Premier Youth League End of Season Review

The Premier Youth League is often rated as ?the best youth competition in Australia? and this season has provided further proof that such a statement is very true. The levels of skill, tactical awareness, determination and passion have rarely been higher and the entertainment value has been superb, as always.
The various competitions have been closer than I can remember from the recent past with the composition of the finals series only being decided in the final matches of the season.
Whether or not your team and club has been successful is far too frequently measured in terms of the points they have collected. However, your own measure of success should take the form of questions about whether or not the team and the individual players improved over the course of the season. The most frequent answer to this question will be ?yes? and so the season can be regarded as successful, no matter where your team ended on the competition table.
Now it is time to look back on Season 2010.
Overview
The information contained in this section of the report comes from my own sources as there was no official Club Championship table. However, I know that many folk are very interested in the overall performance of the various clubs and so I have chosen to include the information for you.
I have included the points earned in matches against the Project 22 squads because this is not a Club Championship table and therefore meant to be a reflection of the actual performance of the teams and clubs.
In terms of points on the board, Sutherland Sharks were the best performed club this season as the collected 238 points from 116 games and that meant that they had earned 68% of the maximum possible number of points. There was very little difference between their performances at home where they collected 69% of the maximum points and away where they earned 68% of the available points. After a slow start to the season they moved into the top three after Round 4 and then wavered between first and second from that point onward. Four of their teams qualified for the finals series.
Marconi Stallions were in second place with 233 points from 113 games meaning that they had recorded 69% of the available points. Marconi were slightly better performed when they played away from home as they took 74% of those points as opposed to 63% of the points when playing at home. The Stallions spent the first six rounds of the competition in fourth or fifth places and then they moved into the top two where they remained for the rest of the season. As a club, they were the top scorers and they had the best defensive record. Four of their teams reached the finals series.
Manly United were placed third with 214 points from 116 matches and they had earned 61% of the maximum points. They were marginally better performed in their home games with 64% of the points while their away fixtures yielded 59% of the available points. Manly United spent the entire season in various positions within the top five clubs. They had four teams in the finals series.
In fourth position was Sydney Olympic who pocketed 210 points from 113 matches. They took 62% of the maximum number of points. This was even more remarkable considering that they did not have a home ground and therefore played all their fixtures as ?away? games. They were found within the top five clubs throughout the season and four of their teams played in the finals series.
Placed fifth were Blacktown City with 205 points from 116 matches. That meant that they had bagged 59% of the maximum points. They earned 57% of the home points and 61% of the away points. They had started the season reasonably well by securing a place in the top five until Round 8 but then they dropped out of the top group from Rounds 9 to 13 before climbing back into the top five from round 14 onward. Three of their teams competed in the finals series.
West Sydney Berries were in sixth position after they took 177 points from 116 matches for 51% of the maximum points. There was very little difference between their results at home (52%) and those they achieved when playing away (50%) After a slow start to their campaign the Berries started slow climb that allowed them to join the top five between Rounds 9 and 13 before dropping back to settle into a position in the top half of the table. They were represented by one team in the finals series.
Seventh placed South Coast Wolves pocketed 163 points from 116 matches earning them 47% of the maximum points. They were better performed when playing at home with 53% of the available points while their away matches yielded 41% of the maximum points. The Wolves spent the whole season in mid-table positions, moving back and forth between seventh and ninth. One of the teams played in the finals series.
Sydney United finished in eighth place with 157 points coming from their 116 matches for 47% of the maximum points. There was a minimal difference between the points they earned from home games (44%) and those they took from away fixtures (46%). United spent the first six round of the season inside the top five but then they dropped back to settle into a mid-table position. Two of their teams competed in the finals series.
Completing the season in ninth position were APIA Leichhardt Tigers who earned 141 points from 116 matches for 41% of the available points. Their results when playing at home (40%) matched those of the away results (41%). They had a steady season, spending most of it in ninth place. They had one team in the finals series.
