Southern Football League

[woodublieve12]

SFL is on the decline, it needs 2 divisions!!! I do agree with Hackam_Hawks in the sense that they shouldn't fold and i respect there fighting spirit and i truly hope they can get some wins on the board this season... However its not much of a competition when you look in the paper on sunday and you see a game 40 odd goals to bugger all!!! you need a promotion, relegation system, give the bottom clubs incentive to be promoted... I think something has to be done to make SFL a better comp, at the moment i wouldnt recomend any club joining...
Onto the juniors playing sunday, honestly who really cares as long as the kids are getting games....

[asert]

The reason 1 div was formed again was it was harder for the div 2 teams to get players. To play div 2 a grade was like playing b grade. The gap got wider and only cove really survived it and kangarilla couldn't handle not bringing home a flag every year. If it happens it won't be a good thing.

[Backliner]

Bit of frustration, rant over

[lion heart]

Geez one minute its all about clubs shouldnt be recruiting so many players, in the long term they should be encouraging juniors and trying to hold on to them. Next people are pissed that clubs are doing everything they can to give kids that actually want to be at their club a game instead of going up the road to...??

Its so frustrating getting 12-14 under 14s each year and having to send them to other clubs or see them give up our great game. If having a team in the sunday comp means we can get a team up and running surely that is a positve move towards fielding saturday teams in the future.

We have Gary Dean coaching our under 14's this year who has experience of the S.A.N.F.L system and with the guidance of his old man who has coached junior and senior premierships we hope we can create a great place for kids to enjoy and improve their football.

[zooman07]

lion heart merge with the hawks be a better club............

[vics01]

LION HEART

You and other posters miss the point for 2 years now posters have been complaining about E/Town not bringing juniors but now that established SFL clubs are messing with the junior system it is ok. go figure

[bass_player]

LION HEART

You and other posters miss the point for 2 years now posters have been complaining about E/Town not bringing juniors but now that established SFL clubs are messing with the junior system it is ok. go figure

Edwardstown had existing junior sides that were not brought over to the SFL. Lonsdale have finally managed to secure an u/14 side but, due to players coming from the private school system, can only play in the Sunday comp. How can you compare the two when they are completely different situations? And how does entering a junior team into the Sunday comp mess with the system? Surely having a team play in the Sunday comp is better than not having a team at all!

[HH3]

My theory is that the people that try and tell the struggling teams how to go about turning the club around, have only been at clubs that have never had to do it. They would have no idea because the people before them have obviously made the clubs strong. For people to say merge, drop teams, yadda yadda yadda, have no clue. And I also notice most of them dont disclose which club they are actually from or support.

Hackham merging with Lonsdale would only be a bad thing for both clubs. First of all, we'd have to fit 4 teams of senior players into 3 teams, assuming we field a C grade. So thats already 21 players that will miss out on playing football. Secondly, the hundreds of people involved at Hackham, and the people involved at Lonsdale would not feel that its their club anymore. Thirdly, it would undo the work that we've done. Denis Kerr is an asset to Hackham, and in his first season, we won our first game in years. People outside of the clubs dont see how much heart and soul people put into their clubs. So merging would pretty much be a slap in the face to all that have done so much for us.

Bit bored so just thought id have another rant.

[fisho mcspaz]

They could be the OSB/Lonsdale/Hackham Griffins. Wouldn't the jumper look lovely too!

I really don't understand why the SFL doesn't go back to two divs. Whenever I voice this opinion people say the same thing, 'Oh, so-and-so club (usually Marion or Flagstaff Hill) wouldn't like it.' What I want to know is, is there a decent reason why there shouldn't be two divs, besides a few ruffled feathers?

Then again, this is the same league that put out the red carpet for Edwardstown. Why does the league need to go out of its way to cater to teams like Edwardstown, particularly when half the teams it's already got are struggling? 14 teams were already too many, and it's not like the SFL is short on talent (or that Townies would provide much more, given that they didn't bring their juniors with them).

[ol man emu]

They could be the OSB/Lonsdale/Hackham Griffins. Wouldn't the jumper look lovely too!

I really don't understand why the SFL doesn't go back to two divs. Whenever I voice this opinion people say the same thing, 'Oh, so-and-so club (usually Marion or Flagstaff Hill) wouldn't like it.' What I want to know is, is there a decent reason why there shouldn't be two divs, besides a few ruffled feathers?

Then again, this is the same league that put out the red carpet for Edwardstown. Why does the league need to go out of its way to cater to teams like Edwardstown, particularly when half the teams it's already got are struggling? 14 teams were already too many, and it's not like the SFL is short on talent (or that Townies would provide much more, given that they didn't bring their juniors with them).

I agree the 1 division hasn't worked. I also think we need more than 15 teams to make 2 divisons.
we need at the least 8 and 8. 10 and 8 would be even better.
I hope this is why Edwardstown have come into the competition.
Edwardstown will have 18s this year with 14s and 16s to follow next year.

