Any reason why Hills Country couldn't have a similar sytem to the Yorke Peninsula and follow a permit system?
Basically you come ninth - you are able to have 9 new recruits the next year, 5th - 5, 1st just the one etc.
Permits could hold for two years.
Would encourage promotion of juniors and retention of any recruits.
Would even up the comp - on the Yorke's the Southern Eagles won the flag from fifth this year in a league where there aren't too many blowouts...