HFL Division 1 (Central)

[Justquietly]

DA - you reckon Lofty have fallen off the pace enough to drop outta the 5, or the others have caught up?And I wouldn't be putting too much emphasis on pre-season games, I filled in for one last year with about 6 other blokes that probably wouldn't have made the side during season-proper, so the squads usually change a fair bit.
And on lobey - their 2 seasons plus without a win, does anyone know if that's anywhere near a Central div record?

Not sure mate, as I haven't been up to many trainings and couldn't make it to either preseason games.

I'm purely going by ins/outs and other clubs seem to have done very well on the 'in' side of the ledger.

Blackwood were good last year and have added a couple of very high quality players. Mt Barker finished last year well and have imported a bunch of Glenelg players. Uri haven't lost anyone by all accounts.

So IMO, it'a a matter of us being around a similar mark to last year (Although losing Bawden, J Temme and Fleet hurts), with other teams improving.

I'm confident that our younger blokes can step up again and have a great season. There's a bunch of quality young locals that are around the 50-100 game mark now.

Cheers, mate fair enough.
On all this quality recruiting - surely some teams are gonna struggle with the points system and have to play some genuine talent in the magoos?

[devilsadvocate]

Cheers, mate fair enough.
On all this quality recruiting - surely some teams are gonna struggle with the points system and have to play some genuine talent in the magoos?

I would have thought so.

I don't know how Blackwood will manage it. I'd say their supers will be around the mark of the lower placed A-Grade sides.

TV in the country div will have a ridiculous B-Grade too by the sounds!

Although this year, if you play an U17 in the A's, you get a 1 point reduction. So I guess we could see a couple of youngsters on the bench of some sides in order to scrape under the points cap.

[Confucius]

Cheers, mate fair enough.
On all this quality recruiting - surely some teams are gonna struggle with the points system and have to play some genuine talent in the magoos?

I would have thought so.

I don't know how Blackwood will manage it. I'd say their supers will be around the mark of the lower placed A-Grade sides.

TV in the country div will have a ridiculous B-Grade too by the sounds!

Although this year, if you play an U17 in the A's, you get a 1 point reduction. So I guess we could see a couple of youngsters on the bench of some sides in order to scrape under the points cap.

I really don't understand that rule change, play an U17 who is not ready for A grade so you can fit in an extra hired gun? I'm all for playing under 17's if they are good enough but I think this will see some local blokes in clubs best 21 playing B's to squeeze a recruit in and putting an U17 at risk of injury. Or maybe I'm just missing something.........

[devilsadvocate]

I really don't understand that rule change, play an U17 who is not ready for A grade so you can fit in an extra hired gun? I'm all for playing under 17's if they are good enough but I think this will see some local blokes in clubs best 21 playing B's to squeeze a recruit in and putting an U17 at risk of injury. Or maybe I'm just missing something.........

Nah, you're spot on. That will happen for sure. I think it happened in the SFL last season - some U17's just sat on the pine all day to get the side under the points gap.

Some clubs will abuse it, but others will get a great reward for having developed a junior player capable of stepping up to the plate.

[Dr. Pink]

I really don't understand that rule change, play an U17 who is not ready for A grade so you can fit in an extra hired gun? I'm all for playing under 17's if they are good enough but I think this will see some local blokes in clubs best 21 playing B's to squeeze a recruit in and putting an U17 at risk of injury. Or maybe I'm just missing something.........

Nah, you're spot on. That will happen for sure. I think it happened in the SFL last season - some U17's just sat on the pine all day to get the side under the points gap.

Some clubs will abuse it, but others will get a great reward for having developed a junior player capable of stepping up to the plate.

Next thing will be that teams will want a 22 man bench to play an extra colt for more point deductions.

[false]

I really don't understand that rule change, play an U17 who is not ready for A grade so you can fit in an extra hired gun? I'm all for playing under 17's if they are good enough but I think this will see some local blokes in clubs best 21 playing B's to squeeze a recruit in and putting an U17 at risk of injury. Or maybe I'm just missing something.........

Nah, you're spot on. That will happen for sure. I think it happened in the SFL last season - some U17's just sat on the pine all day to get the side under the points gap.

Some clubs will abuse it, but others will get a great reward for having developed a junior player capable of stepping up to the plate.

That is truly a disgraceful decision... Kids will get taken out of the colts to sit on the bench which will do nothing for the development of the kids...

[devilsadvocate]

I really don't understand that rule change, play an U17 who is not ready for A grade so you can fit in an extra hired gun? I'm all for playing under 17's if they are good enough but I think this will see some local blokes in clubs best 21 playing B's to squeeze a recruit in and putting an U17 at risk of injury. Or maybe I'm just missing something.........

Nah, you're spot on. That will happen for sure. I think it happened in the SFL last season - some U17's just sat on the pine all day to get the side under the points gap.

Some clubs will abuse it, but others will get a great reward for having developed a junior player capable of stepping up to the plate.

That is truly a disgraceful decision... Kids will get taken out of the colts to sit on the bench which will do nothing for the development of the kids...

