HFL Division 1 (Central)

[rock]

Clubs wasting their time in Div 1:

Mt Lofty
Echunga
Torrens Valley
Lobethal

Unfortunately these clubs will never likely win an A grade flag with the likes of Hahndorf, Mt Barker, and Blackwood now too strong in terms of population, growth and financially. Clubs like Torrens Valley and Echunga can throw away huge amounts of money for a slim chance but it is a short term fix with no long term goals attached.

Uraidla are well financed and hanging onto a successful culture but this will eventually break down at some point.
Onkas should be stronger at A grade level but have been poorly coached and managed in recent years. James Moore is certainly not the answer and surely must go at seasons end.

The gap in Div 1 has never been further apart in terms of who can win an A grade flag. Happy to be proved wrong and good luck to those minnow clubs just making up the numbers with no real chance of an A grade flag (probably ever) unless they rob a bank or commit a heist of sorts.

[Corona Man]

So are you suggesting Div 1 becomes a 4 club comp?

[rock]

You would hope the HFL have identified this already but I doubt it. Something needs to be done by them to even the playing field, otherwise nothing changes.

[Trader]

Didn't Echunga win it a couple of years ago?
Sounds like a massive fall from reigning premiers to never winning it again in the space of 2 years!

[rock]

Yep... perhaps re-read my post (slim chances). They literally robbed that bank I was talking about. It went south after that rather quickly.

[cracka]

Clubs wasting their time in Div 1:

Mt Lofty
Echunga
Torrens Valley
Lobethal

Unfortunately these clubs will never likely win an A grade flag with the likes of Hahndorf, Mt Barker, and Blackwood now too strong in terms of population, growth and financially. Clubs like Torrens Valley and Echunga can throw away huge amounts of money for a slim chance but it is a short term fix with no long term goals attached.

Uraidla are well financed and hanging onto a successful culture but this will eventually break down at some point.
Onkas should be stronger at A grade level but have been poorly coached and managed in recent years. James Moore is certainly not the answer and surely must go at seasons end.

The gap in Div 1 has never been further apart in terms of who can win an A grade flag. Happy to be proved wrong and good luck to those minnow clubs just making up the numbers with no real chance of an A grade flag (probably ever) unless they rob a bank or commit a heist of sorts.

Unfortunately the only way to even be competitive now let alone win a flag is with $$$
2-3 years ago when we were using mainly locals we really struggled & almost got relegated, we should be a lot better than we are now with the recruits we have pick up in the last 2 years.
Lobey are now using mainly locals & are struggling.
I think Echunga have done really well since they came back to div 1, their junior numbers are good & competitive.
Lofty are still recovering from spending so much a few years ago for those 3 flags & then having some a**hole steal a couple of hunnid large (dont quote me on that figure).
My only concern for div 1 is TV's lack of juniors, would be bad for the HFL in general if they have to merge or fold.
Preference would be to have to even number divs too.

[Dutchy]

Is there just no depth in the juniors coming thru? or they go elsewhere?

[running defender]

2014 premiers Echunga
2015 premiers Hahndorf
2016 premiers Hahndorf
Hardly a waste of time rock.
When was the last time mt barker and Blackwood
Played in a GF or won one .
With our juniors getting stronger I expect us to be right
Around the top in the next 2 yrs.
Has anyone heard the rumours about flagstaff hill
Joining the HFL next year

[sideview]

Obviously to many clubs in the HFL. Not surprising clubs struggle when they all pull sources from the same pool. Someone needs to make some tough calls going forward which will not be popular. My thoughts is that should be the SANFL/CFL but they have no interest and are so archaic in their thinking that they would rather sit back and sip red wine and talk about how good country football is travelling.

[cracka]

Obviously to many clubs in the HFL. Not surprising clubs struggle when they all pull sources from the same pool. Someone needs to make some tough calls going forward which will not be popular. My thoughts is that should be the SANFL/CFL but they have no interest and are so archaic in their thinking that they would rather sit back and sip red wine and talk about how good country football is travelling.

Are you suggesting culling some clubs or more divs with less sides in them like back in the early days.

[rock]

2014 premiers Echunga
2015 premiers Hahndorf
2016 premiers Hahndorf
Hardly a waste of time rock.
When was the last time mt barker and Blackwood
Played in a GF or won one .
With our juniors getting stronger I expect us to be right
Around the top in the next 2 yrs.
Has anyone heard the rumours about flagstaff hill
Joining the HFL next year

Blackwood lost the 2011 GF to Uraidla by 1 point.
Mt Barker went premiers in 2012.
Echunga's flag was paid for by the taxpayers in 2014. We don't have to re-visit that again now do we.
Do your research RD.

