AFL Canberra Season 2015

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I wonder witch kindergarten school got to do the draw this year .For fourth grade
UC 10 Home 2 byes 6 away
Anu 9 Home 3 byes 6 away
Adfa 8 Home 2 byes 8 away
Coota 7 Home 3 byes 8 away
Glbn 7 Home 3 byes 8 away
Yass 6 Home 2 byes 10 away
Im tipping it wasn't yass
 
Some people may be aware that the NEAFL/QAFL went with a similar structure last year. Difference is there were no Redlands, Aspley or Southport reverse teams that competed in the comp below.

The players were more evenly spread that what they will be down here but from what I've heard it worked well for both NEAFL/QAFL clubs.

If an Ainslie listed players gets injured playing for Gungahlin then that's on Ainslie's watch. As someone mentioned, same with the AFL/VFL. Would even be the same for a VFL 2's players going down to the EFL. Basically, it is who the contract lies with.

From what I've heard Eastlake will battle to put a AFL Canberra First grade team in and Queanbeyan will battle to put an AFL Canberra reserve side in. Goes to show that having a junior base has it's benefits. Lets just hope this is the way forward from now on!
 

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It's nothing like the VFL/AFL set up, or any other comp in Australia that I know of.

In the VFL/AFL arrangement, clubs have set feeder sides, i.e. their players all go to a single affiliate club and the AFL club has a certain degree of influence over how their players are used. This avoids the problem of playing your players against each other. Admittedly some clubs have tried to have 2 affiliates, but that is the exception, not the norm and still only results in a handful of listed players appearing in each team. The growing trend however has been for the VIC AFL clubs to place their OWN reserves sides into the VFL, topped up with non-listed players, to give them full control over all their listed players.

In the SANFL and the WAFL the previous setup was that players from the 2 AFL sides were drafted out amongst all the other clubs in the competition, which is about 7-10 other clubs. If the listed player was a local junior, he went to his club of origin, if not, he was drafted. This resulted in each local club having 6 or 7 listed players assigned to it, though usually only 2-4 of those would be playing at any one time. However the AFL clubs in those comps have been pushing for and I think have established their own reserves sides as well because they lacked the desired control over their players.

In the NEAFL north/ QAFL setup, the 3 teams that remained in the NEAFL had to give up the rights to having reserves teams, instead farming their players out to the remaining QAFL clubs.

In none of these situations do we see players playing against their own CLUBS though. They either have players throughout the competition or have designated feeder clubs.

Now, I guess you could have removed Ainslie and Eastlake from the AFL Canberra competition, but I'm sure you'd all agree that that wouldn't further the comp at all. Firstly it reduces the number of clubs further, rather than increasing it which was the aim of bringing in Gungahlin. It also removes a huge chunk of dollars from the AFL Canberra competition, which may seem nostalgic, but is not likely to enhance the competition.

The AFL Canberra competition will be unique in that it will have 1 team in it made up almost entirely of players from 2 other clubs in the competition, playing against those same teams. you could feasibly have 12 or 13 Eastlake NEAFL listed players playing against the 22 non-NEAFL listed players of Eastlake's First Grade side. How exactly does that advance the competition? Teams like scratch matches about as much as kids like getting needles. They are a necessary evil as part of the preparation for the season where players blow out some cobwebs, get some match fitness and start to feel some contact in a game situation, but the intensity is never there and you always have the spectre of injury hanging around.

I can't help but think that the NEAFL players should have been shared around the whole comp or not at all, rather than essentially creating a "NEAFL reserves" side in the AFL Canberra competition.

How is it going to breed club culture at Gungahlin? Are those players going to attend Gungahlin's season launch? B n F? Fundraising events during the year? Put on a Gungahlin top and look after their sponsors after a game? Or are they going to do all those things for the clubs that are paying their contracts and at which they have their mates who they have busted their guts with during preseason and who they train with 3 times a week?

It's a joke and doesn't help anyone. If Ainslie or Eastlake pull out of the NEAFL, those players aren't going to stay at Gungahlin, they'll either stay at their clubs and play for them in the AFL Canberra comp or they'll head interstate to better comps or for more dollars. Then where does Gungahlin sit? They have a great big hole in their first grade side and will have to put their hands out to AFL Canberra to beg or drop out again. It's a very short sighted move.
 
Smurftown#11 said:
It's nothing like the VFL/AFL set up, or any other comp in Australia that I know of.

In the VFL/AFL arrangement, clubs have set feeder sides, i.e. their players all go to a single affiliate club and the AFL club has a certain degree of influence over how their players are used. This avoids the problem of playing your players against each other. Admittedly some clubs have tried to have 2 affiliates, but that is the exception, not the norm and still only results in a handful of listed players appearing in each team. The growing trend however has been for the VIC AFL clubs to place their OWN reserves sides into the VFL, topped up with non-listed players, to give them full control over all their listed players.

