HFL Division 2 (Country)

[BRaG]

I know which one aint

[The Crumber]

That was 12 years ago unfortunately. The player you mention was Anthony Nykamp, Cally made the finals and finished 4th. Why can't they retain their juniors while the seniors go to C Grade? Is there some sort of law against that? If so, how stupid! Surely it's in the best interests of football? And why are Sedan-Cambrai being tarred with the same brush when they've only been here a year? Fair go. They should be allowed at least 5 years to get on their feet in a new league.

While I support juniors, there is no way there could just be a junior team especially since the C Grade play on different days. There is no logistical way that could work but I am of course open to suggestions. I was actually thinking of rankine rather than nykamp, nykamp was a little before my time. I reckon in 2005 they were really competitive but must not have played finals.

1998 was the only year Callington was a serious challenger and yes their big recruit was Nykamp from Mt Barker. They drew Ironbank early in the finals which they lost and IB went on to win the flag. They were a good team that year but started falling away after that and it's a long time ago now...

Those were good days. Callington played Gumeracha in the Elimination Final and won by around 5 goals. They advanced to play Ironbank at Echunga the following week and conceded defeat only in the last term. The wheels appear to have fallen off from then on, first gradually, then quickly, for a multitude of reasons. It seems they will never recover. A few crusty boots in corners are all that remain. The HFL need to act.

[fisho mcspaz]

Ugh, just saw the Gumeracha boys on The Footy Show. More great publicity for Callington. They already shot themselves in the arse by airing their plight to SAFM and the Sunday Mail last year. It's terrible to see a club fall to bits the way Cally have - really hope they go to C grade next year and rebuild from there.

[Kickittometoo]

Ugh, just saw the Gumeracha boys on The Footy Show. More great publicity for Callington. They already shot themselves in the arse by airing their plight to SAFM and the Sunday Mail last year. It's terrible to see a club fall to bits the way Cally have - really hope they go to C grade next year and rebuild from there.

I just saw the show also. It was the last shovel-full of earth over the grave for a once proud club, very sad. I also recall the finals you speak of Crumber, who could have believed then it would come to this. Yes they should go to C grade, I play there and its a great comp, they could get some self belief back, let's hope the HFL see sense and force that to happen.

[bullfrog]

is it true the two jackson brothers are returning to kangarilla next year?

Which ones?

dogmatic you are a legend,very very funny

[bullfrog]

I know which one aint

would the club want them back?

[Stewie Griffin]

The Hills league should be very disappointed with the 2 muppets that got on the Footy show
and had a good laugh at Callington's expense, they big-noted themselves for kicking a bag against
a team that would lose games at Under-14 level.
Bet the Footy show wasn't ringing the week before when Gumeracha got rolled by 7 goals,
and the 2 'stars' kicked 2 goals and 1 goal, couple of real champions against decent opposition.

[king of smoo]

The Hills league should be very disappointed with the 2 muppets that got on the Footy show
and had a good laugh at Callington's expense, they big-noted themselves for kicking a bag against
a team that would lose games at Under-14 level.
Bet the Footy show wasn't ringing the week before when Gumeracha got rolled by 7 goals,
and the 2 'stars' kicked 2 goals and 1 goal, couple of real champions against decent opposition.

Well said stewie agree with u totally altho i would enjoy it if someone asked me at work how did you go on the weekend with the response aw just bagged a lazy 40

[2 Old 2 Slow]

The Hills league should be very disappointed with the 2 muppets that got on the Footy show
and had a good laugh at Callington's expense, they big-noted themselves for kicking a bag against
a team that would lose games at Under-14 level.
Bet the Footy show wasn't ringing the week before when Gumeracha got rolled by 7 goals,
and the 2 'stars' kicked 2 goals and 1 goal, couple of real champions against decent opposition.

Right on Stewie! Really humble weren't they, fair dinkum... good luck fittin your heads through the changeroom door at tomorrow's game

Love the way the panel cracked up when they said they were only 4th on the ladder!

[Jardarf]

A lot of people, including myself, agree that Callington should be just playing C-grade next season. Others feel the same about Sedan-Cambrai, however at the start of the year no one, including Cambrai, knew just how they would go in our competition. So they shouldn't be stuck down to a crappy division after just a year. They deserve at least one more year at A-grade level to improve their fortunes and have them well informed prior to the season that they need to put in a better effort for the sake of the competition or the league will act to move them to a lower div. What's the worse that could happen? Cambrai move to another league? Oh BIG loss!!!!

