Emperor McGuire conveniently forgets his previous attempts to circumvent the academy system..

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/archive/news/poaching-pies-enrage-swans/story-e6frg7mo-1225703310738

Nice one. Eddie has selective memory.

The QBE Sydney Swans Academy was established in 2010 as an initiative of the AFL. An AFL working group – that included then Collingwood recruiting manager Derek Hine (now GM List Management) - formulated and approved the club-based Academy system. The Swans Academy currently trains approximately 550 boys aged between 11 and 19 in nine regions utilising 60 coaches. Each player receives approximately 2.5 hours of coaching per week. The Academy costs the Sydney Swans in excess of $1 million per annum to run and is largely funded by donations and corporate support. Since its inception in 2010, the Swans Academy has engaged around 1000 young athletes in Sydney and its surrounds to an elite training environment.

The Academy system was introduced by the AFL to address the paucity of players being drafted from New South Wales and Queensland.

In the past 10 years only 17 New South Wales-based players have been selected in the National Draft. Of these, seven were compulsory zone selections for the GWS Giants.

Only six AFL clubs have been involved in drafting these 17 players over this 10-year period. In total these players have played 408 AFL games, at an average of 24 per player. This is, and was seen as such, a massive underdevelopment of potential talent given NSW’s population represents 32% of the total Australian population. Clearly the most talented athletes in NSW were playing other sports.

The Swans Academy has thus far produced 14 senior games from one player - Brandon Jack.

If the AFL competition becomes flooded with talent from New South Wales and Queensland, it will be the best problem we have ever had. The four northern state Academies will grow the talent pool for all Clubs.

It is ironic that just days after bemoaning the talent in the AFL system, that McGuire would attack one of the most important initiatives in the development of football talent across Australia.

AFL star and the Block Contestant Darren Jolly has had surgery to remove a lesion from his brain, which was discovered by doctors at a Melbourne hospital just last week.

Jolly and his wife Deanne, with whom he shares two young daughters, are now awaiting test results to determine whether the lump is cancerous.

www.9news.com.au/national

AFL star and the Block Contestant Darren Jolly has had surgery to remove a lesion from his brain, which was discovered by doctors at a Melbourne hospital just last week.

Jolly and his wife Deanne, with whom he shares two young daughters, are now awaiting test results to determine whether the lump is cancerous.

www.9news.com.au/national

I can't like this one,hope for his and the families sake that it isn't cancerous.

Duck has his say on Colin Sylvia and Ross Lyon's new training regime.

AFL legend Wayne Carey lashes Fremantle Docker Colin Sylvia for being unfit

http://www.watoday.com.au/afl/afl-news/afl-legend-wayne-carey-lashes-fremantle-docker-colin-sylvia-for-being-unfit-20150207-138kqe.html

Fremantle coach Ross Lyon says Dockers determined to write their own story

http://www.watoday.com.au/afl/afl-news/fremantle-coach-ross-lyon-says-dockers-determined-to-write-their-own-story-20150207-138jrh.html

I'm with Roosy on this one.

Roosy on the father-son rule and the academy.

Melbourne coach Paul Roos says father-son plan is too complicated

http://www.watoday.com.au/afl/afl-news/melbourne-coach-paul-roos-says-fatherson-plan-is-too-complicated-20150208-138gn7.html

Edited February 9, 201511 yr by Will27

Duck has his say on Colin Sylvia and Ross Lyon's new training regime.

AFL legend Wayne Carey lashes Fremantle Docker Colin Sylvia for being unfit

http://www.watoday.com.au/afl/afl-news/afl-legend-wayne-carey-lashes-fremantle-docker-colin-sylvia-for-being-unfit-20150207-138kqe.html

Sylvia must have been thinking he was still at Melbourne

I'm with Roosy on this one.

Roosy on the father-son rule and the academy.

Melbourne coach Paul Roos says father-son plan is too complicated

http://www.watoday.com.au/afl/afl-news/melbourne-coach-paul-roos-says-fatherson-plan-is-too-complicated-20150208-138gn7.html

Is Roosey just trying to stir some sh*t up with Eddie? Not having the father and son rule under the draft system? ie; Not losing a pick?

The new system is complicated mathematically, but I'm sure they have a App or program for it to make it easy. A keystroke for a decision. (lewis Duckworth system in One day cricket)

Really, it is even fairer, because you can lose two draft picks for a highly rated player it seems.

The father / son rule is great from an emotional/historic side, but the game is fully professional now, so not a lot of room for sentimentality. If they want to play for toasted cheese sandwiches and a bag of jaffas, good luck i say.

