HFL Division 1 (Central)

[The Gimp]

Can someone tell me whether the hfl will introduce the 3 divisions or is it just here say. It's funny how a club who has been up for so long such as lofty and struck by some financial problems is jumped upon after having a poor start. Bridgewater has been terrible for so many years and based on facilities alone ironbank are not up to standard either surely they should have some of the spotlight shown on them ?

Don't start on the facilities! No club is going to get relegated on facilities alone - and nor they should.

To be honest, I think the 3 div league is just a pipe dream. Although I actually think it will be better for the league overall, I don't think the HFL board have got the balls to make a tough decision in regards to the league's future.
They keep hiding behind the statement "It's not our call, the clubs run the league"! Well when it comes to a decision for the beterment of the future of the league, then I believe it should be taken out of the individual clubs hand and the board should be making the call. The problem is when the clubs have a vote, they vote only in what's best for their individual club (which is what their should do), but in a situation like the 3 div set-up, it is bigger than the clubs and should be made by the board.
HFL Board, time to stand up and get this league back to the strength it once was.

[dukes]

if it comes down to facilities dukes surely that couldnt put lofty in any better shape!!! It amazes me that they avoid the spotlight over their away changerooms year in year out!!! They are the worst in the comp by a long way!!! Horrible showers and tiny... just because it's bricked up doesn't mean your facilities are adequate!!!

It is good to see Onkas doing some work around their club, their away changerooms (besides the showers) would be right up there with some of the better away facilities now!

Ya kidding yourself mate I'd take mt lofty away change rooms over ironbanks any day.

[Justquietly]

Would teams rather be one win and 6 losses or go back to Div 2 and rebuild your club around some success and wins on the board, its much easier to attract footballers to a successful club rather then one that doesn't look like playing finals for a long time !!! Then as the time comes and u have rebuilt a winning attitutude that has gone missing make the step back up with confidence and a winning culture behind it.......Now tell me who's really killing their club!

Nope, disagree. The flaw with that is if you have ONE crap year, & for some clubs (past AND now) it could be whilst rebuilding, you're saying that you go to Div 2 & get some confidence? The Devs won 4 out of 6 B grade flags, 3 A grade flags in a row & I think a couple of Senior Colt flags in there. A flat spot was bound to happen, as it did with a very strong Lobey side that lost senior players & I think went 25-odd games without a win. They seem to have rebuilt somewhat. If they'd gone down 3 years ago, would that have helped their 'culture'?

[Gervais]

Would teams rather be one win and 6 losses or go back to Div 2 and rebuild your club around some success and wins on the board, its much easier to attract footballers to a successful club rather then one that doesn't look like playing finals for a long time !!! Then as the time comes and u have rebuilt a winning attitutude that has gone missing make the step back up with confidence and a winning culture behind it.......Now tell me who's really killing their club!

Nope, disagree. The flaw with that is if you have ONE crap year, & for some clubs (past AND now) it could be whilst rebuilding, you're saying that you go to Div 2 & get some confidence? The Devs won 4 out of 6 B grade flags, 3 A grade flags in a row & I think a couple of Senior Colt flags in there. A flat spot was bound to happen, as it did with a very strong Lobey side that lost senior players & I think went 25-odd games without a win. They seem to have rebuilt somewhat. If they'd gone down 3 years ago, would that have helped their 'culture'?

it's all a moot point as the hfl have by-laws that govern how the team to be relegated will be selected. facilities do not come into it. it will be the worst performing team over all four grades that will go down.

jq - i agree that unfortunately it may just come down to bad timing for lofty. although timing was on their side in 2004-6 when they couldnt win a game and were the laughing stock of the competition.

and here's a thought to leave you with, if bridgewater can beat blackwood on saturday, that will leave blackwood and lofty in 9th and 10th respectively - how the mighty have fallen??

[dukes]

Would teams rather be one win and 6 losses or go back to Div 2 and rebuild your club around some success and wins on the board, its much easier to attract footballers to a successful club rather then one that doesn't look like playing finals for a long time !!! Then as the time comes and u have rebuilt a winning attitutude that has gone missing make the step back up with confidence and a winning culture behind it.......Now tell me who's really killing their club!

