HFL Division 1 (Central)

[lovethefooty]

i don't doubt what you are saying tank...but it does strike me as a little odd....

does anyone seriously believe Uraidla will be challenged come the finals??

from what I have seen they are so far ahead of all other teams...

but footy is a funny game...maybe not that funny

[Armytank]

i don't doubt what you are saying tank...but it does strike me as a little odd....

Mate it is more than just a little odd - it is a very unique situation that creates an awful lot of emotion

Serious Question - Is there any other league in Australia that has more than one division, in which the entire club consisting of junior and senior grades play on the same day in the same competition?

The only other I can think of was the SFL before they moved to one division back in the 90's?

[The Sorce]

Looks like the way the last 2 rounds play out and if results go to as they should with no shock upsets (only one that can really change is if Blackwood loose both games and TV win both) ... The first round of finals would be..

30th August
Qual Final
Mt Barker Vs Lobetha

31st August
Elim Final
Echunga Vs Blackwood.

[Look Good In Leather]

i don't doubt what you are saying tank...but it does strike me as a little odd....

Mate it is more than just a little odd - it is a very unique situation that creates an awful lot of emotion

Serious Question - Is there any other league in Australia that has more than one division, in which the entire club consisting of junior and senior grades play on the same day in the same competition?

The only other I can think of was the SFL before they moved to one division back in the 90's?

You could argue the Riverland still have that type of set-up, but never transfer teams between divisions.
There are a number of leagues in Victoria that have 2 or more divisions, but junior football is primarily on Sundays with the exception of the odd senior colts team in some comps.

Fight to the death to retain it, however there is a serious flaw if Echunga get relegated. Promotion/Relegation needs to be more weighted towards to A-Grade, but having all teams must be a pre-requisite.

[Mop Up]

I really think all the talk of relegation is moot as there will be a change to the structure of the comp. Which one though?

12 team comp is the death knell for Country
Leaving as is creates major opposition for the team being relegated and doesn't fix Div 2.
2 x 8 team comps - have to field all teams on a Saturday makes most sense. With automatic relegation/promotion.
As the 2nd Div teams field all sides, it will be a good even comp that clubs will not be against going down too.

Divs might start off like this -
Div 1 - Lobethal, Mt Barker, Hahndorf, Onkas, Ironbank, Bridgewater, Uraidla, Blackwood
Div 2 - TV, Echunga, Lofty, Meadows, Nairne, Kangarilla, Kersbrook, Birdwood/Gumeracha

[Peakedinhighschool]

The points system is silly. How a side like Uraidla can win the flag and then go out a recruit Tim Delvins and Luke Ivens just makes the whole thing pointless.
Should be:
1st = 7
2nd=8
3rd = 9
4th = 9
5th = 10
6th = 10
7th = 11
8th = 11
9th = 12
10th = 12

This would also help the SANFL's issue with losing all there players. If SANFL players are worth 4 points it makes it harder to just pillage league sides when your sitting 8th after round 11.
Example - If Aish wants to leave Echunga next year it should cost another club 4 points for him as he played SANFL in 2014

Point system works fine. Uraidla have managed to get those two players this season as they have managed to keep their previous recruits for a minimum of 5 years (some 10+ years). Other clubs should be looking to do the same and recruit quality clubmen and not just blokes looking for the best cash they can find.

[Legs Man]

I really think all the talk of relegation is moot as there will be a change to the structure of the comp. Which one though?

12 team comp is the death knell for Country
Leaving as is creates major opposition for the team being relegated and doesn't fix Div 2.
2 x 8 team comps - have to field all teams on a Saturday makes most sense. With automatic relegation/promotion.
As the 2nd Div teams field all sides, it will be a good even comp that clubs will not be against going down too.

Divs might start off like this -
Div 1 - Lobethal, Mt Barker, Hahndorf, Onkas, Ironbank, Bridgewater, Uraidla, Blackwood
Div 2 - TV, Echunga, Lofty, Meadows, Nairne, Kangarilla, Kersbrook, Birdwood/Gumeracha

Hear a whisper that TV may merge with Birdwood or Gums and if they do then they could stay in Div 1 instead of Bridgey.

Not picking on Bridgey - it just seems logical.

Either way there needs to be a merger or Kangarilla play C grade - which seems unlikely.

[Amateur Footy]

I am no expert on the points system, and am not particularly experienced in the hfl, but it seems very strange to me that a team that could conceivably win the A grade premiership (Echunga could...Uraidla probably will though) will be relegated. Forgetting all the associated issues it just strikes me as very strange..

