VRU 2013

[KevinO]

Any word on more ambitious players or coaches leaving?

Really, Boroondara have been playing beyond their means in Prems. The only solution is to find a way to extend their 'means' and go from there.

It's pretty inevitable they'll get another crack at Prems it's just a question of going into it better resourced.

Too early for that, but I'd say there is a few who would move on. I'm sure the guys who train with the Rebels Rising and any Victorian squad members will want to play at the highest level.

 

[elementfreak]

Too early for that, but I'd say there is a few who would move on. I'm sure the guys who train with the Rebels Rising and any Victorian squad members will want to play at the highest level.

There are a fair few players in that 1st XV for Boroondara who are too good to be playing in the 2nd division IMO, keep hold of them is going to be the tough thing. Especially with Melbourne RUFC not actually too far down the road.

 

[swingpass]

so if the (VRU's) idea was to move the better players to fewer clubs and therefore increase the strength and depth at the top, at the expense of the rest, then its going to work

 

[en_force_er]

There are a fair few players in that 1st XV for Boroondara who are too good to be playing in the 2nd division IMO, keep hold of them is going to be the tough thing. Especially with Melbourne RUFC not actually too far down the road.

Melbourne regularly runs a 2nd string 1XV against Boroondara and they still clock up cricket scores. I'd be surprised if there's more than 1 or 2 players that Melbourne would want. Plus, other clubs generally dislike Melbourne above all others.

so if the (VRU's) idea was to move the better players to fewer clubs and therefore increase the strength and depth at the top, at the expense of the rest, then its going to work

It's more than that, the idea is having sustainable strength and depth at the top I think. Prems need to have clubs that can be relied on to be competitive 4 years out of 5.

For example, Uni were just awful on the field this year (no offence) but they have more money, resources, and connections than Boroondara could dream of and WILL I'd bank that they will be competitive next year. However, I would like to see them field some semblance of juniors, it's easy for them to rationalise it away by saying they're a Uni but the reality is most Uni clubs have them.

 

[en_force_er]

On another note, does anyone think Eltham/Norths could field a combined Prems set-up? They are geographically closeish and they could play a combined side in Prems 1, Eltham could play Prems 2 and 4 and Norths play Prems 3.

 

[swingpass]

Melbourne regularly runs a 2nd string 1XV against Boroondara and they still clock up cricket scores. I'd be surprised if there's more than 1 or 2 players that Melbourne would want. Plus, other clubs generally dislike Melbourne above all others.


It's more than that, the idea is having sustainable strength and depth at the top I think. Prems need to have clubs that can be relied on to be competitive 4 years out of 5.

For example, Uni were just awful on the field this year (no offence) but they have more money, resources, and connections than Boroondara could dream of and WILL I'd bank that they will be competitive next year. However, I would like to see them field some semblance of juniors, it's easy for them to rationalise it away by saying they're a Uni but the reality is most Uni clubs have them.

no offence taken
the 1st XV were very very ordinary for the most part, despite having some strength in the lower grades and strong colts for the past few years. i think they have a massive turnover of players year to year. still one can hope next year is more competitive

 

[en_force_er]

no offence taken
the 1st XV were very very ordinary for the most part, despite having some strength in the lower grades and strong colts for the past few years. i think they have a massive turnover of players year to year. still one can hope next year is more competitive

I think they struggle with Colts retention because they tend to offer 4 or 5 Kew privet school kids a 'scholarship' package (though it's nothing more than Uni book money really) and they bring 4 or 5 mates and before you know it the whole program is build around them. This is in stark comparison to the senior side of the club which is largely guys who live in the Western suburbs (far away from the Kew bubble).

They don't really get to know the senior portion of the club for whatever reason and once they reach seniors they leave for other clubs or don't play rugby at all when they finish Colts.

 

[kronic]

Junior Laloifi selected for the Thunderbolts with the Dubai 7s.

