R. White wrote:Seems to me that TV have had all the support in the world from the HFL since entering the central division, and the HFL has done nothing but hinder Echunga's promotion.
I understand that the decision to have a 11 team comp is now up to the other clubs which i would say is unlikely due to the sedan move.
Then the issue should be who gets relegated. this is a whole different issue for which each club has a case for and against:
Echunga - should stay- (as legsman has pointed out on many occasions) less points than TV
- Won the A Grade flag
- Strong junior numbers - loosely worded rules around relegation points
- Should go - finished bottom of club shield (which is believed to be the measuring stick)
- B grade didnt win a game suggesting lack of depth (which i would assume will get better the longer they stay up)
TV - Should stay - Earned the right to stay by staying off bottom of club shield
- Should go - very poor junior numbers - had extra points which ultimately helped them stay off bottom of club shield
- poor facilities
Bridgy - Should stay - Strong junior program
- Seniors improving regularly on the back of junior program
- recently merged with Callington (needs time to prove benefit)
Should go - poor facilities
- may have finished bottom on points (based on loosely worded rules)
I am sure i have missed some things here but in my eyes there is only one sensible solution. Keep the 10 team comp and relegate the weakest club as a whole. TV. when i say whole i mean everything including facilities, juniors (both numbers and success) seniors (including finals).
Some may deem this unfair but life is unfair and in my opinion it is by far the best thing for the comp.
i understand where you're coming from but how about a bit more accuracy?
- If Echunga had "strong junior numbers", I doubt they would've only won 11 out of 54 games. They filled all sides but I wouldn't call them strong.
- TV seniors had a pretty good year (albeit unfairly with extra points) with A's missing finals by 2 games and had 5th highest % and their B's finishing 4th.
- Comparing TV juniors to Echunga I hardly think their junior numbers were "very poor" considering they won 9 out of 54 games (2 less than Echunga).
I agree TV would be more suited to div 2 at the moment, but at least make your argument clear and unbiased.
I still think the main problem is with div 2 and if there weren't so many one-sided senior games and so many holes in the juniors, it would be a good place for some of the "div 1" clubs to come back, rebuild and head back up again to give it another crack. Long term, will the smaller towns like Echunga, Uraidla, Ironbank etc be able to sustain the spending it requires to have a crack at the div 1 premiership?
I think the big clubs like Barker, Hahndorf, Onkas etc will always be div 1 clubs but if they can fix div 2, reduce the step between the two div's, remove the stigma of relegation and have div 2 there for rebuilding smaller clubs to have a crack at success against the smaller clubs that will probably never be able to play in div 1.