Academy Watch

[Nunez]

I’d argue Fletcher’s success has a lot more to do with his father’s training than what he received from the academy.

Very much a father son selection.

I don't disagree, but he was very engaged in the academy. Definitely helped fast track him to become a best 22 player in his first year.

 

[GC2015]

I'm sure the club still wants discounted access to great talent, they're just not doing what's necessary to make it happen like the Suns are. And Miller1971 and Thommo 42 have detailed many of the problems with how we do things.

Although...

The end of the academy system will come when they're producing so much good talent each year that the AFL finally agrees with the other 14 clubs that it's too big an advantage. 2-3 draftable prospects a season isn't going to trigger that. 8 will. Maybe that entered into the Lions' thinking on academy funding?

The problem with this theory is that even one northern club academy pumping out both quantity and quality of talent each year will be enough to kill it for all of them, and the Suns will reach that stage long before we're within cooee of it.

You're right. Too much success will definitely result in less access. Maybe what's happening right now isn't all that bad.