Legs Man wrote:Personally I think Country div is all but stuffed already.
Kersbrook to Barossa
Kangarilla to Southern
Maccy / Meadows combine - play Central
Gums / Birdwood combine - play Central
Nairne - play Central
Sedan to Barossa (or anywhere closer to them)
Blackwood to Amateurs
12 team Central Div:
Uraidla
Mt Barker
Hahndorf
Onkas
Echunga
Lobethal
Nairne
Bridgewater
Ironbank
TV
McMeadows
Birderacha
Hope I haven't missed anyone
Looking the other way.
3 Divisions
Central with the top 8 teams
Country div 1 with the bottom 2 from Central and the top 6 from Country
Country div 2 with the bottom 3 from Country plus Blackwood (could they field 4 teams again with their B's playing here and their C's in Central or Milang to play B's) plus extra's eg Aldinga and Hackham struggling in the SFL, 2nd team from around Mt Barker eg Littlehampton, BSR who previously played against Sedan Cambrai and could Callington be relieved? Or suggest others.
There is always 1 or 2 teams slightly off the pace in the Central, abet names do change. The gap between the top and bottom teams in the Country is vast at times. In this way that would eliminate much of the previous 2 comments and make the both div's far more competitive. Throw in compulsory promotion and relegation depending on junior teams and things heat up a lot more and make far more games count.
Country div 2 would allow struggling clubs to play others who are more at their level without necessarily paying heaps of money just to be competitive. I realise the travel is a problem so eg Sedan v Aldinga, could the league play at a neutral venue eg the old Ashton or Lenswood ovals that are approx half way between the far Northern and Southern teams with one club hosting and running a canteen/bar so make some money and vice versa for the other later. No compulsory promotion or relegation but the premiership team or winner of div 2 club shield could nominate to go up thus the the bottom club in div 1 would always be on notice this could happen, again adding further interest to the comp's.
Country Juniors to be played in one div only meaning what ever teams clubs can field all in the one comp. It would mean a few times not all a clubs teams would play on the same oval but we are already starting to see this any how. May be a few more games in front of a C grade on a friday night may be possible so to make it easier on volunteers, trainers etc.
I know that some of these clubs would not be technically "Hills clubs" but the whole idea is to allow clubs to play to the best level that suits them without necessarily paying out a lot of cash and enable towns to keep their footy teams and not amalgamate and so lose their identity and be a big blow to social culture and bonding that footy clubs bring.
Expansion in the Hills would not radically weaken other leagues with any of the above suggestions, in fact with the SFL would help to improve the competitiveness of their league as well. No reason in the future why clubs could not switch leagues again if they can step up to the challenge and it benefits the club as a whole. Again there needs to be a happy medium for both clubs or leagues. Going down to one div could see a vast gulf between top and bottom clubs open and the need for clubs to spend beyond their means to be competitive. The older members of this board may remember 1983 when the Hills was only a one 15 team comp and big margins occurring between the old Zone 1 and 2 clubs.
Any way leave it to you other posters to discuss the various merits of going either way.
