TOPIC:

Something that had always confused me,although i hadn't looked at in great depth was the meagre representation of players from the seemingly larger Ballajura and more recently acquired Ellenbrook areas,especially when i noticed in last years footy budget that 11 players had been drawn in all 3 grades from the older and smaller Noranda area compared to 9 from the combined other 2,but a comment my mate whose son grew up playing with a current league player in the ballajura juniors gave me more clarity on the issue.He mentioned that his son had mates who were infinitely more talented than this current Royals league player,but all fell victim to the bogan lifestyle of booze, macca's drive thru'and Gunja,where as a kid in Noranda which is more middle class, is more likely to get their daily 3 fruit and 5veg quota and probably more likely to engage in a more disciplined lifestyle.

In my opinion there is a relationship between SES and development outcomes (not skill/“talent”). Diet, role models and external social influences are some but there are others at both personal and systemic levels. Eg parents working multiple jobs with inflexible hours, one car family or larger families- all of which combine to make it harder for kids to get to games and training. At a club level there may be fewer people to administer clubs and coach teams.
this, again in my opinion, this requires resources to overcome and this is something that clubs need help with from the WAFC and benchmark best practices from other clubs. This is not, in my opinion, overcome by changing zone boundaries or effectively giving up on a cohort of kids.
as to Ellenbrook- this is the largest club in the EP zone but it’s players are split zone across SD/EP- as well as some SES issues. It seems that quite good numbers of Ballajura juniors end up in Amateur clubs like  Ballajura  and Kingsway.

42..thanks for making those points,definitely all valid ones. though you know me mate always gonna give the flip side to every argument. 

(1) Thought the sole purpose of the WAFL receiving all the remuneration from AFL draftees was to ensure an equal spread of the money across the comp as a whole in regards to footy development...kind of stops the Cl, EF, SD of the world hogging all the draftees money....CL regularly has multiple kids drafted each year, SD had a swag each year for a while back in the late 2000s as does EF from time to time....SF too from memory...share the wealth ain't such a bad thing, especially when others such as PFC zone produce fark all.....apparently.

(2) Cant see where the colts comp has been moved too mate, still played before the reserves or after the league on match day....every now and then played the day after....clubs like SD, Cl still promote their colts to senior footy, as do others from time to time....so not sure your point there.

(3) Fixturing colts games away?...yeah once or twice a year to enable recruiters see ALL players in action, preventing just the Cl juniors getting looked at....surely that isn't a bad thing....and I am pretty sure every winning colts team, each week link arms and sing the club song with spirited gusto....don't SD colts do that?

(4) Pretty sure that is an ongoing struggle getting juniors to transition into seniors....pretty sure SD like all clubs had juniors lose interest and stopped playing footy well before the WAFL took over their development...Perth have struggled for years apparently getting juniors into senior footy....40 + years I believe.....perhaps Grump can enlighten us on that.

There are good points given there by ''Factor''but i will add that once upon time coming from a disadvantage background was no hindrance to playing WAFL,and it was a big motivation to make it as a league footballer,particularly when the competition had a huge profile,and was a badge of honour to say your a WAFL league[especially EAST PERTH!!!!] player,but alas those days are gone.Remember how supporters use to deride the Claremont ''college boys'' but nowadays it seen as an advantage to recruit one.

Thanks LH, it would be interesting to see what the bottom of the pyramid looks like so we can see what the drop off rate is before Y10. Thanks for the work you’ve done in the hard evidence.

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42..thanks for making those points,definitely all valid ones. though you know me mate always gonna give the flip side to every argument. 

(1) Thought the sole purpose of the WAFL receiving all the remuneration from AFL draftees was to ensure an equal spread of the money across the comp as a whole in regards to footy development...kind of stops the Cl, EF, SD of the world hogging all the draftees money....CL regularly has multiple kids drafted each year, SD had a swag each year for a while back in the late 2000s as does EF from time to time....SF too from memory...share the wealth ain't such a bad thing, especially when others such as PFC zone produce fark all.....apparently.

(2) Cant see where the colts comp has been moved too mate, still played before the reserves or after the league on match day....every now and then played the day after....clubs like SD, Cl still promote their colts to senior footy, as do others from time to time....so not sure your point there.

(3) Fixturing colts games away?...yeah once or twice a year to enable recruiters see ALL players in action, preventing just the Cl juniors getting looked at....surely that isn't a bad thing....and I am pretty sure every winning colts team, each week link arms and sing the club song with spirited gusto....don't SD colts do that?

(4) Pretty sure that is an ongoing struggle getting juniors to transition into seniors....pretty sure SD like all clubs had juniors lose interest and stopped playing footy well before the WAFL took over their development...Perth have struggled for years apparently getting juniors into senior footy....40 + years I believe.....perhaps Grump can enlighten us on that.

I would be disappointed if you didn't take the contrary point of view.  With respect to your points:

(1) If that is indeed the rationale then let's have complete transparency and identify how much the WAFC receive from the AFL for the players drafted.  Then distribute to the WAFL clubs in a separate dividend so everyone can identify how much the clubs get and that dividend can be reported in the clubs' annual reports.

(2 and 3) Stuff the AFL recruiters' convenience as far as I am concerned.  If one wants to develop an esprit de corps amongst all the players in a club the best way to do that is to have all the clubs' teams (colts, reserves and league) play on the same day.  Further, as part of Swans developing a club spirit amongst the parents/friends of the colts' players a morning tea is provided to both colts' teams' parents and supporters at halftime of the games.

(4) Of course Aussie Rules footy is not unique in the challenges of transitioning juniors to seniors.  My point is what has the WAFC done to improve the numbers making that transition?

Lucky Royal’s point about loyalty to the club is a good one. However, that is, I think at the heart of the zone issue, and it is substantially in control of the Clubs. Maybe the WAFL/WAFC can do more to promote the league and promote the status of playing WAFL football (rather than a pervasive AFL or bust attitudes) but the relation a club has with their zone is a matter for each club. WAFC plays a big role in game development and participation but clubs can and should directly engage with their zone. Some, no doubt, do it better than others.
but to be clear I do not think that zone engagement is a function of the location, SES, quality or size of the zone. It is a responsibility of each club and every club should be at best practice in zone engagement.

Isn't great to see those increased numbers in LH research 42,  in regards to  junior footy participation....fingers crossed those junior clubs with a zero against their names, can get a plus one or two.....not sure why or how, perhaps the WAFC can enlighten us.

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Isn't great to see those increased numbers in LH research 42,  in regards to  junior footy participation....fingers crossed those junior clubs with a zero against their names, can get a plus one or two.....not sure why or how, perhaps the WAFC can enlighten us.

Quite clearly there has been a significant reduction in junior footy teams in the older age groups over a longer period than two years.

LaH's research is very much appreciated.  Also, LaH has provided additional information when requested.  

I agree with La HINCHA engaging the migrant kids, particularly the African kids who are fantastic additions to a game that lets face it is tailor made for them.What other game in the world showcases their athleticism where you can run,jump.tackle.kick and catch a ball at top pace and is easily the most exciting football code in the planet,but unfortunately unknown to 99.9 percent of the world but nonetheless is a great vehicle for all migrants to engage and assimilate with the general community.