Colts 2013

[Inside Shoulder]

this discussion does belong in the Colts thread as he is still eligible and will probably play quite a lot of games at that level.
.

So is this a strategy of the students to develop his rugby? I cant imagine theyre short of an able 10 for 1's or a 9. See he played there a bit in colts last season. Has Dan Kelly moved on?
Just noticed the 2's hooker - how's he go?
Good to see the 3rds #14 coming through - probably had some coaching by now: although couldn't find him in last seasons team lists

 

[Iluvmyfooty]

yes he will most probably will play colts especially when the semis come around

 

[Scott Grayson]

The problem with Gordon colts started with the 2011-2012 colts recruitment committee that was formed at the end of the 2011 season. If you speak to some of the colts coaches from 2012 they were told that recruitment was going extremely well in the off season only to be confronted with very low numbers at the January pre-season. Turns out no letters, phone calls etc. were made even though the committee had number for over 130 recruits. I have spoken to one of the coaches who had to try to save the situation in February 2012. He was livid that the recruitment committee had lied to him regarding progress of the off season strategy and then expected him with a large juniors network to fix it in Feb 2012.
There is also a rumour that none of the colts who played last year and were eligible to play colts this year came back to Gordon. Yet the board have appointed the same coaches for 2013 and lost one whole team in the off season. Clubs need to actively chase all players for colts not just aim for the top rep players who are being chased by all clubs, there are plenty of juniors and 2nd and 3rd XV players to chase.

OK new contributor here and not being a regular user of blogs, I hope I get the protocols right. Many of you may not know me but I have had the pleasure of coaching the lower grade colts sides at Gordon for the last few years and hope that I can add some Gordon perspective to the conversation and in particular, this topic.
Yes it's disappointing that Gordon can not field 3 colts squads in 2013 but I can assure you that the intention is to provide a suitable environment that will encourage our junior players to remain with us.
I am extremely disappointed that there are people out there spreading misinformation and hiding behind assumed names. Who are these people and what is their motivation.
Since, the FOGs intervened midway through last year and a complete change on the board, we have achieved many milestones.
* UTS scholarship
* Multitude of new sponsors
* Meeting our ARU KPI's
* High achieving specialist coaches
* Dedicated S&C coach for colts
* Assisting schools and junior clubs through clinics and attending training sessions
* Working closely with our Representative teams to ensure further development.
* Ensuring all our current incurred debts are paid ontime and sometimes in advance.
Unfortunately, the hardwork done and is being done, by the many passionate supporters was too late for this year. This was evident by , many of our juniors and our Aussie schoolboys going to other clubs.
On a non Gordon observation in my many calls to potential players it was clear that a large number are choosing Subbies and citing work and study commitments as the reason. As recently as today we lost another player as he works till 4am on a Sat morning and has lectures training nights. He told me, in subbies, he doesn't have to go to training and play every weekend, he just wants to turn up and play with his mates. It's a shame as he is a good player, with heaps of potential but rugby is 3rd place. He did finish by saying that he is a loyal Gordon player and if the situation changes he will be back.

 

[Franky]

Scott you are to be commended for your coaching over the last couple of years as anybody who volunteers their time is to be commended.
It seems to me that the success of any club is directly related to the front office and Gordon has been run into the ground for a number of years. For example updating a website and adding info is just one of many simple tasks which needs to be completed ( ie your coaching profile has been the only profile up there for 2 years) but if they are not done it reflects on the club which filters right down to recruitment which affects the on field results, then sponsorship etc etc.
Gordon will rebuild but building and maintaining a rugby club is not rocket science as it's 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration but society has changed were many people don't have the time to volunteer there time to do the 99% section, unless a club has the dollars like Uni, Norths or Manly. If the ARU doesn't take stock of the grassroots situation the only thriving competition will be the subbies, as the player pool will migrate there as most players these days only have about 6 hours a week to play and train for the game they play in heaven and that goes equally for the volunteers.

 

[Bruce Ross]

I am extremely disappointed that there are people out there spreading misinformation and hiding behind assumed names. Who are these people and what is their motivation.

Welcome aboard, Scott. The use of "assumed names" is normal internet protocol. There are only a few foolhardy souls like me - and presumably you - who are quite happy to identify themselves. "Spreading misinformation" is what floats many people's boat. Causing mischief without any consequences is a juvenile pleasure that some never grow out of.

Since, the FOGs intervened midway through last year and a complete change on the board, we have achieved many milestones.
* UTS scholarship
* Multitude of new sponsors
* Meeting our ARU KPI's
* High achieving specialist coaches
* Dedicated S&C coach for colts
* Assisting schools and junior clubs through clinics and attending training sessions
* Working closely with our Representative teams to ensure further development.
* Ensuring all our current incurred debts are paid ontime and sometimes in advance.

