What a perfect thread for what I was just thinking. I was about to start a new thread but this one sounds similar.
I was talking to a bloke from Souths JL yesterday. The topic came up about why Cronulla can't win the comp. The comment came up `They've got no mongrel'. Then I thought back to my own involvement 20 - 45 years ago. He's right. I can't comment on real modern day play, but he could. And I recall how Souths and Dogs JL seemed `tougher' than ours back then. And Penrith JL was even tougher than that. Hard to put the finger on. Could be referees interpretations, or could be concentration on `pretty' play. Could be a bit of both or even more. Come to think of it, look at the contributions Davo made to the Sharks. He never failed to push the envelope.
Another factor, I believe, is apparent failure to encompass the whole of the JL. It used to be apparent, and probably still is, that factors other than footballing skill and talent came into play in selections. Instances of preferences for certain junior league and religious affiliations seemed apparent and possibly still could be. After all, our club seems to be run by pretty much one faction.
Naturally, these may not be governing factors on why our club continues to fail but, sure as heck, I believe they are contributing factors.