Where's the recruitment from the Manly A grade comp?

[TheSoaringEagle2023]

As per the title, why aren't they coming through the ranks. I remember the early 90s there was a golden period where the local A-grader that came through. Even the players that were bar average were given a crack and at the very least were in reserve grade to answer the call when needed.

Hoppa Sr, Chris Ryan, Elsegood, Gartner, Beaver, Dunford, Hosking, O'Donnell, Hancock, John Jones,etc

What happened?

 

[The Wheel]

Video games

 

[lsz]

You get that if a player has any talent by the time they are 16 they have offers from a number of clubs which means for any kid that comes through there are so many different ways they can go? And why we recruit so many players in the same way?

 

[God]

As per the title, why aren't they coming through the ranks. I remember the early 90s there was a golden period where the local A-grader that came through. Even the players that were bar average were given a crack and at the very least were in reserve grade to answer the call when needed.

Hoppa Sr, Chris Ryan, Elsegood, Gartner, Beaver, Dunford, Hosking, O'Donnell, Hancock, John Jones,etc

What happened?

Living in Penrith, you start to understand why so many kids out here get into sport. For a lot of them (not all), it’s more than just a game, it’s a way to break out of a cycle of poverty or their only real shot at success. That kind of motivation is very different from what drives kids on the Northern Beaches.

Out west, kids on average tend to be bigger, tougher, and probably a bit more grounded. Their drive comes from a very different place. I always find it funny when people at work ask why I live out here, knowing I could probably choose to live anywhere. For me, it’s about the people they feel more genuine, and I feel a stronger connection to the community.

I think you'll find very different motivations in the A grade comps in both areas and if people haven't made it in the manly comp they've moved on or are more focused on other opportunities, that's a generalisation but I think you'll find it would apply to a large percentage of use cases.