HFL Division 1 (Central)

[BoundaryRider84]

Geez I'm so glad the BLG directors have their heads screwed on. It's nice down here in the Barossa ;-)

All comps have their issues, the BLG is far from perfect.
You have the Gawler sides with colts sides that have big numbers whilst up the road towns are struggling. Atleast 2 of the clubs pay colts footballers aswell and then they get all the college kids come back finals time. Several games this year the opposition had up to a dozen players sitting out whilst we played a couple short. How many colts flags have been won from outside the Gawler teams in the last 5-6 years?
Seniors not much better, teams with paid B graders and 10-15 spare players each week whilst others have to get colts to come up and play 2 games.

Not saying the BLG is perfect mate. It will always be hard for the sides like Kapunda and Freeling to keep players due to employment etc . The Adelaide Plains competition has a rule where players can swap sides etc. Maybe the greedy Gawler sides could do this, I believe tanunda lend you guys players last year.
Smaller towns with no high school will always struggle.

[sweetlips]

Geez I'm so glad the BLG directors have their heads screwed on. It's nice down here in the Barossa ;-)

All comps have their issues, the BLG is far from perfect.
You have the Gawler sides with colts sides that have big numbers whilst up the road towns are struggling. Atleast 2 of the clubs pay colts footballers aswell and then they get all the college kids come back finals time. Several games this year the opposition had up to a dozen players sitting out whilst we played a couple short. How many colts flags have been won from outside the Gawler teams in the last 5-6 years?
Seniors not much better, teams with paid B graders and 10-15 spare players each week whilst others have to get colts to come up and play 2 games.

Not saying the BLG is perfect mate. It will always be hard for the sides like Kapunda and Freeling to keep players due to employment etc . The Adelaide Plains competition has a rule where players can swap sides etc. Maybe the greedy Gawler sides could do this, I believe tanunda lend you guys players last year.
Smaller towns with no high school will always struggle.

Sounds like you need Legsman to get invovled up that way
Solved a lot of problems in this League
Please Legsman save the BLG league

[cracka]

Which clubs are you referring to when you say "bigger" clubs and uneven underage population base.?

Some clubs in Central have a lot bigger base for junior footballers purely due to location , location of schools and immediate access to such.
I understand the need to grow our clubs from the ground up and be very inclusive when it comes to junior grades - but a relegation system where the clubs with greater junior access due to location etc. with a distinct advantage ( through no fault of their own ) presents an uneven playing field.
The option of not including u/ 15's or reducing the club points gained from junior sides is a good option as it reduces the impact from a situation that can't be changed due to location of clubs and their junior access.

It seems relegation is here to stay so a system needs to be in place when deciding this each season that sees all clubs having the same opportunity.
This relates to juniors, apps points allocation and number of permits provided.

It is a real sticking point with hills footy and until a system is put in place to ensure all clubs have the same " start " point and same opportunity to succeed we will continue to have problems.

All country leagues have these issues (apart from relegation), not just hills footy. See 2 posts above
Can you name these bigger clubs as I would like to know who they are & how many there are. Unless there are 10 or more of these so called bigger clubs then the argument they rule the league is invalid, one club one vote.

[running defender]

I hope theirs no permits for 18yr olds to play under 17 1/2s or more pts to play with so mum & dad can watch both sons play, and then pick up a sanfl 4 pointer.First game next year for Mt Lofty should be Echunga @ Echunga.. Brett harland Twice as fit as last year when did a full forward last kick a 100 goals in central..

[always there]

Which clubs are you referring to when you say "bigger" clubs and uneven underage population base.?

Some clubs in Central have a lot bigger base for junior footballers purely due to location , location of schools and immediate access to such.
I understand the need to grow our clubs from the ground up and be very inclusive when it comes to junior grades - but a relegation system where the clubs with greater junior access due to location etc. with a distinct advantage ( through no fault of their own ) presents an uneven playing field.
The option of not including u/ 15's or reducing the club points gained from junior sides is a good option as it reduces the impact from a situation that can't be changed due to location of clubs and their junior access.

It seems relegation is here to stay so a system needs to be in place when deciding this each season that sees all clubs having the same opportunity.
This relates to juniors, apps points allocation and number of permits provided.

It is a real sticking point with hills footy and until a system is put in place to ensure all clubs have the same " start " point and same opportunity to succeed we will continue to have problems.

