My question is would the ASBP give them the week in / week out games they need to maintain match fitness? Isn't their schedule much shorter, or spread out with less matches?
Although Newcastle Jets, Brisbane Roar and Perth Glory have all entered their youth teams in their respective NPL comps currently playing.
I'm not sure if that means they won't play in the next NYL but I'm sure they will, because otherwise they'd then be facing the same problem as us - not having fringe players match ready during the A League season (and the Brisbane Roar press release specifically referred to giving players an "opportunity to play football and develop their skills all year around").
That means that youth players at those clubs could be playing 40-odd games a year, although I'm sure there will be a fair amount of rotation and bringing players in and out going on.
Still, when you look at that we would be absolutely mad not to give our youth and fringe players the opportunity to play at least 14 competitive games together per season.