Panthers look to youth for success

[Wedgie]

This from the Southern Times (messenger) this week, thought a couple of Panthes fans not in the southern areas might appreciate it.
(Ive put the photo included of Cupido at the bottom of the article):

Panthers look to youth for success
By Andrew Spence

South Adelaide will again rely on youth and a sprinkling of big name recruits to boost its chances in the upcoming SANFL football season.
The club has recruited three former AFL players, including exciting forwward Damian Cupido, delisted from Essendon last year.
Also new are former Carlton and Geelong speedster David Clarke, Kangaroos onballer Josh Thewlis and former Port Power rookie and Woodville-West Torrens forward Dale Ellis.

Cupido, 23, said he had settled in well at the Panthers and was looking forward to the start of the season.
He said he came to South Adelaide to work his way back into the AFL.
"It was my best chance of getting back into the big time," he said.

Players no longer with the Panthers for the 2006 season include Tim Fleming (overseas), Tom Hedge (personal reasons), Michael Davis (studying interstate) and Clinton King (retired). Coach Robert Pyman said the club would continue to promote its youth.
He said a number of juniors at the club were steadily climbing the ranks and young players from surrounding leagues had also been targeted.
"The club really needs to encourage players in the local leagues to to on to bigger things," he said.
"There's been a lot of thought gone into making sure South Adelaide Football Club is the centre of football in the south."

After making a promising start last season, the Panthers, whose players had an average age of 23, lost their final nine games.
The club has not played in finals since 1992.
Pyman siad this year's squad would have an average age closer to 21.
"So there's no doubt things are looking strong for the future."
But he would not be drawn on what goals he had set for his players.
"When we talk about goals, the club's aim is to be competitive week in, week out and that's all the supporters ask."

The Panthers began training in November and will play their first trial match against the Eagles at Noarlunga on March 11.
Practice matches follow against Norwood and Port Adelaide.
South has the bye in round 1 and plays North in round 2 on Saturday, April 8, at home.

[JK]

Good news for South, personally I've been astounded by how little opportunity (I know there will be exceptions to the rule) they've given to seemingly quality juniors in recent years ... Good luck to them!

[Wedgie]

Good news for South, personally I've been astounded by how little opportunity (I know there will be exceptions to the rule) they've given to seemingly quality juniors in recent years ... Good luck to them!

Agreed, I was amazed to one of the young Selfe's playing for Port last year after spending some time in the riverland.
You don't get people any more passionate in southern suburb footy than the Selfe's yet South seemingly didn't do enough to hold onto them.

[qwerty]

Seems to be a complete turn around from previous years. Pyman recruited recruited recruited and now has changed his tune to go local, perhaps with some influence from the new board?

How many promising locals have been and gone in the past due to this, taking wedgies example as just one of the many!

[Tigers'73]

Cupido, 23, said he had settled in well at the Panthers and was looking forward to the start of the season.
He said he came to South Adelaide to work his way back into the AFL.
"It was my best chance of getting back into the big time," he said.


Geez you have to wonder wot Cupido is on, he has had two shots at the AFL (Awful Football League), in particular Kevin Sheedy took him on and has had good success with recycled footballers, Essendon give him the flick I couldn't see another club (AFL) wanting him.
Can never understand young footballers who are given the opportunity and stuff it up.

Cheers

[Ronnie]

to borrow other people's thoughts it does seem a complete reversal from the approach Pyman has taken in the past.
As an outsider he seemed to be after anyone with AFL experience as a recruit. Also, my perception is that he thinks he's a
pale imitation of an AFL coach when he is an SANFL coach which requires it's own intensity level.
so does Pyman's new approach mean the last couple of years have been wasted ones?

[MatteeG]

Reakon even Sideshow could get a look in with that train of thought...

[BubblesOfBlue]

MatteeG, Sideshow was like Sampson form the bible eg NO Hair NO Good!!!!

