SA Footy

Hi all. In the first three rounds of Under 18 competition, there has been some significant blowouts in the score for some matches. We accept there are blowouts in footy but the consistency of some of these have us weary that if the League allows it to continue, we risk a number of clubs having to forfeit their Under 18 teams due to their players losing interest caused by continued big losses throughout the season. Unfortunately with the smaller number of 18s we have this year, losing just one team pushes a competition over the edge for us to be able to facilitate a healthy competition.



Before you to seek an opportunity to voice your opinion, The League readily accepts the timing is not ideal however we are dealing with what we have and see no other solution to arrive at the outcome we have with the time frame we have to do it so don’t think you’re going to get an argument from us.



Some clubs, particularly those who have no experience of a scoreboard thrashing to date may not identify with the rationale used however we are tasked with making decisions to ensure as many of these young blokes have a game of footy as possible conscious of the fact they are at an age they could quite possibly be doing something else other than playing footy which is not helpful to anyone and you can be rest assured, not doing anything would quite likely be a worse outcome for everyone, even those who have plenty of playing numbers and are sitting 2 and 1 or 3 zip.



The League’s Football Committee have determined that the best option is to regrade a number of teams to even up competitions even if it’s only on the scoreboard. This will be effective immediately.



To achieve this, we have created two six-team competitions (Blue and Yellow) which will play fifteen rounds, playing each other three times. Both Competitions will play a three week, top four Finals series.



The Red competition will be a seven-team competition. They will play a fourteen round season with byes. 7 Teams makes this completely unavoidable though clearly selection in off weeks in a clubs seniors is an option. To accommodate, that competition will play a four week, top five finals series.



We have produced a draw in conjunction with the SANFL Juniors to limit the clashes however beyond this week there are some fixtures that we will need to work through with SANFL Juniors and clubs to rectify.

marbles wrote:has next game as May 26th

http://websites.sportstg.com/comp_info.cgi?client=1-114-0-510186-0&pool=1&action=ROUND&round=0#

The Hound wrote:Looks like the new Under 18 divisions still had a couple of issues.
1 6 team div had 3 big margins in terms of losses and 1 6 team had a forfeit.

Thoughts on looking at changing it to an under 17 grade? as it seems many of the lads get to Sunday am and cant be bothered, especially some south western clubs.

PHOS no team, SHOCS no team, Edwardstown forfeit and Brighton start with 16 and end up with 14 on the field.

marbles wrote:Thankyou however under 18 womens results are listed with adult womens results who are affiliated with sawfl and not adfl.

Brodlach wrote:I was just looking for a result and was surprised how few clubs have under18’s. There is around 20 teams the normal number? I realise that boys at this age find jobs and girls but I am was really surprised

I am shocked there are no Unley or Mitcham teams (couple of big junior clubs in my area), do these clubs get their kids to play seniors instead?

jo172 wrote:

Brodlach wrote:I was just looking for a result and was surprised how few clubs have under18’s. There is around 20 teams the normal number? I realise that boys at this age find jobs and girls but I am was really surprised

I am shocked there are no Unley or Mitcham teams (couple of big junior clubs in my area), do these clubs get their kids to play seniors instead?

My suspicion is that this is the about average number.

What you'll find is that the bigger junior clubs have, by the time kids are 18s, large contingents playing 18s at a League Club, and large contingents playing College First XVIII Footy which makes them unavailable for Club 18s.

It's not irregular to see clubs field two junior sides to every age group and then come 16s and 18s struggle to field one on this basis.

marbles wrote:under 16s parents can be bothered taking their sweet kiddies to play footy

under 18s parent cant be bothered dealing with their rebellious teenagers and they can get themselves to the game, so most drop out