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That's not yet. Could be another 20 years before that happensI’m in the minority here - but I think the right to match is enough.
I’d be comfortable with all points discounting being removed.
Yes, yes I know - father son, go-home factor, the AFL is still the VFL etc etc.
But NSW has the country’s biggest population & QLD the third. A time is coming when the northern academies are pumping out more talent than WA & SA.
I’m in the minority here - but I think the right to match is enough.
I’d be comfortable with all points discounting being removed.
Yes, yes I know - father son, go-home factor, the AFL is still the VFL etc etc.
But NSW has the country’s biggest population & QLD the third. A time is coming when the northern academies are pumping out more talent than WA & SA.
Yes NSW and Qld could POTENTIALLY produce more players than WA & SA, but the big difference now and as far as I can see will always be, that kids in the Eastern states aren't as exposed to AFL anywhere near the amount they are exposed to rugby league.I’m in the minority here - but I think the right to match is enough.
I’d be comfortable with all points discounting being removed.
Yes, yes I know - father son, go-home factor, the AFL is still the VFL etc etc.
But NSW has the country’s biggest population & QLD the third. A time is coming when the northern academies are pumping out more talent than WA & SA.
It is fair to say that in QLD, AFL does get a decent following and grass roots participation these days. But still not enough to stand on its own two feet.Yes NSW and Qld could POTENTIALLY produce more players than WA & SA, but the big difference now and as far as I can see will always be, that kids in the Eastern states aren't as exposed to AFL anywhere near the amount they are exposed to rugby league.
Unless they're parents are rusted on fans or come from Victoria, they will more likely play league.
For every Heeney or Gulden, there would be ten kids that would choose league.
Actually, junior league and rugby numbers have fallen fairly sharply. There’s a few reasons - but the physical dominance of the Polynesian kids in the teenage years is one. As is the increasing number of migrants from backgrounds dominated by soccer.Yes NSW and Qld could POTENTIALLY produce more players than WA & SA, but the big difference now and as far as I can see will always be, that kids in the Eastern states aren't as exposed to AFL anywhere near the amount they are exposed to rugby league.
Unless they're parents are rusted on fans or come from Victoria, they will more likely play league.
For every Heeney or Gulden, there would be ten kids that would choose league.
I heard Victoria now has the biggest population , certainly has the biggest amount of shit journo'sThat's not yet. Could be another 20 years before that happens
I think it comes back to the draft. In the 2020s decade so far, the traditional footy states - Vic, SA, WA - account for 228 of the players taken in the national draft. The Northern states - ACT, NSW, QLD - account for 13. This supposedly during the era where academies have gotten so out of control ??
That discrepancy is the heart of the issue for mine, because it creates a league where the overwhelming majority of players are from three states. This has had a clear and very undeniable impact on the integrity of the competition, as the trade period has become overwhelmingly favourable to the teams from those states, and countless sides have won premierships built on players they've raided from other clubs using their home-state advantage.
So politely, the AFL can **** right off.
No… Fremantle still won’t win anythingIts so dumb they dont get it.
Imagine if the SA/WA get their own academy and have priority the comparison in talent that would be available to them is utterly mindboggling they would win multiple flags within 5 years.
Why the Freo hate ?No… Fremantle still won’t win anything
Yes, I understand what you are saying, but my response was to the part in your original post saying "A time is coming when the northern academies are pumping out more talent than WA & SA". I do not believe that is going to happen any time soon and I only cited league as - whether we like it or not, it is the northern states most popular sport and kids are no where near as exposed to AFL as they are to NRL.Actually, junior league and rugby numbers have fallen fairly sharply. There’s a few reasons - but the physical dominance of the Polynesian kids in the teenage years is one. As is the increasing number of migrants from backgrounds dominated by soccer.
Kids are being lost to soccer and basketball.
League can’t continue to be used as justification for the academy discounting system.
I’m a believer in the academies.
And the right to match bids for academy products.
But the Gold Coast situation in last year’s draft lent weight to the argument to ditch the discounts.
In the 2023 draft, the Gold Coast academy produced 3 top 20 draftees.Yes, I understand what you are saying, but my response was to the part in your original post saying "A time is coming when the northern academies are pumping out more talent than WA & SA". I do not believe that is going to happen any time soon and I only cited league as - whether we like it or not, it is the northern states most popular sport and kids are no where near as exposed to AFL as they are to NRL.
It was my understanding that you were basically saying that simply because of population dispersion, NSW and Qld will eventually produce more players than WA and SA, but in those states AFL rules supreme, not so much in the northern states, no matter how much grass roots is growing.
Sounds like a race horse.Malakai Champion is an interesting one in this years draft.