Bankstown City were placed tenth with 122 points coming from their 116 matches, meaning that they had taken 35% of the maximum points. They earned 34% of the available points when playing at home and 36% of the points when playing elsewhere. After a reasonable start to the season the Lions spent most of the year in tenth place. They were not represented in the finals series.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles were in eleventh position after they took 103 points from 116 matches or 30% of the maximum points. There was little difference between the results they achieved at home (30% of the available points) and those from their away games Bonnyrigg spent all season among the bottom three clubs.  One of their teams reached the finals series.
Rockdale City Suns were placed twelfth after they earned 47 points from 116 matches or 14% of the maximum number of points. They were marginally better performed when playing at home where they took 16% of the available points while their away games produced 11% of the available points. the club really struggled to cope with the demands of this competition after climbing from Division One Youth League where they played last season. The Suns did not have a team in the finals.
Project 22 would not normally be represented in this part of a report as they had only three teams and existed only because they took the best players from the clubs. However, they were credited with points and they did take points from other clubs so they are worthy of a mention here. They pocketed 59 points from 72 matches or 27% of the maximum points.
Grade 13
Marconi Stallions had an exceptional season, collecting the maximum number of points from their twenty-three matches and being the best performed team in Youth League in 2010. They claimed the crown as Premiers by nine points, scoring a remarkable 149 goals (at an average of 6.48 goals per match) with only 6 goals being conceded, recording seventeen clean sheets, and no team scored against them twice. In the finals series they won the Major semi final but then suffered their first loss when they were beaten in the Grand Final.
West Sydney Berries finished in second place with twenty wins and only four losses to show for their season. They were slightly better performed when playing away from home in terms of points collected and goals for and against. Interestingly, three of their four losses were recorded in home games. They were always found in the top five, spending most of the season in second spot. In the finals series they won the Preliminary Semi Final, lost the Major Semi Final, won the Preliminary Final and then won the Grand Final.
Sydney Olympic were placed third on the last competition table for the season after they posted sixteen wins and three draws from their twenty-three matches, a quite remarkable outcome considering they did not have a home ground. They spent the season inside the top five, hovering between third and fourth for most of the competition period. In the finals series they lost the Preliminary Semi Final and then lost the Minor Semi Final.
Manly United completed the competition in fourth position after they registered fifteen wins and three draws from their twenty-four matches. They were better performed when they played at home and they held down a top five placing throughout the season. In the finals series they won the Elimination Semi Final, won the Minor Semi Final and ten lost the Preliminary Final.
Blacktown City finished the competition in fifth place with fourteen victories and three draws coming from their twenty-four matches. They were a bit better performed when they played at home. After a bumpy start to the season they consolidated a place in the top five from Round 10 onwards, losing only two matches after Round 6. in the finals series they lost the Elimination Semi Final.
Sutherland Sharks ended the competition in sixth spot, falling four points short of a place in the finals series. They were slightly better performed when they played away from home. They started the campaign slowly and then held down a top five place between Rounds 4 and 11 before they slipped back to remain on the cusp of the top group from that point on.
South Coast Wolves were placed seventh at the end of the competition with ten wins and five draws to show for their efforts. They performance was about the same in their home and away matches. They were in and out of the top five over the first six rounds before they settled into a mid-table position for the balance of the season.
Sydney United finished in eighth position after they produced nine wins and five draws. Their best performances came in their away games as they collected more points from those matches. They occupied a mid-table position for most of the season.
Project 22 were placed ninth on the final table for the season with five victories and four draws coming from their matches. They played the majority of their matches at Valentine Sports Park and they remained in the bottom half of the table all season.
Bankstown City completed the competition in tenth place after they produced five wins and two draws. They were slightly better performed in their away matches and they spent the season in the lower half of the competition table.
APIA Leichhardt Tigers were placed eleventh when the competition came to an end with five wins and a draw coming from their matches. Their results were significantly better when they played away from home and they remained among the bottom group for the majority of the season.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles finished the season in twelfth position after they posted three wins and two draws. Their best performances came from their home games and they spent most of the season in the bottom three.
Rockdale City Suns completed their competition commitments in thirteenth place with one win and two draws coming from their efforts. There was not much difference between their home and away results and they were always found at the bottom end of the table.
