Adelaide United Players Playing Interstate

[sportsbird]

It appears several players have been told to play interstate if they wish to continue playing at the highest level in SA.
The following players have now moved interstate. Matilda McNamara, Issy Hodgson, Meleri Mullen, Sian Fryer McLaren, Charlotte Grant and Emily Hodgson. Chelsea Dawber has stayed due to completing her studies, Georgia Campagnale has retired and Emily Condon has a fitness business in SA.
It is believed the players were encouraged to play interstate where the WNPL League is a higher standard than that of SA.
Well is says a lot about our local WNPL competition and the FSA NTC and State development program from the people above. Well that is a kick in the guts from the people who say how important SA is to women' soccer in SA.
Well I assume that's business.

[united92]

It appears several players have been told to play interstate if they wish to continue playing at the highest level in SA.
The following players have now moved interstate. Matilda McNamara, Issy Hodgson, Meleri Mullen, Sian Fryer McLaren, Charlotte Grant and Emily Hodgson. Chelsea Dawber has stayed due to completing her studies, Georgia Campagnale has retired and Emily Condon has a fitness business in SA.
It is believed the players were encouraged to play interstate where the WNPL League is a higher standard than that of SA.
Well is says a lot about our local WNPL competition and the FSA NTC and State development program from the people above. Well that is a kick in the guts from the people who say how important SA is to women' soccer in SA.
Well I assume that's business.

Well Charlotte Grant isn't playing interstate. She's signed overseas.
Where is your information from?

[juniorsupporter]

Charlotte Grant is in Sweden, playing for FC Rosengard in Malmo. Not interstate. Well, kind of I guess.

The gap between WNPL in South Australia and WLeague is just too big. Sportsbird, you can’t have your cake and eat it too. You want Adelaide United to be more competitive in the WLeague, to make finals and maybe even win the whole thing, and then you complain that players are being encouraged (and they were) to play in more competitive leagues in the off season. And btw, there was no kind of ultimatum as you imply.
Ivan and Adrian’s job is to help the players be the best they can be. They’re doing a really good job. Let’s see what this brings the club in season 2021-22.

[RAP300]

Interstate WNPL (eastern states in particular) have always had a stronger competition - there’s a bigger pool of players competing in teams across the competition.

Sportsbird - Instead of always complaining to the same 3 people that frequent this forum - get a hobby.

[juniorsupporter]

Emily Hodgson is on the team sheet for West Adelaide this weekend- don't think she's left. And Sian is moving to Sydney for personal reasons I believe- has nothing to do with football. So really, only 3 players (Matilda, Izzy and Mel) left to play interstate-

The other point that might be worth making is that like the W-League last season, when many Matildas left to play in Europe, turnover in the SA WNPL will create opportunities for younger players to step up into the next phase of their development. Could be good for player development here.

[In the way]

Emily Hodgson is on the team sheet for West Adelaide this weekend- don't think she's left. And Sian moved to Sydney for personal reasons I believe- had nothing to do with football. So really, only 3 players (Matilda, Izzy and Mel) left to play interstate-

The other point that might be worth making is that like the W-League last season, when many Matildas left to play in Europe, turnover in the SA WNPL will create opportunities for younger players to step up into the next phase of their development. Could be good for player development here.

And that is how development works- my wish is that the teams keep playing the football, not resort to just continue with the long ball to rely on to win games as seen is some of the wnpl games.

[OldSchool]

Well, I think SportsBird might be at least partially correct in what she is saying but probably not right in how it is intended (or appears to be intended/understood)

Let us start with Charlotte Grant as she has been named, Charlotte did not go from SA to Sweden direct, she got there via the NSW WNPL and the W League. Charlotte moved to NSW where she completed her final year of high school and played in the local WNPL. No doubt the prospect of playing for the Matilda would have played a part in her decision to do so. Was she encouraged (told) to move to be a serious contender for the Matilda, well none of us will truly ever know, but could you blame her or anybody else for making such a decision? Go Charlotte Go, we are all proud of you especially your Woodcroft College family.

From experience the suggestion of moving clubs to achieve and get selected for higher duties does happen, even at local level our daughter when playing juniors was "encouraged" to move clubs if she wanted to make the NTC program. She played every year in the old STIC tournaments and almost every year she was identified but never made the final cut. On almost every occasion after selection were completed she was encouraged to move to one of the big clubs to 'seal the deal to get her the credentials she needed' she choose not to as she wanted to stay and play with her teammates and be loyal to her club.

Regardless of what we all think or feel, we must accept that the SA programs, Junior Club, NTC, WNPL and W League will never have the same strengths as the equivalent programs in the Eastern States. The scale of their programs dwarf ours so if you can make it there you have pretty much proven yourself.

So, we have a choice, be bitter about our best players moving interstate to forward their careers or celebrate our programs and congratulate ourselves on developing players that are good enough to be considered and play in the Eastern State WNPL leagues and possibly go onto play for the Matildas or go overseas and play as fulltime professional players.

Stop this negative rhetoric about our best players leaving to play interstate and that it reflects in negative fashion on our local programs. Think of it as a positive, we are producing good players ......... the program is working if they are good enough to go and play in superior leagues. How many SA players were making the move 10 years ago?

There are other positive of these players moving onto interstate opportunities.

1) It creates opportunity for junior players to step up and for undiscovered talent to be discovered to take their place in the local WNPL and in turn move interstate and possible play at national level or overseas.
2) These players will eventually return home and share their experience and knowledge either as players or coaches, a great example of this is Kristy Moore, how good has her return to SA been for the local completion, absolute legend.

So, to all the player who are reading this, go hard ladies, work your ar** off, move interstate, move overseas, take the suggestions/encouragement to move as a credit to your abilities, chase your dreams and never stop loving what you do because you are awesome for believing in yourself.

Let the haters hate, let the true believers believe, because we know who is right and who has the right outlook in life.

[thebeautifulgame]

Can't argue with the post by Old School. In fact when you go through each of the points they seem to be valid. A nice change when someone comes on here and 'vents' in a positive manner. Need more positive posts like this one- constructive criticism should be received in the correct manner and taken on board. And praise from time to time (when deserved) is always a healthy aspect when developing and motivating players.
Well done Old School, say it as it is.