Quote Originally Posted by Jim View Post
By the 16s clubs will take just about anyone just to fill the squads.
In fact anyone who stays at the same JDL PYL NPL club would be unique.
I can think of quite a few now in 18s/Reserves who have been at the same club since they started in U13s.

I know a couple who are still at the same club since U9s in U14s (the first cohort of JDL players).

As far as skill level goes, IMO the technical level is definitely better than the past but not sure about about physical athletic level which may have been better in decades past.
Probably because they have a larger pool, more talent, a larger desire by clubs to ensure they make better players and more kids get more games from U9s rather than a much smaller pool of players