Grade 14
Blacktown City were the Premiers after they produced sixteen victories and three draws to win the competition by five points. They had the best attacking and defensive figures in this age group and it is interesting that their best results came from their away matches. They started slowly but then secured a place in the top five from Round 5 onward before taking over the competition lead from Round 15.  In the finals series they lost the Major Semi Final before going down in the Preliminary Final.
Marconi Stallions completed the competition in second spot after they posted fourteen wins and four draws. Surprisingly, they were significantly better performed when they played away from home. They had a sluggish start to the season and did not enter the top five until Round 7 but from then on they remained inside the top three teams.  In the finals series they lost the Preliminary Final, won the Minor Semi Final and won the Preliminary Final before going on to win the Grand Final.
Manly United were placed third on goal difference after they also registered fourteen wins and four draws. Their results were marginally better when they played away from home. The were in and out of the top five over the first seven rounds and they remained outside the top group from Round 8 to Round 12 before they made a return in Round 13 and they stayed there from then on. In the finals series they won the Preliminary Semi Final, won the Major Semi Final and then lost the Grand Final.
Sydney Olympic finished in fourth position with thirteen wins and five draws to show for their efforts, an outstanding achievement considering they did not have a home ground. They were able to maintain a position in the top five throughout the season and in the finals series they won the Elimination Semi Final before bowing out with a loss in the Minor Semi Final.
Sutherland Sharks ended the competition in fifth place on goal difference thanks to their record of thirteen wins and five draws. Their record was slightly better when they played away from home. They had a slow start to the season before they slowly climbed into the top five where they remained for the final six matches. In the finals series they lost the Elimination Semi Final.
West Sydney Berries completed their competition commitments in sixth place, missing the finals by a margin of four points, after they registered eleven wins and seven draws. Their results were very slightly better when they played at home. They had held onto a top five spot for most of the season before falling away over the last four rounds.
Bankstown City were placed seventh with ten wins and six draws coming from their efforts. They were better performed when they played at home. They were among the top teams through the first half of the season but then they dropped off the pace in the second half.
Sydney United finished eighth following ten wins and two draws and they were significantly better performed in their away games. They settled into a mid-table position and maintained it throughout the season.
South Coast Wolves were in ninth place at the end of the competition after they had posted seven wins and seven draws. Their results were consistent whether they played at home or away. They occupied a place in the lower half of the table for the first half of the season before climbing to a mid-table finish.
APIA Leichhardt Tigers ended up in tenth place with seven wins and five draws coming from their matches. Their results were slightly better when they played away from home. They showed great early promise but they fell away after Round 6 to find a place in the lower half of the table.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles were placed eleventh at season?s end and they had achieved vastly better results when they played away from home. They had a fairly good start to the campaign but then they occupied a place in the lower half of the table for most of the season.
Rockdale City Suns finished twelfth with four wins and two draws coming from their efforts. Their results were slightly better in their away matches. They spent the season as a member of the bottom two teams.
Project 22 were in the wooden spoon position at thirteenth after they recorded two wins and five draws. They spent the season as one of the bottom two teams.
Grade 15
Marconi Stallions were they Premiers, winning the competition by a single point after their twenty-three matches yielded eighteen wins and three draws. They achieved slightly better results when they played at home and they led the way on the table all season. In the finals series they won the Major Semi Final before going on to win the Grand Final.
Sutherland Sharks were the competition runners-up after they posted seventeen win and five draws. The Sharks had the best attacking record in this age group. They recorded marginally better results when they played away from home and they spent the majority of the season locked into second place. In the finals series they won the Preliminary Semi Final, lost the Major Semi Final and then lost the Preliminary Final.
Sydney Olympic registered sixteen wins and three draws to finish in third position and this was quite an achievement considering they did not have a home ground. Olympic had the best defensive figures in this age group. They started the season well enough but ten dropped out of the top group from Round 4 to Round 8 before bouncing back to retain third place from the point onward. In the finals series they lost the Preliminary Semi Final and then lost the Minor Semi Final. 
Blacktown City completed the competition in fourth position after they had recorded thirteen wins and three draws. Their results were slightly better when they played at home. They got off to a reasonably good start and then they went through a bumpy patch from Round 10 to Round 16 before returning to secure fourth place. In the finals series they bowed out when they lost the Elimination Semi Final.
