batmanbegins wrote:Agree with most of that ArmyTank, I prefer Gimps thought of DIv 2 have under 14/15 and under 18 though as I think that allows them more opportunity for numbers. I think Nairne should eventually come into Div 1 as they are a growing community and have a much bigger population than most div 2 clubs. TV are a Div 2 club as we all know but I'd be interested to see what happens to them if they got relegated because if Hughes took away the cash 3 quarters of their A's would leave and they would struggle to fill 2 senior sides especially with a few regular B grade locals leaving this year. Personally i think it should just be smaller towns Div 2 and Bigger towns div 2, but with Money involved some of those Div 2 clubs would get smashed by TV and Echunga. It should be as follows I reckon;
Div 1
Barker
Blackwood
Hahndorf
Lofty
Lobethal
Onkas
Lofty
Nairne
Div 2
Bridgy
Ironbank
TV
Kangarilla- I know they struggle seniors wise but they do have all Junior sides
Echunga
Kersbrook
Birdwood
Uraidla
Div 3
Maccy
Gums
S/C
Milang
Any other 3rd team for another club
Funny that that would lead to the top 3 teams in the As playing Div 2 but it would even out the Juniors big time and maybe see less money spent as clubs would be happy to just play locals without the stress of relegation. Maybe I'm old fashioned but the beauty of country footy was playing with your mates on a saturday, the majority of which you grew up playing juniors with but now footy clubs are a small business with numerous clubs having wasted money on guys that got them nowhere and you never see them again (apart from Uris who have recruited incredibly well).
I mean TV have 7 players that are locals, Echunga have a few more and Uris would be around the same (Most have been there for years now tho) , to me it's not what country footy is about. This is rich coming from a guy from IB as we obviously spend a lot of money but i've never liked it and most likely never will.
Personally I would hate to see the three tier comp. No Bridgy Lofty game? No Blackwood Ironbank? Great rivalries lost. If a club can get an under 15's and 17's on the park they should be eligible to play Div1. Let the men int he top grade decide who goes up and who goes down. At the end of the day the A grade is the most even comp and it's the only fair way to decide. Junior teams are miles apart due to numbers, that all evens out once in seniors, which is what every club has juniors for, bring them through to senior ranks.
Anyway, probably a discussion for the summer months when this all becomes relevant again. Why do you start us off and give us your weekly rundown BM