TOPIC:

geez can't see how many WA boys are gonna get a look in on draft day after these last 3 performances.....three defeats over 10 goals doesn't show well for WA junior development pathway.....though a lot of talk that WA under agers will lead the charge for next year....so who knows all maybe quickly forgotten this time next year......

Good to see SF extractor Kade Stewart have a good one after an injury prone season.....I reckon Stewart, Ridley, Clark and AhChee will be shoe ins for top 40 draft selection with others in Snadden, Hinchcliffe, Watson and Taylor going late or rookies at best.

All to familiar it seems over the last couple of years ..we are badly undersized compared to the Vic teams especially and not enough inside mids.
Funnily enough tho it is not all doom & gloom as I have always found a lot of our boys kick on at a later age compared to those monsters who dominate underage competitions but the goons in the AFL seem to think it is drafted at 18yo or bust ..but hopefully they are now starting to see with the success of a lot of mature age blokes making it of late that it is not the be all and end all at 18!

The wafl clubs are already starting to cop the blame for this and bet your bottom dollar this will lead to us losing control of our colts grade. Quote: " some sources have told the west Australian the downturn can be traced back to a decision several years ago to direct more development funding to wafl clubs rather than the states elite player program"
Once again the wafl is the scapegoat and villian

Tiger of old wrote: The wafl clubs are already starting to cop the blame for this and bet your bottom dollar this will lead to us losing control of our colts grade. Quote: " some sources have told the west Australian the downturn can be traced back to a decision several years ago to direct more development funding to wafl clubs rather than the states elite player program"
Once again the wafl is the scapegoat and villian

TOO the "some sources have told . . ." is the same ploy as used by Fox News "some people say . . .". Both have the same degree of integrity or lack thereof.

not sure why WA is expected to be good every year, going back over the history of the teal cup and 18's we have never been a powerhouse..
too much focus is on the state 18's instead of getting kids to play footy for the right reasons - for enjoyment and teamwork.
the good kids will always come through, its keeping kids in the system which is the bigger issue.

Boekhurst, McGovern, Abbot and Hughes were all taken out of the WAFL seniors last year to AFL and that should be highlighted, if we can get 4-5 each year from the WAFL senior as well as the 18's kids that is a good effort.

MarkOlsen wrote: not sure why WA is expected to be good every year, going back over the history of the teal cup and 18's we have never been a powerhouse..
too much focus is on the state 18's instead of getting kids to play footy for the right reasons - for enjoyment and teamwork.
the good kids will always come through, its keeping kids in the system which is the bigger issue.

Boekhurst, McGovern, Abbot and Hughes were all taken out of the WAFL seniors last year to AFL and that should be highlighted, if we can get 4-5 each year from the WAFL senior as well as the 18's kids that is a good effort.

Totally agree MO in fact what makes 18 this magical age that all players should be judged at?
Leon Baker for example didn't play his first WAFL game until age 24 and then moved to Vic at 27 didn't harm his footy career at all.
I believe the draft age should be lifted to 20 so that some of these kids can get some life experience, maturity and some more senior footy experience before being shipped all over the countryside in the annual meat market trade who knows it may even prolong some careers!

you can't win every year -- and as MO has noted, we have not won that often either. I am not sure why the WCE would be bothered, they can always draft from out of state. After all, that is what the draft is for.

the AFL and their clubs and the WAFC are like the government -they love control - they give the money if you do what you are told and then when it doesnt go well - i.e. 18's have a bad year then its the fault of WAFL clubs and their development.
of course it cant be the fault of the the WAFC and the AFL even though they make all the decisions and appoint all the coaches and development managers at the WAFC !

Empire building.

Interesting stats from the last game v Vic Metro

Seems we have a big gap between the top 9/10 and the rest
So are our good that good and our 2nd level that bad?

Realise man ups are a consideration but is the WAFL doing the right thing with their selections??? Did we have our biggest side in against this big side?

Congrats to the 2 WP boys in doing well.. Dont know the others but well done to them as well

All the best in the next couple guys... and just work hard and it will happen

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