Nope, disagree. The flaw with that is if you have ONE crap year, & for some clubs (past AND now) it could be whilst rebuilding, you're saying that you go to Div 2 & get some confidence? The Devs won 4 out of 6 B grade flags, 3 A grade flags in a row & I think a couple of Senior Colt flags in there. A flat spot was bound to happen, as it did with a very strong Lobey side that lost senior players & I think went 25-odd games without a win. They seem to have rebuilt somewhat. If they'd gone down 3 years ago, would that have helped their 'culture'?

Well said JQ!

[outsmarts]

Sometimes the most obvious answer is also the correct one. Bridgewater, worst oval, worst facilities and worst performing club over 10-15 years easy, over all grades. Get rid of them not lofty or blackwood who are strong in other grades and will be back around the mark in a few years, Bridgy have had years and produced next to nothing.

[Whiteline]

Gimp, I reckon the new Pres will have the balls to make tough decisions.

[Gervais]

Sometimes the most obvious answer is also the correct one. Bridgewater, worst oval, worst facilities and worst performing club over 10-15 years easy, over all grades. Get rid of them not lofty or blackwood who are strong in other grades and will be back around the mark in a few years, Bridgy have had years and produced next to nothing.

agree, but they’re unlikely to be the worst performing club of 2012, and that’s what the hfl by-laws use to make decisions.

however i don’t understand the sentiment on this forum that you cant be relegated because you used to be strong or because you have nice changerooms.

the adelaide uni blacks are the most successful club in the saafl, yet are no longer in div 1. nottingham forest have won 2 european cups, yet only recently were in the english div 3. australia used to be in the world group of the davis cup, but now play in obscure regional qualifiers. Get over it.

[Justquietly]

[quote="Gervais]it's all a moot point as the hfl have by-laws that govern how the team to be relegated will be selected. facilities do not come into it. it will be the worst performing team over all four grades that will go down.

jq - i agree that unfortunately it may just come down to bad timing for lofty. although timing was on their side in 2004-6 when they couldnt win a game and were the laughing stock of the competition.

and here's a thought to leave you with, if bridgewater can beat blackwood on saturday, that will leave blackwood and lofty in 9th and 10th respectively - how the mighty have fallen??[/quote]
I can't argue with your first point & haven't been, thems the rules.
However, the only laughing in 2006 was at Heathfield, that was the first of our 3 flags. I think 2005 was a finals campaign.
I'll try to remain positive - I think we can beat Lobey, bridgey & perhaps TV in the second half of the year. if the juniors also reverse a couple of results like those, who knows? A couple of forwards from C grade could be some badly needed targets in A grade too.
Anyway...thoughts on this round?

[Justquietly]

Blackwood v Bridgey: Woods by 6 goals
Hahndorf v Onkas: I'm picking the Pies 'cos it's at Pine Ave, Onkas are a bit up & down so could very well prove me wrong. Pies by 20 points.
IB v TV: IB seem to have the goods on their day & at home are tough. They're a finals side & will win games like these. Thunderers by 8 goals.
Lobey v Uraidla: Depending on Lobey's injuries they can be competitive...good luck Tigers, Uris to bounce back & win easily, 9 goals.
Mt Barker v Lofty: yup. The Devs to be up there til halftime but go down by a fair bit. Roos by 13 goals.

[Whiteline]

Woods vs Bridgey. Woods to get back into the winner's circle by 40 points.
Pies vs Onkas. Hmmm. Tough one. Pies by 12 points.
Bankers vs TV. Closer than people might think. Bankers by 10 points.
Lobey vs Uris. Not a good week for the Tiges to come up against Uris after a Uris loss. Uris by 50 points.
Barkeroos vs Lofty. Sorry Devs.........Roo Boys in a canter. 85 points.

[2jox]

Can anyone tell me if Lutjes from Mt Lofty is earmarked for representetive football this year (interleague)? Surely a shoe in as is in red hot form.

[Gervais]

Can anyone tell me if Lutjes from Mt Lofty is earmarked for representetive football this year (interleague)? Surely a shoe in as is in red hot form.

i've seen him play two games and 'red hot form' is not a phrase that comes to mind.

he's played 7 games for the bottom placed, winless team. he's been named in the best players twice.

apologies if i'm thinking of the wrong player (the big guy for lofty?)

