Football in Australia is growing in grassroots popularity all the time, so planning for the future now could pay off big-time for A-League teams.
In my previous article I had a look at which A-league was setting up for the future, although I mainly looked at players in the 17-to-20-year-old age bracket.
Today I’ll look at the 16-and-under age bracket, and though this information is harder to find, it’s accurate and up to date to the best of my knowledge.
Adelaide United
Adelaide United have an academy for only 17 to 20-year-olds. They also have a pretty standard 12-week school, which is just to train once per week.
Verdict: I’m not sure what’s happening here. They need to develop a better and younger academy.
Brisbane Roar
The Roar has a two-star academy that ranges from players as young as two years old to those who are 20 years of age. The club trains at the newly built Kelvin Grove facility, with under-12s to under-17s training there four times per week. Academy payments are $500 per annum for under-sevens to under-nines and $600 for up to under-12s.
The academy’s director is former Cook Islands coach Drew Sherman. The results in an 11-team league have the under-14s in seventh position, both the the under-15s and the under-16s in their respective fifth positions.
Verdict: Training four times per week and starting at two years old is something that all clubs should consider. Under-13s and over are trials, but those registration fees are hefty and would turn some away.
Central Coast Mariners
The Mariners have a two-star academy that caters for those aged groups seven to 20 years old. They have two development squads, which are led by Josh Rose and Nick Montgomery. The Mariners also have a rep league for under-eights to under-12s, which is very engaged with the community.
Verdict: Teir academy probably could offer more, but is features the best community engagement in the competition.
(AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
Melbourne City
Melbourne City have an academy attached to La Trobe University, and it’s being labelled as one of the best Facilities in the country. It also links with seven other universities in Victoria as well as runs a cup. They don’t have much else on offer.
Verdict: There are good options for university links, although they need to offer more in the much younger group.
Melbourne Victory
The champions have an academy attached to Victoria University, but they will be moving to a new Maribyrnong site. The Victory don’t have much else apart from the standard programs and clinics.
Verdict: The academy needs to be more active. They need to offer more for the juniors as well.
Newcastle Jets
The Jets have an academy catering for 10 to 17-year-old players where the playing payments are between $1200 to $1500. The academy is directed by Michael Cooper and runs clinics and a competition.
Last season the under-13s finished in second, the under-14s won the title, the under-15s finished sixth and the under-16s also won the title.
Verdict: They’re doing well on the pitch but could widen the age range catered for at the academy. And why so much money?
Perth Glory
Kenny Lowe is the technical director of the Glory’s two-star academy, which caters for those aged between 10 and 20 years old. They also have a development centre.
On-field results saw the under-13s and under-14s both winning the title, while the under-15s came second and the under-16s finished 3rd.
Verdict: With great on-field results, the academy is doing well apart from age range offered.
(AAP Image/Theron Kirkman)
Sydney FC
The Sky Blues have a two-star academy linked to AFC Ajax. It covers those from 12 to 20 years old and is directed by Kelly Cross.
In a 26-team competition the under-13s finished sixth, the under-14s took the title, the under-15s finished eighth and the under-16s came seventh.
Verdict: On-field results are good enough and so is academy. Once again, they need to offer a wider age range
Western Sydney Wanderers
The Western Sydney Wanderers were one of the first three teams to achieve a two-star academy rating, with payments being around $1000 to $2500 per scholarship. They are directed by former Norwich City and Sydney FC coach Ian Crook.
The under-17s knocked over Guangzhou Evergrande and Dynamo Kiev in a recent tournament, while in the NPL the under-13s were able to win the title, the under-14s ranked fourth, the under-15s were fifth and the under-16s were fourth.
Verdict: This is a very serious academy doing great things on the pitch. Payments are way too high, though.
In conclusion, Perth Glory, Brisbane Roar, Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC would probably be doing the best right now for their next generation of players.
Once again I have not included the Wellington Phoenix. If there is not much information here, then they are not advertising their academy as well as they should be.
AusSokkah
Guest
Perth Glory have only focused properly on their academy in the last 5 years with Kenny only stepping back into the Academy after getting the sack from the first team (he was the head of the WA NTC program prior to Glory taking it over and him becoming the first team coach). Glory youth teams have had very good results but there results can be tempered somewhat by the fact that many top clubs in WA have very poor teams in the lower age groups and tend to focus on u18s and above. Even the Glory u23's playing in the WA NPL were able to call on a number of A-League regulars (Wilson, Brimmer, Italiano) that elevated them into the top two of the division. They did well while those players were playing but faded late in the season when those players went into A-League pre-season training.
Nick Symonds
Guest
The Covert Agent: New A-League clubs to be revealed this month - A decision has been fast tracked by the FFA Football Federation Australia have told A-League expansion candidates a decision on the competition's next two teams will be made in late September, rather than October. The Covert Agent can reveal the FFA's decision to fast track the announcement is so that the under-threat governing body can secure the licence fees from the new franchises before potential FIFA intervention. http://www.goal.com/en-au/news/the-covert-agent-new-a-league-clubs-to-be-announced-in-late/wjqxt5i6kf01ixp4z0wi389y
Waz
Roar Rookie
Caletti and OToole didn’t come through Roars Academy, they joined from AIS.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Age 12 and upwards is totally free, there’s no fees involved - Roar say they are the only A League club offering a free academy. At U12 and lower the academy shifts from Roar to partner clubs (Olympic, Sunshine Coast Wanderers etc) which is a partnership between the club clubs concerned and Roar - the partner club charges a fee (don’t know how much) Not sure about that last comment, Roar don’t do trials into the academy everyone that comes in is scouted.
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
Yeah Melbourne City have 12 players that are 20 and under but there academy is not so good
Barca4life
Guest
For me that belongs to WSW and Melbourne City and youth league level but Sydney FC have done some good work at youth level especially under 18 where they have some very promising young players coming through from what I’ve seen. Melbourne Victory even through they seem to have developed some good players like Pasquali, Waring, McGlip, Theoharous they don’t develop them enough at senior level but you can argue apart from Melb City no club promotes enough youth to senior level. For me the best work is done: WSW, Sydney FC(at youth level) Melbourne City (at senior level) Perth Glory youth team is very good based on results and promotion of players into the Joeys but they only have promoted Jacob Italiano, Adelaide United did very well in there NPL season and have some promising players especially in midfield they gave Lachlan Brook a start last season too. Brisbane Roar not too sure but there academy is the early stages so the results of that will be in the future but only Caletti and OToole are the only names to have played senior football in regular basis, CCMFC have done well in there NPL season but just fell short of promotion into NPL1 but they don’t have the best youngsters in Australia like how they used to but keep an eye on Kekeris he’s a skilful dribbler. In NPL level I know Marconi have a great system in place and Blacktown City whom have a strong junior base to work with not too sure about other NPL clubs in other states, it would have nice who is doing some good work. Ultimately the bigger the national pool of clubs are the more accurate it would be to see who is developing the best at youth level around the country.
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
So you mean the money is payed by the club the player plays for? And by the way, i believe that u12s upwards are trials
Waz
Roar Rookie
Brisbane Roars Academy is free. That’s for U12 upwards. The Academy underneath that is delivered via Academy Partner Clubs who technically hold the players registration and then charge the fee. Can’t say whether it’s more/less than other clubs though.