Forfeits

[Arch44]

This week we have 2 x Bgrade sides in Div 5 forfeiting Portland and West Croydon, Div 6 twice this year Central united have forfeited their Bgrade and Div 4 We have had Pooraka forfeit their Bgrade last week and every chance I have missed a few as well. Wasn't that long ago bgrade teams forfeiting wasn't a thing, but seems to be more often now.
Are the league concerned?
Is there less players going around now?
Is the whole comp designed to suit the college teams now?
Is there less volunteers these days?
so many more questions, but its not great whichever way you look at it.

[jo172]

This week we have 2 x Bgrade sides in Div 5 forfeiting Portland and West Croydon, Div 6 twice this year Central united have forfeited their Bgrade and Div 4 We have had Pooraka forfeit their Bgrade last week and every chance I have missed a few as well. Wasn't that long ago bgrade teams forfeiting wasn't a thing, but seems to be more often now.
Are the league concerned?
Is there less players going around now?
Is the whole comp designed to suit the college teams now?
Is there less volunteers these days?
so many more questions, but its not great whichever way you look at it.

Not sure I follow as to this.

Be very interested to know in raw numbers the amount of teams being fielded across the league in say 2014, 2019 and now.

That is, whether we're seeing certain clubs getting bigger, but numbers of teams staying the same, or whether, the number of players and teams is actively diminishing.

My gut feel is that collectively people are having a harder time sticking things out now if they're not obtaining a level of success. Have played through a reasonable number of seasons where a B/C/D grade would win 1 or 2 games for the year. The gifted coaches of those teams tended to find a way to keep everyone engaged in what was otherwise a pretty hopeless situation. Post COVID I'm not sure whetehr people are still inclined to rally behind the hopeless cause.

[whufc]

I think we are at a point with player numbers/clubs battling now where there has to be some flexibility regarding player crossovers etc........

My b grade (our lowest grade) this week will be very likely to play short due to injuries/crystal brook show/work etc but due to the clearance rules there are many blokes who would love to play a game with us but can't because they played 3 games for another club 2 years ago. There is also a club up the road in a different comp who has players missing out on a game who would happily come fill in but obviously can't either.

I get and understand every side of the argument and i don't have the answer.

What i think most of us would agree with though is that genuine c/d grade types who want a game of footy shouldn't miss out. With so many clubs forfeiting can we afford to have guys not getting a game because of red tape. Does there need to be some flexibility, but how could that work in a controlled well managed way?

Its not ideal for either the club forfeiting or the club forfeited against who put time and effort in hosting sides, potentially have greater food wastage etc etc.

[LaughingKookaburra]

Or you can accept to look at your own clubs actions, recruitment, direction ect. Covid periods have created a big change across the entire league and the way it’s clubs had been (in some cases still are) administered. I kind of see this like the late 90’s (many new clubs) and some clubs are now finding their happy place in the league as many clubs have evolved - This will cause some pain in the coming 2-3 years before it settles down. Some higher clubs are now destined to become d6-7 clubs until they create a different long term and sustainable structure. Other clubs down the grades are shifting to higher divisions because of those actions in place both during and post covid. This also will kill off some clubs.

Ultimately, even if you’re playing D4 then you are playing in one of the top 10-11 standard divisions in South Australian grass roots footy (only GSFL, BLGFA and HFL D1 are collectively as good/better than D3 ammo’s) and being competitive year in, year out is bloody hard work.

[Purple Warrior]

This week we have 2 x Bgrade sides in Div 5 forfeiting Portland and West Croydon, Div 6 twice this year Central united have forfeited their Bgrade and Div 4 We have had Pooraka forfeit their Bgrade last week and every chance I have missed a few as well. Wasn't that long ago bgrade teams forfeiting wasn't a thing, but seems to be more often now.
Are the league concerned?
Is there less players going around now?
Is the whole comp designed to suit the college teams now?
Is there less volunteers these days?
so many more questions, but its not great whichever way you look at it.

West Croydon forfeiting B & A grade, probably something to do with the sanctions they've received and cost their B grade a finals spot

[The Bedge]

Is the whole comp designed to suit the college teams now?.

[The Bedge]

My gut feel is that collectively people are having a harder time sticking things out now if they're not obtaining a level of success.

Great point!

[Footy Chick]

This week we have 2 x Bgrade sides in Div 5 forfeiting Portland and West Croydon, Div 6 twice this year Central united have forfeited their Bgrade and Div 4 We have had Pooraka forfeit their Bgrade last week and every chance I have missed a few as well. Wasn't that long ago bgrade teams forfeiting wasn't a thing, but seems to be more often now.
Are the league concerned?
Is there less players going around now?
Is the whole comp designed to suit the college teams now?
Is there less volunteers these days?
so many more questions, but its not great whichever way you look at it.

All clubs you've mentioned were struggling to come up with 2 sides before the season even started, so unfortunately, it's not surprising they're struggling at the end of a long season with injuries and lack of interest.

