Draft Rewards

[redandblack]

Simple solution is to get rid of the salary cap.

Some clubs already have

[nickname]

TM, dash's excellent post raises a question well worth debating and deserves better than a 'holier than thou' lecture response.

Yep agreed but please tell me the kids Rehn and Weed played in 2005 and 2006 how many are still there (those that weren't drafted)? How many got disenchanted when Phillips came in with 8-9 "recruits" from the western league of Melbourne.

Call it houlier than thou call it what you want - the good SANFL league palyers take longer to develop which is why you need an U/19s competition. it gives the 20 and 21 yo time to develop in the reserves. Once they have 50 odd senior games under their belt (ressies and 1s) thats when they start playing good league footy

No matter how many times West Adelaide people refute these sorts of posts, it doesn't seem to matter. People like you will believe what you want to believe whether it's right or not. Phillips came in late in 2006, after the clearance deadline so he didn't bring any players in then. And having gone through our 2007 list, there is not one player there from a western league in Melbourne. So where do you get this idea that he came in with 8 or 9 such players when the fact is he came in with 0?

West Adelaide would have played more juniors than any other club in the comp in the last 3 years (we've played 48 players this year). They have certainly not been denied opportunies. Our experience is different to yours in that we've found very few kids who, if not good enough for AFL, have been good enough at SANFL level. But it's certainly not through lack of opportunity.

[JK]

What about priority picks in the Mini-Draft? Sure being loaded with AFL players you can lose to higher honours isn't ideal later, but maybe it would assist a team get up off the canvas?

[am Bays]

No matter how many times West Adelaide people refute these sorts of posts, it doesn't seem to matter. People like you will believe what you want to believe whether it's right or not. Phillips came in late in 2006, after the clearance deadline so he didn't bring any players in then. And having gone through our 2007 list, there is not one player there from a western league in Melbourne. So where do you get this idea that he came in with 8 or 9 such players when the fact is he came in with 0?

West Adelaide would have played more juniors than any other club in the comp in the last 3 years (we've played 48 players this year). They have certainly not been denied opportunies. Our experience is different to yours in that we've found very few kids who, if not good enough for AFL, have been good enough at SANFL level. But it's certainly not through lack of opportunity.

Oh for the ins/outs pages of the old SAFooty set up. Nickname I agree you know your club better than I bet I can recall reading of how Phillips was going to bring players from the Western Metro leagues of Melbourne that he used to adminsiter prior to getting teh CE job at West Adelaide.

Names such as Galea etc

[nickname]

Galea was recruited from the VFL. I don't know what you read, I'm just advising you of the reality.

[Adelaide Hawk]

What about priority picks in the Mini-Draft? Sure being loaded with AFL players you can lose to higher honours isn't ideal later, but maybe it would assist a team get up off the canvas?

Fraught with risk. Norwood picked up Rodan a couple of years ago because he looked unlikely to be a starter for Port Adelaide. Looked to be a good get but we haven't seen him since.

[smac]

From what I know of Westies development program (admittedly as an interested observer, not on the inside), it seemed more aimed at developing AFL footballers to get the cash reward attached to draftees than it was to developing footballers for their own club.

Perhaps the focus is/was on the wrong area and they are now reaping what they have sown?

I'm not in favour of manufacturing a clubs comeback from the bottom of the ladder, I'm sure deep down the clubs aren't either.

[JK]

What about priority picks in the Mini-Draft? Sure being loaded with AFL players you can lose to higher honours isn't ideal later, but maybe it would assist a team get up off the canvas?

Fraught with risk. Norwood picked up Rodan a couple of years ago because he looked unlikely to be a starter for Port Adelaide. Looked to be a good get but we haven't seen him since.

I know it will be open to risk, but I reckon any change will be.

A lot of the clubs (CDFC & NAFC) in recent seasons have wanted to "pass" at the mini-draft, and something like this could effectively help a Westies with some quality numbers, whilst also helping those already around the mark from having to take part?

