2024 Adelaide Footy League - Division 1

[MoP]

A little bit of love from Marbles and DTH - it's great to see!

[The Big Shrek]

Pretty easy to fire shots after the event. The great thing about the AdFL is the mix of clubs and club structures. How can a team that has made finals then 2 grand finals since coming up to D1 not have soul? Sounds more like the old Le Fevre Peninsula stereotype of "us against the rest".

Where was the Port District soul when they finished 5th to 7th for several years in a row prior to the 2022 flag. I'm sure many PD faithful would admit they underachieved across that period with the personnel they had. But it didn't mean the club lacked soul. You don't have to have your own oval and clubrooms (with little council oversight) to have soul. Does PAOC not have soul from playing in the Parklands and having a Pub as its social base?

Glenunga clearly has a few challenges with its Webb Oval set-up and how much say the Council get but in the last 3 seasons I've found them to be a club with plenty of soul on and off the field.

I've got nothing against Glenunga, I think they've done brilliantly to be at the top of div 1 when they were a basket case not that long ago. They've also done a lot for junior footy.

On the other side of the coin (and this is a bit of guesswork), I doubt that many of their players have significant connections to the club. That's a manifestation of the club going to shit for a while and will take time to fix.

I don't think anyone can help but be impressed at what they've achieved, but it's also fair to wonder whether Port Districts had an advantage over Glenunga in the sense that the Ram's history and rapid rise mean there's not the same depth of connection to the club there.

[Point man]

Correct PAOC and co. are not community clubs. They are old scholars and that's fine, but you can't put old scholar clubs in the same category as community clubs. Not sure the Soul comment is the right term because every club has people involved who put their heart and soul into it including the old scholars. It's harder for them clubs not having junior programs to develop a community feel.

[The Bedge]

Read the word "soul" too many times over the past two pages, it's lost all meaning.

[hollywood7477]

Glenunga have done well but they’re not a proper footy club. Hence the last two losses.

Good call, Shrek. These messages usually come from you after midnight, though.

Rams are humble in their loss. Grima has coached his last game at the Rams.

Has he Definity stepped down?

I was told a rumour from a couple of people at Henley that Henley have approached him to be a director of coaching or something along the lines of that. They had Gavin Colville do it a couple of years ago. I could be wrong but he lives near the club. Whether that rumour is true I have no idea

[amber_fluid]

Interested in crowd number on sat and overall feel for crowd for both teams. Anyone got a sense of it?

No idea on numbers but definitely more Port Districts fans there.

Glenunga were spread out, some in members, some on the hill and then some behind the other goals

Dizzes - some in members, and filled the outer wing

I did notice small groups of Rams supporters having high tea at the northern end but other than that I thought it was mostly Port fans.

[MoP]

I was told a rumour from a couple of people at Henley that Henley have approached him to be a director of coaching or something along the lines of that. They had Gavin Colville do it a couple of years ago. I could be wrong but he lives near the club. Whether that rumour is true I have no idea

Yeah, he lives in the area and his son plays juniors at Henley.

He told me that if he can get the SANFL Juniors hierarchy to take over the Adelaide Footy League, he'd join Henley for sure!

[The Bedge]

Not sure if you’re joking if not.. Danielle Robran resigned today to join the AdFL

[MoP]

Not sure if you’re joking if not.. Danielle Robran resigned today to join the AdFL

HAHA, I'm not sure if you're joking now!

[The Bedge]

I am not.

[MoP]

From our good mate, Daniel Renfrey.....

A revered Adelaide Footy League coach has stepped down after taking his club to its third grand final in four years.

Glenunga coach Nathan Grima will leave the Rams ahead of season 2025 after helping the club to a second consecutive grand final appearance.

Joining Glenunga in 2021 after a stint as Sturt SANFL League coach, the former North Melbourne defender and Central District premiership player took a winless Rams side to a division two big dance and would go on to coach his team to two more grand finals, a 2023 loss to Prince Alfred OC and a loss to Port District last Saturday.

Grima said he made the decision at the start of the 2024 season and would not have backtracked if the Rams had have won their first ever D1 flag.

Nathan Grima has stepped down after four years as Glenunga coach. Picture: Max Stapleton
Nathan Grima has stepped down after four years as Glenunga coach. Picture: Max Stapleton
“At the start of this year I spoke with my wife about it and I knew with my work and family commitments with two young kids it was going to be hard to continue,” Grima said.

“I’m really proud of my time and what we’ve been able to do.

“I love that club and it was pretty emotional breaking the news to the group but it’s a good feeling to know I’ve had a positive impact.”