[R. White]

2014 premiers Echunga
2015 premiers Hahndorf
2016 premiers Hahndorf
Hardly a waste of time rock.
When was the last time mt barker and Blackwood
Played in a GF or won one .
With our juniors getting stronger I expect us to be right
Around the top in the next 2 yrs.
Has anyone heard the rumours about flagstaff hill
Joining the HFL next year

Blackwood lost the 2011 GF to Uraidla by 1 point.
Mt Barker went premiers in 2012.
Echunga's flag was paid for by the taxpayers in 2014. We don't have to re-visit that again now do we.
Do your research RD.

I suggest you do some research rock.... whilst you are there, do some research about slander. Do you think that you are protected by a screen name?

[Raise the Bar]

Things are about to really get a shake up in local football.
SFL is in dire straights as they will lose another 4 to 6 clubs next season.
The part that interests the HFL is the fact Flagstaff Hill and Happy Valley are both keen to join the more evenly matched better standard of the HFL.
They can see the writing on the wall, Noarlunga and Aldinga have both approached the GSFL while Marion and OSBLFC have resigned themselves to the fact that amateurs are the only way to be competitive.
Other SFL clubs are now looking to see where they will be in the future.
The Flaggy and Happy Valley move makes lots of sense considering they are both in the Hills Cricket League and are within 30 minutes of all but 2 clubs.
What a great thing it will be.

[teamdefense2017]

Would be interesting to see new clubs come in.
It does appear to be difficult for a couple of the clubs to continually compete.

Onto the footy.
What do we think is going to happen in the run in to the finals??

[TooNice]

Its easy, often, to bag the state of the HFL, but really all things considered we have a good comp. There will always be relegation issues, clubs having to reset by merging, and alike. None of that is new - it has been happening since the 1950s. We have now long standing clubs, the HFL board is sorted now, and a very good country vibe at the matches. It is not surprising that clubs from other leagues see the benefit of our league. New clubs coming in will give our league all sorts of opportunities to set up the divisions.

[cracka]

Things are about to really get a shake up in local football.
SFL is in dire straights as they will lose another 4 to 6 clubs next season.
The part that interests the HFL is the fact Flagstaff Hill and Happy Valley are both keen to join the more evenly matched better standard of the HFL.
They can see the writing on the wall, Noarlunga and Aldinga have both approached the GSFL while Marion and OSBLFC have resigned themselves to the fact that amateurs are the only way to be competitive.
Other SFL clubs are now looking to see where they will be in the future.
The Flaggy and Happy Valley move makes lots of sense considering they are both in the Hills Cricket League and are within 30 minutes of all but 2 clubs.
What a great thing it will be.

Good to see some new forum faces on here.
I'll believe it when I see it in regards to SFL clubs leaving. Rumours like that have been happening on here for a while.
I doubt GSFL would take any more clubs as they are a 10 team comp already. Any clubs wishing to join has to have netball teams as well.
SFL will be a nice fairly even 9-10 team comp if Marion and/or OSB leave (most of the remaining clubs will have a full compliment of juniors). Blackwood could even join the SFL (another rumour that's been going on for years)
What division do you think Flaggies & Happies would play if they joined the HFL.
I think its a bit more than 30 minutes to FH & HV for more than just 2 clubs. Blackwood is at least 30 minutes for all bar Lofty I'd think. But this is just splitting hairs.

[cracka]

Its easy, often, to bag the state of the HFL, but really all things considered we have a good comp. There will always be relegation issues, clubs having to reset by merging, and alike. None of that is new - it has been happening since the 1950s. We have now long standing clubs, the HFL board is sorted now, and a very good country vibe at the matches. It is not surprising that clubs from other leagues see the benefit of our league. New clubs coming in will give our league all sorts of opportunities to set up the divisions.

Its funny, wasn't that long ago people on here (mostly from other leagues) were calling the HFL the joke of country football leagues.

[Dutchy]

Not sure Valleys would be HFL Div 1 standard atm

[cracka]

Not sure Valleys would be HFL Div 1 standard atm

Neither were we a couple of years ago. Lobey probably aren't at the moment either but they'll regroup.

[teamdefense2017]

So, to this year.
What do we all think with 6 minor round weeks to go?