Centenary Squad

[lutz]

The squad is listed here: http://saafl.asn.au/files/uploads/leagu ... site_0.pdf

Has anyone else seen this? How have they selected these players? It's not U/23's this year is it (I heard it wasn't)?

If it is just U/23's I could better understand the selection, as I wouldn't have thought that's the best 40 players in the league. (22 players from outside of D1 - not against non-D1 players, but wouldve thought less...)

[bandar]

It's still Under 23.

[Shirtfront]

The squad is listed here: http://saafl.asn.au/files/uploads/leagu ... site_0.pdf

Has anyone else seen this? How have they selected these players? It's not U/23's this year is it (I heard it wasn't)?

If it is just U/23's I could better understand the selection, as I wouldn't have thought that's the best 40 players in the league. (22 players from outside of D1 - not against non-D1 players, but wouldve thought less...)

I think that squad has all Under 23. Crap.

[beef]

Can only speak for myself, but glad to see Mark Robb in the squad. Very good full back / centre half back. Seeing him most weeks i'd be very surprised if not in final team (even though he plays div 4). Hopefully just because he plays a lower level that isnt held against him, beats the best forward every week and would think he could easily play div 1.

[White Unicorn]

No Jack Fosdike? Odd

[bandar]

Would have thought SHOC would have a good representation.

[Iron Fist]

That team is no where near as strong as it could be.
Cant believe there is so many districts lads in there!

[teaoby]

arguably our best player is an u23 and not in the squad. doesnt seem like the strongest squad too me.

[Hellboy]

Is Tom Botten even in the country?

I thought he was os

[FOURTH ESTATE]

If this is what has become of our state team it is an utter joke.

In our centenary year we can not put our best side on the park but a bunch of players who get a state jumper just because they are U/23.

In years past you had to earn your state jumper now they just give you one because you are U/23

No disrespect to the players but a Div 4 player would not be able to compete with Div 1 players week in week out. The gap between D1 & D2 is huge.

We will get smashed to pieces at the carnival and it might just be the wake up call this league needs to realise that this is not the way to go.

[carey]

If this is what has become of our state team it is an utter joke.

In our centenary year we can not put our best side on the park but a bunch of players who get a state jumper just because they are U/23.

In years past you had to earn your state jumper now they just give you one because you are U/23

No disrespect to the players but a Div 4 player would not be able to compete with Div 1 players week in week out. The gap between D1 & D2 is huge.
We will get smashed to pieces at the carnival and it might just be the wake up call this league needs to realise that this is not the way to go.

fourth that comment is'nt right at all and i've heard it for years whilst yes i agree with 95% of this post to say a player could'nt play div1 cause he comes from a lower grade is totally wrong! Ive seen many a bloke running around in lower grades that no doubt could play div1 one of my best mates in MARK BOOTHEY has been playing div6/7 for paralowie for the last 4 years goes out to gepps and in the first 4 games got 2 BOG'S and was in the best the other 2 games.

but yes the state side should not be just U/23 it should be the best 21 we have running around the SAAFL.

[macca26]

Firstly congratulations to the players on their selection in this squad and I am sure they are all good players in their own right. But is it just me, or do others find this list incredulous?
Apparently of our best squad of 40 under 23 players, only 18 are from Div 1 while another 18 are from Div 2 and 1 from both Div 3 and Div 4.
To break it down to ladder positions;
Div 1
Gaza (3), Goodwood (0), Henley (1), Sacred Heart (3), PHOS (3), Broadview (1), Salisbury North (5), Gepps X (0), T T Gully (2), Eastern Park (0)

Div 2
Rostrevor (3), St Peters (1), PAOC (1), Adel Uni (3), Payneham NU (2),
Old Iggies (0), Pt Districts (5), Modbury (4), Walkerville (0), Athelstone (1)

Therefore the top 5 Div 1 clubs have 10 players in the squad, whilst the 7th and 8th team in Div 2 combined have 9???
Goodwood and Henley, probably the best two teams over the last 3-4 years in Div 1 have only 1 representation altogether?? Can’t speak for Goodwood, but believe I could easily name three U/23 players at Henley I would have in the top 40 of the competition.
Gaza who appear to be almost a 10 goal better team than anyone in Div 1 at the moment destroying teams with their young runners have only 3?
Could pick holes in this all day.
Are some clubs refusing to let players play or limiting the number that do? Or is the selection probably biased towards some clubs?
Guess I am just disappointed that I am not sure our best will be representing us.
Others thoughts?

