Surely the academy is fantastic thing. I agree with most people that COLA being phased out is the correct thing to do but having an academy for all of the 4 NSW/Qld sides is a great idea.
I am on record of thinking that expansion was and is a terrible idea and the money should have been spent on sustainable grass roots campaigns up north. However, these academy's are a chance for that. Four academy's developing players in those markets is great and the fact that they operate under father-son rules is fantastic. The clubs get rewarded for their work but can't hoard the players and will have to pay a reasonable price for them in the draft.
I think that poaching big stars has been modis operandi for Sydney since the 80s from Edelston's mercanaries to Plugger to Hall and now Buddy + Tippett. It has helped generate interest up there but now that there is a fair bit of rusted on support young kids coming into the side and then having a career there will bring greater joy to their supporters. I also think that all kids who go through the acadamey will have a soft spot and unless they come from southern ex-pat family and are rusted on supporters for another team will be Sydney supporters, and so will their families.
Considering most clubs can have a NSW young fella on their list makes clubs complaining about this hypocrites. Maybe there could be something similar for Vic/SA/WA clubs. There is obviously fantastic development for juniors with the state comps. What about similar dibs for players listed in the VFL/SANFL/WAFL affiliated clubs who have never been drafted by an AFL club?
That way there is more value in taking a kid on the fringes of the draft and putting time into him. The one catch to it to stop rorting would be that they have to have nominated for the draft prior to being available for this. Otherwise clubs could get young ruckmen who wont hit their straps until over 21 to stand out of the draft and then pay them to study and develop for the AFL using their facilities while playing VFL and not waste a list spot.
I am on record of thinking that expansion was and is a terrible idea and the money should have been spent on sustainable grass roots campaigns up north. However, these academy's are a chance for that. Four academy's developing players in those markets is great and the fact that they operate under father-son rules is fantastic. The clubs get rewarded for their work but can't hoard the players and will have to pay a reasonable price for them in the draft.
I think that poaching big stars has been modis operandi for Sydney since the 80s from Edelston's mercanaries to Plugger to Hall and now Buddy + Tippett. It has helped generate interest up there but now that there is a fair bit of rusted on support young kids coming into the side and then having a career there will bring greater joy to their supporters. I also think that all kids who go through the acadamey will have a soft spot and unless they come from southern ex-pat family and are rusted on supporters for another team will be Sydney supporters, and so will their families.
Considering most clubs can have a NSW young fella on their list makes clubs complaining about this hypocrites. Maybe there could be something similar for Vic/SA/WA clubs. There is obviously fantastic development for juniors with the state comps. What about similar dibs for players listed in the VFL/SANFL/WAFL affiliated clubs who have never been drafted by an AFL club?
That way there is more value in taking a kid on the fringes of the draft and putting time into him. The one catch to it to stop rorting would be that they have to have nominated for the draft prior to being available for this. Otherwise clubs could get young ruckmen who wont hit their straps until over 21 to stand out of the draft and then pay them to study and develop for the AFL using their facilities while playing VFL and not waste a list spot.