Brilliant, exciting small forward who’d light up the SCG and become a massive fan favourite.
West Coast NGA - but is a small forward their biggest need?
I used to love watching Lewis Jetta.
In the 2023 draft, the Gold Coast academy produced 3 top 20 draftees.
WA produced 2.
SA produced 1.
Yes, 2023 was a bit of an outlier - but if you add the QLD and NSW academies together, they’re gradually drawing closer to the SA and WA state’s output year-on-year.
I can’t argue the fact that league still dominates the press coverage in NSW and QLD. And lots of people follow the rugby codes. But the press coverage of AFL is deliberately limited in those states for vested business reasons & hides the progress AFL is making.
I know advocating the abolition of the points discount ain’t popular here. But I actually think we’ve reached a stage in the development of the game nationally where it’d be reasonable to do iso.
This... nailed it Jewelsbon, except perhaps I would say (at the lowest) 1/50. Soccer, T-ball, League, Union, Swimming, Surfing are all much, much, much bigger in NSW...Yes NSW and Qld could POTENTIALLY produce more players than WA & SA, but the big difference now and as far as I can see will always be, that kids in the Eastern states aren't as exposed to AFL anywhere near the amount they are exposed to rugby league.
Unless they're parents are rusted on fans or come from Victoria, they will more likely play league.
For every Heeney or Gulden, there would be ten kids that would choose league.
I would absolutely like to see those numbers and their source... while they may well have fallen, they will still be significantly higher than AFL. I totally agree that soccer & basket ball (especially soccer) runs a very close second to league, taking more kids as a non-contact sport every year.Actually, junior league and rugby numbers have fallen fairly sharply. There’s a few reasons - but the physical dominance of the Polynesian kids in the teenage years is one. As is the increasing number of migrants from backgrounds dominated by soccer.
Kids are being lost to soccer and basketball.
League can’t continue to be used as justification for the academy discounting system.
GC is unlikely to be in that situation again... their time as bottom dwellers is coming to end. They've only been in the system 12 years, and no-one complained about father/son rights then, with the Vic teams always getting first rights to the cream of the crop.I’m a believer in the academies.
And the right to match bids for academy products.
But the Gold Coast situation in last year’s draft lent weight to the argument to ditch the discount
The belief that soccer and basketball “run second to league” is a myth.I would absolutely like to see those numbers and their source... while they may well have fallen, they will still be significantly higher than AFL. I totally agree that soccer & basket ball (especially soccer) runs a very close second to league, taking more kids as a non-contact sport every year.
GC is unlikely to be in that situation again... their time as bottom dwellers is coming to end. They've only been in the system 12 years, and no-one complained about father/son rights then, with the Vic teams always getting first rights to the cream of the crop.
Changing the draft is all about Tassie coming in, and the availability of players. I gut it, but it still sucks large imo...
It would have been more helpful if they had broken those figures down to a state level. Interesting reading, though.The belief that soccer and basketball “run second to league” is a myth.
Concern for rugby league in Australia as participation numbers compared with other sports - Serious About Rugby League
Rugby league is often seen as the most popular sport in Australia – the football of Australia. This is where the strength of sport often lies, in the eyes of many at least. It is the strength of the sport down under that has seen them dominate the world stage. They made it three Rugby […]www.seriousaboutrl.com
“Rugby league is often seen as the most popular sport in Australia – the football of Australia.”The belief that soccer and basketball “run second to league” is a myth.
Concern for rugby league in Australia as participation numbers compared with other sports - Serious About Rugby League
Rugby league is often seen as the most popular sport in Australia – the football of Australia. This is where the strength of sport often lies, in the eyes of many at least. It is the strength of the sport down under that has seen them dominate the world stage. They made it three Rugby […]www.seriousaboutrl.com
Avoid this writers acid I think. Delusional.“Rugby league is often seen as the most popular sport in Australia – the football of Australia.”
By who and what metric?
Coming from SA I only know enough about Rugby League to know that the Wallabies rarely beat the All Blacks. Ridiculous trying to ram this nonsense through the media.“Rugby league is often seen as the most popular sport in Australia – the football of Australia.”
By who and what metric?
That's Rugby Union, not League.Coming from SA I only know enough about Rugby League to know that the Wallabies rarely beat the All Blacks. Ridiculous trying to ram this nonsense through the media.
Yeah it was a joke e.g. this is how little I know.That's Rugby Union, not League.
If youre in NSW & only read the SMH or Daily Telegraph, you’d be led to believe that the NRL is the dominant sporting organisation in Australia.“Rugby league is often seen as the most popular sport in Australia – the football of Australia.”
By who and what metric?