Roaring Lion! wrote:Unfortunatly the SFL idea of the merging Div 1 & 2 years ago seemed like a good idea at the time so they could replicate the AFL & have a 15-16 team competition a final 8 but reality was this is when things went pear shaped for them as they had clubs merge or leave the league all together & attracting new clubs is now very hard when there is such an uneven-ness down there (40+ goal differences) as your Top 3-4 clubs are very good & will be always around the mark, your next 4-5 clubs are competitive as they flog the bottom few but cant match it with the premier sides & the bottom 3-4 clubs will unfortunatly always be that way without a proper funding to help put the structures in place to develop that will get them out of the old Div 2 mold to make the league go forward!
The idea of merging SFL & GSFL to make a Super Southern League may sound good but realistic this wont happen as the GSFL already run a successful 10 team competition so why would they change?
The other idea of going back to Div 1 & Div 2 competitions with promotion/relagation to reward performance is a great idea but you will need to attract more/ex teams back for this to work as Div 1 needs 10 teams to be healthy & Div 2 needs at least 8-10 teams for the SFL to make this to happen which would mean attracting 4-6 teams to your league which will be a challenge on its own as would a Kangarilla, Blackwood, Mitchell Park, McLaren Vale, Meadows or Edwardstown really want to leave successful leagues where they are all currently competitve??
This will ruffle a few feathers but i am just throwing it out there as another option maybe the SFL to be a force again needs to re-structure & look at reducing the number of teams (like aussie soccer when it re-formed the A-league) with giving the un-competitive teams of year in year out an option of a merger or explore another league???
A few examples could be:
Mitchell Park maybe look to move into the SAAFL or into merge with a Brighton/Marion?
Aldinga a merge out is of the option as is a developing area but maybe look to move into the GSFL?
Hackam maybe look into merge with a Noarlunga/Morphett Vale/Christies Beach?
Lonsdale/O'Sullivans Beach maybe look into merge with a Cove/Reynella/Christies Beach?
If the SFL has at least 2-4 of the above options happen it would leave it with a more even & competive 10-12 team competiton with each team playing twice against each other over 18-22 rounds home & away rounds with a Top 5-6 Finals Series to show case the best instead of just having numbers make up the Major Round!
There are MORE than enough players in the Southern Area (top of the hill) to support the existing teams, juniors and seniors. Some clubs, for whatever reason, are just more successful. I whole heartedly believe a day will arrive, if it hasn't already, when either Reynella, Valley, M/Vale, or Cove enquire about filling a D grade or a 3rd team in a junior grade. The lower clubs need a little bit of support from the league and a lot of hard work from the members.
