Gepps X, Athelstone, Trinity I agree their sides should not be considered A grade and I think the grading naming may possibly reflect that reality this season.The Bedge wrote:BenchedEagle wrote:My ideal picture of PdCA is Grade 1/2 back to 8 sides with A grade sides only. (But no club wants to extend themselves and do the right thing and go up a grade)
Grade 3 down is B grade maximum.
Mix of 2 dayers and 1 dayers, 2 day finals.
LO1 for all other A grades, no matter the level they ‘think’ they should play.
Whilst we (I) might whinge about grading, reality is we would play where picked - but your comment about no clubs "wants to extend themselves and do the right thing and go up a grade" is pretty harsh when you consider the churn and turn over of clubs in the top flights that seek refuge in a lower grade year in year out.. to me the "right thing" is for these clubs to work towards improving.
I mean clubs like Parafield Gardens, Smithfield, North Pines etc - they all know end of the season what grade they're going to be in.. so why not build towards that, instead of waiting until September and declaring they cant play in xx grade?
LO1 for all A grades is also silly - just because you wear an "A" at the end of your club name, doesn't mean you're an A grade side, or capable - for instance Trinity were a C or D grade side for their club, Gepps Cross this year are fielding their 6th and 7th sides (or something ridiculous like that).
Make all LO grades promotion / relegation same as the two day stuff - if you're good enough, you'll climb the grades, if you're not you'll find your place in the lower grades.
Everyone wants the competition to grow, and you talk about saving clubs by letting them go to LO1 instead of playing in the 2 day comp, but you're not actually doing them any favours if you're placing them in an LO level where they're going to be smacked every week either.
Im saying Pirates, Vista, Hazara, Warriors (could be their A side), AdelaideUnion, Salisbury North, Adelaide Risers et al should be considered A grade and made to play LO1.
Where do you draw the line between clubs wanting to work towards improving and the integrity of a serious Grade 1/2 focused competition? Can you see how big a problem this is to balance individual needs over the comp as a whole?
Sorry if my comments seemed harsh, it wasn’t a aimed at any specific club(s)