I'm particularly impressed by your milestones which I have highlighted. Your club is on the right track. I wouldn't bother too much with meeting your "ARU KPIs". If the ARU itself can ignore "ARU KPIs" why should clubs bother about them?

On a non Gordon observation in my many calls to potential players it was clear that a large number are choosing Subbies and citing work and study commitments as the reason. As recently as today we lost another player as he works till 4am on a Sat morning and has lectures training nights. He told me, in subbies, he doesn't have to go to training and play every weekend, he just wants to turn up and play with his mates.

If your club stays focussed this problem will gradually recede. In the right environment it has been shown that many young players are prepared to commit to training up to six times per week 11 months of the year without recompense. But establishing that environment is the work of years. (It would be appreciated if the Uni knockers would form an orderly queue and not all bellow abuse at once)

I hope you maintain your enthusiasm and commitment. Gordon is one of our great clubs.
.

 

[The Galah]

Scott you are to be commended for your coaching over the last couple of years as anybody who volunteers their time is to be commended.
It seems to me that the success of any club is directly related to the front office and Gordon has been run into the ground for a number of years. For example updating a website and adding info is just one of many simple tasks which needs to be completed ( ie your coaching profile has been the only profile up there for 2 years) but if they are not done it reflects on the club which filters right down to recruitment which affects the on field results, then sponsorship etc etc.
Gordon will rebuild but building and maintaining a rugby club is not rocket science as it's 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration but society has changed were many people don't have the time to volunteer there time to do the 99% section, unless a club has the dollars like Uni, Norths or Manly. If the ARU doesn't take stock of the grassroots situation the only thriving competition will be the subbies, as the player pool will migrate there as most players these days only have about 6 hours a week to play and train for the game they play in heaven and that goes equally for the volunteers.

Echoing Franky - with respect Scott, none of the boxes you tick is particularly remarkable and is or was not rocket science. The Clubs with the smarts were onto it , particularly Uni years ago. Norths , Manly etc have been playing catch ups but started in time . Pick directors who love their rugby but can park their self interest and bring skills vision and connections to the table and through good governance (hate corporate speak) the rest ie; sponsors who fund the programmes which attract the talent even the loyal local juniors will follow. I hope it is not too late for Gordon .

 

[The Galah]

Welcome aboard, Scott. The use of "assumed names" is normal internet protocol. There are only a few foolhardy souls like me - and presumably you - who are quite happy to identify themselves. "Spreading misinformation" is what floats many people's boat. Causing mischief without any consequences is a juvenile pleasure that some never grow out of.

I'm particularly impressed by your milestones which I have highlighted. Your club is on the right track. I wouldn't bother too much with meeting your "ARU KPIs". If the ARU itself can ignore "ARU KPIs" why should clubs bother about them?

If your club stays focussed this problem will gradually recede. In the right environment it has been shown that many young players are prepared to commit to training up to six times per week 11 months of the year without recompense. But establishing that environment is the work of years. (It would be appreciated if the Uni knockers would form an orderly queue and not all bellow abuse at once)

I hope you maintain your enthusiasm and commitment. Gordon is one of our great clubs.
.

Bruce despite my despicable anonymity and a misunderstanding we had last year I find myself in furious agreement with you . Yes Gordon are are the right track but we should not kid ourselves there will be an SS cull before season 2014. As I alluded above and you say, the right environment takes time . Who was asleep at the wheel at Gordon?

 

[no9]

Au contraire - more wallaby captains, more players in the 27-28 Tahs than any other school, first PM, 2 of the first 3 HIgh Court justices: definition of long term success!
Robert Elliott Stewart Shute - Old Grammar Boy.
Just accept that there's a politics thread where you'll see my views and where you can express yours.

While I respect that the dialougue moved off topic for a while, it happens regularly on most of the discussions available here. While IS decided that he had to speak on Mr Ross's behalf (although Bruce categorically stated to Belly that he could speak for himself) I felt no differently in lending support to Stonecutters observation.

IS
Congratulations to Grammar on their past achievers but I was referring to the situation that now has them competing at 3rd XV level. I think that is a simple example of negligence and incompetence from those who have overseen the transition. For rugby's sake and Grammars' I hope they are able to reclaim lost ground in the near future.

On a lesser note, the analogies you put forward while worthy involved the deaths of thousands of innocents which may be seen as a touch more insensitive than a remark about the muppets in Canberra.

From a football perspesctive I wish every team west of Royal Prince Alfred Hospital the best of luck for round 1.