Manly United were placed fifth at season?s end following their thirteen wins and two draws. Their results were slightly better when they played away from home. They had a healthy start to the season before going through a slump from Round 13 to Round 17 but they bounced back to hang onto fifth position despite a strong challenge. In the finals series they won the Elimination Semi Final, won the Minor Semi Final and then won the Preliminary Semi Final before going down in the Grand Final.
Bankstown City finished sixth, missing a place in the finals on goal difference, with thirteen wins and two draws to show for their efforts. Their results were significantly better when they played away from home. They settled into a mid-table position for the first twelve rounds and then they challenged for a top five finish from Round 13 onward.
APIA Leichhardt Tigers were placed seventh after they posted eleven wins and five draws. They were much better performed when they played at home. They had held onto a top five position over the first seventeen rounds but then they fell off the pace.
West Sydney Berries completed their competition commitments in eighth place after they posted nine wins and two draws. They achieved their best results when they played at home. After spending most of the season in a mid-table position they made a run for the finals from Round 17 but they fell short of the target.
Project 22 ended the season in ninth place following a record of eight wins and five draws. They spent the season in a mid-table position.
South Coast Wolves finished in tenth place after they had recorded nine wins and a draw. They were significantly better performed when they played at home. They had a good start to the season but then they settled into a comfortable mid-table position.
Sydney United were placed eleventh with five wins and five draws coming from their twenty-four matches. Their results were a lot better when they played at home. After making an early challenge for the top five they fell off the pace from Round 6 onward.
Rockdale City Suns were placed twelfth on the final table for the season after they posted two winds and three draws. Their results were a bit better when they played at home and they spent most of the season as one of the bottom two teams.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles finished up in the wooden spoon position at thirteenth following their record of three draws. They were only slightly more successful when playing at home. They spent all season at the foot of the table.
Grade 16
Sutherland Sharks were the unbeaten Premiers after their sixteen wins and six draws meant that they won the competition by ten points. Their best results came when they played at home and they had the best defensive record in this age group. The Sharks led the way on the table from Round 3 onward. In the finals series they lost the Major Semi Final, won the Preliminary Final and then lost the Grand Final.
APIA Leichhardt Tigers were in second spot at the end of the season with thirteen wins and five draws to show for their efforts they had the best attacking record in this age group and they were slightly better performed when they played away from home. After a sluggish start to the season they gradually worked their way up the ladder, entering the top five in Round 8 and continued to improve their position from then on. They were unbeaten in the last sixteen matches. In the finals series they lost the Preliminary Semi Final and then lost the Minor Semi Final.
Manly United completed the competition in third place with a record of twelve wins and eight draws, meaning that they only lost twice. Their best results came when they remained unbeaten in matches played away from home. Manly always held down a place within the top five. In the finals series they won the Preliminary Semi Final, won the Major Semi Final and then they won the Grand Final.
Sydney Olympic were fourth on the final table for the season thanks to a record of twelve wins and three draws and that was quite an achievement considering they did not have a home ground. They had a slow start to the season but they entered the top five in Round 4 and did not look back. In the finals series they lost the Elimination Semi Final.
Sydney United rounded off the top group at fifth after they posted ten wins and five draws. There was very little difference between their home and away results. United had a very strong start as they were one of the top two teams for the first seven rounds and then they slipped back slightly but they held onto a post in the top five. In the finals series they won the Elimination Semi Final, won the Minor Semi Final and then lost the Preliminary Final.
Blacktown City finished at sixth, one point short of a place in the finals, with ten wins and four draws to show for their efforts. They achieved slightly better results when they played away from home. A healthy start to the season saw them placed inside the top five for the first seven rounds but then the slipped back to be never worse that seventh and always in a position to challenge for a place in the top group.
South Coast Wolves completed the season in seventh spot after they had recorded seven wins and seven draws. They produced their best result when they played at home. The Wolves had a good start and then they settled into a comfortable mid-table position for the rest of the season.
