TOPIC:

La Hincha wrote: I'd love to know the number of boys aged between 13-17 we had playing juniors in 1987 when our population had just topped the 1 million mark as compared to today when we are about to hit the 2.4 million mark

Mate you only need to look at the number of clubs that have folded in Metro and Country to see there is a problem.

Bazza wrote:

La Hincha wrote: I'd love to know the number of boys aged between 13-17 we had playing juniors in 1987 when our population had just topped the 1 million mark as compared to today when we are about to hit the 2.4 million mark

Mate you only need to look at the number of clubs that have folded in Metro and Country to see there is a problem.

Absolutely

I'm just wondering if it is possible that even with double the population, could it be that we have less juniors now than then? It would be a close call I reckon

yes...you're correct Baz...I coached my son's 16s team in 2014 and we struggled to get 8 teams across EF, SF and Peel districts. In 2015, 17s comprised only teams from EF and SF as Peel dropped out. Melville Junior Footy club couldn't field a 17s team last year and Attadale hasn't for a few years. Older kids are leaving the game in droves.

BC wrote: yes...you're correct Baz...I coached my son's 16s team in 2014 and we struggled to get 8 teams across EF, SF and Peel districts. In 2015, 17s comprised only teams from EF and SF as Peel dropped out. Melville Junior Footy club couldn't field a 17s team last year and Attadale hasn't for a few years. Older kids are leaving the game in droves.

Yep , now multiply that across the state.

In the combined Claremont/Subiaco/West Perth 17's comp (yr 12) stretching from Yanchep in the North to Dalkeith-Nedlands most south, only 12 teams took part in 2016.

So in an area 64km by 12km only about 300 17 year olds play footy

EDIT - I guess Mosman Park/Nth Fremantle is further south than dalkeith

So does that mean that less than one 17 year old in each km in the northern suburbs plays footy...not good on maths

The development competition as it stands now is a healthy breeding ground for potential WAFL and in some instances AFL players. It is NOT just about the Colts and that seems to the point that this misses.

Right from the 14's and through to colts boys are given access to coaches that are constantly improving, gone are the days of dad doing the task unaided or untrained ( no disrespect but .....). The drop out rate is down to other options and issues none of which we can do much about.

The involvement of the clubs allows for players to reach their potential at the rates that best fits them and not being held back by non alignment to a WAFL club will not help them or the WAFL or AFL.

Leigh Matthews said many years ago that he preferred to draft a player who had played against men and thus were known quantities.

I can only speak of EP but over the past 6 years maybe more but certainly in that time I have seen an increase in loyalty to the club, some might say it is the WCE alignment but I don't think so, the culture has improved with a succession of coaches and development officers.

Leave the WHOLE development process alone and reap the rewards.

Bazza wrote:

Larry Bird wrote: No Colts, No Reserves then you don't have a club or any culture. The only way the WAFL would have remained strong is through community support. My opinion is that support is gone and won't ever return.

I agree mate, that's where we are at.

We need to look at other options for some sort of survival going forward.

To put it as bluntly as possible Bazza that is not survival. No colts, no reserves and basically no WAFL. No-one thinks that the VFA exists today by a different name.

The other point I will make is who is going to replace the WAFL clubs junior councils in running the junior competitions?

BC wrote: yes...you're correct Baz...I coached my son's 16s team in 2014 and we struggled to get 8 teams across EF, SF and Peel districts. In 2015, 17s comprised only teams from EF and SF as Peel dropped out. Melville Junior Footy club couldn't field a 17s team last year and Attadale hasn't for a few years. Older kids are leaving the game in droves.

BC Peel dropped out. How is that possible when we have been told that the Peel area is awash with juniors?

Speaking of juniors dropping out; surely the proposal is going to increase the number of junior dropping out. I would also think and Grump would obviously be in a better position to comment than me; I would think that the pressure on these "elite players" would be even greater and that the mix between footy and school will be even more contentious and particular in the context of how ruthless the AFL clubs are in treating the players drafted as disposable and easily got rid of? Won't these players be forced to compromise their education due to the commitments required from these sterile clubs?

Have a look at what this muppet posted-

Unholytugboat wrote: I would go with a similar setup to the TAC cup & VFL

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TAC_Cup

Under 18s competition showcasing next generation elite footballers. Once they hit 18 and not drafted, head into WAFL Reserves, league or WAAFL.

I would consider the TAC cup a very long term success story. Imagine all those 18,19 & 20 year olds not sitting stagnate in WAFL clubs. Free to go and play at WAAFL.

The biggest crime is the money WAFL clubs get for a drafted player. Some players spend less than 8% of their playing life at a WAFL club. The other 92% has been spent at a local junior club run by volunteers, yet the WAFL club receives 100% of the revenue stream.

Thanks for the showcase BH. Unfortunately I live in the current day and am not consumed by the wafl.

Would love to hear how crap the the TAC cup is and what a crap job it does of developing players.