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I wish the reserves all the best, but reserves success is meaningless. It just reflects the health of the league team. Our reserves started well, then fell in a heap when we had our first round of injuries. They then won a few in a row when our league players returned from just after that shambles against Subi. We then suffered a second round of injuries and they have lost the last two. The only reserves players who may become decent league players are Gray and Hunter. 

if anything sums up the debacle in the league yesterday, it is that 3 Perth rejects - Busher, Hug and Marlin - kicked more than our entire score. I honestly don't recall feeling quite this hopeless about our prospects as I do now. It is unlikely that a single colts player aged 17 and over will play league, so we have at least 4-5 years at the very least before we can hope to develop young local talent. Meanwhile, no doubt we will go out in the off season and recruit more guys like Hitchcock, Reid, La Fontaine, Tombides, Peletier, Martin. 

BC wrote:

Interesting theory VPB...does the same go for Claremont with all their private school boys living in the western suburbs?
 

I don't claim to know how the CFC has handled under the table incentives - but I was a bit surprised to see that over the last few years they have provided many AFL "recruits" in the drafts.  - I suspect it is their countrry zones where footy is an important part of the fabric of their community is the answer.  A bit of money in the metro areas would help too.