Under19, Under18, Under17 ??

[Big Phil]

I was of the opinion orginally that we should change to an Under 18's competition but now I'm not so sure...

I think leave it as it is as you don't really need to fix something that isn't necessarily broken...

Still reckon we need to bring in a 4th interchange player though, across all 4 grades of SANFL football...

[spanner]

any updates????
When do the club decide on next year

[Dogwatcher]

Article that appeared in The Riverland Weekly two weeks ago.

Under age programs also face changes
By ROB McLEAN
A RESTRUCTURE of SANFL under age football could see more of the region’s young stars available to play locally as soon as next season. Speaking at Sunday’s Mid Murray and Mallee football forum at Karoonda, West Adelaide general manager of football operations Scott Turner said the proposed changes would have big ramifications for local clubs.
Under the proposal being backed by the Bloods, the current under 17s and under 19s competition will be changed to a one team under age structure. A competition featuring either an under 18 or 19 players will remain.
Mr Turner said an under 18 or under 17 competition held over eight weeks in March or April will also be held – the abbreviated competition meaning the talented youngsters will now be available for their home clubs more often.
Previous reviews of the SANFL underage program have often stalled, however, Mr Turner said this time changes are in store. “The big difference is that the SANFL is driving it as they see the impacts it’s going to have right through,” he said.
Mr Turner said the new system could even be in place as early as next season.

[Killa]

Need to keep it how it is. In a way we have an u/18 comp in a way it is the college system. U/17's gives a chance of country footballers showing there worth and aswell the lads who are not involved in college. U/19's gives a chances people have finished college and players who come down from the country to have a second chance.

For example, north adelaide country area. which the club does not come down look at players. Because there is a kid who is 14 already or going on 14 and played in the u/15 champs early in the year. This kid can play. When he came down with his school on a footy camp and played and development officer of north thought he had no talent or that they don't go down in there country areas enough. This would happen in all areas.

If u/18 comp came in there would be a big gap between senior footy and thecountry footballers will not get a chance because if you son of a famous player at the club they will play them first even the other player is better. Then all these 25 year old playing ressies and can not make it in the league will drop out of the system then league clubs will struggle for depth. Is it AFL is pushing this so the VFL comes the second best comp outside the AFL.

[MightyEagles]

The AFL want us to change to U18s so each League is the same across the board and the possiblity of more money.

[smac]

Reserves footy dead in 2 years if we change. Nothing like the narrowminded view of now to cloud the future.

[Dogwatcher]

There will seemingly be changes in the zoning too.
It would seem West, Norwood and Sturt are lobbying for a change in the zones to boost their rural areas.
Centrals, are apparently opposed to this, as it could see lose more of the Barossa.

For the record West has one of the largest zones but has the least number of kids playing in it.

[ca]

I hope it does change but doubt it will. Were the clubs meting today to discuss?

[am Bays]

There will seemingly be changes in the zoning too.
It would seem West, Norwood and Sturt are lobbying for a change in the zones to boost their rural areas.
Centrals, are apparently opposed to this, as it could see lose more of the Barossa.

For the record West has one of the largest zones but has the least number of kids playing in it.

Huh??? As I understand it all zones are determined based on the number of 15 year old boys in the zone based on the last census.

So all clubs have potentially the same amout of potential footballers to pick from/ develop.

The zones will change but not significantly. Given the population growth up at Mount Barker and in the Barossa one would think Sturts and Centrals zone would shrink geographically but not in number of potential footabllers.

[whatever]

Listening to the ABC last weekend and they interviewed Brenton Phillips about it.

He is pro this change (towing the afl line), the only reason he could say was to get better coaches coach the lads as clubs would be able to pay 20-25k to a junior coach verses the 3-5k they currently get.

Well if that is all it is well get the SANFL to fund the clubs an extra 20k as long as it goes to the under 19's coach. Problem solved.

The AFL can fund it as $180,000 per annum is chicken feed to what they spend in the eastern states.

[Dogwatcher]

Huh??? As I understand it all zones are determined based on the number of 15 year old boys in the zone based on the last census.

That information was provided by a WAFC official at a meeting to discuss the future of Mallee and Mid Murray football competitions.

viewtopic.php?f=27&t=16574&start=20

[smac]

There will seemingly be changes in the zoning too.
It would seem West, Norwood and Sturt are lobbying for a change in the zones to boost their rural areas.
Centrals, are apparently opposed to this, as it could see lose more of the Barossa.

For the record West has one of the largest zones but has the least number of kids playing in it.

Huh??? As I understand it all zones are determined based on the number of 15 year old boys in the zone based on the last census.

So all clubs have potentially the same amout of potential footballers to pick from/ develop.