In the SANFL and the WAFL the previous setup was that players from the 2 AFL sides were drafted out amongst all the other clubs in the competition, which is about 7-10 other clubs. If the listed player was a local junior, he went to his club of origin, if not, he was drafted. This resulted in each local club having 6 or 7 listed players assigned to it, though usually only 2-4 of those would be playing at any one time. However the AFL clubs in those comps have been pushing for and I think have established their own reserves sides as well because they lacked the desired control over their players.
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Our comp sounds a lot like this I would have thought. Juniors returning to their original clubs and others being drafted out to other clubs. I suppose the difference is this year players have been allocated, rather than drafted. I don't know why the admin decided to head down this path as I agree with most of you its not a long term solution, but it is a step in the right direction to that long term solution. It should have remained a draft in my opinion. My understanding is that the other clubs didn't want to have a draft and they just said give us our juniors back and the Jets can have the rest.

In the NEAFL north/ QAFL setup, the 3 teams that remained in the NEAFL had to give up the rights to having reserves teams, instead farming their players out to the remaining QAFL clubs.

In none of these situations do we see players playing against their own CLUBS though. They either have players throughout the competition or have designated feeder clubs.
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I think this is the main problem when people look at the league set up. Ainslie/Eastlake NEAFL side is the same team as their Div 1 team by name only. They aren't the same team. If everyone stopped treating NEAFL teams and the Div 1 teams as the same team then it would be a lot easier to understand. They're the same team just like in previous years the NEAFL team of clubs and the Div 3 team are the same team. They don't train together and probably don't really socialise with each other either. I doubt the NEAFL squads are training with the Div 1 squads at both Eastlake and Ainslie

Now, I guess you could have removed Ainslie and Eastlake from the AFL Canberra competition, but I'm sure you'd all agree that that wouldn't further the comp at all. Firstly it reduces the number of clubs further, rather than increasing it which was the aim of bringing in Gungahlin. It also removes a huge chunk of dollars from the AFL Canberra competition, which may seem nostalgic, but is not likely to enhance the competition.

The AFL Canberra competition will be unique in that it will have 1 team in it made up almost entirely of players from 2 other clubs in the competition, playing against those same teams. you could feasibly have 12 or 13 Eastlake NEAFL listed players playing against the 22 non-NEAFL listed players of Eastlake's First Grade side. How exactly does that advance the competition? Teams like scratch matches about as much as kids like getting needles. They are a necessary evil as part of the preparation for the season where players blow out some cobwebs, get some match fitness and start to feel some contact in a game situation, but the intensity is never there and you always have the spectre of injury hanging around.

I can't help but think that the NEAFL players should have been shared around the whole comp or not at all, rather than essentially creating a "NEAFL reserves" side in the AFL Canberra competition.

How is it going to breed club culture at Gungahlin? Are those players going to attend Gungahlin's season launch? B n F? Fundraising events during the year? Put on a Gungahlin top and look after their sponsors after a game? Or are they going to do all those things for the clubs that are paying their contracts and at which they have their mates who they have busted their guts with during preseason and who they train with 3 times a week?

It's a joke and doesn't help anyone. If Ainslie or Eastlake pull out of the NEAFL, those players aren't going to stay at Gungahlin, they'll either stay at their clubs and play for them in the AFL Canberra comp or they'll head interstate to better comps or for more dollars. Then where does Gungahlin sit? They have a great big hole in their first grade side and will have to put their hands out to AFL Canberra to beg or drop out again. It's a very short sighted move.
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I like it how everyone is so worried and concerned about Gungahlin's culture etc. No doubt things will be difficult initially, but I can assure you all that our culture will be just fine, possibly ending up as one of the strongest in the area. Time will tell.

The long term view see's clubs developing junior players and creating strong teams from juniors, not imports, so when/if Eastlake and Ainslie drop out of the NEAFL clubs will have teams full of home breed talent. Gungahlin have the biggest or second biggest junior club in Canberra. Initially we will require propping up to keep us competitive, but in the long term it will be our juniors that will lead us to success. Again time will tell, but I can assure you we are on the right track at the moment.
 
