Dutchy wrote:Dogs64 wrote:gazzamagoo wrote:goddy11 wrote:What is going on up there at Elizabeth. I still think of the Doggies that were unbeatable last decade. Such a large area to get juniors through. Not good to see for the SANFL .
Our recruiting zones were crap from 2010 to 2017, has been adjusted now, should see better local recruiting in the next few years. We have 5 or 6 players who any club would take, the rest are fringe league players at the moment. We need this squad to stick together for a few years BUT that doesn't happen anymore, there's no loyalty & too many sooks who have no intestinal fortitude these days.
A report done by the SANFL some years ago showed South Adelaide and Centrals had the least amount of Primary and High schools (and students) in their zones. From memory the numbers were over 50% less than the likes of Glenelg and Norwood. Maybe it's changed in the last few years.
That may well be the case but it is completely offset by both Centrals and South having their country zones right on their doorstep which is a huge advantage, Ive said it before South have been outstanding in working their local zone in the last 6-7 years and are now starting to reap the benefits with strong juniors and many now starting to play seniors.
This is true. However the demographics of the north have shifted considerably in the last 10 or so years. I coached the Playford SAPSASA team last week and we had a whole 31 year 6/7 year old come out to trial. The Playford soccer team had 91. The amount of kids playing Aussie Rules in general in the the northern suburbs is declining dramatically, with a lot of families settling from other countries as refugees or the like. We have four full separate soccer games going on at lunchtime on our school oval (with a high percentage of these kids being from african, middle-eastern or asian backgrounds), with 2-3 kids kicking a footy off to the side.
The Barossa is still a great pool to pick from for Centrals, but the amount of kids in their metro zone would be a worrying trend for the powers that be at Elizabeth.