Callington were a joke last year and it looks as though they were given another season to pick up their act, they've failed to do so, so now the league must act to get this joke out of country competition till they are competative again. Maybe this will give the league more incentive to make the C-grade competition more of a league focus and priority with a proper season format (rather than the crappy Sunday arvo joke format they seem to have formulated for the last few years).

In terms of juniors though, I'd encourage the league to maintain Callington's presence at junior age so long as they are able to field sides in those competitions. The kids shouldn't have to suffer just because management can't keep the Seniors afloat. As much as I'd hate to travel the distance, I'd also encourage Milang to field junior sides too if they can accommodate them and build the popularity of their club at lower levels.

[king of smoo]

A lot of people, including myself, agree that Callington should be just playing C-grade next season. Others feel the same about Sedan-Cambrai, however at the start of the year no one, including Cambrai, knew just how they would go in our competition. So they shouldn't be stuck down to a crappy division after just a year. They deserve at least one more year at A-grade level to improve their fortunes and have them well informed prior to the season that they need to put in a better effort for the sake of the competition or the league will act to move them to a lower div. What's the worse that could happen? Cambrai move to another league? Oh BIG loss!!!!

Callington were a joke last year and it looks as though they were given another season to pick up their act, they've failed to do so, so now the league must act to get this joke out of country competition till they are competative again. Maybe this will give the league more incentive to make the C-grade competition more of a league focus and priority with a proper season format (rather than the crappy Sunday arvo joke format they seem to have formulated for the last few years).

In terms of juniors though, I'd encourage the league to maintain Callington's presence at junior age so long as they are able to field sides in those competitions. The kids shouldn't have to suffer just because management can't keep the Seniors afloat. As much as I'd hate to travel the distance, I'd also encourage Milang to field junior sides too if they can accommodate them and build the popularity of their club at lower levels.

Well said mate

[The Panther]

I don't think the 2 boys big noted themselves too much. Ashby only said 2 sentences , so a bit harsh too say he big noted himself.
The only thing Graham said that annoyed me was about Cally's lack of game plan - but that was more a swipe at the Crows than Cally.

Let's face it, who wouldn't go on the footy show if requested after kicking 40 goals. No matter who the opposition was.

I have never seen the 2 blokes before , but was surprised as it appeared as if Ashby is quite small. Goes against the norm of goal kickers being big forwards.

[The Panther]

1. I feel if Sedan Cambrai are to be given a time frame for improvement it should be at least 2 years. The reason being is that they now know the level required, but achieving that will be a process that can't be completed in just 12 months.
It will require a building process of one raising funds to recruit and two attracting players to their club. I can't see them recruiting ten players in one season and obviously to get to a competitive level will take more than just a handful of players. I would say aim for 4-5 for each season.

2. I am against Callington going to C grade unless as you mention Jardarf, they are allowed to have juniors compete in country division and the C Grade competition becomes a ligitimate saturday competition.

3. By creating a C Grade competition which plays on saturday and is " a real competition " it will discourage clubs who think maybe we could have a C grade team then after a few weeks of it not working pull out and leave the comp with forfeits.
Who knows maybe Callington could have 2 C grade teams if they have the numbers.
It also gives the Hills a safety net for the future if any other clubs fall into the same difficulties that Callington are currently facing.

[Armytank]

I seriously doubt that Ironbank would field a C grade side if it were to be a Saturday comp. It would be too big a task for support staff to be at two different grounds the same day and there would be a dislocation of the C grade form the rest of the club. This would go against what the C grade means to the Ironbank Footy Club and the players that play C grade.

I also doubt if a number of other clubs would field C grade sides if it were to be on Saturdays.

[Stewie Griffin]

After Ashby 'articulated' his first reply I reckon the panel figured 1 question was enough.
The fact that both of them were there reflected a complete lack of modesty or concern for Callington as a club.
I would be embarassed to go on the footy show and talk up 40 goals if it was against that opposition.
Its like bragging about fighting your way out of a wet paper bag.

[Jardarf]

Completely agree with you, Panther. C-grade needs to be more legitimate and offer another playing option for seniors. Heck, with so many grounds now having night footy options, they should have the C-grade as a saturday night competition or at least shuffle around the starting times so A-grade plays under lights if that is what people prefer!
I've heard of some clubs considering running a second b-grade team in the country competition next year as the current C-grade format isn't good enough to appease all their senior players. This is mearly and idea someone has floated, not set in stone so PLEASE no one go on and on and on for the next 3 pages of this forum saying 'how bad that is for the competition', 'if they've got too many players send them to another club', and 'I disagree with that idea' statements because like I said it's ONLY AN IDEA BEING FLOATED, NOT A DECISION. So keep off your soapboxes until it becomes a tabled option with the HFL.