12 Magpies said:
I think this is the main problem when people look at the league set up. Ainslie/Eastlake NEAFL side is the same team as their Div 1 team by name only. They aren't the same team. If everyone stopped treating NEAFL teams and the Div 1 teams as the same team then it would be a lot easier to understand. They're the same team just like in previous years the NEAFL team of clubs and the Div 3 team are the same team. They don't train together and probably don't really socialise with each other either. I doubt the NEAFL squads are training with the Div 1 squads at both Eastlake and Ainslie
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And that's where you are wrong. The NEAFL squad and Div 1 players DO train together, along with promising up and coming juniors, at Ainslie at least. The split has always been between the senior squad being 1's and 2's (NEAFL and First Grade as it stands this year) and 3's and 4's squad (2nd grade and 5th grade this year). I'm pretty sure this is the usual split at most clubs that field more than 2 teams and has been for years. The rationale behind that being that you need your reserves training with your firsts so they are up to scratch to make the transition up the grades. While teams have a nominal NEAFL squad that is more than a single team worth of players, it is not 2 full teams worth and often includes players still eligible to play juniors as well. So when teams are picked you get the 22 playing in the NEAFL, a number of listed players playing in the 2nd team with non-listed players at the club, some playing in the Rising Stars and some off injured. The players in the 2nds do the same preseason as the NEAFL players and do all the same training together with the NEAFL listed players. There is no differentiation at training between listed on non-listed, just the split on the Thursday/Friday session into who's playing 1's and whose playing 2's so that they can work through game plan stuff before the weekend.

And, having been part of it, I can assure you that the NEAFL and First Grade players socialise together heavily. They go out to town together, organize BBQ's/piss ups together and do footy trip and event days together.
 
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Smurftown#11 said:
And that's where you are wrong. The NEAFL squad and Div 1 players DO train together, along with promising up and coming juniors, at Ainslie at least. The split has always been between the senior squad being 1's and 2's (NEAFL and First Grade as it stands this year) and 3's and 4's squad (2nd grade and 5th grade this year). I'm pretty sure this is the usual split at most clubs that field more than 2 teams and has been for years. The rationale behind that being that you need your reserves training with your firsts so they are up to scratch to make the transition up the grades. While teams have a nominal NEAFL squad that is more than a single team worth of players, it is not 2 full teams worth and often includes players still eligible to play juniors as well. So when teams are picked you get the 22 playing in the NEAFL, a number of listed players playing in the 2nd team with non-listed players at the club, some playing in the Rising Stars and some off injured. The players in the 2nds do the same preseason as the NEAFL players and do all the same training together with the NEAFL listed players. There is no differentiation at training between listed on non-listed, just the split on the Thursday/Friday session into who's playing 1's and whose playing 2's so that they can work through game plan stuff before the weekend.

And, having been part of it, I can assure you that the NEAFL and First Grade players socialise together heavily. They go out to town together, organize BBQ's/piss ups together and do footy trip and event days together.
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I find that interesting. I know in the past that's what happened at most clubs, but I would have thought that had changed this year. I'm pretty sure that's changed at Eastlake. I would have thought that the Div 1 team and Div 2 team would have been the ones training together considering they are the teams that will be playing with each other every week. I might be wrong, but I don't think the Neafl side and the Div 1 side will play together at all throughout the entire season. Seems a strange decision to keep the 2 teams that will actually be playing with each other each weekend apart from each other during the week. I'd be pretty confident that won't last, but time will tell I guess.
 
I see what you are saying, but I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.

I just can't see a time when a club doesn't prioritise their top side. And while they are doing that, they will need to ensure that all players that might play in that side are training together. And if there's then another 10 or 20 players that will be playing with those players in the next grade down, they may as well all train together too. However, as most of us know, once you get more than about 40-50 players training together, the whole thing becomes unwieldy, hence the need for a split. But the top 2 teams are always likely to train together in my opinion, be they in separate competitions or not.

I guess time will tell.
 
Two months before the season starts? Talk about disorganised!

Any reason for the rumoured restructure? Have some clubs failed to get numbers to support all the teams they planned to put in? Complaints?
 
Smurftown#11 said:
Two months before the season starts? Talk about disorganised!

Any reason for the rumoured restructure? Have some clubs failed to get numbers to support all the teams they planned to put in? Complaints?
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I heard Belconnen and Eastlake are struggling to get their team numbers, and the Bay in line with Bubbles comments are struggling to get numbers for their second team.
 

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Smurftown#11 said:
Two months before the season starts? Talk about disorganised!

Any reason for the rumoured restructure? Have some clubs failed to get numbers to support all the teams they planned to put in? Complaints?
Click to expand...

I heard Belconnen and Eastlake are struggling to get their team numbers, and the Bay in line with Bubbles comments are struggling to get numbers for their second team.
 
If they don't stop the cash giveaways by clubs down the Hume Highway, there will be further teams drop out of the AFL Canberra grades. Eastlake, Queanbeyan and Belco all hit hard by players travelling each week and rewarded with high $$$$$$ amounts. Anyone know just how many players are travelling ?
 