All country leagues have these issues (apart from relegation), not just hills footy. See 2 posts above
Can you name these bigger clubs as I would like to know who they are & how many there are. Unless there are 10 or more of these so called bigger clubs then the argument they rule the league is invalid, one club one vote.

Agree Cracka. Who are the bigger clubs?

[overthehill]

Nice try RD, round 1 is Echunga vs Uraidla and you know it. Should be a fantastic game of football too.
Also heard a bit of chat over the weekend that Scott Sutherland has recruited ex Mt Barker Coach Steve Samuels as his 2015 assistant and 2016 successor. Can anyone confirm this?

[chopper7]

Nice try RD, round 1 is Echunga vs Uraidla and you know it. Should be a fantastic game of football too.
Also heard a bit of chat over the weekend that Scott Sutherland has recruited ex Mt Barker Coach Steve Samuels as his 2015 assistant and 2016 successor. Can anyone confirm this?

I'm sure Uris wouldn't mind waiting until rd 3 so they can all have a crack at the thug that belted players behind play.

[Legs Man]

Nice try RD, round 1 is Echunga vs Uraidla and you know it. Should be a fantastic game of football too.
Also heard a bit of chat over the weekend that Scott Sutherland has recruited ex Mt Barker Coach Steve Samuels as his 2015 assistant and 2016 successor. Can anyone confirm this?

Surely the draw precedent was set last year with the Central division reigning premier playing the Country division reigning premier round 1.
Echunga v Uris should fall around rd 3 or 4.

Can anyone enlighten the forum members as to what resolutions / changes came out of the SGM on Monday night apart from maintaining a 10 team comp?
Was the junior situation discussed?

[cracka]

Nice try RD, round 1 is Echunga vs Uraidla and you know it. Should be a fantastic game of football too.
Also heard a bit of chat over the weekend that Scott Sutherland has recruited ex Mt Barker Coach Steve Samuels as his 2015 assistant and 2016 successor. Can anyone confirm this?

Surely the draw precedent was set last year with the Central division reigning premier playing the Country division reigning premier round 1.
Echunga v Uris should fall around rd 3 or 4.

Can anyone enlighten the forum members as to what resolutions / changes came out of the SGM on Monday night apart from maintaining a 10 team comp?
Was the junior situation discussed?

I believe there was going to be an amendment to a by law stating finals would NOT count towards relegation, but I don't know if this was changed.

[Elmer J Thudpucker]

Surely the draw precedent was set last year with the Central division reigning premier playing the Country division reigning premier round 1.
Echunga v Uris should fall around rd 3 or 4.

Can anyone enlighten the forum members as to what resolutions / changes came out of the SGM on Monday night apart from maintaining a 10 team comp?
Was the junior situation discussed?

I believe there was going to be an amendment to a by law stating finals would NOT count towards relegation, but I don't know if this was changed.

It was unanimously passed by the clubs that finals ARE NOT included in the relegation points table. Hardly surprising given that the clubs had already clearly indicated at the SGM that this was how they understood it to work.

[Legs Man]

Surely the draw precedent was set last year with the Central division reigning premier playing the Country division reigning premier round 1.
Echunga v Uris should fall around rd 3 or 4.

Can anyone enlighten the forum members as to what resolutions / changes came out of the SGM on Monday night apart from maintaining a 10 team comp?
Was the junior situation discussed?

I believe there was going to be an amendment to a by law stating finals would NOT count towards relegation, but I don't know if this was changed.

It was unanimously passed by the clubs that finals ARE NOT included in the relegation points table. Hardly surprising given that the clubs had already clearly indicated at the SGM that this was how they understood it to work.

With that decision I assume that apps points allocation will not include finals either and will be based on end of minor round position.

Personally I feel all clubs should have the same points if relegation is in place.

[cracka]

Surely the draw precedent was set last year with the Central division reigning premier playing the Country division reigning premier round 1.
Echunga v Uris should fall around rd 3 or 4.

Can anyone enlighten the forum members as to what resolutions / changes came out of the SGM on Monday night apart from maintaining a 10 team comp?
Was the junior situation discussed?

I believe there was going to be an amendment to a by law stating finals would NOT count towards relegation, but I don't know if this was changed.

It was unanimously passed by the clubs that finals ARE NOT included in the relegation points table. Hardly surprising given that the clubs had already clearly indicated at the SGM that this was how they understood it to work.

By saying unanimously, that means all clubs voted this way, even Echunga.