 

[Scott Grayson]

Scott you are to be commended for your coaching over the last couple of years as anybody who volunteers their time is to be commended.
It seems to me that the success of any club is directly related to the front office and Gordon has been run into the ground for a number of years. For example updating a website and adding info is just one of many simple tasks which needs to be completed ( ie your coaching profile has been the only profile up there for 2 years) but if they are not done it reflects on the club which filters right down to recruitment which affects the on field results, then sponsorship etc etc.
Gordon will rebuild but building and maintaining a rugby club is not rocket science as it's 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration but society has changed were many people don't have the time to volunteer there time to do the 99% section, unless a club has the dollars like Uni, Norths or Manly. If the ARU doesn't take stock of the grassroots situation the only thriving competition will be the subbies, as the player pool will migrate there as most players these days only have about 6 hours a week to play and train for the game they play in heaven and that goes equally for the volunteers.

Franky, thank you for your kind words. The point that I am possibly trying to make is that if we are to maintain that we are the third tier then we must get the process right. Agree that most of us are volunteers and its difficult to assign the time to ensure the correct process is followed. Yes, Gordon will rebuild.

 

[Scott Grayson]

Welcome aboard

If your club stays focussed this problem will gradually recede. In the right environment it has been shown that many young players are prepared to commit to training up to six times per week 11 months of the year without recompense. But establishing that environment is the work of years. (It would be appreciated if the Uni knockers would form an orderly queue and not all bellow abuse at once)

I hope you maintain your enthusiasm and commitment. Gordon is one of our great clubs.
.

Bruce, thank you for the welcome.
It's important that we replicate what other clubs are doing right to ensure the best is delivered to our players. Whilst not liking our juniors migrating to Uni and Norths etc, you have to look to see what they are doing right and what we are doing wrong. In speaking with players and parents we have identified and now addressing our mistakes which hopefully will result in player retention. Again it's a large number of volunteers that are working on this, largely led by enthusiastic and talented players.
Anyway, looking forward to today.

 

[Scott Grayson]

Echoing Franky - with respect Scott, none of the boxes you tick is particularly remarkable and is or was not rocket science. The Clubs with the smarts were onto it , particularly Uni years ago. Norths , Manly etc have been playing catch ups but started in time . Pick directors who love their rugby but can park their self interest and bring skills vision and connections to the table and through good governance (hate corporate speak) the rest ie; sponsors who fund the programmes which attract the talent even the loyal local juniors will follow. I hope it is not too late for Gordon .

Thank you Galah, agree we should have done this years ago

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Bruce, thank you for the welcome.
It's important that we replicate what other clubs are doing right to ensure the best is delivered to our players. Whilst not liking our juniors migrating to Uni and Norths etc, you have to look to see what they are doing right and what we are doing wrong. In speaking with players and parents we have identified and now addressing our mistakes which hopefully will result in player retention. Again it's a large number of volunteers that are working on this, largely led by enthusiastic and talented players.
Anyway, looking forward to today.

When the Sleeping Giant that is now Uni woke up and established the programmes that they have had in place for the past decade or so, no one really took any notice at first. They other clubs just kept on doing what they had always done.

The players noticed and went towards the light. Success bred success. Uni started copping sh!t about their "unfair advantage". That "unfair advantage" was achieved on the back of the blood, sweat and tears of grass roots volunteers that every other club has. Vision and leadership may have been the point of difference.

Sydney Uni effectively raised the bar and established the benchmark, challenging the other clubs to match or better. As time has gone on, other clubs have reviewed their operations and realised that they need to lift their game if they are to compete to recruit and retain their players. Some adapted early, others not so. Gordon appears to have fallen into the latter camp. Pirates, Marlins, and Hobbits have all recently lifted their game in this regard, and are seeing good results. Two Blues went through the pain in the last two or so years, and on the back of recent hard work and leadership from Belly, they appear to have turned the corner. The Wicks (AKA The Stallions) had a cleanout at the end of last season, and have similarly implemented new strategies which should bode well for their future.

Based on what Scott Grayson is saying, Gordon appear to have realised that change is necessary, and they are putting in place the necessary steps to have a competitive colts package. Even though it may be a little too late, at least they are making the changes which should see results in the next couple of years.

We are a tribal bunch, and enjoy much schadenfruede when our tribe beats the likes of Gordon, Students, Wicks, Marlins, Hobbits, Beasts etc as the case may be. There is little enjoyment for players or supporters when the match is a one sided walkover the equivalent of the Darkness playing Iceland.

The Gay Gordons haters "hate" them because they have a history of being competitive and victories against them mean something.

