Afterthesiren wrote:woody wrote:One issue that doesn't get alot of mention on here is the lack of a good junior comp in country div.
Some clubs do not have teams at all levels. This makes for unattractive mornings for a lot of parents. Having observed and coached junior footy at both Central and Country levels for quite a few years. I have found that Central is far cleaner and skillfull comp with much less emphasis on the Biff than Country. I feel for any juniors and their parents forced to play in a lesser comp.
Surely an argument for staying in Central Division isn't going to hinge on the junior competition. I have also coached junior football in both divisions and can say there is not that much difference in skill level. Its not until you look at the top sides in U/17s that you notice the difference and by this time the boys are getting ready or are already playing A/B grade footy. You need to come up with something better than this.
having personally played as a junior in both divisions i believe there is a massive difference at junior level between the two... i remember playing a mid season trial against uraidla in u/14's we were 2nd or 3rd in div 2 and they were 2nd or 3rd bottom in div 1 and they comprehensively beat us by around 8 goals!
also if central becomes an 11 team comp and you still play everyone twice it creates several problems...
1. start in february and grand final day would be the same as the AFL grand final
2. teams could have up to three weeks without a game if their bye falls around interleague or country carnival weekends
3. country div will almost diminish depending on how long callington and sedan/cambrai survive
If you wonder why Owen and his chargers are clambering to change the rules you must only go as far as walking into the HFL headquarters and see the only premiership photo on the wall... A massive photo of the lobethal Uraidla grand final which the tigers won!
