Interesting timeshifting going on at SJRU web site.
Pretty sure that earlier today the 41 nominated U17 trialists were required for a game on Friday night at 6:30 pm. I now see that this has moved to Sunday night at 6 30 pm.
This imposes an interesting workload on the selected boys. Most are playing either Colts or junior club games this weekend. Some have School games, and a couple have School representative games.
Those playing SJRU Opens A have games on Sunday 16 June starting as late as 3:40 pm at Porter Reserve. They are then expected to high tail it across town to Dural by 6:30 pm to play a trial match for selection for the Sydney Team.
Any boys in CHS I or II , ISA I or II or CCC will also be having a NSW Schools Trial Match at Pittwater Park on Sunday Afternoon.
I suppose it is necessary for the Selectors to see the boys again on Sunday just to make sure that the 2 boys from Southern Districts that didn't play in the State Champs "get a fair go". It is not their fault that another district couldn't find a slot for them. They can't be very active facebook users because one facebook based squad was apparently short of players and could have done with a couple of extra bench players.
The selectors must not have seen enough of the boys in the U17's over the 4 games the boys played on the weekend (and an extra 70 minute game on Monday for the Manly boys)?
I am fairly sure that any boys in the ISA, CHS, or CCC selections will be at Pittwater park and will be tendering their excuses for yet another trial game.
Is this yet another example of the inefficiency of U16 and U17 footy with its dual pathways. The kids have already performed for CCC/ISA/CHS/CAS selectors, reperformed for SJRU selectors in 4 games over the long weekend, and yet they are still expected to submit themselves for more trials. For what purpose and in who's benefit is this? An administrators ego or the best interests of a child?
Where is the common sense? I reckon there are a fair few parents asking WTF right about now.
I note with some amusement that
10to12 has posted "to the victor goes the spoils" on another thread about the seemingly disproportionate number of Illawarra U17 lads in the Country U17 team, particularly when they only won the Final by 3 points over Central Coast.
Manly win the State Championships and as a reward [@10to12 "victory spoils"] (neglecting the theft of phones and cash from the change sheds) they are rewarded with 10 boys nominated to trial for slots in the City team.
Eastwood who were comfortably beaten by the Central Coast team, who were beaten Manly twice, and also comfortably beaten by Penrith are rewarded for their efforts over the weekend with 11 boys named in the trial for the final squad. Is this a reward for convincingly beating the Illawarra team that was severely understrength with only two on the bench and looked nothing like the NSW Country Championship winning team?
Penrith who beat Eastwood by 10 points are rewarded with four players being deemed suitably talented enough to try out for a slot to represent City.
West Harbour who managed to win only one game agains the last place getter, and win another game on forfeit are rewarded with 7 boys in the final trial squad.
The Rats have 6 nominations for trial despite the wheels falling off their title tilt suring Sundays games.
Seems we do things differently in the City to divide up the spoils of victory.
I am looking forward to the release of the U16 selections. Stay tuned for another Rant.
