TOPIC:

There are rumours abounding that part of the restructure of the WAFL will be that there will be a separate colts' competition removed from the WAFL clubs.

As I see it I don't see any positives from this proposal other than if you aim is total control and the decimation of the WAFL clubs.

What would be the negatives of such a proposal?

The first and most obvious is that the dropout of players at that age would be increased. If a player aspires to play in the AFL and is not picked up by one of these new clubs they would be more likely to drop out. Presumably there would be a very limited squad for each of the clubs; significantly lower than the overall numbers that play for a WAFL colts' team during a season.

Secondly there would be absolutely no incentive for any of the WAFL clubs to have junior competitions. Why would the WAFL clubs bother?

Thirdly the loss of players and revenue flowing through to WAFL clubs and their league teams would be significant.

The junior players' loss of identity to a WAFL club would be significant.

There would be a loss of knowledge flowing from senior league players flowing through to the younger players.

I am sure people like Grump who have been involved in colts' teams at WAFL level could add to the disadvantages of this proposal.

AFL and the AFL Clubs including our two here in the West are already dipping their toes in to this area

www.aflcommunityclub.com.au/index.php?id=1942

Dwert wrote: AFL and the AFL Clubs including our two here in the West are already dipping their toes in to this area

www.aflcommunityclub.com.au/index.php?id=1942

Dwert it justs peaks volumes about the AFL. No recognition of the Clontarf Academy model, Swans' vSwans programme etc.

Can you give a bit more detail about the programs that you mentioned because I thought that the rationale for the AFL initiative that you've linked was to make it easier for indigenous and "multicultural" kids to get drafted. The WCE seem to have got the full benefit of the "Bakari Royals" - can you explain how it ignores the Clontarf and Swans programs?

Factor opinion wrote: Can you give a bit more detail about the programs that you mentioned because I thought that the rationale for the AFL initiative that you've linked was to make it easier for indigenous and "multicultural" kids to get drafted. The WCE seem to have got the full benefit of the "Bakari Royals" - can you explain how it ignores the Clontarf and Swans programs?

See link below re Swans' vSwans' programme:

www.swandistrictsfc.com.au/page/vswans

The Clontarf Academy in summary is based on linking Football and Netball with improved school attendance.

If the AFL clubs stick to the activities listed in that article, why cant it operate alongside the current Colts comp. The article lists intensive coaching clinics and the like but mentions nothing about an actual alternative competition. So these youngsters would have the colts comp and training bolstered by this elite training and coaching clinic programme provided by the massively well resourced AFL clubs so surely that's a positive and provides something extra that most WAFL clubs don't have the financial resources to provide.

Alternative view could be that this may be the thin end of the wedge and just a first stage of hijacking the colts comp.

Senior Seagull wrote: If the AFL clubs stick to the activities listed in that article, why cant it operate alongside the current Colts comp. The article lists intensive coaching clinics and the like but mentions nothing about an actual alternative competition. So these youngsters would have the colts comp and training bolstered by this elite training and coaching clinic programme provided by the massively well resourced AFL clubs so surely that's a positive and provides something extra that most WAFL clubs don't have the financial resources to provide.

Alternative view could be that this may be the thin end of the wedge and just a first stage of hijacking the colts comp.

It is the arrogance and desire of the AFL to be all-conquering that is the proble. To quote a saying from a Sydney racecaller of yesteryear that it is London to a Brick on that the AFL did not consult clubs like Swans or the Clontarf Academy about their programmes.

swan42 wrote:

Senior Seagull wrote: If the AFL clubs stick to the activities listed in that article, why cant it operate alongside the current Colts comp. The article lists intensive coaching clinics and the like but mentions nothing about an actual alternative competition. So these youngsters would have the colts comp and training bolstered by this elite training and coaching clinic programme provided by the massively well resourced AFL clubs so surely that's a positive and provides something extra that most WAFL clubs don't have the financial resources to provide.

Alternative view could be that this may be the thin end of the wedge and just a first stage of hijacking the colts comp.

It is the arrogance and desire of the AFL to be all-conquering that is the proble. To quote a saying from a Sydney racecaller of yesteryear that it is London to a Brick on that the AFL did not consult clubs like Swans or the Clontarf Academy about their programmes.

The late Ken Howard 42?

Beasley Hutton wrote:

swan42 wrote:

Senior Seagull wrote: If the AFL clubs stick to the activities listed in that article, why cant it operate alongside the current Colts comp. The article lists intensive coaching clinics and the like but mentions nothing about an actual alternative competition. So these youngsters would have the colts comp and training bolstered by this elite training and coaching clinic programme provided by the massively well resourced AFL clubs so surely that's a positive and provides something extra that most WAFL clubs don't have the financial resources to provide.

Alternative view could be that this may be the thin end of the wedge and just a first stage of hijacking the colts comp.

It is the arrogance and desire of the AFL to be all-conquering that is the proble. To quote a saying from a Sydney racecaller of yesteryear that it is London to a Brick on that the AFL did not consult clubs like Swans or the Clontarf Academy about their programmes.

The late Ken Howard 42?

I didn't realise you were THAT OLD BH!!!!!!!

www.lions.com.au/club/academy/talent-identification

www.sydneyswans.com.au/news/2012-06-06/s...big-week-for-academy

Some more reading of what is already happening on the East Coast.

The last article talks the Sydney Swans 16s Academy lads playing a series of matches between their zoned players and those of GWS , what is going to stop the two AFL Clubs here in WA from going down this path?