When you look at the AFL model (and any other sport as far as Im aware) a draft was only introduced to even up the playing field ... Yet the mini-draft we have is to assist the 2 local AFL clubs without much thought toward how it might help struggling clubs in the SANFL.

Just some thoughts anyway ... Whether people like it or not, Wedgie's earlier suggestion is probably the best one to address it, yet that also has a downside (and a potentially perilous one at that).

[redandblack]

From what I know of Westies development program (admittedly as an interested observer, not on the inside), it seemed more aimed at developing AFL footballers to get the cash reward attached to draftees than it was to developing footballers for their own club.

Perhaps the focus is/was on the wrong area and they are now reaping what they have sown?

I'm not in favour of manufacturing a clubs comeback from the bottom of the ladder, I'm sure deep down the clubs aren't either.

With respect, smac, I don't think you know much at all about West's development program, even as an outsider. I'm also not sure that any Club is clever enough to develop players only to get them drafted.

Are you suggesting that other Clubs are clever enough to develop players so that they don't get drafted? Or that they are being selfish in developing them only to SANFL standard?

[smac]

No, just suggesting that they only had the one goal in mind instead of 2.

[nickname]

From what I know of Westies development program (admittedly as an interested observer, not on the inside), it seemed more aimed at developing AFL footballers to get the cash reward attached to draftees than it was to developing footballers for their own club.

Perhaps the focus is/was on the wrong area and they are now reaping what they have sown?

I'm not in favour of manufacturing a clubs comeback from the bottom of the ladder, I'm sure deep down the clubs aren't either.

What is it you know about Westies development program that makes you think that?

[smac]

Just observations, nickers. Could well be wrong, but no other SANFL club has made me think that.

[Dogwatcher]

I'm not saying smac's right.
But, when I first moved to the Riverland there was a lot of angst regarding the Bloods treatment of juniors from the country.
There seemed to have been a five year period in which those complaints eased off and I heard less whingeing from locals.
This year I have heard quite a few complaints from parents and players about treatment.
I'm not saying these things are justified but that is just what I've heard.
Surely this has to be partly to blame for some of the issues regarding the progression of 'local' talent into the league side.

[redandblack]

When we West supporters ask for facts in these discussions, all we get is hearsay and 'observations'.

Would anyone like to answer my question - How do you develop players to be drafted? Are the other 8 clubs deliberately holding back the development of their players so that they'll only play to good SANFL standard? If so, how do they manage that? If not, are they not doing their job properly?

[Wedgie]

Hey r&b, hearsay and observations, reminds me of the salary cap debate!

In all seriousness I agree with r&b, in fact if a SANFL club was developing players to only play SANFL and not AFL then they're not doing their job IMHO.
I think it comes down to good/bad luck too and things do go in cycles, also I think a lot of Westies youngsters come from the southern suburbs who don't have a lot of affinity to the SANFL let alone West Adelaide. They might have a few 2nd level players that might play on if they were brought up in the local area of a club where SANFL was more popular.

It can't be argued that West aren't developing their youngsters as obviously they are with the draft results they've had.

When it comes to recruiting players a club could be blamed for recruiting the wrong sort of player, ie interstaters who soon move on or dget drafted but when it comes to developing players yet having most of them move onto SANFL its just plain bad luck for the club involved.

Not sure if it would work but perhaps the best way around it would be to eliminate the salary cap but implement a points system similar to the NBL where a player might be rated a 10 if he's Ben Hart or similar but a 1 if he's a junior. Points could be allocated differently to different clubs if they lose different amounts of players in the draft, just a thought. Would be easier to administer than the salary cap too as its completely transparent.

[smac]

I think you've missed my point. But it's OK, your club is doing so much better than mine.

[Wedgie]

Sorry!

[smac]

Sorry!

Not directed at you! (unless you want it to be).

[Wedgie]

Sorry!

Not directed at you! (unless you want it to be).

Now you find the quote button!

[smac]

Fair call. Laziness abounds.