[bookie]

At the moment country division looks As tho Kersbrook and Echunga are the two fovourites to play off in the GF and I don't believe either team has the junior program to step up to central. So wouldn't this mean that the divisions would remain the same? Birdwood seem the only club interested in moving to central but if they don't make the GF doesn't that make them inelligible anyway?

In any case, surely lofty wouldn't be in the gun the HFL have to use common sense here. Relegating a side that has played in 17 grand finals over the past 10 years (winning 11) would be detrimental to the central division. One bad year shouldn't result in relagation!

[Gervais]

In any case, surely lofty wouldn't be in the gun the HFL have to use common sense here. Relegating a side that has played in 17 grand finals over the past 10 years (winning 11) would be detrimental to the central division. One bad year shouldn't result in relagation!

as per the posts above, any decision on relegation is based on the hfl by-laws, not on some system that takes into account how good they used to be.

so yes, one bad year can result in relegation.

think of this, if man utd finish in the bottom three in the english premier league next year, they will be relegated. they are not immune based on previous successes. surely if its good enough for the most succesful english soccer team of all time, it's good enough for lofty.

but, we're only 7 rounds into the season, if the lofty teams start winning, they'll be safe.

[Sniper]

Woods vs Bridgey. Woods to get back into the winner's circle by 40 points.
Pies vs Onkas. Hmmm. Tough one. Pies by 12 points.
Bankers vs TV. Closer than people might think. Bankers by 10 points.
Lobey vs Uris. Not a good week for the Tiges to come up against Uris after a Uris loss. Uris by 50 points.
Barkeroos vs Lofty. Sorry Devs.........Roo Boys in a canter. 85 points.

Lobethal CAN win IF they play the best players who can still walk from their 52, 62 and 2002 Premiership reunion teams today ! Good luck Tigers with your re-union day and dinner evening.

Certainties for the day are : stories told to be bigger and better than they actually were, a Uraidla win and Coach Sutherland to be kicked out the umpires rooms after the game (again).

[Sniper]

Woods vs Bridgey. Woods to get back into the winner's circle by 40 points.
Pies vs Onkas. Hmmm. Tough one. Pies by 12 points.
Bankers vs TV. Closer than people might think. Bankers by 10 points.
Lobey vs Uris. Not a good week for the Tiges to come up against Uris after a Uris loss. Uris by 50 points.
Barkeroos vs Lofty. Sorry Devs.........Roo Boys in a canter. 85 points.

Lobethal CAN win IF they play the best players who can still walk from their 52, 62 and 2002 Premiership reunion teams today ! Good luck Tigers with your re-union day and dinner evening.

Certainties for the day are : stories told to be bigger and better than they actually were, a Uraidla win and Coach Sutherland to be kicked out the umpires rooms after the game (again).

Also good luck to the Hahndorf club who hold their '92' Premiership re-union win over Onkas .... may add a little more interest in what is already a tough encounter !

[shootstavros]

barker 19-16 lofty 4-9

[jumbo20]

Well done to Adam Shearwood yesterday I believe Ironbank may well have an opportunity to secure several Sturt up and comers plus established can anyone confirm this?

[dukes]

In any case, surely lofty wouldn't be in the gun the HFL have to use common sense here. Relegating a side that has played in 17 grand finals over the past 10 years (winning 11) would be detrimental to the central division. One bad year shouldn't result in relagation!

as per the posts above, any decision on relegation is based on the hfl by-laws, not on some system that takes into account how good they used to be.

so yes, one bad year can result in relegation.

think of this, if man utd finish in the bottom three in the english premier league next year, they will be relegated. they are not immune based on previous successes. surely if its good enough for the most succesful english soccer team of all time, it's good enough for lofty.

but, we're only 7 rounds into the season, if the lofty teams start winning, they'll be safe.

Give it a rest gervais, you have continuously compared hills football to the English premier league and the only similarity that I can I see is g Hughes antics as torrens valleys club owner!! I think the Relegation topic is always going to get passionate supporters talking as they see it as their club going backwards. Maybe let's wait till towards the end of the season to see which club is in the spotlight !