[rodney fox]

I have been in the SFL for many years and know many people across different leagues, divs and states and quite simply from everyone looking in from the outside the SFL is a laughing stock.

I have now moved on from my club which I never thought I would but the draw of playing in a better competition is certainly exciting for me. The SFL have let it go for to long so what's the point in covering the same topics year in year out when nothing has changed in so many years?

Like it or lump it I say as nothings gonna chagne so get use to it.

Sorry to burst your bubble Hackham Hawk but I can safely say people will not come running to your club if you win two or three games. I'm afraid backliner was spot on when he said all your doing is to recruit to beat Aldinga and Lonsdale maybe. Sad thought but that's the way the cookie crumbles.

[special]

I have been in the SFL for many years and know many people across different leagues, divs and states and quite simply from everyone looking in from the outside the SFL is a laughing stock.

I have now moved on from my club which I never thought I would but the draw of playing in a better competition is certainly exciting for me. The SFL have let it go for to long so what's the point in covering the same topics year in year out when nothing has changed in so many years?

Like it or lump it I say as nothings gonna chagne so get use to it.

Sorry to burst your bubble Hackham Hawk but I can safely say people will not come running to your club if you win two or three games. I'm afraid backliner was spot on when he said all your doing is to recruit to beat Aldinga and Lonsdale maybe. Sad thought but that's the way the cookie crumbles.

If this club only recruits to be these two teams then good on them you must start somewhere other wise if no talent was to filter in the moral at this club will only increase downwards and even more tough times a head good luck hawks 2010 from the rams.maintain your stocks and it will turn around some day.

[HH3]

I have been in the SFL for many years and know many people across different leagues, divs and states and quite simply from everyone looking in from the outside the SFL is a laughing stock.

I have now moved on from my club which I never thought I would but the draw of playing in a better competition is certainly exciting for me. The SFL have let it go for to long so what's the point in covering the same topics year in year out when nothing has changed in so many years?

Like it or lump it I say as nothings gonna chagne so get use to it.

Sorry to burst your bubble Hackham Hawk but I can safely say people will not come running to your club if you win two or three games. I'm afraid backliner was spot on when he said all your doing is to recruit to beat Aldinga and Lonsdale maybe. Sad thought but that's the way the cookie crumbles.

If this club only recruits to be these two teams then good on them you must start somewhere other wise if no talent was to filter in the moral at this club will only increase downwards and even more tough times a head good luck hawks 2010 from the rams.maintain your stocks and it will turn around some day.

Thanks mate. We'll get there eventually.

[Courtney Fish]

LION HEART

You and other posters miss the point for 2 years now posters have been complaining about E/Town not bringing juniors but now that established SFL clubs are messing with the junior system it is ok. go figure

How is having under 14's for the first time in a few years messing with the system? A simple solution would be all clubs have one team in each age group, then there would be plenty of kids to go round. It's never going to happen though, too late for that. You have heaps of kids so you don't know what the other clubs go through to try and get a team on the park. There used to be a 1300 kid High School at Morphett Vale, now you have one down the road, every area ages yours might too one day.

[ddonkey]

LION HEART

You and other posters miss the point for 2 years now posters have been complaining about E/Town not bringing juniors but now that established SFL clubs are messing with the junior system it is ok. go figure

How is having under 14's for the first time in a few years messing with the system? A simple solution would be all clubs have one team in each age group, then there would be plenty of kids to go round. It's never going to happen though, too late for that. You have heaps of kids so you don't know what the other clubs go through to try and get a team on the park. There used to be a 1300 kid High School at Morphett Vale, now you have one down the road, every area ages yours might too one day.

you couldn't field junior teams when you did operate out of a high school! something fundamentally wrong with your club?? the sfl tried to stop clubs having dual junior teams but soon saw the folly in this. kids who's fathers played at the strong clubs aren't going to play for osb/l if they can't get a game at the club that they grew up at. you just have to work your bums off to get the kids to your club and then work your bums off to keep them there. no easy answers just a lot of hard work and few people who know what they're doing.

[shoe boy]

WATERBOY
Can't speak for Morphettville Park but in Lonsdale's case the decision is to have an under 14s side on Sunday or have no under 14s side. Without the under 14s who are still in year 7 at private schools and have to play Saturday for their school Lonsdale do not have the numbers for an under 14s side.

Lonsdale have presented their case to the board and the board have agreed that it is better that they have a team of under 14s somewhere than have no team at all.

That is a crock of an excuse. Can't think of many if any private schools down lonsdale way that play footy.

Again I say this destroys the fabric of the SFL comp.[/quote]

I have to agree with Vic01 on this,
The strength of our comp is Sat footy where clubs play 14/16/18/B/A all on the same day and at the same venue! I feel that we have allowed Sun footy that is only and should only be an overflow from Sat become a comp of its own!!

