Saints call for end to NSW, Qld Academies as part of draft overhaul

[hujsh]

Anyway, if only there were some way to increase the talent levels in the game as we add more teams. Oh well guess there isn't.

[mjp]

After getting the letter telling me I was cut, I was invited to attend a meeting with Ackerly and David Dixon. They told me I had everything they needed to see, except my skinfolds upon returning after Christmas were too high (at this point it's March, and while not Stuart Anderson fit I'm fit enough - they actually benchmarked teenagers at 55-60).

OK. Thanks for sharing the story.

My only comment comes back to the 'reason' you were cut. I have a couple of things to say:

#1: It's a terrible reason that you've been given and really does speak to the differences between footy 25-30 years ago (to be fair, even 15-20 years ago) and tody.
#2: I 100% doubt it's the reason you were released.

Having sat on the coach side of this conversation literally 100's of times I can tell you that even in the most talented squads, you have 8-12 players who are 'automatic' selections (like your childhood friend who you refer to).

You also have 10-12 who are pretty easy 'cuts' - be it skill ex, physical performances (2km time trial, beep test, yo-yo) or even easier stuff like training attendance etc - they're easy.

In the middle of that you need to establish a squad of around 38-42 players...and that's what you need from week to week. So if you have 20 involved in school footy, well, you need a squad of 60. If you have 5 involved in school footy, you need a squad of 45. I hope that makes sense? You want a mix of top-age (turning 18) and bottom age (turning 17) year old players...you prioritise selection of the 18 year olds as it is their final opportunity and the 17 year olds will get another chance...injured players you generally try to carry as they are hard to assess (and, to be blunt - $500 is $500 and that is the cost of most of these programes - at least it is in Melbourne and Perth).

The problem is - that middle group of players is much the same - on some days, player 'a' looks better, on others, player 'b' looks better. You generally line them up into positions:
3x ruckman
5x key backs
7x Running backs
2x small backs
5x key forwards...
- you get the idea.

That way you can field a side every week and get players doing line craft etc. It's harder than it sounds as 80% of the players who lob in talent programs are inside mids (and you don't need many of those) and key forwards - again...you don't need many of those.

So what you really need to get selected at the end of the day is to establish strong relationships with the coaches - you almost certainly need someone advocating for your selection on the 'inside'...this is why for so many kids if you play in the 14's, you play in the 15's. And if you play in the 15's, you play in the 16's. And if you play WELL in the 16's you are fast tracked into the 18's....I mean, all this sounds obvious but don't neglect the point that a lot of young players who are good juniors play their best footy aged 16...those 'coming' as 16 year olds...well, they have some big obstacles to overcome.

When you're doing cuts, a lot of time there really is 'no' reason except:
"Honestly - you've been fine. Somedays you've been good - others not so good. But what we've decided to do is select player 'X' instead of you because we just have a bit more faith in him...."

If you don't believe me, watch team selection for the elite pathway teams. There will be 6-8 players in each squad who play in the first 2-3 rounds and are never seen again - replaced by bottom age players or even players called back in from community footy...separating players when there are no meaningful games to assess them with AND when they are all on different development timelines...it's bloody hard..

In short - they should never have commented about skinfolds. What they SHOULD have done is told you what you were doing well and what your 'BEST' skills were. And given you 1-2 simple skill activities to improve the game based deficiencies that they had identified....I would be shocked if that is not what is happening now.

I've seen and heard (and probably done) some stuff that isn't great - telling a kid he's out because of skinfolds? That's appalling.

[mjp]

All that aside:

If you have a kid coming through, here's my advice:

#1 - Tell them not to 'get on a list'. Run a solid 2km time-trial - you don't have to win, but if 7:30 is the standard, be sure to beat that standard. Don't miss training sessions, get your weights done and logged etc. There will be tonnes of emails and messages from apps etc - make sure you read them and know what is going on.
#2 - TALK to the coaches. Ask for HELP before training, not feedback afterwards. Don't be the kid whose name they don't know. Like I said - 30-40 of them are probably all at a similar level...
#3 - Don't waste the pre-training time. Do REAL practice - ground balls, contested marking - and try to get the coaches involved in assisting. Don't just kick the ball mindlessly back and forth like everyone else.
#4 - Be incredibly flexible when it comes to what positions you play...but be clear. If you are mid, be a mid who 'loves playing at half back'. Or a mid who 'gets time forward because my (insert name of club coach) says I kick goals when I'm down there.
#5 - LISTEN. Don't be the one who has to be repeatedly told the same thing....but if you DON'T UNDERSTAND...ASK.
#6 - Be a team player - know the names of the trainers and ask how they are when you arrive, help pick up the footies - do all of that stuff. When it comes to the 'middle' of the squad, no-one wants to pick a player who is a pain in the arse, rude to the staff etc.
#7 - As a parent - SHUT UP. Say hello to the regional manager/coach...get to know the line coaches and S&C dude by name...but don't talk about your kid. You might say something like: "Man I felt for you guys out there the other night - it must have been 35-degrees!" but you don't say "Wow we couldn't kick any goals on the weekend - have you thought about playing little johnny up forward"...

[jeemak]

Great posts MJP. Agree with your points.

[Bornadog]

Great advice MJP

[jazzadogs]

#6 - Be a team player - know the names of the trainers and ask how they are when you arrive, help pick up the footies - do all of that stuff. When it comes to the 'middle' of the squad, no-one wants to pick a player who is a pain in the arse, rude to the staff etc.

My stepdad was a trainer in the talent league for a long time and loved sitting with the recruiters and telling them which kids were 'good blokes'. He told them who was coasting, who did extras, who paid attention to the support staff, who was an entitled brat.

He took credit for making and breaking a few careers. I'm sure his advice wasn't that important to Kinnear Beatson, Derek Hine and co, but it would absolutely be taken into account.

I loved the post mjp, I'll bookmark it for 14 years time if my son is at the level haha.