Some kids who play well in SSGs do so because they're bigger/faster/stronger due to the Relative Age Effect (where a 1st Quarter baby can be up to 11 months older than a 4th - a huge development gap at that age), but technically they're quite poor. I see this all the time on Saturdays.
It's all just opinions at the moment, and you know what they say about opinions...
Just returned from that tourny. Final was between Otago and Nelson - BIG kids on display. Thought I was watching a 13th grade game. Neither team had a creative player, rather two defences just cancelled each other out. Had expected to see an end to end final game, as in the past.