Nothing has changed in 20 years, this happened to Ironbank in 97/98. Ironbank played in an Elimination final on the 31st of August 1997 against Bridgewater at Blackwood. We lost that day and being realistic we were never really going to win the flag BUT we were in the five and therefore had a chance.

We were relegated to Division 2 for the 1998 season due to the poor results of the B grade and Junior sides.

We won the Division 2 premiership in A grade 1998 and 1999. B grade in 1998 and 2001. The Under 14's in 2000.

There were positive and negative for everyone out of that.

We as a CLUB regrouped, rebuilt. Constant on ground success from the A grade brought people to the club. The standard in the B grade comp enabled our B grade to be competitive weekly. We developed our juniors.

What it meant for the Div 2 comp though was a club that played in the Grand Final for 4 years straight. I am not sure that is healthy for any comp.

Lost to Uraidla at Blackwood in the elimination mate.

And we were demoted for an inability to field all junior sides and due the state of our facilities.

And success only came in Div 2 due to retaining a core 7 or 8 players of our Div 1 team who got some mates to join them, not super recruiting by coaches or the club. Club had no money to recruit with.

[magpiemaster]

I really think all the talk of relegation is moot as there will be a change to the structure of the comp. Which one though?

12 team comp is the death knell for Country
Leaving as is creates major opposition for the team being relegated and doesn't fix Div 2.
2 x 8 team comps - have to field all teams on a Saturday makes most sense. With automatic relegation/promotion.
As the 2nd Div teams field all sides, it will be a good even comp that clubs will not be against going down too.

Divs might start off like this -
Div 1 - Lobethal, Mt Barker, Hahndorf, Onkas, Ironbank, Bridgewater, Uraidla, Blackwood
Div 2 - TV, Echunga, Lofty, Meadows, Nairne, Kangarilla, Kersbrook, Birdwood/Gumeracha

Hear a whisper that TV may merge with Birdwood or Gums and if they do then they could stay in Div 1 instead of Bridgey.

Not picking on Bridgey - it just seems logical.

Either way there needs to be a merger or Kangarilla play C grade - which seems unlikely.

Bridgey are irrelevant, have been for 20 years. Their facilities are HORRENDOUS. Oval mud's up quicker then any other, its size speaks for itself. Their is no shelter for spectators, during a winter sport. Spend some money on their facilities to fix things up, like Ironbank were made to do. Can't remember any of their senior sides played finals footy. Maybe 15 years for the A grade? Send them back and be done with it.

[Amateur Footy]

Legsman FYI Ironbank where the last side that made A Grade finals - Think it was 1996 - and was relegated the next year due to having crappy other grades. Rod Campbell bought a team of players as per Echunga have this year but his problem was he could not coach on match day. Some one had to then come in the following year and clean the mess up as he walked out with the imported players so it can be done. From recollection similar to your B Grade that year the Ironbank B grade won only 1 game too so it can be done. I think they then won the country flags in 98 and 99 by rebuilding and had a really good coach who had great people skills and was a good teacher. He got some good players as well.

Were you there SC?

[Legs Man]

I really think all the talk of relegation is moot as there will be a change to the structure of the comp. Which one though?

12 team comp is the death knell for Country
Leaving as is creates major opposition for the team being relegated and doesn't fix Div 2.
2 x 8 team comps - have to field all teams on a Saturday makes most sense. With automatic relegation/promotion.
As the 2nd Div teams field all sides, it will be a good even comp that clubs will not be against going down too.

Divs might start off like this -
Div 1 - Lobethal, Mt Barker, Hahndorf, Onkas, Ironbank, Bridgewater, Uraidla, Blackwood
Div 2 - TV, Echunga, Lofty, Meadows, Nairne, Kangarilla, Kersbrook, Birdwood/Gumeracha

Hear a whisper that TV may merge with Birdwood or Gums and if they do then they could stay in Div 1 instead of Bridgey.

Not picking on Bridgey - it just seems logical.

Either way there needs to be a merger or Kangarilla play C grade - which seems unlikely.

Bridgey are irrelevant, have been for 20 years. Their facilities are HORRENDOUS. Oval mud's up quicker then any other, its size speaks for itself. Their is no shelter for spectators, during a winter sport. Spend some money on their facilities to fix things up, like Ironbank were made to do. Can't remember any of their senior sides played finals footy. Maybe 15 years for the A grade? Send them back and be done with it.

Yes - lets hope facilities become a major factor when deciding on divisions etc.

