Whats the quality, community and support for premier grade like over in WA?
Rebuilding after the events of 2015-2017 and the impacts of Covid-19.
Some clubs doing better than others and always seems a bit slow leading up to Easter.
Can't read too much into the results from the initial 3 rounds.
The 3 games that I've attended have all been close, reasonable quality games but squads still developing.
I tend to choose the most competitive match of each round and don't follow a single team.
Crowds have been reasonable and appear to be building (cameras usually located on the amenity/most people side of grounds) but still down from pre-Covid times.
It's been good to see about 17 WF (Super Rugby squad, WTG and Academy) regularly playing in Premier grade.
The WF Fortescue Academy now has 21 players - some of whom will be playing in the lower grade or Colts.
Good having a Stan game and a YouTube game each week.
Australia really needs a competition between Club and Super Rugby.
IMO, Perth can't sustain 11 clubs in the Premier Grade.
I'd rather see this reduced to 6 to give focus with relegation/promotion from a larger Premiership (currently 8 teams with season start on 22 April)
The Premiership Division could then be split in Nth and Sth regions (6 teams in each) - or even make it 3 grades with movement between each.
(It takes 2-3 hrs to travel from most Nthly to Bunbury)
There is a lot happening in Junior development including a new Secondary School competition (13 teams) which started last year.
Under age development from U6 through to State U16 and U19 seems to be getting good support but has yet to start the season.
Unsure at this stage as to how many Womens teams will be in the mix.
I hope this draws some viewpoints/observations from others.