[whufc]

My gut feel is that collectively people are having a harder time sticking things out now if they're not obtaining a level of success.

Great point!

I guess the 'sticking it out' part gets complicated when 'sticking it out' often means someone isn't working and earning money. Or maybe with both parents working or only having kids on a weekend if from a split family playing means giving up limited family time to 'stick it out'.

Not saying its a great excuse but back in the 90's if you weren't sticking it out you didn't have much else to do, not as many people worked, many families had a better work, life, balance. Less broken family situations etc.

I think where the answer lies is whether or not there is less footballers now playing the game or is it a dispersion issue with some teams filling d grades whilst others can't get a c grade. Once you know that answer you can then start to think about solutions.

In country regions the main issue is aging and dwindling population in country towns.

[Dutchy]

How do those clubs go with juniors? This is how many country leagues fill their B grade when numbers get light.

[The Bedge]

My gut feel is that collectively people are having a harder time sticking things out now if they're not obtaining a level of success.

Great point!

I guess the 'sticking it out' part gets complicated when 'sticking it out' often means someone isn't working and earning money. Or maybe with both parents working or only having kids on a weekend if from a split family playing means giving up limited family time to 'stick it out'.

Not saying its a great excuse but back in the 90's if you weren't sticking it out you didn't have much else to do, not as many people worked, many families had a better work, life, balance. Less broken family situations etc.

Maybe people need to remember why they choose to play in the first place, and it shouldn't be purely for on field success.

You play essentially because you love the game, the camaraderie and mate ship, the social aspect, the health benefits.

If you sign up to do something, you should commit and see it through - regardless of performance.

[The Bedge]

How do those clubs go with juniors? This is how many country leagues fill their B grade when numbers get light.

So not sure how accurate, but I've heard that something upwards of 60% of all junior players in the state come from 11 clubs in D1 / D2.

That alone makes it harder for everyone beneath that, when the big clubs keep getting bigger and have such a stranglehold on the junior numbers / talent coming through their catchment area.

[locky801]

Brighton C Grade in Div 1 have forfeited again this week, 2nd time in 3 weeks as well

Bit strange seeing they won by 80 points last week

[wenchbarwer]

How do those clubs go with juniors? This is how many country leagues fill their B grade when numbers get light.

There's the missing piece of the AdFL puzzle. Juniors on a different day means many won't even go to watch the senior sides, let alone fill in. Whereas most country teams/leagues the senior coach will almost always watch the oldest underage grade before the B grade to see who's up for it

[wenchbarwer]

Brighton C Grade in Div 1 have forfeited again this week, 2nd time in 3 weeks as well

I don't know what's going on down there, there had a great whole of club culture in the SFL days

[The Bedge]

How do those clubs go with juniors? This is how many country leagues fill their B grade when numbers get light.

There's the missing piece of the AdFL puzzle. Juniors on a different day means many won't even go to watch the senior sides, let alone fill in. Whereas most country teams/leagues the senior coach will almost always watch the oldest underage grade before the B grade to see who's up for it

Turn it up, majority of clubs play SANFL Jnrs these days

[wenchbarwer]

How do those clubs go with juniors? This is how many country leagues fill their B grade when numbers get light.

There's the missing piece of the AdFL puzzle. Juniors on a different day means many won't even go to watch the senior sides, let alone fill in. Whereas most country teams/leagues the senior coach will almost always watch the oldest underage grade before the B grade to see who's up for it

Turn it up, majority of clubs play SANFL Jnrs these days

And how many kids come out to watch seniors, especially those who are old enough to fill in?

[Dutchy]

How do those clubs go with juniors? This is how many country leagues fill their B grade when numbers get light.

So not sure how accurate, but I've heard that something upwards of 60% of all junior players in the state come from 11 clubs in D1 / D2.

That alone makes it harder for everyone beneath that, when the big clubs keep getting bigger and have such a stranglehold on the junior numbers / talent coming through their catchment area.

It might be in certain regions of the city (e.g. North-East) but not sure that could/would be accurate for the whole state, for example Reynella and Blackwood have huge junior numbers.

It is bloody hard work but if you dont have a junior program that is sustainable I can't see teams surviving long term.

[Jimmy_041]

How do those clubs go with juniors? This is how many country leagues fill their B grade when numbers get light.

So not sure how accurate, but I've heard that something upwards of 60% of all junior players in the state come from 11 clubs in D1 / D2.

That alone makes it harder for everyone beneath that, when the big clubs keep getting bigger and have such a stranglehold on the junior numbers / talent coming through their catchment area.

Is the whole comp designed to suit the 11 clubs in D1 / D2 now?

[wenchbarwer]

Perhaps my point wasn't clear

Country leagues, you have senior colts/U17/U18 play before the B grade.

Bs are short, so the senior colts/U17/U18 coach asks the boys if anyone is keen for a second game. You have 20-odd kids at the same location, with all their gear, and hopefully enough double up to keep the Bs from forfeiting. With the structure of the AdFL & SANFL Juniors, this doesn't happen