The recent inclusion of seven Perth Glory NPL players in the extended 28-player Joey squad for the upcoming AFC U-17 Asian Cup has sparked curiosity to explore the state of junior football in Western Australia (WA).
In this article, we will delve into the intricacies and nuances of the local youth football scene, shedding light on its current status and inherent flaws.
To gain a comprehensive understanding of the system, it is crucial to examine its structure. The JNPL initiates at U13’s. From U16’s, up until senior football, teams are not subject to promotion or relegation. Instead, the league placement solely revolves around the standings of the Men’s first team.
As a result, we often see a jumble of constantly changing allegiances among players, fuelled by the success of clubs in the season prior. This dynamic leads to a lack of loyalty and makes establishing clear pathways into the first team difficult.
Armadale SC’s U18 JNPL team perfectly depicts this problem. They currently occupy 12th place in the table with only one point, having conceded 54 goals in 11 games. It’s clear that they fall short of the playing standard. However, as it stands, they won’t be relegated due to the Men’s first team’s current third-place position.
To address this well-recognised issue, recommendations have been put forth by both the NPL and Junior Standing Committees (last in 2020) to restructure the current framework.
The NPL Standing Committee proposed a solution involving the establishment of two leagues within the JNPL: JNPL1 and JNPL2. The objective is to foster more closely contested competitions throughout the year. This can be achieved by either aligning all NPL teams with senior NPL teams or structuring the leagues based on finishing positions from the season’s previous Championship rounds, followed by divisional stages.
On the other hand, the Junior Standing Committee recommended that the future competition structure of the Junior NPL be merit-based, promoting a meritocratic approach. This would entail clubs being promoted or demoted based on their performance at the end of each season.
Both suggestions were noted but not implemented by Football West at the time.
Returning to Glory’s Academy success, their flourishing talent production line can be attributed to a plethora of reasons, including but not limited to:
- A clear elite player development model and age-specific curriculum
- Sole professional team in the state
- Ample opportunities for youngsters
- Talent absorption within the region
- High-quality youth coaching
Furthermore, when analysing the cohort of Perth-based players chosen by Brad Maloney for the upcoming Asian Cup, a noticeable pattern emerges; with the exception of two individuals, all of them are current members of the Perth Glory NPL (U21) squad.
This leads us to two significant conclusions. Firstly, it suggests that the overall standard of football in Western Australia is comparatively inadequate, as these 17-year-olds are excelling in the state’s premier competition at such a tender age. Secondly, it highlights the distinct approach of Glory, who are actively providing opportunities for these young talents.
At present, Football West is conducting a comprehensive assessment of junior football in Western Australia, and starting in 2024, implementation plans will be put into motion based on the findings.
Both players and clubs will be eagerly anticipating the rectification of the fundamental deficiencies that have persistently plagued the junior system.
The Junior Review WA Survey 2023 can be found here.
