Adelaide Hills Cricket (Hills, A&EH, TV) 2010-11

[Dutchy]

Your comparing over careers which is only fair to do at the end. I think most are speaking of this season which shows -

Reid 10 Wickets @ 27
Sink 22 Wickets @ 12

Stats dont lie

[2jox]

Quality use of consistant information to compare the two. Sinclair was probably a teen whilst playing at Bridgewater (and captaining at that age I rekon). But that is beside the point, I appreciate the difference in opinion.

Also worth noting is the fact I was talking about Sinclair's status as an all-round now as opposed to any point between 0001 A.D - 2010 A.D. (presumably the dates he played for Bridgewater was at some point during those millenia).

[2jox]

Previous comment was in response to BP.

[Footy Warrior]

These Hills comps and Torrens Valley comps are getting boring. Grand Finals are always Meadows V Onkas and Lobethal V Kersbrook (although not this year). Why don't they just merge the two comps to make them more competitive as Stirling, Mount Lofty, Paracombe and Gumeracha won't be winning a flag for a long time and are just making up the numbers anyway.

[cricketlad]

These Hills comps and Torrens Valley comps are getting boring. Grand Finals are always Meadows V Onkas and Lobethal V Kersbrook (although not this year). Why don't they just merge the two comps to make them more competitive as Stirling, Mount Lofty, Paracombe and Gumeracha won't be winning a flag for a long time and are just making up the numbers anyway.

I think you will find joining the comps together wont stop meadows dominance. they are just a very well drilled team and you need to have a great day to beat them. im sure onkas on their day could roll them, and uraidla has beaten onkas both times last yr including a final and beaten them in the one dayer this year. appart from meadows and stirling the others are very even, anyone can beat anyone.

[BCC]

Cricket lad - don't agree that Mt Lofty are one of the sides making up the numbers. Despite their unfavourable ladder position I think they have been unlucky this year with weather. They have also beaten Onkas & Uraidla, one of which will probably feature in the grand final this year.

That said, I do agree with the notion of combining the competitions (somehow) though Meadows would beat any opposition easily, though I have noticed they have been knocked out of the courier cup this year?

[alice the camel]

Lads - there has been articles written in the Courier and a great deal of discussion over many year re: a merger or formation of a Super league. Jeff Pistola is a huge advocate of the idea and with the Couriers assistance (mailto:jeff@courier.net.au - email through your support/concept plan) maybe some inroads could be made. For too long people have been afraid of change and concerned about their own little nests. This email has been doing the rounds

Just adding emails etc as we go along with people who can add some input to the discussion as if it is ever going to happen next year is the year with the (LIKELY) movement of Woodside and Lobethal.
At this early stage the grading of sides is irrelevant its whether people think this is possible and worthwhile.
Some benefits in short I feel:
· More even competitions which allow strong teams to play competitive cricket week in week out

· It allows weaker teams to play against others weaker teams etc. This will result more even games and less lop side ones which will allow teams to recruit easier and maintain juniors because they will be competitive in their division. Through promotion and relegation teams can set goals to move through division in stronger periods while in weaker periods move to lower division which is more suited during that period without getting belted week in week out (eg Stirling) and allow the club to survive and rebuild.

· A2 or B Grade competitions can be maintained in current associations.

Some cons:

· Associations may feel they lose some history. This can be solved through teams from individual associations playing for the Von Doussa (eg. hills comp) before competition finals.

· Travel (not a big issue)
I think if we can create some knowledge and maybe add to the list of benefits and cons as we pass the email we may be able to make this work or can it for good. But we feel now is the time to actually have a firm discussion regarding a competition of this sort.

Please feel free to pass this on to others who may have an input or opinion on this whether it’s a positive or negative.

[flanker]

Cricket lad - don't agree that Mt Lofty are one of the sides making up the numbers. Despite their unfavourable ladder position I think they have been unlucky this year with weather. They have also beaten Onkas & Uraidla, one of which will probably feature in the grand final this year.

That said, I do agree with the notion of combining the competitions (somehow) though Meadows would beat any opposition easily, though I have noticed they have been knocked out of the courier cup this year?

Yeah they were only knocked out because of weather, their earlier game in the HCA was washed out before Meadows got a bat, meaning they had no run rate to carry forward. When the Courier Cup match was heated out, Meadows lost on run rate ruling.

[flanker]

Something that may work is the Courier League Netball basis where the top teams from all 3 comps form the "Super League" and then their 2nd XI steps up to play in the A Grade comp of the relevant association. Promotion/relegation could work if a club outside of the Superleague wins or makes the Grand Final of their association. A lot of fineprint would need to be sorted but as a basis i think it could work

[saintal]

Yes, I am a fan of the Courier League idea, but from what I believe the HCA and the AEHCA aren’t all that keen on it.

It would enable a club like Lobethal or Woodside to retain their TVCA roots, with their second team then playing in the TVCA A Grade.

Whatever happens with these two clubs next season, it looks like there could be a fair shake up next season with regards to the TVCA A grade comp. Will be an interesting delegates meeting in a few weeks time.

Juniors are the major concern with TVCA currently. Aside from the two clubs mentioned and Birdwood, most clubs are scraping bottom of barrel for numbers, particularly at U16 level.

