The Under 18 Darling Downs Crows have announced their withdrawal from the U18 SEQAFL competition due to insufficient player and volunteer support.
The team was formed in 1999 to provide local players a pathway to QAFL (now NEAFL) and AFL through the higher level Brisbane competition.
With the growth of AFL since this period, the footballing pathway has shifted, with a greater focus on early identification and development to best prepare players for potential drafting by AFL clubs.
After an undefeated 2012 season, many Crows players have chosen to leave the Crows and pursue the option of playing higher level football, rather than repeating a season in the at-times unchallenging Division 2.
Without a Division 1 senior side the players have two options, to try their luck at a NEAFL Under 18 club or to play local A Grade football, both of which provide a higher level of football than Under 18 Division 2 competition.
The Crows program has been run in the past largely by AFL Queensland staff under the guise of a ‘talent program’. With AFL Queensland’s new directive to place a greater focus on club football, it has left the Under 18 Crows short of volunteer support.
Without a core group of players and a lack of volunteer support, the Under 18 Division 2 Darling Downs Crows made the difficult decision to withdraw from the competition.
The decision came off the back of a full review of the program at the end of 2012 that determined that unless the Crows were playing in the U18 NEAFL competition, they were no longer providing a legitimate avenue for players looking to be drafted to the AFL.
With this in mind, a new pathway has been developed that will see Darling Downs players participating in the Crows program from Under 12s through to Under 16s.
Players moving into Under 18 competition who wish to pursue AFL careers will be transitioned into the NEAFL system, allowing them to be spotted by talent scouts and club senior coaching staff.
Players not wishing to pursue higher level football will link back into their local AFL Darling Downs Juniors club, either in the A Grade or newly reformed Reserves competitions.
When asked about the future for players leaving the Crows, as well as those coming through as juniors on the Darling Downs, AFLQ Regional Manager Keith Webb highlighted a few exciting opportunities.
“We’re looking to create a formal partnership with a NEAFL club to get some of our talented youngsters looked at early on, so they can have a couple of ‘trial’ games with a NEAFL side.”
“We’re also looking to provide travel subsidies and other support for players wishing to play at a NEAFL Under 18 club.”
As for the future of Under 18 football on the Darling Downs,
“Who knows what the future holds, maybe in five to ten years we could have an Under 18 and a senior side playing in the Brisbane Division 1 competition” said Webb.
Last Modified on 08/04/2013 16:40
