citycoaster17 wrote:Yes all of these clubs have the potential to or already add something to central. But moving to a 12 team comp may not work in the long term. A crystal ball, if we had one, may show the same issue we now have in country (a massive gap in competitiveness) eventuating in Central in years to come, should the change to a 12 team be made.
It would almost surely see the end of the country div. I for one believe that the long term fix to our league doesn't lie in a change to the Central Division, but in the improvement of the Country Division. Which will only improve Central, were as the same can not be said for Counrty if we are to improve Central now.
Suggestion then is what? How can you improve country div? We need to attempt to bring clubs up to a common level not prejudice clubs for the success they have in bringing them 'back down' to a common level.
Unfortunately this just isn't going to happen. Satellite towns outside of the major populated areas are/will continue to struggle. This isn't just evident in sport but in all types of services including health, education, etc etc.
For country to survive they need to either merge and become stronger with their geo spread or maintain status who and have their own league which caters for them. Maybe the HFL Central becomes a different league vs HFL Country which is I dependant ( ie riverland).
Agree that HFL should become paid professional it clearly lacks business and common sense. The cost should be subsidised by SANFL, afl and Central clubs.
The power to change all this is with our clubs own committees..we need to voice our opinions to our resoective club presidents etc so that change happens.[/quote]
I have been failing to find a solution in my mind for some time. I am not suggesting bringing sides back or lowering the standard at all. But perhaps the successful clubs can find a way to help the struggling clubs to rise to the level, rather then cast them aside.
In the past there has been a suggestion thrown around, of the restriction of Junior rego numbers for each club. This should result in the over flow moving to near by or maybe (in the crunch) not so near by country clubs to get a game of footy. If these clubs receiving the new junior inflow do the right thing and nurture these juniors and there potential this should in the future see them rise back to competitiveness. Both at a Senior and junior level. As much as the Country division's seniors competitiveness is not idea, the real frightening issue is the lack of junior teams competing.[/quote]
Wow, that would open up a whole new can of worms. Lets say Mt Barker get 35 kids out for training at the start of the year for under 13's, they are only allowed to utilise say 30. What is the club and coach going to do? Sorry bud, I know you have been playing here for a couple of years now, but we have a heap of really good players that have turned up this year, you are going to have to go else where. What is that kid going to do? Never play football again is my guess.[/quote]
It would certainly stir a few things (and people up).
That is one possibility. Or the Mount barker (to stay with ur example) have the option to retain the player who has been playing for them for some time and send the new and talented player else where. This would also help greatly to balance the equality of junior footy.
Any one else able to through a few ideas about on how to improve the country standard both short and long term?