Noggler insists Geelong soccer not slipping
| August 5th, 2011
SOCCER stalwart Robbie Noggler has rejected the suggestion that soccer talent in Geelong is on the slide, despite the fact that five out of the region's six teams are fighting relegation battles this year.
In State League 1, a youthful North Geelong Warriors side has improved during the season but currently occupies the relegation play-off spot, third from bottom on the ladder.
Geelong SC, in State League 2, has lost six straight matches and is in the relegation zone while the situation for Geelong Rangers looks next to impossible with the club rock bottom of State League 3 and 11 points from safety.
Surf Coast is only three points clear of relegation trouble in Provisional League 1, with Bell Park putting on a good recent run to pull itself eight points clear of danger in Provisional League 2, although the threat of demotion remains.
Corio is the only local team to be in reach of promotion, just three points off second place in Provisional League 1.
Noggler, who is Corio's coach and has been involved with all of the region's clubs bar Bell Park and Surf Coast, insisted that the game is not in crisis.
"It's hard to say what's gone on at other clubs," Noggler said.
"I can't really comment on that, but I'd say that there are plenty of good players in the Geelong area.
"Some clubs have dabbled with players from the Melbourne market, which can go either way. But there are good players around here."
Noggler is also involved with coaching the next generation of Geelong soccer stars at the Barwon Sports Academy.
He is confident that there is plenty of talent coming through, having overseen the under-13, under-14, under-15 and womens premier league players. However, not all Geelong-raised players stay in the area.
"In the under-13s and under-14s, every single player was selected for the state team up in Coffs Harbour," he said.
"So there are good players here. The problem is that they end up going to play in Melbourne. I think it has been an issue for a few years. How you change that situation is the $64,000 question.
"I think it's nice to have Football Federation Victoria down here now and have one governing body for the state. Without it, there wouldn't be soccer at the Barwon Sports Academy."
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