Southern Football League

[White Line Fever]

It is such a delicate situation.

I agree that the top 8 or 10 clubs should play each other, but I would have serious concerns for div 2 sides.

I feel bad for the top 8 sides as the SFL knows it will destroy a few clubs and it must be selfish to maintain 15 teams.

I've only ever pulled on the Green and Gold to play footy and I'm a select few that would battle on to play div 1.

But NO recruit would come to the SFL to play div 2. Especially juniors.
So the gap between would become too great and that's the deadset reality.

I love playing the best teams, i love the challenge.
Marion still beat Hackham by 30 goals(no offense HH) and i don't enjoy the game as much as the MV, Brighton, Cove etc.
Our best can match it with any team on the day, and it has for a few years, but we cannot execute this form consistently over an entire game.

Each club should have a committee(Coach, President, A & B grade captain etc etc), vote yes or no on behalf of club, then 15 delegates and a SFL delegate should get together and have a decider vote.

Personally, it's a tough decision... but if aint broke why fix it.. clearly its broke..we need to fix it.. so yes for 2 divisions.

[HH3]

Making 2 divisions wont make a positive impact for us. Just because theres Division 2 written on our fixture doesnt magically mean we're up to Marion and Porties level...

2 divisions will stop our progress, and in my opinion, kill our club...

heres a quote from a description one of our under 18s has on his facebook...

"footy for hackham couldnt be any better the people there r the best"

this is how everybody at our club feels...our club means a lot to a hell of a lot of people...and as a player I feel bad for not getting results for them...but 2 divisions isnt the answer in my opinion because there will be no club for these people to support.

[Turbo]

I reckon the league will have no choice eventually. 2 divisions is inevitable with promotion and relegation which wasn't happening before and the reason 2 divisions didn't work. It will need to happen with the broad outlook for the sustainability of all current clubs and possible new clubs.

[Panther32]

Hackham Hawk, do you think the players at Hackham would A) continue to enjoy playing at Hackham after being belted by 40 goals per game for say the next 5 years or B) Play in a division against lower standard teams where over the next 5 years could potentially go from not winning games, to winning games to potentially playing finals. I would think more of your players would either leave or lose interest in football after say 5 years of 40 goal floggings. If kids are getting the chance to compete, have a chance of winning and have a chance of playing finals they will stay at your club longer.
You already have trouble recruiting quality players to your club due to the floggings. By going to two divisions, you can develop juniors, recruit those players who may not get $200 a game at M/V, Reynella, Brighton but who are still quality players, who will only improve your club more. The better your club get the better chance they have at recruiting higher quality players. You could probably offer $1000 a bucks a game to players currently getting $300 and they still wouldn't come because no one really enjoys getting belted by 40 goals.
It's a vicious circle but I think it's something that needs to be done to help improve those teams in the lower half. Your juniors are there because they live in the area, have friends playing there, etc. They will stay there even if you are in the bottom division and will enjoy their football more if they are competitive week in and week out.
As Mr Juicy said, teams in the lower division will strive to play division one and stay there, that's just natural. Having a points system will work over time, but it won't in the current state.

[ddonkey]

Making 2 divisions wont make a positive impact for us. Just because theres Division 2 written on our fixture doesnt magically mean we're up to Marion and Porties level...

2 divisions will stop our progress, and in my opinion, kill our club...

heres a quote from a description one of our under 18s has on his facebook...

"footy for hackham couldnt be any better the people there r the best"

this is how everybody at our club feels...our club means a lot to a hell of a lot of people...and as a player I feel bad for not getting results for them...but 2 divisions isnt the answer in my opinion because there will be no club for these people to support.

Your club started in Division 2 and earned the right to play in Division 1. Why can't you do it again?

I reckon that you are way in front of other clubs in that you have all grades filled. This must be a requirement to compete in Division 1.

It's time that the SFL started to encourage and promote excellence NOT mediocrity!

[watcher]

We have had one division for a number of years now and it hasn't helped in levelling out the competition. Players gravitate to the stronger teams to get success. The only success the lower ranked teams can have is when the SFL rig the draw.

Lets be real, what bragging rights does a club have that finishes eighth because it plays the bottom teams twice and the top teams once. One final and its season is over.

In the current set up only mediocre players play for the lower clubs because they can pretend they are A grade footballers. They don't strengthen those clubs in the longer term and that is why nothing changes (okay there may be the odd exception but that dosen't change the reality).

The SFL need to go to two divisions or others will take control and split up the league as they see fit. What we have is a competition that other people and leagues look at in disbelief.

PS And good players have left the comp because they see it as a "mickey mouse" competition where half the games are uncompetitive.

[watcher]

Before the critics arrive I'll clarify my third point as it should have read "only mediocre players are attracted and recruited to the lower clubs". There are obviously good players who come through the ranks but the numbers are just not high enough to help that clubs overall standing.

[ddonkey]

Works for the SAAFL and they have 7 divs and have no trouble recruiting!

The SAAFL doesnt have most of their teams all in the same general area. If players that live in Smithfield wanted to play Div 1 they would have to travel to play.