I'm with Roosy on this one.

Roosy on the father-son rule and the academy.

Melbourne coach Paul Roos says father-son plan is too complicated

http://www.watoday.com.au/afl/afl-news/melbourne-coach-paul-roos-says-fatherson-plan-is-too-complicated-20150208-138gn7.html

Is Roosey just trying to stir some sh*t up with Eddie? Not having the father and son rule under the draft system? ie; Not losing a pick?

The new system is complicated mathematically, but I'm sure they have a App or program for it to make it easy. A keystroke for a decision. (lewis Duckworth system in One day cricket)

Really, it is even fairer, because you can lose two draft picks for a highly rated player it seems.

The father / son rule is great from an emotional/historic side, but the game is fully professional now, so not a lot of room for sentimentality. If they want to play for toasted cheese sandwiches and a bag of jaffas, good luck i say.

I would like to think there's still room for a bit of sentimentality left in the game.

Personally, I reckon if you're father-son, you're in. It's not like there is a deluge of players.

Didn't help WCE with their first/only father son recruit Jacob Brennan...delisted last year.

I would like to think there's still room for a bit of sentimentality left in the game.

Personally, I reckon if you're father-son, you're in. It's not like there is a deluge of players.

Didn't help WCE with their first/only father son recruit Jacob Brennan...delisted last year.

I hope there is a bit of sentimentality too, just that it comes at a price that is fair and equitable for all.

Does father/son also cover grandfather/grandson?

Also, new clubs are at a disadvantage until they have players who produce sons of playing age

I would like to think there's still room for a bit of sentimentality left in the game.

Personally, I reckon if you're father-son, you're in. It's not like there is a deluge of players.

Didn't help WCE with their first/only father son recruit Jacob Brennan...delisted last year.

I hope there is a bit of sentimentality too, just that it comes at a price that is fair and equitable for all.

Does father/son also cover grandfather/grandson?

Also, new clubs are at a disadvantage until they have players who produce sons of playing age

I'm pretty sure it's only son.

I thought the rule change in 1997 where you had to use a 2nd round

draft pick was a good one. I don't know what the rule change was in 2007.

Yep, it will be a while until GWS and GC have anybody eligible.

Fremantle’s players were put through one of the longest training sessions of the pre-season on Monday morning as the team inches closer to thefirst NAB Challenge game.

With temperatures hovering in the mid 30s, the group continued to shift the focus to game play.

Forward Matt Taberner said it was a tough session, but a very positive one.

“We’re getting into the more game-specific stuff,” he said.

The 21-year-old said he has been very pleased with his own pre-season so far.

“I’m feeling good, I’ve only missed the one session this pre-season,” Taberner said.

“I’ve managed to put on a couple of kilograms, but I’ve still maintained my running, which is good.”

Fellow key forward prospect Michael Apeness took some big grabs during Monday’s session.

Taberner said his teammate was impressive.

“He’s into his second year now and he’s playing that strong key forward position,” he said.

“He managed to take a lot of clunks out there, which is good to see.

“He’s ready for a good year, I think.”

Connor Blakely seems to be transitioning well into game-style play, receiving a lot of the ball through the middle of the ground.

Duck has his say on Colin Sylvia and Ross Lyon's new training regime.

AFL legend Wayne Carey lashes Fremantle Docker Colin Sylvia for being unfit

http://www.watoday.com.au/afl/afl-news/afl-legend-wayne-carey-lashes-fremantle-docker-colin-sylvia-for-being-unfit-20150207-138kqe.html

Sylvia must have been thinking he was still at Melbourne

Go col, 29 and still a big kid, did we say we wanted to keep him?

I see the guy is up to his normal preseason form.

With his first AFL pre-season almost behind him, Fremantle recruit Connor Blakely says he’s now thinking more about the game than he ever has.

The club drafted the inside midfielder from Swan Districts with the knowledge he was strong at the contested ball.

But Blakely said it was between his ears that he felt he’d made the most improvement in since joining Freo.

“You think about your footy a lot more,” he said.

“It’s pretty full on with all the meetings, so my knowledge of the game is really picking up.

“It’s a lot more than you’re used to. A few years ago, you didn’t have to think too much, you just went out and played.”

Working with superstar midfielders such as David Mundy and Nat Fyfe has also been of great benefit to Blakely.

He said all the experienced Freo midfielders were always thinking their way through the game, not just playing it.

“The way that they cover the ground, they are always running into the right positions, especially at stoppages,” Blakely said.

“They’re really quick in tight places and they generate a lot of speed in the contest, which helps them be very good clearance players.