It does seem bewildering to see the likes of TV and Bridgey being allowed to play in what is deemed the "premier" competition when they have such bad facilities.

Surely some type of mechanism should be in place to prevent this.

[Elmer J Thudpucker]

Bridgey are irrelevant, have been for 20 years. Their facilities are HORRENDOUS. Oval mud's up quicker then any other, its size speaks for itself. Their is no shelter for spectators, during a winter sport. Spend some money on their facilities to fix things up, like Ironbank were made to do. Can't remember any of their senior sides played finals footy. Maybe 15 years for the A grade? Send them back and be done with it.

What mud ? I was at Callington the other week when the Raiders defeated Hahndorf and there was no mud to be seen.

[Pinarello]

Still applies, while there is no mud at Callington the rest of the statement is true - Bridgewater or Callington - your facilities ARE horrendous!

[Legs Man]

5654060665_9a74c7ecd8_z.jpg (438.66 KiB) Viewed 7771 times

Hey at least the bar at Bridgey has character

Looks like Vic left his bike behind though...

[jumbo20]

Surprised on comments re Callington, the surface is excellent and personally thought the facilities were good, would not mind playing on a deck like that regularly,

[cracka]

Surprised on comments re Callington, the surface is excellent and personally thought the facilities were good, would not mind playing on a deck like that regularly,

Did you go into the changerooms? Didn't think there were any that could be smaller than Bridgewater. In saying that, I do believe the Mt Barker council are going to put some serious money into upgrades this financial year.

[RAMS]

I really think all the talk of relegation is moot as there will be a change to the structure of the comp. Which one though?

12 team comp is the death knell for Country
Leaving as is creates major opposition for the team being relegated and doesn't fix Div 2.
2 x 8 team comps - have to field all teams on a Saturday makes most sense. With automatic relegation/promotion.
As the 2nd Div teams field all sides, it will be a good even comp that clubs will not be against going down too.

Divs might start off like this -
Div 1 - Lobethal, Mt Barker, Hahndorf, Onkas, Ironbank, Bridgewater, Uraidla, Blackwood
Div 2 - TV, Echunga, Lofty, Meadows, Nairne, Kangarilla, Kersbrook, Birdwood/Gumeracha

Congrats "mop up", someone looking at the big picture. This is definitely the best option for all club. Add a division 3 for clubs that can't field all required teams, have additional juniors and for the c grade and you cater for everyone.

[Elmer J Thudpucker]

Surprised on comments re Callington, the surface is excellent and personally thought the facilities were good, would not mind playing on a deck like that regularly,

Did you go into the changerooms? Didn't think there were any that could be smaller than Bridgewater. In saying that, I do believe the Mt Barker council are going to put some serious money into upgrades this financial year.

The Murray Bridge Council has similarly approved significant upgrade to the Callington facilities in the 2014/15 financial year. With new changerooms on the western side, a new clubhouse on the eastern side, and the best playing surface around, Callington Oval will be cherry ripe to host the HFL grand final for the next decade.

[magpiemaster]

Surprised on comments re Callington, the surface is excellent and personally thought the facilities were good, would not mind playing on a deck like that regularly,

Did you go into the changerooms? Didn't think there were any that could be smaller than Bridgewater. In saying that, I do believe the Mt Barker council are going to put some serious money into upgrades this financial year.

The Murray Bridge Council has similarly approved significant upgrade to the Callington facilities in the 2014/15 financial year. With new changerooms on the western side, a new clubhouse on the eastern side, and the best playing surface around, Callington Oval will be cherry ripe to host the HFL grand final for the next decade.

No argument on the lack of Bridgey senior finals over the last 20 years, or conditions of their home facilities Elmer?

[the wonder elephant]

Legsman FYI Ironbank where the last side that made A Grade finals - Think it was 1996 - and was relegated the next year due to having crappy other grades. Rod Campbell bought a team of players as per Echunga have this year but his problem was he could not coach on match day. Some one had to then come in the following year and clean the mess up as he walked out with the imported players so it can be done. From recollection similar to your B Grade that year the Ironbank B grade won only 1 game too so it can be done. I think they then won the country flags in 98 and 99 by rebuilding and had a really good coach who had great people skills and was a good teacher. He got some good players as well.

Ha ha funny thing was I played in that game and there was a keg on the end of it ! It was one of my first games for the club after coming frog down the hill ........having said that some of the best life memorys came from those years after 2 flags with an awesome bunch of now life time mates ..btw supercoach ollie says hi