[cracka]

Surely the draw precedent was set last year with the Central division reigning premier playing the Country division reigning premier round 1.
Echunga v Uris should fall around rd 3 or 4.

Can anyone enlighten the forum members as to what resolutions / changes came out of the SGM on Monday night apart from maintaining a 10 team comp?
Was the junior situation discussed?

I believe there was going to be an amendment to a by law stating finals would NOT count towards relegation, but I don't know if this was changed.

It was unanimously passed by the clubs that finals ARE NOT included in the relegation points table. Hardly surprising given that the clubs had already clearly indicated at the SGM that this was how they understood it to work.

With that decision I assume that apps points allocation will not include finals either and will be based on end of minor round position.

Personally I feel all clubs should have the same points if relegation is in place.

Pretty sure that was dealt with at the December AGM, that finals would not be included in counting wins for APPS.

[Dutchy]

Some clubs in Central have a lot bigger base for junior footballers purely due to location , location of schools and immediate access to such.

Echunga couldn't be any closer to a school could they?

[Legs Man]

Some clubs in Central have a lot bigger base for junior footballers purely due to location , location of schools and immediate access to such.

Echunga couldn't be any closer to a school could they?

Yes Echunga primary is right next door to the recreation grounds.
Category 6 semi rural school reception to year 7.
Unfortunately it only has small numbers around 60 - 70 total across all grades e.g. Only 15 boys from yrs 4 through 7.
Gender is split fairly even so males number at approx 35 total.
We generally gain any kids wanting to play but it is a very small number hence needing participants from the larger towns around us.

[The Panther]

I hope theirs no permits for 18yr olds to play under 17 1/2s or more pts to play with so mum & dad can watch both sons play, and then pick up a sanfl 4 pointer.First game next year for Mt Lofty should be Echunga @ Echunga.. Brett harland Twice as fit as last year when did a full forward last kick a 100 goals in central..

Damian Gigney ( Blackwood ) around 5 years ago.

[The Panther]

Suggestion : Rather than gaining points for wins in regards to the religation race. What about ranking points for where each team finishes on the ladder.
It still could be weighted for each grade, but takes the win / loss out of it. And yes ranking is completed after finals.

[cracka]

Suggestion : Rather than gaining points for wins in regards to the religation race. What about ranking points for where each team finishes on the ladder.
It still could be weighted for each grade, but takes the win / loss out of it. And yes ranking is completed after finals.

I tried to do one privately last year (when all this drama unfolded) to see how it could work but it looked ugly. The trouble I had was that a team could finish in 5th place on percentage but still only have the same wins as the teams in 6th, 7th or even 8th. I'm sure there is a way it could be done to be fair though.

[Legs Man]

Suggestion : Rather than gaining points for wins in regards to the religation race. What about ranking points for where each team finishes on the ladder.
It still could be weighted for each grade, but takes the win / loss out of it. And yes ranking is completed after finals.

I tried to do one privately last year (when all this drama unfolded) to see how it could work but it looked ugly. The trouble I had was that a team could finish in 5th place on percentage but still only have the same wins as the teams in 6th, 7th or even 8th. I'm sure there is a way it could be done to be fair though.

The only solution I can come up with if the league is going to maintain the relegation system:

Weight the A grade and Senior Colts highest as these are the 2 sides that showcase your club and the competition.

E.G.
A is worth 10 points
B is worth 3 points
S/ C is worth 5 points
J/C is worth 2 points

This still provides 20 points total and makes clubs push their best players into the highest weighted grades.
By doing this it also stops a club with a weak A grade from temptation in loading their B grade with A grade players in the latter part of the season.
In saying this though I firmly believe that apps points must be the same for all clubs to ensure everyone has the same opportunity to start with.
If everyone has the same allocation there is then no argument for extra points or permits as we saw last season.
Surely we have learnt that reducing points only pushes player remuneration up so an even allocation will spread the load.
Clubs don't have unlimited funds, contrary to popular belief , so this will provide 2 benefits of both attracting more good footballers and helping to reduce mercenary footballers bargaining power.

[Elmer J Thudpucker]

By doing this it also stops a club with a weak A grade from temptation in loading their B grade with A grade players in the latter part of the season.

There's always lots of speculation that someone may do this, but over the past 6 years I'm only aware of one club trying to "stack" their B grade in an effort to gain additional points - and that was Echunga last year against Bridgewater.

In that game you put out possibly the highest paid B grade team in HFL history.