[Shirtfront]

Firstly congratulations to the players on their selection in this squad and I am sure they are all good players in their own right. But is it just me, or do others find this list incredulous?
Apparently of our best squad of 40 under 23 players, only 18 are from Div 1 while another 18 are from Div 2 and 1 from both Div 3 and Div 4.
To break it down to ladder positions;
Div 1
Gaza (3), Goodwood (0), Henley (1), Sacred Heart (3), PHOS (3), Broadview (1), Salisbury North (5), Gepps X (0), T T Gully (2), Eastern Park (0)

Div 2
Rostrevor (3), St Peters (1), PAOC (1), Adel Uni (3), Payneham NU (2),
Old Iggies (0), Pt Districts (5), Modbury (4), Walkerville (0), Athelstone (1)

Therefore the top 5 Div 1 clubs have 10 players in the squad, whilst the 7th and 8th team in Div 2 combined have 9???
Goodwood and Henley, probably the best two teams over the last 3-4 years in Div 1 have only 1 representation altogether?? Can’t speak for Goodwood, but believe I could easily name three U/23 players at Henley I would have in the top 40 of the competition.
Gaza who appear to be almost a 10 goal better team than anyone in Div 1 at the moment destroying teams with their young runners have only 3?
Could pick holes in this all day.
Are some clubs refusing to let players play or limiting the number that do? Or is the selection probably biased towards some clubs?
Guess I am just disappointed that I am not sure our best will be representing us.
Others thoughts?

Spot on Macca, I'm sure the league will say that the over age players won't give up their time for the game. Bullsh*t. Players that i have spoken to over the last few years at my club would love to pull on the State Jumper. Like you state above, we played Gaza on the weekend, i'm sure more than 3 of them are under 23. For example Modbury have 4 reps, Sals Nth have 5???? Wouldn't say thier form has been outstanding.
I would think the interest in an Open Age Carnival would far outway the lesser option. If other states are playing Open Age, we are about to get wiped from the park.
I would challenge anyone to argue that an SA Open Team, would not comfortably beat an SA Under 23 Team.

[EB53]

When will the Powers to be listen? I have been involved with my football club for forty years. At all times, we present our best available Team
to represent our club every Saturday. When showcasing South Australian football, the S.A.A.F.L must take the lead here and drop the U/23
conscept, and present OUR best team.

[piccachu]

When will the Powers to be listen? I have been involved with my football club for forty years. At all times, we present our best available Team
to represent our club every Saturday. When showcasing South Australian football, the S.A.A.F.L must take the lead here and drop the U/23
conscept, and present OUR best team.

or at least when they pick this side dont do it by who gets there name in the paper on a sunday and actually head out and have a look at these blokes, some of these blokes are battlers and are getting a game in there A grade because there struggling

[Footy Chick]

When will the Powers to be listen? I have been involved with my football club for forty years. At all times, we present our best available Team
to represent our club every Saturday. When showcasing South Australian football, the S.A.A.F.L must take the lead here and drop the U/23
conscept, and present OUR best team.

That's fine, we can drop the U23 concept, but then we won't have anyone to play because it was the basis on which WA (I think) agreed to the tri-series. I don't see how this disadvantages us in any way as the other states are only playing their best U23's too.

Jamie Thomas has no less than half a dozen sidekicks going to 2 games every saturday to have a look at players. Lets be realistic, they can't be everywhere at once but at least get div 1 and 2 covered each week

[Pag]

Great to see Mark Robb there, came third in our B&F as a 17-year old last year, still only 18 so can play under this concept for a few years still. Plenty of upside.

[teaoby]

how bout this for a way to pick the sides.

send the letter out to clubs. the clubs ( because we actually know these guys) send out 3 blokes to training (yes some teams may have more but stiff) gives you 60 blokes to watch of which always with these teams 20 or so are injured or not interested.

then you can work it from there. having played against half of the blokes so far in div 2 i would safely say adam perryman, will hugo and james Prest from pac should easily be in that squad. all 3 in our best nearly every week!

either way it needs to be looked at!

BTW im for the u23 as most of the "best" players in div1 &2 have had their day in the AFL/SANFL and dont need to be playing these sort of game.

[Flipper]

If this is what has become of our state team it is an utter joke.

In our centenary year we can not put our best side on the park but a bunch of players who get a state jumper just because they are U/23.

In years past you had to earn your state jumper now they just give you one because you are U/23

No disrespect to the players but a Div 4 player would not be able to compete with Div 1 players week in week out. The gap between D1 & D2 is huge.

We will get smashed to pieces at the carnival and it might just be the wake up call this league needs to realise that this is not the way to go.

Blake Wagner played Div 4 for CBC the following year won Gazza B&F and made team of year 2 years running, now captain.

[Flipper]

how bout this for a way to pick the sides.

send the letter out to clubs. the clubs ( because we actually know these guys) send out 3 blokes to training (yes some teams may have more but stiff) gives you 60 blokes to watch of which always with these teams 20 or so are injured or not interested.

then you can work it from there. having played against half of the blokes so far in div 2 i would safely say adam perryman, will hugo and james Prest from pac should easily be in that squad. all 3 in our best nearly every week!

either way it needs to be looked at!

BTW im for the u23 as most of the "best" players in div1 &2 have had their day in the AFL/SANFL and dont need to be playing these sort of game.

Thats how it was done back where im from but clubs could nominate as many as the like (6 team comp).

Now correct me if im wrong but as FC said WA have to have U/23's something to do with state govt funding? Clubs over there do it a lot tougher no pokies and very little $ floating around (that is avail to amateur clubs)....???