vics01 wrote:EV In metrosouth, as I understand, they have a grade for each age group, i.e. U/12, U/13, U/14. No club club is allowed to supply more than one team in each grade unless all clubs field a side. As I was once told by an official at the Lions, their juniors are often "poached" by surrounding clubs with the calls of "Why are you playing for a club that is going nowhere and don't you want to win"; along with the allure of playing with their mates from highschool. I suspect there are enough juniors in the SFL for each side to field a team, is this a way to save the struggling clubs like Lonsdale and Hackham?
I can not think of any poaching being conducted from my club to juniors at Lonsdale or Hackham or elsewhere. We are located in a growing area with upto 6 schools. I would imagine if you limited the number of kids at each club you would loose kids to footy. I want to play at Cove/BDOS/VALLEYS/FLAGGIES Etc with my mate but have been told I have to travel to Lonsdale or Hackham. I will play something else. Not having a go at those two clubs but the fact is kids want to play with their mates and identify with clubs where they live and also success. Success is a fact of life. It was not so long ago that Cove did not have a strong club or Juniors but over the last 7 to 8 years Cove and some people in particular have worked very hard to improve the club and attract juniors to the club why should they or Valleys, Brighton have to loose the unknown furture player or (sponsor). I remember when my lad started at Cove it was just getting up and going but we went there due to all his mates going there. You reap what you sow. Brighton/Cove/Valleys/Reynella all have Sunday 14/16 this is due to the hard work they have all put in to attract minis to their clubs. I personally think to be taken seriously as a league we need two division with promotion/relegation. I see arguments that Div 2 teams will have weak Juniors, I hate to say it but the Juniors at some clubs are not that strong now. Juniors mirror seniors thrashings each week for some clubs. I would imagine that if you asked the kids on the receiving end of these thrashing they would prefer to play div 2 and at least be competative and have the opportunity to play finals, doesn't matter at what level you play finals is finals. Isn't it much better to be saying I am playing finals than be anchored to the bottom a 16 + teams and going nowhere.
But I suppose we remain as we are until the good gentlemen at the SFL actually wake up from the glorious past and realise that the past is passing us now and soon we will be history.
As far as I'm aware Cove have never tried to get juniors across from Lonsdale, and actually may be looking to help Lonsdale out a bit next season. But there are a number of rumours about Lonsdale juniors that are mostly traceable back to one other local club.
You can't really make kids play at a different club to their mates, particularly a club that doesn't get a lot of wins. The idea of one team per grade until all clubs have that grade filled is a good one. It would eventually lead to a point where families would switch clubs to give their kids a game rather than missing out 2 weeks out of 3. But multiple teams per club are established now in the SFL and that won't be reversed anytime soon.
Smaller clubs now have to get out there and find kids who aren't playing football, get them into football and then make an environment where the families want to stay even if the wins aren't rolling in.
Some teams in the Gsfl e.g Strathalbyn had 50+ u/12's, 50 u/14's & 35 u/17 kids in 07. They had a rotation system where kids in there last year of there age group played every week, kids with a year left play every second etc etc. Its not perfect but its all they can do