You take Noarlunga for example 14 play Aldinga at M/Parks while 18 play Reynella at Lonsdale while other sides play at the Shoe.THIS DESTROYS THE FABRIC OF THE COMP. and this happens many times which streches the support staff but most importantly the familys that have little Jonny in the 14 and big brother in the 16/18 and so on pluss the loss of revenue from YOUR club.
Sunday footy should not be an easy option out it should be an overflow only!!!! LETS NOT LOOSE SIGHT.

[bass_player]

WATERBOY
Can't speak for Morphettville Park but in Lonsdale's case the decision is to have an under 14s side on Sunday or have no under 14s side. Without the under 14s who are still in year 7 at private schools and have to play Saturday for their school Lonsdale do not have the numbers for an under 14s side.

Lonsdale have presented their case to the board and the board have agreed that it is better that they have a team of under 14s somewhere than have no team at all.

That is a crock of an excuse. Can't think of many if any private schools down lonsdale way that play footy.

Again I say this destroys the fabric of the SFL comp.[/quote]

I have to agree with Vic01 on this,
The strength of our comp is Sat footy where clubs play 14/16/18/B/A all on the same day and at the same venue! I feel that we have allowed Sun footy that is only and should only be an overflow from Sat become a comp of its own!!

You take Noarlunga for example 14 play Aldinga at M/Parks while 18 play Reynella at Lonsdale while other sides play at the Shoe.THIS DESTROYS THE FABRIC OF THE COMP. and this happens many times which streches the support staff but most importantly the familys that have little Jonny in the 14 and big brother in the 16/18 and so on pluss the loss of revenue from YOUR club.
Sunday footy should not be an easy option out it should be an overflow only!!!! LETS NOT LOOSE SIGHT.

So basically you're saying we should field half a Saturday side instead of a full Sunday side to make life easier for other clubs??? Get real SB! If Noarlunga, or any other club for that matter, were in the same boat they would rather their juniors get a game on a Sunday than not play at all.

Sunday footy for the Lonsdale u/14's isn't an easy option, it's our ONLY option!

[Look Good In Leather]

WATERBOY
Can't speak for Morphettville Park but in Lonsdale's case the decision is to have an under 14s side on Sunday or have no under 14s side. Without the under 14s who are still in year 7 at private schools and have to play Saturday for their school Lonsdale do not have the numbers for an under 14s side.

Lonsdale have presented their case to the board and the board have agreed that it is better that they have a team of under 14s somewhere than have no team at all.

That is a crock of an excuse. Can't think of many if any private schools down lonsdale way that play footy.

Again I say this destroys the fabric of the SFL comp.[/quote]

I have to agree with Vic01 on this,
The strength of our comp is Sat footy where clubs play 14/16/18/B/A all on the same day and at the same venue! I feel that we have allowed Sun footy that is only and should only be an overflow from Sat become a comp of its own!!

You take Noarlunga for example 14 play Aldinga at M/Parks while 18 play Reynella at Lonsdale while other sides play at the Shoe.THIS DESTROYS THE FABRIC OF THE COMP. and this happens many times which streches the support staff but most importantly the familys that have little Jonny in the 14 and big brother in the 16/18 and so on pluss the loss of revenue from YOUR club.
Sunday footy should not be an easy option out it should be an overflow only!!!! LETS NOT LOOSE SIGHT.

So basically you're saying we should field half a Saturday side instead of a full Sunday side to make life easier for other clubs??? Get real SB! If Noarlunga, or any other club for that matter, were in the same boat they would rather their juniors get a game on a Sunday than not play at all.

Sunday footy for the Lonsdale u/14's isn't an easy option, it's our ONLY option!

Then go to the Amateur League, put your kids in Metro South
Have a successful year in Div 6/7, work your way up - build your junior base up and then return if you like.

You never know, if you take the punt - you could promote yourself as an alternative in the south, build yourself up through the Ammos grades and you could end up an alternate "Elite" club in the south (similar to what Reynella has done in the cricket).

IMO Hackham should have done this when they became the "Southern Hawks" - suddenly they had a brand that they could have promoted on a different stage as an alternative to the SFL.

[MatteeG]

I really don't understand why the SFL doesn't go back to two divs. Whenever I voice this opinion people say the same thing, 'Oh, so-and-so club (usually Marion or Flagstaff Hill) wouldn't like it.'

Absolute rubbish Fisho. The reason the 2 div thing never worked was because there was no promotion/relegation.

Not because some clubs 'didnt like it'

No-one likes to be in div 2, however it can be a way for the weaker senior sides to enjoy some success and have a realistic shot at finals/flag.

Remember Flaggies were in Div 2 for a few years before the whole comp went back to 1 div.

[shapes]

Absolute rubbish Fisho. The reason the 2 div thing never worked was because there was no promotion/relegation.

Not because some clubs 'didnt like it'

No-one likes to be in div 2, however it can be a way for the weaker senior sides to enjoy some success and have a realistic shot at finals/flag.

Remember Flaggies were in Div 2 for a few years before the whole comp went back to 1 div.[/quote]

It's also not fun playing sides when you win by 20 goals each week, doesn't prove a great deal IMO. Promotion / Relegation would be something to think about. Which could work.