U18 decision a joke
I AM astounded by the TDRL’s decision with the 2017 draw to have under 18 teams playing at different venues from the rest of their club.
I do not see how this can benefit any club.
These are the young players of the future for all clubs and they certainly want to be a part of their club and play in front of their home crowd.
They don’t want to be playing at a different town away from the rest of their club. Apart from this, clubs already have a lack of volunteers and clubs are finding it harder each year. By separating teams, this puts more pressure on clubs through volunteers as well as costs.
Most clubs don’t have the luxury of having more than one first aid officer, strapper etc. By separating the under 18s, clubs have to find another first aid officer and strapper, if at all that is possible.
At a time when all clubs are struggling with player numbers and volunteers, it beggars belief that the TDRL Committee would come up with this.
Trying to keep young play- ers motivated and interested in supporting their club each season is not like it used to be and having them play elsewhere just makes it even harder for clubs.
Most clubs also need to use some of their under 18 players as feeder players for their Agrade team so by having them play at a different venue, makes this impossible as well as the fact that under 18 players don’t get the opportunity to get a taste of playing A- grade and adds pressure to the A- grade and even reserve grade teams if they are struggling for num- bers. This is detrimental to clubs, particularly the out- oftown clubs who are struggling to increase their home crowds with their U18 teams playing away.
The U18 teams usually attract more support as their families, grandparents etc. love to come and watch. Financially this will have a major impact on clubs.
Charters Towers has two home games less than other clubs, so it is going to be detrimental and makes it difficult when this is your only means of income and with only two games being played. I cannot believe TDRL has done this and as it doesn’t benefit any clubs from a club, player, volunteer or finance point of view.
It is just putting another nail in the coffin of the TDRL competition. If the TDRL executive don’t take a hard look at the format of this competition, you can kiss it goodbye because grassroots footy is hanging by a thread. KATE HASTIE, Burdekinview, Charters Towers.