 

[en_force_er]

Junior Laloifi selected for the Thunderbolts with the Dubai 7s.

Who's that?

 

[kronic]

Who's that?

Played for the VIC Schoolboys this year from what I gather. Hails from Northern.

2 VICs in the Thunderbolts squad is pretty impressive.

 

[en_force_er]

Played for the VIC Schoolboys this year from what I gather. Hails from Northern.

2 VICs in the Thunderbolts squad is pretty impressive.

What position did he play? I know there's a very good hooker from Norths but I'd hope he'd be packing on pounds not delaying his future with 7s.

 

[pablo]

What position did he play? I know there's a very good hooker from Norths but I'd hope he'd be packing on pounds not delaying his future with 7s.

Outside backs, wing/fullback. Uni tried to sign him but he's lined up with Sunnybank in QLD. Unless he plays rebels I doubt he'll play in Melbourne again. Kid is class.

 

[pablo]

On the comp - should be 8 teams, more concentrated with the better players playing premier rugby. If the rebels are going to put their players in the local comp as the brumbies have then they don't want to be wasting their time against sub standard teams/players.

IMO - The VRU erred in only dropping 1 team and boroondara were unlucky in that matter. They need to rebuild, box hill need to lift and uni need to perform a lot better or else the masses will keep calling for their heads. Footscray and end hills have firmed their case by building the game and growing in numbers, perfect example if what the VRU want. The other 5 teams seem safe but you never know in this state.

 

[en_force_er]

On the comp - should be 8 teams, more concentrated with the better players playing premier rugby. If the rebels are going to put their players in the local comp as the brumbies have then they don't want to be wasting their time against sub standard teams/players.

IMO - The VRU erred in only dropping 1 team and boroondara were unlucky in that matter. They need to rebuild, box hill need to lift and uni need to perform a lot better or else the masses will keep calling for their heads. Footscray and end hills have firmed their case by building the game and growing in numbers, perfect example if what the VRU want. The other 5 teams seem safe but you never know in this state.

I agree it needs to be an 8 team comp for now. There should be a deal drawn up between the VRU and Rebels of conditions that have to be met for the Rebels to play exclusively in Victoria instead of them just saying, we'll do it when the league quality is better. The league having 8 teams should be part of the conditions, for now.

In my mind there are 4 clubs in that should be in the firing line to bring the league down to 8 clubs:

Box Hill-
Whilst they are listed as next cab off in the demotion trail I think the VRU need to look at Box Hill and say, we can't have this club is the relegation line! Namely because they have solid junior and seniors numbers but are 2nd on the relegation tally because their results aren't great. We NEED to sink resources into helping them be better. Box Hill simply can't be relegated, they are a complete club and there's nothing more annoying then seeing a complete club (every grade bar Colts) potentially go down.

University-
A big powerful club that fails to tick two boxes, results and juniors. Results you can handle but the reality is, and I've said this before and I'll say it again, Uni need juniors! The Uni clubs in Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth, and Canberra all either have junior teams or have a junior club that's linked to them in a way that they may as well be their juniors (Norths have their own seniors again so they don't count). Uni need to start contributing by searching high and low for juniors and adding numbers to our stocks, even if they all quit at U16s because of schools rugby.

Footscray-
Sadly can't get their act together in juniors. Hopefully they will because success is one thing but sustainable success is another. I've heard they point to a massive player turnover in juniors and that they can't help it but if Wydnam/Powerhouse are successful in a reasonably similar area demographics-wise then SURELY Footscray can. Find those players!

Endeavour-
It's just a case of them getting senior results that match their junior ones. I think they can do it but it remains to be seen. They should sit down for a long chat with Moorabin and take plenty of notes.

 

[en_force_er]

Outside backs, wing/fullback. Uni tried to sign him but he's lined up with Sunnybank in QLD. Unless he plays rebels I doubt he'll play in Melbourne again. Kid is class.

Do Sunnybank do right by their players? I hear they have cash but the kid no doubt needs a good development system, not money (yet).