In the SFL, if a Hackham or Lonsdale player wanted to play Div 1 they could just go to M/V, Porties, Cove, Reynella, Noarlunga...all within 10-15 mins of each other.

Just to keep things in perspective...................you have a new recruit this year who couldn't get a C Grade game at one of the top clubs.
Your players may go to a top Division 1 club but not many would get a game.

[White Line Fever]

What we have is a competition that other people and leagues look at in disbelief.

PS And good players have left the comp because they see it as a "mickey mouse" competition where half the games are uncompetitive.

I know first hand of a player who was in SANFL ranks and came to SFL for one year and left and told me personally how could he possibly play one week and lose to Cove by over 20 goals, then play the next week and win by 30 goals VS Hackham.

We lost a talent who went to play top division footy in the SAAFL purely for the competiveness week in week out.

And it certainly is the common theme amongst talented players.

[shoe boy]

Swap Marion & Noarlunga.
Would this actually happen or is it the same debate that goes right back to the start of the Southern Football League Forum?[/quote]

A lot of debate re 2 divs and this post is just one of many issues of what makes a top ranked CLUB! is it A grade results or is it to build foundations for all grades that see consistantcy from ALL grades at a club.

A lot of negative comments re the current SFL set up and justifiably so but also some positives and for me it is the 5 games of footy played every Sat.

The Noarlunga Footy Club has entered into a 10 year strategic plan with the executive and private consultants building a plan that will see this club continue to grow and accommodate the projected growth. An example of this growth is in the past 4 years we have increased our playing membership by 88% and expect this to increase at a steady rate over the next 5 years.

The Noarlunga footy club fields 5 sides and all grades have strong numbers NOT having 14 come off put another jumper on and now play 16 and the same for 18/B grade this doesnt help the lads or the footy club.

I am still not sure re 2 divs but am sure the Noarlunga Footy Club is a top 5 Club in the current SFL and whatever direction we take it cannot come at the expense of 5 games of footy played every Sat.

[Snaparazzi]

Out of all that was written yesterday P32 made the most sense, knowing a bit about the Emu's we've cleared nearly 20 odd blokes out of the club this year, a lot to Aldinga some to Hackham and a few others around the place, if these teams were in Div2 would they have gone? Yep definately, because they were borderline B graders, prodominately C graders. They want to play as high as they can and good luck to them, if you asked them would they rather go to these clubs and be on the receiving end of a hammering in Division 1 or would they rather go to a game on the saturday knowing more often than not they have a genuine chance of winning? The latter and anyone who disagrees with that is a bullshit artist. 2 divisions has/can and will work. Football clubs should've built lasting relationships with their sponsors in the area, Div 1 or Div 2 would not come into it, if MV were in Div 2 would Reynella Mazda still be a major sponsor? They sure would because there is a great relationship between club personel and mangement and they want to be seen to be supporting the local area/community. Reynella Mazda would get no more out of MV whether we are in Div 1 or Div 2.

On the selection of divisions though the A grade alone cannot be the criteria, full compliment of juniors first and foremost and then the clubs strength as a whole must be graded, i notice the Hills league are going to promote and relegate after this season and they have a grading system to determine which club goes up and which goes down. A's worth the most and U/14's the least, seems logical and will work.

[AFLflyer]

my 2Cents
it has to be done. Some will like it, some wont.
But it will better FOOTBALL which is the main thing! Releagtions should happen every two years, to get a more clear indication and consistancy of a clubs form. It gives the Div 2 guys alot more to play for..

bring it on, people will learn to live with it and plan around it. Including Hackham...

the SFL is fast becoming a laughing stock.

[Esteban Vihaio]

The old Div1 competition was a highly competitive and respected competition. The current is not. This situation has been in play for about 7 years and for whatever reasons, two divisions has been repeatedly been knocked backed in the past. I don't think the SFL can respond to this issue.

That leaves two remaining options
- attract three more teams (unlikely)
- Shed five or six teams.

Here are reasons that I see for clubs leaving the SFL:
Hills FL - More competitive league with promotion / relegation
Happey Valley (Div 1)
Flagstaff Hill (Div 1/2)
Hackham (Div 2)

SAAFL - Relegation / Promotion system - Have proven able at attracting player$ and $ponsorship in the past. Will rise quickly from Div7
- Morphetville Park
- Marion

GSFL - Competitive competition with country atmosphere that both desire
- Noarlunga
- Aldinga

SFL - Remaining teams
Brighton - Big Fish in a medium size pond - Will remain in SFL whilst requirement of playing in Div7 SAAFL remains.
Christies Beach - Geographically isolated - Must stay in the SFL
Cove - Same as Brighton, but more isolated
Edwardstown - Commited to the SFL now, would be the joke of the SAAFL returning to Div 7
Lonsdale - Geographically isolated - With all surrounding clubs fielding two sides in each of the 14's and 16's, start poaching
Morphettvale - Super big fish in medium sized pond - Should find a way to play Willunga 3 or 4 times a season
Port Noarlunga - See christies beach
Reynella - Will not leave SFL

[Zelezny Chucks]

Works for the SAAFL and they have 7 divs and have no trouble recruiting!