Bit of a meandering post, but well done Scott and the team at Chatswood Oval, and good luck. Hang in there. The rugby community needs to "hate" the Gay Gordons, not to pity them.

 

[Dave Beat]

FINALLY, as much as we are all allowed to hate uni, instead of complaining why it's unfair - clubs are now looking at best practice.

This is what will build the Shute into the 3T that it deserves to be, and if you look at Uni and the teams hot on their heels it could develop without the help of the ARU.

 

[Quick Hands]

And I just checked the SU teams on their website. Their Colts 2nd XV has three Australian Schools representatives in it - Mitch Whiteley, Ben Lawley and Angus Pulver. Vinnie Morsello, not a national schools player but a terrific schoolboy footballer, scrapes into the 3s. Sheesh.

When I played at University, if someone came down to Colts who had carried the oranges for the team that played the warmup game for the Australian Schools side, we treated him like he was Mark Ella. Selections like this bring home how much has changed.

Not a particularly new development unfortunately, this has been occurring regularly for about 8-10 years now. I recall that one year Uni colts had the previous 3 Aust schoolboys 5/8s playing for them.

Assuming that most of these boys are undergraduate students at SU and that SU are continuing to attract elite rugby players to their academic programme, this will only continue.

 

[Bruce Ross]

it could develop without the help of the ARU.

Dave, it will have to "develop without the help of the ARU". No use waiting for a leg up from that quarter.

So much for my recent appointment by someone on these pages as chief defender of the current leadership of that august - that should probably read "april" to reflect how far off the pace they are - body.
.

 

[The Raging Potato]

Norths up in all 3 grades against Easts. Scores were (I think) 41 - 5 in 1sts, 25 - 10 in 2nds and 31 - 0 in 3rds. Norths looking very deep in quality across all 3 grades. Easts need to get control of some of their players if they are to avoid another points docking this season.

 

[The Galah]

The Souths score v Woods today - assume it is accurate - is very interesting . Saw Woods trial v Manly and although Manly too strong the Woodies had some talent . Are Souths the smokies? Would appreciate some Hobbits intel.

My hundy is still on the table re grand finalists!

 

[Tah and feathered]

Souths have been playing very all through the trials and the victory over Eastwood was expected but obviously not by so much with Eastwood being consistently strong in colts
I have been reading with interest the blah blah about how great Manly are and how they have been doing this and that and it's not like no other club has been doing the same
Souths were very physical and Eastwood just could not match the physicality of the Souths forwards and the Souths backs are very very sharp. The score was 33 nil at halftime and Souths got sloppy in ther finishing and started to play 7s rugby in pushing passes
Eastwood are a solid side but need a bit more size.
Souths have Easts next week but have 4 players out on U20 duties so the depth will be tested
Add Paul Asqith and Waldo Wessels to the team and the Hundred looks like heading south.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

1st Colts
Penrith 12 Warringah 44
Northern Suburbs 48 Eastern Suburbs 5
Southern Districts 47 Eastwood 12
Sydney University 59 Parramatta 9
Randwick 31 West Harbour 12
Manly 69 Gordon 7

2nd Colts
Penrith 5 Warringah 27
Northern Suburbs 32 Eastern Suburbs 10
Southern Districts 5 Eastwood 31
Sydney University 34 Parramatta 0
Randwick 61 West Harbour 22
Manly - Bye

3rd Colts
Warringah - Bye
Northern Suburbs 31 Eastern Suburbs 0
Southern Districts 0 Eastwood 13
Sydney University 27 Parramatta 0
Randwick 66 West Harbour 5
Manly - Bye

http://www.nswrugby.com.au/NSWRugby...d/DrawsResults/1stGradeColtsDrawsResults.aspx
Edit: & The Galah

 

[The Galah]

Souths have been playing very all through the trials and the victory over Eastwood was expected but obviously not by so much with Eastwood being consistently strong in colts
I have been reading with interest the blah blah about how great Manly are and how they have been doing this and that and it's not like no other club has been doing the same
Souths were very physical and Eastwood just could not match the physicality of the Souths forwards and the Souths backs are very very sharp. The score was 33 nil at halftime and Souths got sloppy in ther finishing and started to play 7s rugby in pushing passes
Eastwood are a solid side but need a bit more size.
Souths have Easts next week but have 4 players out on U20 duties so the depth will be tested
Add Paul Asqith and Waldo Wessels to the team and the Hundred looks like heading south.

Thanks T and F'd, interesting - as in other things Sydney we tend to forget about the Shire so I forgive your blah blah swipe at the Marlins . Anyway lets hope its someone other than Uni who ultimately has bragging rights in colts this year; the early signs are good . Souths will no doubt have home ground advantage come finals time if recent seasons are any guide......