HFL Division 2 (Country)

[Sherrin]

Which players would you say makes Birdwood a stronger side this year? They did lose Scott Friend didn't they?[/quote]

That did make them stronger

[The Gimp]

Id say itll hurt the Dees if I had to choose. They love to play the running game and if its wet perhaps Birdwoods bigger bodies might be able to slow them down.

anyone wanna give us a brief match report on the Birdwood v Echunga game? i know the dees got up in the end, but sounds like it was a cracka!

The result would have surprised a few. Birdwood dropping down from Central Division and boasting a stronger side this year still couldn't beat the Deez.

Which players would you say makes Birdwood a stronger side this year? They did lose Scott Friend didn't they?

Dawson covers the loss of Scott Friend and Bayzand, McLeay, Franklin, Jones, Harrison, Austin, Muster all significantly improve the A grade.
The younger guys like Matters, Ancell, Green x 2 have all improved on last year plus add Lamborn and Topham who will both play plenty of A grade footy in their first year up.
For the first time in a few years we've currently got pretty good depth right through both grades which will be the key towards the end of the season.

IMO Scott Friend didn't have his best year in 2010 due to not being able to consistently train. When he is training twice a week he is a gun but if not, he drops away a bit (like most players).

[atlantis]

Any word on where SJ the new umpiring ambassador will be officiating tomorrow?

The impact umpire done the U17's top of the table clash with Mick "Mad Dog" Taylor. Heard Mad Dog wanted a closer look at SJ, before a neighbouring league gives him an elevated opportunity.

The Impact Umpire is actually a good name for Johnno, to be a good umpire you have to go un noticed and unfortunately he has a large "impact". The bloke basiclly stops games to talk about himself. If he could shut up for a second he might let someone teach how to umpire but untill then he will roll through the ranks destorying junior grades of footy. Hopefully he takes up the offer from the neighbouring league, i hear its the pony club.

[PitBull]

Has "Mad Dog" and Andrew "Johnny" Holmes severed the umbilical cord from SJ yet. Noticed in last weekend’s budget they umpired 3 games for the day.

[pushing forward]

What happened to Gummers being top 3 or even grand final material? Down by a lazy 16 goal to the Brookers today.

[redsox]

What happened to Gummers being top 3 or even grand final material? Down by a lazy 16 goal to the Brookers today.

Like I said in an earlier post - "Not as good as last year". Will have no impact finals time. Will push over the lower teams but will not get close to the top 3.

[Shortman]

This isnt a new issue. Ive watched these 2 sides for over 20 years and could count the number of times weve beaten them on 1 hand. Yet we have beaten Echunga twice and ran them pretty close again in round 1. They arent even close to being a 16 goal better side than us talent wise, theres a deeper mentality issue that doesnt just lay with this group of players but the club as a whole. Its kind of like watching the Crows in Showdowns of late, too scared about what might happen if they lose as opposed to actually thinking about winning.

[AKA]

What happened to Gummers being top 3 or even grand final material? Down by a lazy 16 goal to the Brookers today.

Like I said in an earlier post - "Not as good as last year". Will have no impact finals time. Will push over the lower teams but will not get close to the top 3.

Kersbrook definately got the wood over gum, just dont much up well with them.

[Old Blue New Tiger]

Interesting comparison between the Brookers and Gum this year. I was speaking with Brett James a couple of weeks ago and he said that due to injuries and players returning , it would be rounds 5-6 before they started to field there best side. He wasn't to concerned about the early results because they will only get stronger. Maybe you should wait until the 2nd round before comparing. My money is on a Kersbrook v Echunga GF.

[Cougar]

This isnt a new issue. Ive watched these 2 sides for over 20 years and could count the number of times weve beaten them on 1 hand. Yet we have beaten Echunga twice and ran them pretty close again in round 1. They arent even close to being a 16 goal better side than us talent wise, theres a deeper mentality issue that doesnt just lay with this group of players but the club as a whole. Its kind of like watching the Crows in Showdowns of late, too scared about what might happen if they lose as opposed to actually thinking about winning.

Its 3 times in the past 25 years Remember on one of those 3 times, the Gum supporters couldn't believe it, and took photos of the scoreboard

[One Eyed]

What happened to all the superstar forwards for Gum this week or are they just champs against the lowly sides ???

[sweetlips]

Those so called guns are taking candy from a baby ( money from the club )

Rack up the records against clubs like Sedan and Callington but struggle to kick 1 or 2 goals against decent opposition.
Perhaps they dont want to risk injury getting the hard ball in those games so they can pump up their ego's against the cellar dwellers.
For example : last week against Callington Best Players Q.Graham (paid import)
M.Ashby (paid import)

this week against Kersbrook Best Players B. Hutt (local)
B.Jardine (local)

A major sponsor (provider of money to these players) said a couple of weeks ago he doesnt mind what happens as long as they beat Kersbrook.

Back to the drawing board I guess !! It will happen, not sure when.

Perhaps the answer is to give them more money to play better against the clubs they want to beat. Just a suggestion.

I could comment about the mental issues bit but hey i guess you find excuses where you can. Might leave that one for a later post.

[Kick'n Back]

What did everyone think of the pink footys i know at Kersy oval they only used it for 1 quarter

[Shortman]

Its not an excuse its a fact. As cougar said 3 times in 25 yrs suggests to all reasonable people that its not just an issue for this playing group that you like to take shots at. Theres almost a bit of 'here we go again' whenever we play them and til that goes our club wont have the ultimate success because kersy will always be there

[sweetlips]

Well could a reasonable person please explain the fact that as an A Grade squad that has been playing together for about 2 years which equates to 4 or 5 games against Kersbrook have ISSUES stemming back 25 years ???????

[Spearhead]

What did everyone think of the pink footys i know at Kersy oval they only used it for 1 quarter

Terrible! Our guys were looking for ways to lose it (heavy and slippery), how did they get away with only 1 quarter at Kersbrook?

[ftandsq]

Well could a reasonable person please explain the fact that as an A Grade squad that has been playing together for about 2 years which equates to 4 or 5 games against Kersbrook have ISSUES stemming back 25 years ???????

Cause they have spent 25 years of savings in that 2 years!

[Shortman]

Well could a reasonable person please explain the fact that as an A Grade squad that has been playing together for about 2 years which equates to 4 or 5 games against Kersbrook have ISSUES stemming back 25 years ???????

You can hear it around the club "How good WOULD it be to beat Kersy", not how good WILL it be WHEN. They arent brought into a winning culture against them, its a fantasy land. We are not a 16 goal worse side than they are and I dont think you can accuse all of the the paid players of not putting in the blame cant just rest with them, theres a whole heap more to it than that.

[wrentalkah]

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[the big fella]

I see cally are bringing in the big gun recruits..dolly dolman.

Nairne would want a big transfer fee Id say..

best of luck Dolly.