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If that's the case that's ridiculous. The best example at my club would be Sam petrevski seton. He was just settling into the league side last year before going off to the 18s carnival and never got back into the league side. And now he's not going to be able to play league THIS season? That's not only disadvantageous to his development but no good for us as a club as he's nearly certainly in our best 22.
There should be a clause where each team can have one or two under age player in their side each week. I'm sure the afl recruiters would like to have a look at blokes playing league not just colts.

What a crock of sh!t from that Vic Comp again & when are the WAFC going to stand up to those knobs over there for a start demanding far more than the pitiful $2 million that the VFL provide to run footy in this state which is chicken feed compared to what NSW, QLD, NT & Vics recieve!

Grassy the VFL would spend more $$$$ on those ridiculous overseas junkets to New York & Ireland every year than they provide to the entire WA football system which is providing a good portion of the talent to play in their bloody precious comp!

I think this is a great rule for the physical and mental development of the young kids.

Let them play at their own age level to start the year, if they are good enough they can move up mid season. If their senior teams don't make the finals then they are still qualified to rejoin their juniors in a finals campaign.

JD62 wrote: I think this is a great rule for the physical and mental development of the young kids.

Let them play at their own age level to start the year, if they are good enough they can move up mid season. If their senior teams don't make the finals then they are still qualified to rejoin their juniors in a finals campaign.

Ever heard of John Todd JD62?

We have two lads who could quite easily play league this year, if they were ready now I would play them and forget the 18's. Like the lad at the tiggers they would be drafted anyway! Also I think from talking to them they would jump at the chance to play league.

swan42 wrote:

JD62 wrote: I think this is a great rule for the physical and mental development of the young kids.

Let them play at their own age level to start the year, if they are good enough they can move up mid season. If their senior teams don't make the finals then they are still qualified to rejoin their juniors in a finals campaign.

Ever heard of John Todd JD62?

Very good example swan42. Highlights just what is at risk by playing a junior too early and not safeguarding their future.

Toddy played at a very young age and suffered very bad injuries because he was playing against oppostion that was bigger than he was before his body had fully developed.

WA football fans were robbed of seeing the true career of one of the greats because of the ego and hubris shown by some of his team officials and supporters.

It is only a guess that John Todd suffered career ending injuries because he started so early, it sounds like a good story but in the end it is just a guess.
How come in this era 18 year olds are not men now?
Women are developing earlier so why are men not?
If you are good enough to play men's football at 17 then you should be,
The Amateur comp made colts under 21 and it has been a massive fail, imagine playing colts for 4-5 years. Not just that because officially they can the players themselves just want to stay and play with their mates and refuse to play seniors. Some clubs made their own rules to give the players no option.
If the parents are so worried about their little baby 18 year olds tell them to tell their baby not to accept being drafted until they play league football.
I just don't get why everything is made so complicated these days. I played league footy in Bunbury and 1st grade pennant cricket in Perth before I was 17. Was exciting as hell but not an issue to my parents or anyone else. Why is it an issue now?

Well said GWS.

In my time following WAFL footy I have seen many a 18yo or younger play League footy especially at Swans who have always had the philosophy of if your good enough you are old enough.
It didnt seem to affect the likes of Narkle, Sartori, Hutton, Penny, Cummings, Kelly, Taylor, Embley, Hunter, Simpson, Naitanui, Notte, Yarran, Walters, Garlett, Newman, Jetta, Coniglio, Rance et al have all had long and reasonable WAFL or VFL careers then you can throw in the likes of Magro, LeCras, Hendricks, Campbell, Cousins, Kennedy, Ryder, Wells, Jakovich, P.Krakouer, Malaxos, Headland et al from the other WAFL clubs one could actually mount the case playing against men at 17 helped their careers rather than hindered them!

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