Quote Originally Posted by LongSufferingFan View Post
Don't be so fast to dismiss this idea.
I watched a fair bit of NewFM this year and IMO it was very obvious the 19s competition was of a higher technical standard than the 23s.
I can't comment on NPL but the NewFM 23s comp in 2015 was a bit of a no mans land comp - players not good enough for NewFM fist grade but too old for 19s.

The argument that NNSWF are putting forward is that the 22s/23s comp is not elite therefore should not exist.

Yes I understand that your long term club players will be playing 22s/23s and that they are the backbone of the Club.
So why cant clubs have ZL3 teams or All Age to cater for these players rather than pretending they are elite?

Just a thought.
Your thoughts are spot on

Clubs are being forced to develop their youth better and having them ready for first grade by 20 years of age

If the kids ain't good enough to be in first grade at 20 having them play all age or zone is where they deserve to be

Sure there will be the occasional late bloomer but having them toil in the lower echelons is not the problem

The problem is the short sightedness of people worried about blokes in the 21-23 years bracket who are not playing first grade and the what will happen to them attitude.

The onus has to be on yoof and the FFA are structuring the comps around the country to address it.

Deal with it people

The sky ain't falling