[ORDoubleBlues]

Does anyone know of anyone that is in the 18-25 year old age bracket that South may have picked up from the Southern FL or Great Southern FL for this season?
Will be interested to see how Cupido does. If he's committed to the cause, he will be of great value but if he does harbor a true desire to return to AFL, he needs to treat this as another AFL season and train and prepare accordingly.

[stan]

Well it was about time this happened. How many promising juniors do you lose before you say "hey maybe this isnt working". Also considering the poor performace of a team of recuirts, what do south have to lose?

[doggies4eva]

Have I missed something? They announce that they have picked up 4 more outsiders inluding the highest profile ex-AFL player in the SANFL. Thats on top of their years of recruiting ousiders many who remain in the team. Now they say they have a youth policy. WTF? How are they going to fit them in their league team? Or are the recruits happy to play reserves?

[Wedgie]

Have I missed something? They announce that they have picked up 4 more outsiders inluding the highest profile ex-AFL player in the SANFL. Thats on top of their years of recruiting ousiders many who remain in the team. Now they say they have a youth policy. WTF? How are they going to fit them in their league team? Or are the recruits happy to play reserves?

Must admit I thought the same thing, poor choice of headlines IMHO.

[stan]

Have I missed something? They announce that they have picked up 4 more outsiders inluding the highest profile ex-AFL player in the SANFL. Thats on top of their years of recruiting ousiders many who remain in the team. Now they say they have a youth policy. WTF? How are they going to fit them in their league team? Or are the recruits happy to play reserves?

Must admit I thought the same thing, poor choice of headlines IMHO.

They have had a fair few leave recently, and they have recurited some players but some younger players will need to step up and fill in those holes. So yeah probably a poor choice of headlines, but its still good that they acknoledge what they need to do.

[blueandwhite]

South had the youngest player group in the sanfl last year, average of 23 yrs.
40% of the training squad at Noarlunga presently is eligible to play u19/17's in 2006.
Personally I know of 1 lad from Mt Compass who has been training with South since November.

[redandblack]

South had the youngest player group in the sanfl last year, average of 23 yrs.
40% of the training squad at Noarlunga presently is eligible to play u19/17's in 2006.
Personally I know of 1 lad from Mt Compass who has been training with South since November.

Sorry, blueandwhite, that's more than a year older than Westies average last year.

[blueandwhite]

sorry redandblack but I have South at 23 and West at 24 for average age.
South had 4 players older than 27, West had 6.
South had 2 players over 100 games, West 3.
South average games /player was 40, West was 56.

Last year South was the lowest in all these categories in the sanfl.
By the way my "current wife" is a westies supporter and can vouch for the accuracy of the figures I have in front of me.

[doggies4eva]

sorry redandblack but I have South at 23 and West at 24 for average age.
South had 4 players older than 27, West had 6.
South had 2 players over 100 games, West 3.
South average games /player was 40, West was 56.

Last year South was the lowest in all these categories in the sanfl.
By the way my "current wife" is a westies supporter and can vouch for the accuracy of the figures I have in front of me.

But stats like this don't prove anything. The fact is the club continues to bring in outsiders to play in front of them limiting their chance of further development.

[Wedgie]

But stats like this don't prove anything. The fact is the club continues to bring in outsiders to play in front of them limiting their chance of further development.

The stats do prove something, they prove his previous comment to redandblack was 100% correct and that r&b was wrong (assuming his stats are correct).

[redandblack]

Thanks for that, blueandwhite, I'm sure your figures are correct.

I suppose my case was based on the fact that most of our older players retired during the year, after playing only a few games.

I can tell you that the average age of our team at the end of the year was just over 21.5.

Our oldest player would have been 27 or 28 and our reserves side (like several other clubs) was virtually the previous year's Under 19's and 17's.

Good work, though.

[redandblack]

Saw your reply after posting, Wedgie.

Perhaps we could ask blueandwhite to calculate who was the oldest team?

Over to you, blueandwhite.