The zones will change but not significantly. Given the population growth up at Mount Barker and in the Barossa one would think Sturts and Centrals zone would shrink geographically but not in number of potential footabllers.

And we have had a census, perhaps even 2 (can't recall exactly) since the last rezoning was done.

There will be some significant changes in the metro zones from what I gather and they have been loaded from my information. Not looking forward to it.

[Grahaml]

While it might seem that independant schools are being selfish, they do look after the kids. They provide them a good education in some cases for the simple priveledge of having a good footy team. If the kids are forced away from their schools to play underage footy then the schools just won't offer footy scholarships, and the kids themselves will pay a price by not getting the best education they can. Also, the teachers that coach footy at the senior level are real footy coaches most of the time. The schools usually employ them on a full time basis to teach simple subjects that require no specific academic skills (like year 8 history etc), so the coaching they get is often quite comparable to the underage coaching of a footy club. The option of getting full time teaching employment based on being a good footy coach is something that many ex (and current) footballers find more beneficial than a low paid part time job with an SANFL club. I didn't go to the strongest footy school, but we were pretty good. And among the teachers while I was there were Neville Hayes, Peter Bubner and Matt Connell. Not sure those guys would be unable to offer great coaching to 15, 16 and 17 year old kids.

[spell_check]

Only to those that go to the schools involved in the IS comp.

[Dogwatcher]

I'm not THAT sure that the IS football program is as good as it's cracked up to be either.

[nickname]

There will seemingly be changes in the zoning too.
It would seem West, Norwood and Sturt are lobbying for a change in the zones to boost their rural areas.
Centrals, are apparently opposed to this, as it could see lose more of the Barossa.

For the record West has one of the largest zones but has the least number of kids playing in it.

Huh??? As I understand it all zones are determined based on the number of 15 year old boys in the zone based on the last census.

So all clubs have potentially the same amout of potential footballers to pick from/ develop.

The zones will change but not significantly. Given the population growth up at Mount Barker and in the Barossa one would think Sturts and Centrals zone would shrink geographically but not in number of potential footabllers.

Well if Centrals are opposed to West's zone expanding they ought to pull their heads in. While they've been collecting premierships we've been collecting wooden spoons and for the last 15 years we've had the smallest zone population (in terms of young males) of all the clubs. If the SANFL want to be fair about it we should have the largest zone population for the next fifteen years.

[cd]

I believe our preferred option offers the best way forward with a modified U17 and the opportunity for those lads to still be in school and local club competitions and SANFL have U19 to ensure lads dont drop out.

Already recognised by AFL as each U18 team in the TAC Cup is allowed to have U19 players!

Census figures being looked at are numbers in age range 10 to 19 from the govt stats people.

I guess as our proposal is the only different one to a straight yes change or no leave as is is unlikely to gain support.

[spell_check]

There was an article in one of the newspapers recently with the view of each clubs CEO. I know the clubs views were split down the middle:

Yes, change to Under 18: Norwood, North, Sturt, South
No: Port, Glenelg, Central, West

With cd highlights the Eagles view point.

[oldwiseman]

I cannot believe you guys in the SANFL are thinking of changing your junior system. The VFL are going back to the 17 and 19's after having been sucked into the lure of 18"s. This will happen next year. The promise of money and an elite competition was offset by losing many kids from the system. DO NOT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES AS WE DID HERE.

[am Bays]

Boo....

Would like to know the detail i.e. how many overage kids are allowed in the 19s...

Boo.






Tuesday, August 5



SANFL UNDERAGE STRUCTURE REVIEW

This evening (Tuesday, August 5), the SANFL Commission met with League Directors to discuss a proposed new structure for the SANFL’s underage competitions and talented player pathway.

The meeting afforded League Directors the opportunity to further consider key elements of the proposal.

The key elements include the establishment of Centres of Excellence at each SANFL club and the introduction of a new Elite Under 18 competition supported by a truncated Under 16 competition, which would replace the existing Under 17/Under 19 competitions.

This proposed new structure aims to increase the number of underage players progressing to SANFL League football, increase the composition of South Australian players in SANFL League teams, enhance the performance of the state’s Under 18 team in the National Championships and increase the number of South Australians drafted to the AFL.



The majority of League Directors were in favour of the proposed changes.



The decision rests with the Commission, which meets later this month.



For further information please contact:

Melanie Reid

Communications Manager

South Australian National Football League
Phone: 8440 6903

Mobile: 0437 294 197










South Australian National Football League Inc AAMI Stadium – Turner Drive, West Lakes SA 5021
Phone: (08) 8268 2088 Fax: (08) 8424 2285 Website: http://www.sanfl.com.au

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