Clubs in strife
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2014 10:40 amThe amount of clubs struggling this year is absolutely unprecedented and quite honestly, bizarre.
Upon looking at the face of these clubs troubles, there doesn't even seem to be a common theme throughout as to why it's happening:
As we know it:
Angle Vale: A club that's on a 3 way border with APFL, BLG and SAAFL. Therefore if the country leagues aren't offering them $$, there's also the opportunity for them to go to one of another 5 odd clubs within a drop punt away (Smiffies, Units, EP, Lizbeff, even Salisbury North I guess) Great junior program but still a way from producing enough seniors out of it, if they don't end up at any of the above first.
Flinders Uni -Now with current students consisting of an increasing number of international students who have no interest in footy. Well within SFL boundaries and not far from GSFL, and which student is going to say no to a few $$? so most are going to go and play with mates in other leagues, especially if they never actually went to the Uni.
Mitchell Park – again, border SFL but they did have a lot of older blokes playing – again, juniors not established enough to provide any new blood yet and squished between a number of clubs in higher grades (Plympton, Kenilworth etc) Couldn't pinpoint to bad management, Some Div 1 clubs aren't run as professionally as this joint.
Kilburn – Now in an area essentially full of refugees as opposed to the hardened railway workers of years past. no juniors, and having to essentially buy teams, only for players to go back to their old clubs for the same/more money, despite having one of the best training/clubroom set ups in the league.
Brahma Lodge – only 2 or 3 junior teams that wont produce any seniors for at least 5 years and have had to fight for players with Salisbury, barely a Km away, then SW, Para Hills and the Mozzies all within sneezing distance. Stripped of their A grade side with chunks of players being offered more $$ in other leagues and the majority of EP blokes going back to EP.
Then there are normally strong clubs like TTG, Broadview and Flinders Park, Athelstone who have reduced their number of teams.
If anyone from the above clubs would like to add their take, please do - it's easy for the keyboard warriors to take a crack but clearly we have a problem here.
Are people just not playing footy anymore?
I'm not familiar with the country leagues - are they getting stronger because of their ability to pull in players with $$? or are they simply offering the big $$ to one better player and pulling their mates in with them?
Are some areas over-saturated with clubs?
Let the mass debate* begin
Upon looking at the face of these clubs troubles, there doesn't even seem to be a common theme throughout as to why it's happening:
As we know it:
Angle Vale: A club that's on a 3 way border with APFL, BLG and SAAFL. Therefore if the country leagues aren't offering them $$, there's also the opportunity for them to go to one of another 5 odd clubs within a drop punt away (Smiffies, Units, EP, Lizbeff, even Salisbury North I guess) Great junior program but still a way from producing enough seniors out of it, if they don't end up at any of the above first.
Flinders Uni -Now with current students consisting of an increasing number of international students who have no interest in footy. Well within SFL boundaries and not far from GSFL, and which student is going to say no to a few $$? so most are going to go and play with mates in other leagues, especially if they never actually went to the Uni.
Mitchell Park – again, border SFL but they did have a lot of older blokes playing – again, juniors not established enough to provide any new blood yet and squished between a number of clubs in higher grades (Plympton, Kenilworth etc) Couldn't pinpoint to bad management, Some Div 1 clubs aren't run as professionally as this joint.
Kilburn – Now in an area essentially full of refugees as opposed to the hardened railway workers of years past. no juniors, and having to essentially buy teams, only for players to go back to their old clubs for the same/more money, despite having one of the best training/clubroom set ups in the league.
Brahma Lodge – only 2 or 3 junior teams that wont produce any seniors for at least 5 years and have had to fight for players with Salisbury, barely a Km away, then SW, Para Hills and the Mozzies all within sneezing distance. Stripped of their A grade side with chunks of players being offered more $$ in other leagues and the majority of EP blokes going back to EP.
Then there are normally strong clubs like TTG, Broadview and Flinders Park, Athelstone who have reduced their number of teams.
If anyone from the above clubs would like to add their take, please do - it's easy for the keyboard warriors to take a crack but clearly we have a problem here.
Are people just not playing footy anymore?
I'm not familiar with the country leagues - are they getting stronger because of their ability to pull in players with $$? or are they simply offering the big $$ to one better player and pulling their mates in with them?
Are some areas over-saturated with clubs?
Let the mass debate* begin
