HFL Division 2 (Country)

[Corona Man]

Nice to see a balanced, even draw this season. Macclesfield plays every game against a team coming off a bye. Fully rested and an extra week to get any injured players up. How can this possibly be considered fair? Would love to hear this justified by somebody involved in the leagues management. I'm not suggesting this is the main reason behind the seasons results but it certainly doesn't help. It's not like the smaller clubs need any more extra hurdles to being competitive.

I think you could say that is a result of the 30 seconds effort that goes into the draw every year.

[The Gimp]

Great win by the Roosters over the previous undefeated Raiders. Although Bridgy didn't kick accurately, Birdwood's pressure on the ball carrier was the best I've seen all year.
Funny to hear John "Tubby" McDonald have a whinge about the crowd on the way off! Very surprised to see him named 2nd best, he has killed us in the past but thought he struggled to get it on satdy and burnt the footy every time he did.

[Keefy]

Round 9

Kersbrook, Nairne and Bridgewater occupy the top 3 spots and 2 games clear of the chasing pack

Game this week:

Bridgewater should account for Meadows out at Callington
Ironbank to do the job over Kangarilla at Thunder Park. Thunderers just need to kick straight.
On form Gumeracha should be too strong for Macclesfield at Maccy
Match of the round sees Nairne hosting Kersbrook in a game that could go either way by a few goals

[Keefy]

Round 9

Kersbrook, Nairne and Bridgewater occupy the top 3 spots and 2 games clear of the chasing pack

Game this week:

Bridgewater should account for Meadows out at Callington
Ironbank to do the job over Kangarilla at Thunder Park. Thunderers just need to kick straight.
On form Gumeracha should be too strong for Macclesfield at Maccy
Match of the round sees Nairne hosting Kersbrook in a game that could go either way by a few goals

Winners:

Bridgewater by 115 pts
Ironbank by 21 pts

Way off in my prediction of Nairne v Kersbrook, the Rams by 88 pts

Nothing from Maccy yet

[Keefy]

Gums by 22 pts over Maccy

[doubletrouble]

Looks like the rams made pretty lite work of the brookers on Saturday.

[wonder_kid]

We all know kersbrook barely try until finals

[tigerpie]

I witnessed a king hit from behind off play at ironbank Saturday. Knocked the lad out.
The coward that did it didn't get sent off. Don't know if he got reported.
Hope the kangy lad is OK.

[Toto]

Nairne have the wood over them lately, but kersbrook seem to have less trouble with bridgey. Funny how footy works!

[wonder_kid]

I witnessed a king hit from behind off play at ironbank Saturday. Knocked the lad out.
The coward that did it didn't get sent off. Don't know if he got reported.
Hope the kangy lad is OK.

The lad is OK just shaken up ... The umpire even said he saw it to some of the players and yet did nothing the guy who threw the punch ended up getting a free kick after half the team went at him..very disappointing to say the least surely this type of act needs to be stamped out!

[tigerpie]

I witnessed a king hit from behind off play at ironbank Saturday. Knocked the lad out.
The coward that did it didn't get sent off. Don't know if he got reported.
Hope the kangy lad is OK.

The lad is OK just shaken up ... The umpire even said he saw it to some of the players and yet did nothing the guy who threw the punch ended up getting a free kick after half the team went at him..very disappointing to say the least surely this type of act needs to be stamped out!

The umpires were atrocious! Bloke should have been sent packing. Umps were against kangy the rest of the game?
You guys should put in a report on them.

[wonder_kid]

Not sure mate I'll leave that up to the powers of the footy club to decide

[Toto]

So the halfway mark is here. Time to review our pre season predictions.
I'm going to say Bridgey to go back to back.
Mumford for the goal kicking
Ben Hanna for the medal.

[wonder_kid]

So I heard a rumour that iron bank self imposed a 1 game suspension for the coward hit against one of our blokes? A bit soft if true surely you would want to stamp this crap out especially after denying it all day as well interesting if true!

[tigerpie]

So I heard a rumour that iron bank self imposed a 1 game suspension for the coward hit against one of our blokes? A bit soft if true surely you would want to stamp this crap out especially after denying it all day as well interesting if true!

At least its something. I heard police might be getting involved.

[cossi11]

Some interesting in's and outs for all teams across the league this year.

Round 1 very close now I'll have a crack at the tips this week:
Birdwood Vs Macclesfield - both teams have seen key losses this year in the off season, I think Birdwood still have the numbers and talent to get over Maccy at home and should do it by 2-3 goals.
Bridgewater Vs Ironbank - Interesting match up out at Callington, vast difference in oval size for Ironbank and Bridgewaters past home ground. Will be interesting as both have lost a fair few, I think Ironbank will want to try and establish themselves in the comp early and Bridgy will want to show there is no premiership hang over, should be a close one Bridgy by 1 goal.
Gumeracha Vs Nairne - Nairne will be a stand out this year from looking at their recruits, I know they are saying loosing Hancock is no big loss but i think the way they played last year and leaving him one out most weeks will be effected, but their new recruits will give them a 10 goal + win this week.
Kersbrook V Kangarilla - Even though Kangarilla have recruited I still don't see enough depth in their list to challenge the top 5 sides and see Kersbrook at home getting up by over 10 goals +.

Watch out for Mumford at Gummies, I am going to make a big call early call and back him in for the goal kicking... He reminds me of the Connolly from Birdwood, is a big frame, has a great set of dukes, can kick goals and most importantly has those 2nd and 3rd efforts for when the ball hits the ground.. I'll go with 60+ for the season

27 March i made this call... The guy is gun!!

[wonder_kid]

Hes more athletic then connoly I still reckon ladhams will win the goalkicking

[Toto]

Ladhams has surprised me. I thought he'd be kicking bags of 10+ with how they move the footy. Just kicking 5-6 most weeks. (Funny how that's not spectacular in country footy).
Hanna has absolutely no one to steal votes from him except Mumford, so he will poll massively I think, in saying so it will make them much easier to beat if they're there at the business end. Still think Bridgey and Nairne are a bridge too far for everyone else.

[Toto]

Tips this week.

Kersbrook will bounce back after being flogged by Nairne, hasn't happened to the brookers too many times in the last decade, expect them to bounce back and think they'll win by 15+ goal over Kangy.

Birdwood over Maccy by 10 goals

Bridgey over Ironbank by 5 goals

Nairne over Gumeracha by 7 goals.

[Brodlach]

Gums in an upset