Firstly, congratulations to all the players selected to represent their state. It is a wonderful achievement. Commiserations to those that missed out. Like I tell my kids, it's just an opinion, doesn’t mean it is right or wrong. Unfortunately, there will always be the doom and gloom merchants who are unhappy and don’t agree with team selections. Well, that’s life. We all have opinions. It’s just the coaches have their opinions unfairly scrutinised/questioned. Witness the debate going on over Mark Neeld.
Like all blogs there is a lot of opinion and hearsay and posts are only loosely based on facts.
If we want to analyse the facts:
There are only 3 "original" Melbourne players in the Vic Metro team posted above, however one is now at Diamond Valley.
So if we are talking about the first association/club they played for then the representations would be more like:
Melbourne - 3 Players
Sandringham - 2 Players
Diamond Valley - 1 Player
Hawthorn - 1 Player
Melton - 1 Player
Nunawading - 1 Player
Werribee - 1 Player
Only one player moved in the last off season, so the current clubs can take some of the credit for the players they have produced.
Also, there are only 7 players in the current Melbourne U16 team from the team that won the U14 Nationals and VC Championship two years ago. The other 3 have come from the two’s who made the VC finals and came 2nd in VJBL’s National Junior Classic. No doubt in two years time it will be different again.
There are many reasons why players change clubs. It really is not a lot different to adults with their jobs, players in the NRL, the AFL, etc. Players change mainly for career path, satisfaction, enjoyment, better opportunities, better coaching, etc, etc.
Take the case of the tallish player who automatically gets pigeon holed as a 5 at their current club. If they move they may have the opportunity to play as a 4, a 3, a 2 or even a 1. Which in the long run may be a lot better for their development.
Then there is the case of the player that is not getting opportunities at their current club, but if they move they get the opportunities they crave for.
In this respect, basketball, is it's own worst enemy, what with only 5 players on the court. Then the bench is made up of 'reserve’ players, generally one for each position. So court time can in some instances (read most) be limited.
What would you do, be a bench player or move?
There are a myriad of examples of justified moves. A poor coach, a coach who has something personal against a particular player (for whatever reason), a parent as a coach who favours you know who, the player who can’t make a one’s squad at their club but makes a one’s team at a stronger better club (this happens), etc, etc.
Having said all that, it is junior sport. The most important thing is the kids are enjoying it. Sure kids and parents will be disappointed, but it is the parent’s responsibility to be the adult here and encourage their child to persist. There really are more important things in life to be worrying about. I saw a Vic Roads TAC road trauma presentation (www.everybodyhurts.com.au) this week presented by the father and mother of a recent 19yo victim. It was a sobering experience to say the least. It’s just a game, enjoy it for what it is and chill out.
