U21 Teams To Canada World Champs 2008

[Duncan Cochrane]

I would like to gauge the interest in sending an U21 Mens team to Canada for the 2008 World Championships and get a list of reasons for and against this team travelling. Having won the 2007 Oceania Champs for U21 Men- Our team has qualified for a position so we must consider all options.

The costs would be significant- and we can only speculate how competitive the team would be with the best U21 teams from Europe but here is everyones chance to list their opinion for all to see.

Pleas eoffer constructive comments and suggestions- not just a yes or no as this is not a simple yes or no issue. In particular U21 players need to be mindful of the cost to themselves or their parents and the possible long term impact of these costs in perhaps stopping you attending a senior worlds.

For the U21 ladies- there will be no U21 Ladies class in Canada but there will be in Milan in 2010 so we will go through the same process for you then.

Duncan
AC Polo Chairperson

[Matty P]

yeah the cost would be a big one for me. There was talk of a possible development tour and of it being more beneficial to us as players (also a bit cheaper). I honestly could only guess what it would cost to go to worlds but it might be an idea for one of the senior players who has been overseas to put up a figure of about how much it would cost so as to give us some guidelines to work on ( and to work our parents on) . Also, while they're at it, maybe throw up some figures on how much might be saved by sponsorship. I think businesses might be quite drawn to the fact that it's such a young age group doing such a big thing from a sponsorship point of view.
all in all I'd love to go but it's the whole financial thing as I'm sure is the case with most people.
:twocents:

[Matty P]

well apparently my mum thinks it's 'doable'.
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

[Mammoth]

the idea of sending an U21 team to Canada next year is great in theory...

i personally think as far as the Oceania 1 team goes the motivation and the dedication would be there, no doubt the financial hurdle is a big one. I think as a group we should look to play as a team at any opportunity, with quite a few guys still juniors this year i think it would be invaluable experience because we are going be playing in the same division with each other for a long while, and what better opportunity??

one questions is: are there going to be many people form the Oceania one team that aren't eligible because of age? i don't know how old geoff and luke are but I'd assume go-Steve cant play U21 in 2008?

so i think in the end it does come down to the financial side of things and whether or not the the polo geniuses that reside in Australia think we are gonna end up competitive.

i think we will.

personally, I'd be more than keen to go, and im interested on the verdict so i can start training my ass off.

sam

[Matty P]

YOu should be training ur ass of anyway for summer serise bitch! ;)

Steve's out, to old.. same with geof. Luke's 19 so he's fine.. and it would take a crap load of convincing and stuff, but mr. tom stork is quite the polo player when he feels like it!

[stevesteve]

i dont think it is such a good idea to send a team, simply because of a lack of dept in whatever team is sent. like matt said, the team that would go to worlds next year would be missing both geoff and me.

And as much as i dislike mentioning it, we only just beat the kiwis. i assume that the standard of the european u21 teams would be better than the kiwis.

Sam what are you waiting for, you should be traning hard anyway especialy for summer series.

steve

[Mammoth]

if you would all look at the exact words i used....

i am training hard, my ass just aint off yet. training hard and training my ass off are two very different things...there has to be a very good cause for one to sacrifice a hiney. dont worry summer series is approaching and my sessions are increasing the closer it gets....dont fret boys

the lack of depth is a very good point. two of the senior members of the Oceania team are out but in the name of optimism all it takes a couple of players to step up over the next year and a bit, whoever that might be, and hey presto. it wont be that simple i know, but i think it comes down to looking at the guys who played at Oceania, and if all the options for the squad look like they are gonna be competitive then i dont see why not.

worst comes to the worst we can put roids in the queensland water supply.

has any one talked to people who havent posted here?

[Wingman]

While going to world champs in an U21 team would be great experience for thos who would go the simple fact is that a european development tour would give far more benifit. to take a u21 team to canada your looking at a cost of 5 to 7 grand for a two to three week tour in canada where the standard of compeition (worlds excluded) is pretty low. For a comparable price you could do a four to five week tour in europe playing and training against more quality opposition. These sort of tours have been done in the past 1999 2001 2003 and all those who have toured have benifited significantly.
The question of competitiveness, i believe that we could field a top 6 side but that would take commitment from most of the senior u21 players around.
Cheers
Wingman

[Nathe]

Sounds like a good idea - I would love to see a U21 team touring. It would be a great way for up and coming players to get experience on the world stage and see what it is all about. However it could be difficult to get enough coaches for the 3 teams, and a player/coach never works as well as off water coach. It would also spread fundraising money a bit thinner, but it would also open up a larger potential group of supporters. I would also want to see how committed the current group of players are and whether they have the capacity to compete with the worlds best. A quick test - could the Oz U21 team beat the Senior Mens team? I am not sure about the 2006 worlds, but on other tours I have seen U21 teams beat Senior teams in training. They would need to be competitive against our best, to be competitive against the rest of the world. I am inclined towards a development tour, but if they could tour Europe before the worlds, then it need careful consideration.

[Summer#4]

I think realistically that the U21 wouldn't stand a chance at an international level. The required commitment just isn't there. I know I am no shining example of a polo player myself so don't think that I am comparing to my own experiences. However if enough people are willing of sufficient level to give it a decent go and to commit themselves to the cause then I say give them the option to. The experience and atmosphere will prove vital for the future of Australian Polo.

[Matty P]

just thought i'd say, just saw the under 21's games from amsterdam, i rekon the team that played in oceania would have done ok against a few of them. ie GB and Spain. Maybe not have won, but still doe ok. France were pretty bluddy good tho i must say.

[conor]

Is Australia going to send a U21 mens team to Canada??

Conor

[Duncan Cochrane]

Yes, We will have teams in all 3 categories. All are now coming direct to Canada and will be be competing at the warm up event in Red Deer.
Duncan