Glenunga has lost just five games through the past two seasons, with two of them being grand finals.

Grima said he was “bloody shattered” after Saturday’s 64-44 loss.

Nathan Grima during his side’s grand final clash with Port District on Saturday. Picture: Brenton Edwards
Nathan Grima during his side’s grand final clash with Port District on Saturday. Picture: Brenton Edwards
“Reflecting on the game we weren’t able to execute a lot of the stuff that makes us a good team,” he said.

“We’ve got a good mix but not a lot of outside run so we needed to win the contest and ground ball but they managed to win the clearances by 20 for a number of reasons and play the game in their front half.

“Everyone says we just play our home ground well but we’ve won a lot of games away from home and we were just convincingly beaten by a team that was better on the day.”

Despite the loss, Grima said he could not be prouder of his group and would miss the togetherness it brought.

“They’re a great group of lads and it’s a great club.

“We were able to have four years of growth and those guys have been able to compete with a lot of very talented teams.

Grima congratulates Port District coach Josh Ramsey after Saturday's grand final. Picture: Daniel Renfrey
Grima congratulates Port District coach Josh Ramsey after Saturday's grand final. Picture: Daniel Renfrey
“The most memorable part of it for me has been that when I started my son, Spencer was only two years old and just getting to know what footy was but he leaves now idolising all the players and they’ve been so big for him.

“I think that sums up footy clubs, they’re a great spot to be around and I’ve been fortunate to be involved in the way I have been.”

While Grima has been one of local footy’s most consistent coaches since taking over at the Rams, he said he was not considering returning to senior coaching in the near future.

“I probably can’t see myself coach again until the kids have grown up.

“I’m going to coach my daughter’s Under-9s netball team which will be interesting and I’d like to coach my son at some point but I’m looking forward to having the time off and focusing on myself and my family.”

[Lightning McQueen]

Is Webb Oval still a shit hole when it rains? I think I heard it had a decent upgrade a few years ago?

I don't think I have ever played there and it didn't rain, was always ankle deep sludge too.

[Bluedemon]

Not sure if you’re joking if not.. Danielle Robran resigned today to join the AdFL

She was working at the Adelaide Football League before doing the SANFL Juniors role.

[Footy Chick]

Not sure if you’re joking if not.. Danielle Robran resigned today to join the AdFL

you mean re-join? she's worked for them previously

[MoP]

Is Webb Oval still a shit hole when it rains? I think I heard it had a decent upgrade a few years ago?

I don't think I have ever played there and it didn't rain, was always ankle deep sludge too.

Upgrade not as good as it could have been, but oval certainly nowhere near as bad as it used to be.

Bear in mind, 33 junior teams, 3 senior teams and a High School give it a pretty serious work out during winter.

[jo172]

Is Webb Oval still a shit hole when it rains? I think I heard it had a decent upgrade a few years ago?

I don't think I have ever played there and it didn't rain, was always ankle deep sludge too.

Like alot of the eastern suburbs ovals (i.e hectorville, payneham etc.) a lot better than it used to be, but not perfect.

[Jimmy_041]

Is Webb Oval still a shit hole when it rains? I think I heard it had a decent upgrade a few years ago?

I don't think I have ever played there and it didn't rain, was always ankle deep sludge too.

Like alot of the eastern suburbs ovals (i.e hectorville, payneham etc.) a lot better than it used to be, but not perfect.

Bay of Biscay soil (clay) goes all the way through the eastern suburbs - perfect for sludge

[wenchbarwer]

Is Webb Oval still a shit hole when it rains? I think I heard it had a decent upgrade a few years ago?

I don't think I have ever played there and it didn't rain, was always ankle deep sludge too.

Like alot of the eastern suburbs ovals (i.e hectorville, payneham etc.) a lot better than it used to be, but not perfect.

Bay of Biscay soil (clay) goes all the way through the eastern suburbs - perfect for sludge

Doesn't extend to Flinders Park, does it? Or Brighton?

[locky801]

Is Webb Oval still a shit hole when it rains? I think I heard it had a decent upgrade a few years ago?

I don't think I have ever played there and it didn't rain, was always ankle deep sludge too.

Like alot of the eastern suburbs ovals (i.e hectorville, payneham etc.) a lot better than it used to be, but not perfect.

Bay of Biscay soil (clay) goes all the way through the eastern suburbs - perfect for sludge

Plus alot more usage now with the womens leagues, both seniors and juniors

[Bluedemon]

Alex Guy is the new Glenunga coach