HFL Division 1 (Central)

[dont think do]

Although I am not involved in the Hills league and have never been, the increase of money driving players i think is across the board. In the SAAFL the div 1 clubs would be paying out $20,000 to $30,000 per year in payments. Then there is the problem with div 3 and 4 clubs paying money to attract some start players who have played well in div 1 etc and who want to cash in.

Love of the jumper? not sure it applies to that many A grade players anymore.

[BubblesOfBlue]

Round 1 this week for Central interested in predictions as to how teams will go?

[hillsrider]

BOB, can you tell us who is playing who?

[petoe]

Round 1 tips
Ironbank to beat Bridgewater
Lobethal to beat Hahndorf
Mt Lofty to beat Onka Valley
And im not sure what the other game is but has to invlove Blackwood, Mt Barker, Uraidla with one having the bye?

[bazzw]

Blackwood to beat Mt Barker
Bridgewater to beat Ironbank
Onka Valley to beat Mt Lofty
Lobethal to beat Hahndorf

[GWW]

Round 1 tips
Ironbank to beat Bridgewater
Lobethal to beat Hahndorf
Mt Lofty to beat Onka Valley
And im not sure what the other game is but has to invlove Blackwood, Mt Barker, Uraidla with one having the bye?

Which club would be starting off the year as favourites for the flag?

[hillsrider]

word is that blackwood have lost a stack of players, (well over 20 i hear) but only picked up one or two. see there country team only beat gums by 10 goals last week. same match last year thay won by over 20 goals. will be interesting to see how both their teams go this year, as their central team were very disappointing in the finals last year.

[grumpy]

Can anyone give us some inside gossip on Mount Lofty? They have been pretty average the last few years. I heard they have lost a couple of players?

[ORDoubleBlues]

Shows how much I know The Maccy player I was referring to is actually Hutchings not Hutchinson. Knew who I meant but you'd think I would be able to get his name right .

Have heard from a very reliable source that Bridgewater has picked up a quality ruckman from Payneham/Norwood Union for this season. Will probably need to have picked up a few more though and former club great Julian Snowden has assumed the coaching position.

Think that is a very valid point by Don't think Do, there is big spending going on everywhere. Milang tried this in 2000 with the likes of Dual Mail medalist Shane Russell, Matt James, Jason Schuetz, Scott Middleton, Jason Bevan, Michael Padroth, etc, etc and significant money was spent in securing these players for a third place finish. Only about half of them stayed on for the 2001 season and they missed the finals and the following season there was no one at all left and now they have unfortunately folded. Have heard the comment around the place that "----- ----- (Hills league followers will know who this is) put's $10,000 into Milang every year because he was born there" - SO!!!!!! - That will only get you three players at $200 dollars a game which is slightly less than half of what some Country Division players are getting now.

[PPLions]

I remember that year in 2000 when Miland had Dennis Russell coaching and must have had a lot of financial support
Milang beat us (Torrens Valley) in one of the semis at Gum. we went straight out of the finals, losing to Echunga I think at Kersbrook in the other one.
Russell kicked I think 8 or 9 from Centre.
He and the CHF, I think it was James, were very good.
But, a lot of money for 3rd.
It is very difficult to win a flag relying soely on paid players. The hunger is not there.

[hillsrider]

certainly remember that year. milang was stacked with imports. think echunga beat ironbank in the gf. meadows lost the elim final to milang that year. russell and james were very good for milang that year. did hear the money they spent was absurd as well.

[robby]

Mt Lofty did struggle for a while, but returned to finals last year. Have a few good recruits and should again be in finals contention.

[bazzw]

Well Robby, Mt Lofty would want to be in finals contention considering the amount of money they have been throwing around in recent times. Its clubs like this that are ruining Hills Football and i hope that the might dogs give them a belting on saturday night.

[robby]

I disagree, i would rather see Mt Lofty competitive than being belted every week as has occurred in the past. Being cellar dwellars has seen many talented juniors leave the club when they have stepped up to senior football. Due to the success of the senior sides last season, many of these juniors have returned to the club. Money cant buy depth in a club.

[grumpy]

I agree with Robbie. I Have heard that several juniors have returned back to the club. Regardless of how talented they are its great to see the Hills league attracting players.
Bazzw, surely Onkaparinga have spent some serious coin on the likes of Goldsmith etc in the past. I heard a rumour that they offered Travis Oakley in access of $500 a game.

[Chook]

I think that robbie has a fair point. We all want to see a competitive Hills League every year. It brings people to the game.

I have watched plenty of A-grade footy throughout the years and I would have to say that I never enjoyed seeing a twenty goal win to a side. Its good if its your own team, but I like to watch different games so an even comp is the best, and is the best to keep the standard improving.

I have heard rumours of players from all clubs getting plenty of money. Goldsmith was on plenty.

[robby]

Cheers boys, Mt Lofty also turned down Sudjai Cook who offered to play for them for the sum of $500 per game, so the devils have recruited for the long term i'd say.

[Chook]

So did sudjai cook go to Lobethal.... didn't he??

It seems as though the money rumours seem to always fly around.

I guess if a good player like that comes to the hills, everyone would assume he is on big money.

I wonder how much of it all is true??

I hear rumours in other leagues about people that are getting heaps of money, like in the SAAFL and barossa league etc.

Its hard to know what is and what isn't true!

It will be interesting to see how Hahndorf, Lobethal and Ironbank go this year. I must admit that they didn't have the best year last year and have heard that Lobethal and Hahndorf have picked up well. Anyone know of how Ironbank are looking. I heard they lost a few players like rusty and smithy. Can anyone fill us in on any pickups?? I would like to see Ironbank claw their way back up the ladder this year.

[BubblesOfBlue]

Ironbank picked up a few this year a couple from the southern league and a few from the amateurs solid players but no big names I know of.

[hillsrider]

can anyone tell us who is playing who in the country league this week. the hills league website hasnt been updated for a year now!!
hey, does anyone know where online results for games played each weekend can be found?