It can be viewed like that if the rule is abused. And I agree - if an U17 player is brought up to sit on the bench for the full game, then it's being abused. But that also acts as a hinderance, because you're effectively only playing with 20 players. So perhaps it evens out?

Or you can take a positive view and see it as a great reward for a club that develops its juniors, integrates them with the seniors and brings them up to A grade level and gives them game time based on merit.

I know a number of HFL clubs have had U17's play A grade in the past, based on their ability.

[Justquietly]

I really don't understand that rule change, play an U17 who is not ready for A grade so you can fit in an extra hired gun? I'm all for playing under 17's if they are good enough but I think this will see some local blokes in clubs best 21 playing B's to squeeze a recruit in and putting an U17 at risk of injury. Or maybe I'm just missing something.........

Nah, you're spot on. That will happen for sure. I think it happened in the SFL last season - some U17's just sat on the pine all day to get the side under the points gap.

Some clubs will abuse it, but others will get a great reward for having developed a junior player capable of stepping up to the plate.

That is truly a disgraceful decision... Kids will get taken out of the colts to sit on the bench which will do nothing for the development of the kids...

It can be viewed like that if the rule is abused. And I agree - if an U17 player is brought up to sit on the bench for the full game, then it's being abused. But that also acts as a hinderance, because you're effectively only playing with 20 players. So perhaps it evens out?

Or you can take a positive view and see it as a great reward for a club that develops its juniors, integrates them with the seniors and brings them up to A grade level and gives them game time based on merit.

I know a number of HFL clubs have had U17's play A grade in the past, based on their ability.

It may sound a bit harsh but yeah, some u/17's may cop a slightly wasteful year. But if a club is half-decent, they'll get the young guys on the field. Or, the kid will look for a better club that will play them. But it would have been a 2010 season wasted. Hopefully it won't be abused, however with last year's recruits and what seems a fair recruiting year this year, I fail to see how some teams will fit under the points cap without taking some 'interesting' steps.

[Confucius]

It can be viewed like that if the rule is abused. And I agree - if an U17 player is brought up to sit on the bench for the full game, then it's being abused. But that also acts as a hinderance, because you're effectively only playing with 20 players. So perhaps it evens out?

Or you can take a positive view and see it as a great reward for a club that develops its juniors, integrates them with the seniors and brings them up to A grade level and gives them game time based on merit.

I know a number of HFL clubs have had U17's play A grade in the past, based on their ability.

I hear what you saying DA but I think the last statement says it all.......clubs will already play an U17 if they are up to it.

To me the points system is about rewarding clubs for producing local talent (or hanging onto recruits for a period of time) and attempting to reduce the level of money and players transferring clubs in the long run. If it actually does that or not is another question.

This rule only encourages clubs to swap a locally produced player (say a junior they have developed who is playing his first year of senior football) who is up to it for a junior who is not in the best 21 in order to allow clubs to recruit more heavily which is exactly what the points system is designed to reduce.

Its also only going to encourage poaching of talented U17's, a topic which has already received a bit of attention on here this pre-season.

[Bat Pad]

I think Bridgewater will be one club which will be playing a few to keep under the points considering they were already over last year.

[Goldberg]

But they have lost DeVries

[comeon]

Bat pad brigewater still has two points to play with so they don't need to play kid for that reason only if they are good enough to play

[fruit_box]

Bat pad brigewater still has two points to play with so they don't need to play kid for that reason only if they are good enough to play

Well Shane any young tallent coming through we should look out for. Ben Ross was pretty handy but im guessing hes told old for jrn's now anyway? Anyone els

[false]

But they have lost DeVries

geez he was the only of their recruits who i really rated last year... big loss

[dangermouse]

Can't blame him, I wouldn't play for shanty for $800 a game either....

[sound4]

what are people's tips for the first round of games?

[The Gimp]

Onkas v Ironbank - The thunderers may struggle without Chief, Onkas at home by 31-40
Birdwood v Blackwood - If the new Roosters gel under their new coach they will push Blackwood and hopefully get up by 1-10
Mt Lofty v Mt Barker - Probably match of the round and will be interesting to see how both sides go with Lofty losing a couple and the roos picking up a couple of quality players. Roos by 1-10
Lobethal v Bridgewater - With Lobey picking up a few over the off season and Bridgy losing DeVries (their best player in 09) I think Lobey may break their drought at home by 11-20
Uraidla v Hahndorf - The cabbage cutters are a quality unit and will easily cover the pies by 31-40

[devilsadvocate]

I'll post a picture of myself in the buff if Birdwood beat Blackwood.

Sorry Gimp, but you're dreaming.

[The Gimp]

I'll post a picture of myself in the buff if Birdwood beat Blackwood.

Sorry Gimp, but you're dreaming.

DA, does that go for past wins as well??

We beat them at Windy hill last year, so anything's possible!!

[devilsadvocate]

I'll post a picture of myself in the buff if Birdwood beat Blackwood.

Sorry Gimp, but you're dreaming.

DA, does that go for past wins as well??

We beat them at Windy hill last year, so anything's possible!!

I just think with their ins and your outs, they'll get up.

But good luck to your boys.