History1 said:
If they don't stop the cash giveaways by clubs down the Hume Highway, there will be further teams drop out of the AFL Canberra grades. Eastlake, Queanbeyan and Belco all hit hard by players travelling each week and rewarded with high $$$$$$ amounts. Anyone know just how many players are travelling ?
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There is about 4-5 Queanbeyan blokes who train at Reid on a Monday, there must be a gold mine down the Hume!
 
History1 said:
If they don't stop the cash giveaways by clubs down the Hume Highway, there will be further teams drop out of the AFL Canberra grades. Eastlake, Queanbeyan and Belco all hit hard by players travelling each week and rewarded with high $$$$$$ amounts. Anyone know just how many players are travelling ?
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Just looking at the clearance list on the sportingpulse website, not that they are all approved or anything, but QBN have been smashed... and Woden looking like they have recruited big numbers for their second side...

http://www.foxsportspulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=1-1051-17826-294515-0&a=CLEAR
 
Woden seem to be the big winners from the league changes and some hard work behind the scenes... Div 1 and 2 in 2016? If they could create an alliance with Marist and get a similar deal as the the Jets this year it doesn't seem out of the question. It a speculator but makes a lot of sense.
 
Brentford26 said:
There is about 4-5 Queanbeyan blokes who train at Reid on a Monday, there must be a gold mine down the Hume!
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It's not there reserve grade players they've lost either. It's there really good local players like Griggs, Daniel, Quade etc. (apparently Irwin and Wescombe left to!) Players you would never think would leave. Especially not to play down country. You would understand if it was a higher standard!!

All jumping off a sinking ship?
 
Sad news from Magpieland, Rachael who was the wife of Paul Netting who I am sure you have played either with or against in Districts footy passed away today (Thursday). I knew Rachael very briefly but she was one of the most genuine persons you could ever get to know and incredibly unselfish and had a ready smile for all. You'll be missed. Hope Paul and the rest of their family are okay.
 
ilovemeatpies said:
Sad news from Magpieland, Rachael who was the wife of Paul Netting who I am sure you have played either with or against in Districts footy passed away today (Thursday). I knew Rachael very briefly but she was one of the most genuine persons you could ever get to know and incredibly unselfish and had a ready smile for all. You'll be missed. Hope Paul and the rest of their family are okay.
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Deepest sympathy's to Netto and his family.from all here at Yass
 
Footy Fan 22 said:
It's not there reserve grade players they've lost either. It's there really good local players like Griggs, Daniel, Quade etc. (apparently Irwin and Wescombe left to!) Players you would never think would leave. Especially not to play down country. You would understand if it was a higher standard!!

All jumping off a sinking ship?
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Not a sinking ship. These players are being offered between 600 to a thousand dollars a game. Money that queanbeyan weren't allowed to match.
 
no orange peeler said:
Not a sinking ship. These players are being offered between 600 to a thousand dollars a game. Money that queanbeyan weren't allowed to match.
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NOP, I'm sure there are plenty of good players at belco and tuggers who got offered big coin down in the riverina but turned it down to stay at there clubs.

From the outside looking in QBN"s culture can't be what it was. There are players leaving to play for Woden in Div 3!!
 
Footy Fan 22 said:
NOP, I'm sure there are plenty of good players at belco and tuggers who got offered big coin down in the riverina but turned it down to stay at there clubs.

From the outside looking in QBN"s culture can't be what it was. There are players leaving to play for Woden in Div 3!!
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Just for your info, I think there are at least 6 players from both Belco and Tuggers travelling down the highway along with the 6 that Eastlake lost last year for similar cash incentives. Ironic I would suggest that the person who started all this when coaching an O and M team in 2013 and had 5 Qbn players travelling down that year is now working out of the office of the AFL in Cbr who are now at odds to stop the drain.
 
History1 said:
Just for your info, I think there are at least 6 players from both Belco and Tuggers travelling down the highway along with the 6 that Eastlake lost last year for similar cash incentives. Ironic I would suggest that the person who started all this when coaching an O and M team in 2013 and had 5 Qbn players travelling down that year is now working out of the office of the AFL in Cbr who are now at odds to stop the drain.
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O&M have a long history of recruiting out of Melbourne, you could argue the NEAFL lifted the standard and hence become a recruiting ground for these country leagues plus - Saturday footy in a diverse league. Compared to Canberra where the Div 1 comp was 6 teams with 1 team just making up the numbers, then a 5 team comp, then 7 with again varied degrees of competitiveness. Throw in the fact every other game was Sunday and your Seniors play 11am when out of Canberra teams in town. So for a 3 hour car ride (each way) you get some cash and a footy environment that is more common in the footy dominate states.
 

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