HFL Division 1 (Central)

[Justquietly]

I saw the Lofty game.
Lofty WAY too strong, in quite a few areas. On ballers look pretty good and whack Burch into that, could be handy.
As for night footy, bring it on! AFL has embraced it, Centrals started it this year, why not in the hills.
The area has some great fixtures involving really some good talent.
I agree with an earlier post: night at Heathfield, no more advantageous for Lofty than the postage stamp is for Bridgey.

[hillsrider]

grumpy, big $$ for someone who played in the country div first game! and if thats true, what is the new assistant coach from ironbank getting then??

[Justquietly]

Lofty game was great, but I missed Blackwood Mt Barker...any opinion on that one? How much did Barker win by and did Smith do much for the Woods?

[dale]

Yes the Devils on-ball brigade looks quite strong on paper. They also have a pretty strong forward line with a lot of options. They are a pretty young side so they should all be fighting fit.
Bridgewater looking like they may not come away with the spoon as many predicted, a few big bodies and hard on-ballers could get them off the bottom.

[robby]

Didn't see the Blackwood vs Barker game, but i have heard both would struggle this season. I've heard the Woods have lost Roche with a leg injury and with up coming clashes with the Devils, Lobey and Uri's, the Woods will be tested. Barker have lost a few players, but do have a few young blokes. u17 mail medalist Henke featured in the best in his debut A grade game, so some promising signs.

[Chook]

hmmm, interesting about lofty, they seemed to have a very young side last year. They could only be getting better. Do you think lofty could have the best on ball side this year? Blackwood were strong in the middle last year, although hahndorf should have a good midfield with the likes of Stephens, Stansborough, ormand allen and other recruits

Good on barker for looking ahead, cos I heard rumours that they would be terrible this year!

Some young guns is what makes the difference sometimes. they can be groomed into good A grade footballers!

Who played well for Barker and blackwood on the weekend??

Did anyone see the budget on the weekend with Uraidla being favourites for the flag. Haven't heard much about them, anyone know of their ins and outs??

[Justquietly]

Well! What an interesting few opinions, I must admit.
I heard Barker definitely lost a few, but also heard that they have enough cattle to be really strong. With a population like that, you'd really think numbers wouldn't be a problem...
And Blackwood. I have spoken to someone very much involved and I think they will be near the mark.
Lofty onballers from what I saw, will take a bit to tame. Some genuine skill and other than the evergreen Dawes boys, it is quite a young side. You just never know with footy, and it's early, but I think they may have an onball brigade that would be up there.
Uri's, all I know, Thomas is back up the hill playing footy there with his bro.

[grumpy]

That Adam Trzenski from lofty is an absolute gun.

[Justquietly]

Look out for Wood, a new face. Looks the goods too.

[grumpy]

I think Wood got in the best players. He was good

[Justquietly]

I would have had him BOG.

[robby]

Apparently Wood was an all-australian under 23 player with and was vice captain of the team that went to Ireland. I think that was only last year so an excellent pick up.

[Justquietly]

Yeah, something like that. I spoke to Greg Anderson who coaches down at Gaza now, and we got talking about HFL. He said he was a good get for Lofty before I mentioned him. Spent a season or 2 down there. Keeping those types at your club is always a challenge though.
Seems to be a fairly good culture from what i saw Saturday night though.

[robby]

Yeah your right, plenty of places to go for a talented player like him.

[Justquietly]

I guess you just make them feel at home and having a successful year helps a bit!

[dale]

Yeah i'd agree with you both, encouraging signs that the majority of last years recruits have stayed on though

[ball magnet]

Interesting to note that HFL is struggling to find umpires even club ones to officiate, but a high ranking league official can find time to march to the centre of the ground and give them a mouthful! A real good way to encourage umpires to take up the game. Apparently he wasn't so interested when one of the club umpires suggested that maybe he might want to haul his fat behind around the ground with the whistle. Reckon it would impress Uncle Owen!

[onkas-valleysvirgin]

I saw the Lofty game.
Lofty WAY too strong, in quite a few areas. On ballers look pretty good and whack Burch into that, could be handy.
As for night footy, bring it on! AFL has embraced it, Centrals started it this year, why not in the hills.
The area has some great fixtures involving really some good talent.
I agree with an earlier post: night at Heathfield, no more advantageous for Lofty than the postage stamp is for Bridgey.

Lofty were way too strong, agreed. They play a terrific brand of footy in close and are very disciplined in their attack on the ball and the body. They will be very difficult to beat this season if they can maintain that commitment .
As for night footy I'd have to say it was a reasounding success. It was a cool night but not uncomfortable and the crowd were vocal right from the start. Apart from the result of course I'd be happy to play nights every week...don't know how 'comfortable' it would be around mid-winter tho lol

[Justquietly]

Good to hear, onkas-valley. For a player/supporter(?) of the doggies on the end of a big defeat, to still support the concept, good on you.
I think Lofty are keen as, & for the opposition to support a night game every now and then is great stuff. Things to keep HFL ahead of other leagues is always good.
And as loud as the balcony is, I know that Mt Lofty are always keen to have travelling teams come up for a beer after.
The vocal crowd was well behaved on both counts. Always good when a contingent of families are present.

[robby]

Yes, strict penalty's for people who aren't well behaved on the balcony, far better behaved they what they used to eb up their.