As the working party established to facilitate the review into junior to senior transition in the region continues its discussions, AFL South East will in the coming weeks hold club consultation meetings. These meetings will be designed to share some of the data and analysis that has been assessed by the working party and provide clubs the opportunity to share their experiences, thoughts and initiatives.
The challenge of keeping players in the game through the age range of 16-20 is not a new phenomenon and one that requires constant review, assessment and proactivity. It is accepted that the jump from junior football to a senior club environment and also the jump from underage grades to open aged football are some of the most confronting aspects of a player’s football journey. These aspects also arrive at a time of dramatic change and in a young person’s life as major decisions on their future are made.
At this stage of the review, retention data from the MPJFL, FDJFL, Nepean and Peninsula FNL’s has highlighted an alarming and ultimately unsustainable retention rate. In the MPJFL, 40% of players are walking away from the game all together once they have completed U16s. Assessment of these players shows invariably they have been long term participants with many competing in well over 100 games.
In the Nepean FNL, 43% of players completing their time in the U18s are walking away from the game and not registering for senior football. The combination of these two figures amounts to 180 footballers between the age of 17 to 19 walking away from the game – and that’s just from the MPJFL / Nepean area.
The Frankston area paints a very similar picture. 36% of players completing U16 football in the FDJFL have not registered to play anywhere in 2014; the average across all Victorian Country leagues is 24%.
Alarmingly however, 55% of those no longer eligible for U18s in the Peninsula FNL have not registered to play in 2014. Therefore, only 45% of players finishing U18s are moving into the senior grades (Reserves and Seniors).
Once again, the combination of those lost to the game at these two critical points amount to 157 and if we combine the Mornington Peninsula and the Frankston regions, that’s a massive 337 players between the ages of 17 to 19 no longer participating. As a region, we simply cannot continue to lose these numbers.
What can be done? Well, that’s what the Review and the working party continue to work through. Players who have not registered in 2014 are currently being surveyed and the results from that will no doubt shed some light on those decisions. Structural discussions will also take place in the coming weeks and the club consultation meetings (details released shortly) will provide another opportunity to discuss this in more detail.
It is hoped that recommendations around the way forward be released by August. However, being such a critical issue, the Review Panel will maintain a priority on due diligence over expediting a decision.
Last Modified on 16/06/2014 13:50