There has been some unease within Farrer League clubs about a trend of rising stars hoping to test themselves in a better league when their primary focus will be on their GWS and junior representative commitments.

Giants Academy head coach Cam Bernasconi denied they are advising or recommending where rising stars should play.

"We certainly don't tell the kids where to play their club football. It's certainly not our job to do that," Bernasconi said.

"We have trust in local leagues to develop players... we would never encourage players to leave their local club whilst they're in the Academy. The clubs play a massive role in their development."

Bernasconi said the intent of GWS is to nurture players and offer a platform for Academy series and national championships.

At the end of their time with the Giants, players are encouraged to play as good a football as they can, ranging from AFL opportunities or playing in a second tier league, through to being a good senior footballer at their home club.

But Bernasconi says moving on isn't the message during the pathways.

"In an ideal world, if kids play at every opportunity with the Academy in that top age they barely play club football anyway, with Academy, nationals and VFL. That's why we don't advise on it," he said.

Marrar (Drew Beavan to Lavington) and The Rock-Yerong Creek (Jack Driscoll to Albury Tigers and Luke Fellows, likely to Turvey Park) have lost young players who are keen to test themselves in the Ovens and Murray and Riverina Leagues.

Both clubs said they will never stand in the way of players wanting to better themselves, and they hope the players all go on to bigger and better things in their football careers.

But a leaking of academy talent could be a concern for the competition.

"It is, you're obviously losing young talent out of the Farrer League, and there's talent going out of the RFL as well (Coopa Steele from Leeton-Whitton to Lavington)," Marrar coach Shane Lenon said.

"I don't begrudge anyone having a crack at a higher level. I'm all for young blokes doing that. If you're good enough and you're ready, it's good to go and have a crack. And the Ovens and Murray is a very good level of footy.

"But (academy players), their number one priority is the Giants which is fair enough. And if their commitment is with the Giants and they're not at (club) training all the time, it could make it hard. The heat will be on because of the added depth at the clubs and the higher standard."

Lenon said he has enormous respect for Beavan. His concern is for the system if Academy players are in an atmosphere where they believe they have to change club competitions.

"If the Giants are trying to promote footy in our area, they need coaches on side, they need clubs on side, and that's not promoting footy in the area if it's doing that," Lenon said.

TRYC co-coaches Heath Russell and Brad Aiken have also coached in the Giants Academy system. They believe the junior representative scene is where players get to impress AFL recruiters and their club football should be a comfortable haven.

"I think, go and play your four or five games with the Giants, get a taste, see what it's like and come back to the Farrer and dominate you league - play some really good club footy," Aiken said.

"The Farrer League has a lot of good coaches who can provide the knowledge and know what they're trying to achieve in their last year when they're trying to get drafted.

"I don't think they need to go to the RFL or the O and M to try and get drafted. After that, if they don't get drafted, that's the time to go."

Aiken and Lenon both pointed to Kane Flack as a prime example. Now out of the Academy program, the former North Wagga midfielder is also heading to Albury Tigers.

When he was up to his ears in Giants commitments, he was rarely available for his Farrer League club throughout 2019, between NEAFL games and junior representative opportunities.

However, he was still able to get a first grade opportunity from a supportive Saints whenever he was available. It ensured he shared in an historic premiership victory with his home club, and will now head to the border ready to fully commit and try to make the grade.

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