“That’s something that you pick up from them, they’re always on the move and trying to get to the next contest.

“It’s pretty eye-opening.”

While he’s improved his football bank of knowledge, Blakely said he’d also enhanced physically since arriving at Freo.

“With all the gym work that we do I’m starting to feel a lot stronger on my legs and upper body,” he said.

“That’s helping with not only my running technique, but it helps with covering the ground a lot better and also recovering better.

“My body is holding up really well because of the resources that we have.”

What are you guys doing for the next 6 weeks? Essendon may be looking for 15 to 20 top up players, we could all get a run.

What are you guys doing for the next 6 weeks? Essendon may be looking for 15 to 20 top up players, we could all get a run.

And could probably still beat the saints!

What are you guys doing for the next 6 weeks? Essendon may be looking for 15 to 20 top up players, we could all get a run.

And could probably still beat the saints!

What are you guys doing for the next 6 weeks? Essendon may be looking for 15 to 20 top up players, we could all get a run.

And could probably still beat the saints!

saints for the big one this year.

Gee

CarnegieJoe has gone quite.

I hope we didn't scare him off.

Gee

CarnegieJoe has gone quite.

I hope we didn't scare him off.

I feel sure he will be back

What are you guys doing for the next 6 weeks? Essendon may be looking for 15 to 20 top up players, we could all get a run.

I nominate you as Captain chooka.

Hi Guys

A bit off topic but just wondering if the AFL will be on any TV packages for this season, True, Aus+, CTH etc etc? Any help on the matter would be appreciated and thanks in advance.

Cheer Cheer & Go BLOODS!!!

Hi Guys

A bit off topic but just wondering if the AFL will be on any TV packages for this season, True, Aus+, CTH etc etc? Any help on the matter would be appreciated and thanks in advance.

Cheer Cheer & Go BLOODS!!!

True should be carrying it via the Australia Plus channel or whatever the new reincarnation of the Australia channel was previously..

Thanks GrantSmith lets hope so

watchafl

Hi Guys
A bit off topic but just wondering if the AFL will be on any TV packages for this season, True, Aus+, CTH etc etc? Any help on the matter would be appreciated and thanks in advance.

Cheer Cheer & Go BLOODS!!!

Welcome Bloods05

Not another bloody Sydney supporter

I'm pretty sure Australia Plus channel that GrantSmith is talking about is only availabe via

cable on True Visions. Anyway, they used to show 4 to 5 games per week.

A regular (another Syd supporter) on here BookMan, usually posts s free streaming channel

or 2.

If you have decent internet, you might want to try watchafl

http://watchafl.afl.com.au/

Subscrition is about $160 for the season.

At the moment, they have a free NAB Cup pass.

I'm just about to give them a crack myself.

Will be interesting to see how the new MRP goes after last years overhaul.

https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/afl/a/26279184/afl-name-new-mrp-members/

watchafl

Hi Guys

A bit off topic but just wondering if the AFL will be on any TV packages for this season, True, Aus+, CTH etc etc? Any help on the matter would be appreciated and thanks in advance.

Cheer Cheer & Go BLOODS!!!

A regular (another Syd supporter) on here BookMan, usually posts s free streaming channel

or 2.

Welcome aboard Bloods05. Here are some sites u can get games on if u have okay internet

http://livetv.sx/en/allupcomingsports/52/

http://www.firstrows.eu/

http://www.getyourfixtures.com/all/liveevents/now/anySport

Retired Collingwood premiership player Luke Ball has stepped down as AFL Players' Association president, with Fremantle captain Matthew Pavlich and Geelong veteran Jimmy Bartel among the leading contenders to succeed him.

Despite his retirement at the end of last season, Ball had been expected to continue as president, as the players prepared to embark on upcoming talks for the next collective bargaining agreement.

AFLPA chief executive Paul Marsh told News Ltd that Ball's decision had not come as a complete surprise.

The AFLPA board will meet on March 17 to elect a new president with Pavlich, Bartel and fellow board members Drew Petrie (North Melbourne) Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide), Ted Richards (Sydney Swans) and Will Minson (Western Bulldogs) all possible candidates for the top job.

Haha Will27

I'm actually an old South Melbourne boy if it helps.

Thanks boys for the warm welcome.

Will27 I had the AFL International package a few years ago when it was much cheaper, it was great as long as you have good internet which unfortunately for me at the moment my internet is all over the place.

I prefer to watch with a couple of mates and have a few quiet ones in a bar, which can be difficult to find in Ao nang, Krabi.

Anyway all the best and let's hope for another cracking season.

Cheer Cheer!