierships are not won in April, yes they have started well but I am a long way away from declaring them the real deal....

Suddenly the Magpies have beaten Centrals for the first time since 2003, once you start doing it regularly which includes away from home then I might think the maggies are back, it takes more then two games to win lost respect

Feel free to enjoy the win, fly your flag but I'll reserve my judgement until later in the season, for me the dogs, eagles and north are still top three

[portentous]

Dogs top 3. Surely you jest??

[sydney-dog]

Portentous

Remember mid last year all experts were writing the dogs off to make the top 5.....

my memory has it that we won our last 10 games and belted some sides in the process

your choice if you chose to write the dogs off, for me still plenty of quality to come back in to the side and it's only round two

[Terry]

The cap is ridiculous get rid of it and maybe some clubs may recruit more.Port and some other clubs havn`t taken too much notice of the cap,they must be spending double or more with all of the high priced AFL recruits they have.Imagine if they get Ebert and Gav back as well,yes I think those feral bastards may be back at the top this season.

[portentous]

Portentous

Remember mid last year all experts were writing the dogs off to make the top 5.....

my memory has it that we won our last 10 games and belted some sides in the process

your choice if you chose to write the dogs off, for me still plenty of quality to come back in to the side and it's only round two

I'm not writing the dogs off of top 5 but I can't see you making top 3 in all honesty.

BTW you're not the only side missing quality players ATM, I'll give you the tip. The Maggies have a few of our own to come back yet.

[redandblack]

I said well before the season started that Port were buying a premiership.

Add it up.