The SAAFL doesnt have most of their teams all in the same general area. If players that live in Smithfield wanted to play Div 1 they would have to travel to play.

In the SFL, if a Hackham or Lonsdale player wanted to play Div 1 they could just go to M/V, Porties, Cove, Reynella, Noarlunga...all within 10-15 mins of each other.

So why do they play at Hackham now then?? What stops them going to a stronger club to play? Surely waking up on a saturday with a small sniff you may get a win 3 or 4 times a year is better than just waiting round to play Aldinga and hope you go well on the day. What is your club getting out of that?

[Spangy]

ok here is an idea I have thought of if the SFL moves to 2 divisions - keeping in mind this is a must & needs to happen next year for the better of the competition...

To avoid players from DIV 2 teams going elsewhere to play - put a hold on all clearances. Do not allow players to leave clubs for 1 or 2 years... Obviously there would be some exceptions i.e moving interstate etc - but this would stop juniors & seniors moving to play with a DIV 1 side..

I really don't see what all the fuss is about (hackham, aldinga, lonsdale - you will have a better competition with more success. Isn't that what you really want??) - The system works in 100's of other leauges & is proven to be successful. Why keep destorying the name of the SFL competition, we are no longer the best competition under SANFL.. Let's get it back to being the best!

Also here is a tip for the middle rank to lower sides that reckon they can match it with the top 5 or 6 teams.. Example Marion Vs Morphettvale last week... Marion within 2 goals of half time (great effort) - but go to shit in the second half & get run over.. Pre Season, its there for a reason! Start with showing up to pre-season training in November (not March), Structure it correctly & get yourself fit enough to play hard for 4 quarters & you might see a big difference.. I.e. push Morphettvale for 4 quarters... This is the problem with a lot of clubs - the effort put into pre season is lacking massive.

[special]

SFL - Remaining teams
Brighton - Big Fish in a medium size pond - Will remain in SFL whilst requirement of playing in Div7 SAAFL remains.
Christies Beach - Geographically isolated - Must stay in the SFL
Cove - Same as Brighton, but more isolated
Edwardstown - Commited to the SFL now, would be the joke of the SAAFL returning to Div 7
Lonsdale - Geographically isolated - With all surrounding clubs fielding two sides in each of the 14's and 16's, start poaching Morphettvale - Super big fish in medium sized pond - Should find a way to play Willunga 3 or 4 times a season
Port Noarlunga - See christies beach
Reynella - Will not leave SFL

still same old 20+ goal wins only less teams its gona take a fair bit of time till this idea works? ? again 4-5 shouldnt even bother turning up for finals at moment? thats why say morphettevale get a higher skilled/fitter player come to their clubs to play with higher skilled and fitter/players to play and win GFs thats how it works at our level. We will always see belting in any leauge thats just the way it is and yes it is gona happen again this year with more teams so i guess it just makes for one of those calls again DO WE WANT CHANGE?DONT WE WANT CHANGE and where do we get these numbers from. Once we have decided then we can move on to the next step( which ever way that goes).Everone has opinions but really untill a pro active council is called all we can say is What The!

[Froddo]

I have played at Hackham since when the league had div1 and div2 and continue to play at the club. This system would have worked back then if the relegation system was enforced. I believe Div1 and Div2 is the only option. Hackham maybe improving. However if we were in Div2 I believe we would be improving quicker, as we would be getting more competitive games most weeks.
I honestly don't believe we would loose players or juniors. Players play at our club as they want to be there. If they didn't want to be there they wouldn't go running out against teams like Morphett Vale.
From my opinion I could only see it helping our club.
However there defiantly needs to be a relegation system in place. The easiest way would be to have the premiers go up and the last placed team go down.
The main issue I see with two divs is the juniors. The only way I can see getting around this is by only separating the seniors into two divs at this stage.

[The Panther]

Echunga maybe ten minutes from Hahndorf a powerhouse over the years in Hills yet Echunga manage to retain players and will be top three in Hills Country ( div 2 ) .

Don't a lot of the better players in the lower ranked clubs who would be in div 2 get enticed over to the more successful clubs with the lure of finals and premierships anyway.

I think players would be more likely to stay at clubs like Aldinga if they were being competitive, winning games and have a good shot at playing finals.

Certainly the suggestions of who are in div 1 and 2 make for interesting reading and i think interesting seasons if implemented.

Top 5 in div one - top 4 in div 2 ( hopefully also less predictable finals results as well )

[fisho mcspaz]

Aldinga v Morphett Vale
Brighton v Porties
Edwardstown v Lonsdale
Hackham v Christies
Marion v Happy Valley
Noarlunga v Morphy Park
Reynella v Flaggies

Marion v Valley will be a close one, the rest not so close. Bring on two divs.

[special]

can some one set up a vote counter only can vote ONCE to state ONE DIV / TWO DIVs