TOPIC:

Perhaps, fold a piece of paper anyway you like it is still a piece of paper??????

Yes, there has always seemed a transition problem. I remember one or two colts guys from c. 2005/5 who weren't good enough to be AFL players but who could have played league, in fact did play league. We couldn't hold on to them. It has pretty much everything to do with demographics. Claremont and Subiaco, for example, have a much easier time hanging on to their kids because of the life-situation/background from which their kids come. For every 1 player who plays league from our district, 5 others who might have been capable are lost. They don't go to other clubs. They're simply lost to WAFL football.

PD, I think the main factor is that these days if the kids don't get a crack at AFL they are not willing to do the tough miles to make it at WAFL level. Too much peer pressure to focus on beer, sex and rock-n roll etc. Sure they don't mind the odd game of footy but it is not their main priority. Generally they don't want the commitment or the discipline required.
A sure sign of the times.

smokey wrote: PD, I think the main factor is that these days if the kids don't get a crack at AFL they are not willing to do the tough miles to make it at WAFL level. Too much peer pressure to focus on beer, sex and rock-n roll etc. Sure they don't mind the odd game of footy but it is not their main priority. Generally they don't want the commitment or the discipline required.
A sure sign of the times.

Another factor is how much appeal does the PFC have with these young up and comers.
We rarely play finals,flags are far and few between and not winning many games in a season is a turn off compared to what these other clubs offer.
Most clubs play finals at least evey other year thus giving themselves a chance to win a flag.

Theres no doubt you get the very best that do get drafted come down (thats not many) but its the good kids that arent up to AFL standard destined for a wafl career that are staying away for mostly the reasons i mentioned above and the reasons you have stated and of course theres the other factor that we have done poorly in our zones and have failed in development of the kids that do come down.
Winners are grinners as they say.

Yes, all of that 30+. Some clubs do it much better than we do.. eg SF, C, EF and SD.
We must start doing it better all away along the pathways from grass roots up and we must establish far better lines of communication with players and parents.
It does seem that good interpersonal and man management skills have been lacking resulting in the loss of players at a young age. Max Duffy is probably the most notable example.
And we must remember that today's generation is a far different beast than yesterday's and must be handled accordingly.

Jimmy Boag wrote: Ok, I'll bite......what the f-*%k?

The thread topic is "State of the Demons" and you cant work out what pictures of folding means? A special lot.

smokey wrote: PD, I think the main factor is that these days if the kids don't get a crack at AFL they are not willing to do the tough miles to make it at WAFL level. Too much peer pressure to focus on beer, sex and rock-n roll etc. Sure they don't mind the odd game of footy but it is not their main priority. Generally they don't want the commitment or the discipline required.
A sure sign of the times.

I am not part of the Perth process so I only know what i see at colts, your comment abt players leaving after colts and not doing the tough stuff to be a league player seems to be an issue for a few clubs.

i can honestly say at EP Colts they have tended to stay even with the alignment, the previous years colts have been down to pre season with one exception that i know of, the previous years stayed even tho' their chances were minimal of a league berth, 4 debutants tho', the point is Perth need to look at why do others get them to stay and they don't, culture, direction or is it as someone said results.

Exactly Grump... it is something the club should have addressed some time ago.
As I said previously we have to go back to grass roots level and work through every level unclogging communication and transition pathways and have these kids fired up and wanting to go further when they have finished in Colts.

Houghton and Busher gone. State of disaster

astro wrote: Houghton and Busher gone. State of disaster

Where have they gone??

TBH Houghton hasnt delivered at all and Busher very much injury prone.
Houghton wont be missed a great deal,lets be honest here.
Still they are probably the last 2 tall KP's on our list.

We must have at least 3 genuine talls on the recruiting radar,you just wouldnt give up those 2 unless you did.

When you are a team lacking height and height depth through all grades to lose those 2 is a problem...a huge problem,you just dont give them away unless you have replacements on the list already or replacements ready to sign!

We are the club that just keeps on giving....to everyone else!