But back to the original topic, there are loads of junior clubs across the city that are set up solely to build the skills of juniors which are quite successful in their goals. Callington could take this option in the HFL next year and make themselves more junior focused with a C-grade team until they are competative to step up to higher ranks.

[cossi11]

I don't think the 2 boys big noted themselves too much. Ashby only said 2 sentences , so a bit harsh too say he big noted himself.
The only thing Graham said that annoyed me was about Cally's lack of game plan - but that was more a swipe at the Crows than Cally.

Let's face it, who wouldn't go on the footy show if requested after kicking 40 goals. No matter who the opposition was.

I have never seen the 2 blokes before , but was surprised as it appeared as if Ashby is quite small. Goes against the norm of goal kickers being big forwards.

Grahams career speaks for itself, he has played SANFL footy and was part of the best era for Central Districts which is still rolling on and Ashby would of too if it weren't for injuries in his earlier years. Ashby played (17's and 19's and maybe even ressies) at Centrals and i believe was being scouted by AFL clubs until he injured his knee!

I have played footy with Ashby and yeh he aint the biggest bloke on the park but he just has a great footy brain on him and knows where to be at the right time. I remember a game he played at Eastern Park in Division 3 a few years back where he kicked something like 9.6 from playing on the ball! The guy is a ball magnet and i was not surprised when i heard he kicked 100 goals this season.

[Armytank]

Completely agree with you, Panther. C-grade needs to be more legitimate and offer another playing option for seniors. Heck, with so many grounds now having night footy options, they should have the C-grade as a saturday night competition or at least shuffle around the starting times so A-grade plays under lights if that is what people prefer!
I've heard of some clubs considering running a second b-grade team in the country competition next year as the current C-grade format isn't good enough to appease all their senior players. This is mearly and idea someone has floated, not set in stone so PLEASE no one go on and on and on for the next 3 pages of this forum saying 'how bad that is for the competition', 'if they've got too many players send them to another club', and 'I disagree with that idea' statements because like I said it's ONLY AN IDEA BEING FLOATED, NOT A DECISION. So keep off your soapboxes until it becomes a tabled option with the HFL.

Mate, I never said any of that, I think as an idea it has merritt. I was merely suggesting that some of the original sides that were involved in recreating the C grade competition may not favour a move to Saturdays and a more "serious" competition. And if these clubs are not willing to field C grade sides on Saturdays there will not be a competition anyway.

I completely agree that Callington should be encouraged to develop their junior sides in the country division, this is where the future of their club should be fostered.

[Shortman]

The Hills league should be very disappointed with the 2 muppets that got on the Footy show
and had a good laugh at Callington's expense, they big-noted themselves for kicking a bag against
a team that would lose games at Under-14 level.
Bet the Footy show wasn't ringing the week before when Gumeracha got rolled by 7 goals,
and the 2 'stars' kicked 2 goals and 1 goal, couple of real champions against decent opposition.

Big noting themselves ?? You should probably loosen the grip you have on yourself.

Chances are both of these guys have achieved more in their footballing lives than you, as was mentioned on TFS when they introduced Quinno as a 4 time SANFL premiership player, im pretty sure that makes him a champion against decent opposition....... They werent on there to embarass Callington although it was inevitable that was going to happen.

[The Panther]

Mate, I never said any of that, I think as an idea it has merritt. I was merely suggesting that some of the original sides that were involved in recreating the C grade competition may not favour a move to Saturdays and a more "serious" competition. And if these clubs are not willing to field C grade sides on Saturdays there will not be a competition anyway.

I completely agree that Callington should be encouraged to develop their junior sides in the country division, this is where the future of their club should be fostered.[/quote]

From my observations most of the clubs in the C grade take it serious as such. I meant more of an extended season and finals series running parallel to the other comps, with an emphasis on clubs who nominate ensuring they can (excluding extenuating circumstances) fill a third side for the entire season. Obviously scheduling is open for debate. Personally i love the friday night concept and hate the sundays. Also i believe the triple header between Blackwood and Ironbank last year was a great success , where all minor grade matches started at earlier times and the A grade played under lights.

My opinion is that a revamped C grade will give struggling clubs time to improve their situation and players for what ever reason choose to play C grade more football.
Just because people are of a C grade standard football wise , doesn't mean they don't take it serious and want a serious competition.