Marconi Stallions were placed eighth after their season produced seven wins and five draws. They were a bit better performed when they played away from home. After spending the first three rounds in the top group the Stallions slipped back to challenge for a while but eventually they settled into a mid-table slot.
West Sydney Berries ended up in ninth position thanks to their five wins and seven draws. They were marginally better performed when they played at home. The Berries spent all season in a mid-table position without really threatening the top five teams.
Rockdale City Suns finished in tenth place after they registered three wins and five draws. There was no difference between their home and away results. The Suns were always found among the bottom three teams.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles completed their commitments in eleventh position following their tally of three wins and four draws. They were slightly better performed when they played away from home. After a reasonable start to the season Bonnyrigg could not maintain it and slipped back to the bottom three from Round 7 onward.
Bankstown City were placed twelfth at the end of the competition with three wins and a draw to show for their efforts. They were much better performed in the matches they played away from home. The Lions started well enough but then slipped back to the bottom two teams from Round 7 onwards.
Grade 18
Bonnyrigg White Eagles were the Premiers by a margin of twelve points after they recorded eighteen wins and two draws and they had the best attacking figures in this age group. They were slightly better performed when they played at home. Bonnyrigg led the table all the way, remaining unbeaten over the first seventeen rounds and then losing the next two before recovering to win their last three matches. In the finals series they lost the Major Semi Final and then lost the Preliminary Final.
South Coast Wolves were the competition runners-up with thirteen wins and five draws coming from their matches. Their best results came from the matches they played at home. The Wolves got off to a slow start and joined the top group in Round 5 before gradually improving their position over the remainder of the season. In the finals series they won the Preliminary Semi Final, won the Major Semi Final and then lost the Grand Final.
Sutherland Sharks finished in third position after they posted thirteen wins and four draws and they had the best defensive figures in this age group. They were a bit better performed when they played at home. The Sharks started the season well but then dropped points in Rounds 2, 3 and 4 before finding some consistency to remain in the top five for the rest of the season. Two late losses (Rounds 20 and 21) ultimately cost them second spot on the table. In the finals series they lost the Preliminary Semi Final, won the Minor Semi Final and won the Preliminary Final before winning the Grand Final.
Sydney United completed the competition in fourth position with eleven wins and five draws to show for their efforts. Their best results were achieved when they played at home. United maintained a position in the top five all season. In the finals series they lost the Elimination Semi Final.
Marconi Stallions were placed fifth at the end of the competition after they posted eleven wins and two draws. They were better performed when they played away from home. After losing their first six matches the Stallions spent most of the first half of the season in the bottom half of the table but then they picked up twenty-three points in the second half of the campaign to surge into the top five in the last game of the season.  In the finals series they won the Elimination Semi Final and then lost the Minor Semi Final.
Manly United were placed sixth and they missed the finals only on goal difference after they had recorded ten wins and five draws. They were significantly better performed when they played at home. Manly held on to a mid-table position through the first half of the competition and then they picked up consistent points to remain on the cusp of the top group for the remainder of the season.
Blacktown City finished seventh with ten wins and three draws to show for their efforts. Their best performances came from their away games. The Demons occupied a top five position for the first eight rounds but then they slipped back to remain just outside the top group for the rest of the campaign.
West Sydney Berries were in eighth position after they posted eight wins and three draws. There was no difference between their home and away results. They moved in and out of the top five over the first ten rounds and then they fell back to a comfortable mid-table position until the end of the season.
Sydney Olympic were ninth as a result of their six wins and seven draws and that was not too bad considering the club did not have home ground. Olympic stayed in the middle of the table all season, only occasionally threatening the top group.
Bankstown City were tenth after they registered six wins and no draws. They were a bit better performed when they played at home. After a healthy start the Lions dropped back to a place in the bottom half of the table.
APIA Leichhardt Tigers were placed eleventh thanks to their four wins and five draws. There was very little difference between their results at home and away. The Tigers showed some early promise but they stayed at the lower end of the table for the majority of the season.
Rockdale City Suns occupied the wooden spoon position at twelfth with one win and two draws coming from their matches. Their home performances were better than those when they played elsewhere. The Suns spent the season among the bottom three teams.
-By Barry Davis