 

[Mike Larry]

Who's that?

Junior laloifi was playing for digby ioane's family team that won this yrs fiji 7s tournament at boxhill. Digby heard alot about this kid and came down from brissy to watch him. Cut the story short, digby invited junior to sunnybank and the rest is history. Melbourne have talent and with the right people around, anything's possible

 

[elementfreak]

I agree it needs to be an 8 team comp for now. There should be a deal drawn up between the VRU and Rebels of conditions that have to be met for the Rebels to play exclusively in Victoria instead of them just saying, we'll do it when the league quality is better. The league having 8 teams should be part of the conditions, for now.

In my mind there are 4 clubs in that should be in the firing line to bring the league down to 8 clubs:

Box Hill-
Whilst they are listed as next cab off in the demotion trail I think the VRU need to look at Box Hill and say, we can't have this club is the relegation line! Namely because they have solid junior and seniors numbers but are 2nd on the relegation tally because their results aren't great. We NEED to sink resources into helping them be better. Box Hill simply can't be relegated, they are a complete club and there's nothing more annoying then seeing a complete club (every grade bar Colts) potentially go down.

University-
A big powerful club that fails to tick two boxes, results and juniors. Results you can handle but the reality is, and I've said this before and I'll say it again, Uni need juniors! The Uni clubs in Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth, and Canberra all either have junior teams or have a junior club that's linked to them in a way that they may as well be their juniors (Norths have their own seniors again so they don't count). Uni need to start contributing by searching high and low for juniors and adding numbers to our stocks, even if they all quit at U16s because of schools rugby.

Footscray-
Sadly can't get their act together in juniors. Hopefully they will because success is one thing but sustainable success is another. I've heard they point to a massive player turnover in juniors and that they can't help it but if Wydnam/Powerhouse are successful in a reasonably similar area demographics-wise then SURELY Footscray can. Find those players!

Endeavour-
It's just a case of them getting senior results that match their junior ones. I think they can do it but it remains to be seen. They should sit down for a long chat with Moorabin and take plenty of notes.

Footscray push Moorabbin to within a point in the semi finals, they also pushed Melbourne close throughout the season. Putting them down to the 2nd division would be a sill move. Sure their juniors aren't great, but then again give them time and they will be able to get that part of the club better as well.

Uni were usually up the pointy end (4th-6th) up until 2 years ago, then they have fallen away. They deserve the chance to stay up, especially since they won the colts comp this year and about half of their colts will make the step up this year.

 

[kronic]

That Footscray/Moorabbin game was brilliant. Best arvo spent watching club rugby.

 

[pablo]

Junior laloifi was playing for digby ioane's family team that won this yrs fiji 7s tournament at boxhill. Digby heard alot about this kid and came down from brissy to watch him. Cut the story short, digby invited junior to sunnybank and the rest is history. Melbourne have talent and with the right people around, anything's possible

Good! As at one stage he was off to Uni more than likely to play colts....

 

[FiveStarStu]

I agree it needs to be an 8 team comp for now. There should be a deal drawn up between the VRU and Rebels of conditions that have to be met for the Rebels to play exclusively in Victoria instead of them just saying, we'll do it when the league quality is better. The league having 8 teams should be part of the conditions, for now.

In my mind there are 4 clubs in that should be in the firing line to bring the league down to 8 clubs:

Box Hill-

University-

Footscray-

Endeavour-

Endeavour will be next to go. I'm surprised they weren't relegated with, or even instead of Boroondara. They have done well to grow their club, but results and resources wise, it's very hard to argue for them being a Premier club.

University are at real risk if they can't get a junior club together. If they need to start a Parkville or North Melbourne RFC then so be it, it should be relatively well served by a growing inner north. If they can't do that then their situation should be treated no differently to Monash.

Box Hill, and to a lesser extent Footscray, are well-resourced clubs that could stick it out until their situations improve.[/quote]