[Justquietly]

Firstly, I think that some of these proposals are good and could work. On the other hand, as a player in the HCA, I don't see the need. Boo hoo that Meadows has dominated, it happens in most sports. I understand that the other comps are struggling in varying ways but the HCA isn't (to that extent). One of HCA's priorities should be doing to A2 what they did to A1 ie a mix of one-dayers AND 2-dayers, or one-dayers full stop. Numbers would lift and strengthen that grade, encouraging more players out of hibernation. I think our club may push for this at season's end.
This is by no means a dig at other associations but coming from this side of the fence I don't see the benefits of the HCA merging. BCC's example of Mt Lofty is a good one, they're competitive on most weekends but still sit second bottom, largely to do with weather-affected matches. That reflects a pretty even comp. Meadows will have their day and until then, the rest of us try to emulate them (results-wise), not the worst result IMO.

[Dutchy]

Agree JQ I mentioned earlier that I dont think the HCA would gain much, if anything, from a merger.

Loftys first 3 games were all washed out on the 2nd weekend and in solid positions in all of them, and have since beaten Uraidla and Onka's, with a bit more luck they would be challenging for finals this year. For the first time in ages there are 4-5 guys in the B grade that could be playing A grade.

It would be a cracking A grade comp if Meadows dropped off a little or lost a couple of players.

[alice the camel]

Agree JQ I mentioned earlier that I dont think the HCA would gain much, if anything, from a merger.

Loftys first 3 games were all washed out on the 2nd weekend and in solid positions in all of them, and have since beaten Uraidla and Onka's, with a bit more luck they would be challenging for finals this year. For the first time in ages there are 4-5 guys in the B grade that could be playing A grade.

It would be a cracking A grade comp if Meadows dropped off a little or lost a couple of players.

There you go - exactly the type of comment that will ensure the demise , not only of TVCA but decent cricket in general. It should be the objective of all clubs/players/associations to provide the best competition available and through that, provide a nursery to higher grades of cricket. To wish that the pace-setters lowered their standards back to "the field" is ignorant in the extreme. Do you think that there might just be a correlation between the state of the game in country zone and that seen at the Redbacks??

[Justquietly]

It would be a cracking A grade comp if Meadows dropped off a little or lost a couple of players.[/quote]

There you go - exactly the type of comment that will ensure the demise , not only of TVCA but decent cricket in general.
Alice, are you fair dinkum? I think that the underlying thought from Dutchy was that the A grade is being dominated and that that's it, just one team dominating it. This happens in every sport. The rest of A grade have to fight to be the ones to try to knock Meadows off, and as an earlier poster said - there's not much between the rest (bar Stirling). The Redbacks have been pooh for years, that's grade cricket's problem re your correlation comment. If juniors in the hills want to make it to state level they realistically probably should play grade in town. This has been discussed on here, THAT can be a problem as no hills clubs are real 'feeder' teams to town. That's different. HCA won't and shouldn't merge.
BTW - I hope the TVCA and AE&H can work something out that ultimately results in better/healthier comps, my view is that from an HCA player.

[Banker]

Meadows drop off? You gotta be kidding. Meadows are the only side maintaining the 'A grade' standard.

Thankfully most clubs have some youth coming thru that have the potential to bring back the standard of the competition that it once was.

[Dutchy]

I said "if".....

Didnt mean I want or wish for them to drop back to the standard of the others but that is more likely than 7 teams reaching their level anytime soon. Good luck to Meadows, they had the guts to move up to A grade a while back and havent looked back.

[BCC]

Alice, I think what Dutchy was saying is that tha HCA would an extrmely even comp if Meadows were at the same standard as the number 2 - 8 sides, not that they should be handicapped in the form of losing players. Obviously it would be even better if teams 2 - 8 improved to their standard!

Banker, if you are who I think you are then you are in no position to make this comment as you dont play A grade week in week out: "Meadows drop off? You gotta be kidding. Meadows are the only side maintaining the 'A grade' standard." As above teams 2 - 8 in the A grade are playing some good consistant cricket, half the reason the likes of Bridgy and SCIB are still pushing for A grade finals births.

I also don't agree with your comment: "Thankfully most clubs have some youth coming thru that have the potential to bring back the standard of the competition that it once was.". I think back to my junior days and when the Reids etc were playing juniors. Bridgy had two sides, mt lofty, aldgate, scib, stirling, baskets, uraidla. These days there are SCIB / Aldgate mergers and less kids playing up the hill in general.

I think this gradual decrease in junior numbers coupled with a number of seniors sides which are scraping round for A grade players (Bridgy, Stirling & even SCIB from what I've heard) will all lead towards the joint comp. I agree in that it wouldn't neccesarily result in a stronger playing comp for the HCA sides though in my opinion it would be better than a 6 team league (for example).

[Banker]

Your right mate, I've only watched SCIBs, Stirls and Bridgy play A's this year, and thats the first time ive seen any A grade in 4 years.
I think alot of us Mylor boys still have memories of A grade being a very tough comp. These days im not so sure...

Just my opinion, I really hope I get to find out personally next year

[Justquietly]

Ah, Banker. Isn't the 'Mylor should go to A grade' talk normally reserved for October? And all it ever is, is talk.

[R. White]

:lol: Ah, Banker. Isn't the 'Mylor should go to A grade' talk normally reserved for October? And all it ever is, is talk.

Going to get this out the way early JQ. Mylor will not put in an A grade team.... EVER. No one gives a s*#t about cricket down there, its all about the drinking afterwards. Which i think is fine. They realise that they are a B grade team and are happy with that. Not to mention that Steadman has played a couple of games for Athelstone as a dual registered player already this year so i would think that he will move on next year and take Gaunt with him. (Mr & Mrs Cricket). There goes the 2 most important players. B's would struggle to make finals without those two.
Would expect that it will be C's and D's next year at Mylor