Photos from first round of Under 16s

Authored by: footyjules on Wednesday, July 21 2010 @ 05:42 PM EST

I think this was a great opportunity for some young players worldwide. I also think the AFL is moving into the right direction BUT.... In some way I think it was a waste of time and money. If you look at the players from the world team... do they look like footballers..? If you look at the scores did they play like proper footballers...? I don't think it was the best players! I also think this is not charity work or a holiday!!

Get the best possible players from the different countries, keep it transparent but get the best.

But movement in the right direction.

Regards,

Julian

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Authored by: Brett on Wednesday, July 21 2010 @ 07:35 PM EST

When you say they do not look like footballers I assume you mean they don't look like elite footballers? If it's because some are not as slim or muscular as you'd expect, well that reflects the reality of international footy, outside of the Pacific we are not yet at the point where there is such huge numbers at junior level that elite beep test times can be a prerequisite for selection.

The results were quite respectable. You could argue why are any of the Div 2 sides allowed in the Under 16s - all of them would get well beaten if they were in Div 1. It's a matter of providing pathways for the best players in various regions and helping those regions improve.

As I've said before, this is really just the start of something not the end result.

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

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Authored by: Chris Adams on Wednesday, July 21 2010 @ 11:57 PM EST

It depends on what you think the goal of such a program should be. If you think it is strictly about AFL recruitment, then yes, it is a waste of many as many of the international players will never play in the AFL (although that statement is probably applies to many playing in division II).

If on the other hand this is about footy development, then there is a huge value to this minimal investment by the AFL. Biggest it lights up the "pathway" for potential international players and recruits. Local junior football programs like the one I run in Washington DC can point to the Americans playing for the World Team and say to the kids and parents: "Look at what footy can do. Sure you can't get a college scholarship playing footy, but you can get elite level coaching in Australia!"


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Carna Revos!

www.usfootynews.com

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Authored by: footyjules on Thursday, July 22 2010 @ 05:22 AM EST

It is for sure a great start for things to come! Wish I was 15 or 16 years old. I know for a fact that the best South African players where not picket. 3 of the players are from Gauteng where football is the least popular! None players from the North West where football is most popular. None players from KZN.

My concern on the players not looking like footballers... How do you want to perform if you have 6 over weight players in your team?

I agree that it is a big step, but surely you can pick fit players from a International range.

What do you think about a under 18 International Cup?? I think it can improve junior level footballers??

Julian

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Authored by: Brett on Thursday, July 22 2010 @ 10:17 AM EST

Sounds like you know a bit more about the South Africa players than me, so I'm not sure what the situation there was from province to province. But overall I had expected more players from South Africa because of the big junior program there. Presumably the AFL wanted the World team to have a good mix from many countries. As Chris said, we have to give these guys opportunities and pathways they can believe in, and South Africa has had far more exposure and programs than any of the northern hemisphere countries, so I guess it's all a balance. If AFL South Africa and AFL PNG continue their great growth maybe we'll see standalone sides from them in Div 2 one day.


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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

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Authored by: Michael on Friday, July 23 2010 @ 12:20 PM EST

I guess the level of AFL and Fed Govt funding needs to be questioned. Fair enough - - this is the first go at it.

Ideally, you'd like to think this became in some part Fed Govt funded....because, if there's one thing that generates a bit of feel good 'local' news across what now is many countries are stories about young 16 yr old kiddo heading to Australia to play this funny game.

re the level of talent - - you'd like to think the AFL could ensure funding/support to allow that the best of the best can make it and that local leagues aren't trying to run their own programs and also funding kids coming over here (every year??).

re recruitment potential.....well, how many kids do you need to find a star??? How many small country towns, I think of a place like Heyfield, may have less than 100-200 juniors running around at any given time, but has produced a whole bunch of players in recent years including Leigh Brown, Wojcinski, , Mark Stevens, Ferguson and Adrian Cox.......so, what's to say a 100 juniors at any time in Denmark or Canada might not have a worthwile potential (at least as a starting point).

At least now - - should another Nick Evans come along, then, at that earlier age, he'd have an opportunity in what might be his 2nd or 3rd sport to get a real taste for it at a higher level.

And for now, as reported re the Danish Vikings, they welcome back Mathias Biron and what he's learned, and will not the knowledge and enthusiasm be fed back into the DAFL. This will be repeated around the globe.

That's a good thing. Biron my graduate to a future Vikings captain??, and DAFL coach?? and the pay off may be in 5 years time?? or 25 years time??

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Authored by: Aaron on Friday, July 23 2010 @ 04:35 PM EST

That's an important part of it re: Mathias Biron. Those who play at the Under 16s tournament could become key movers in their home leavue over the following 15 years. Wait and see if anything lasting will now start up in Argentina?

Even just playing regular suburban or bush club footy in Australia can give them a boost in enthusiasm and experience that they can take back home.

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