HFL Division 1 (Central)

[Justquietly]

Ha ha! So he missed schnitta night...sounds like not many are even sacrificing that!
16 hey? There goes my theory that a really good squad will be out on the park. Shame that, some good footy being played in the hills. Disappointing that amongst 20 teams, we can't get 20 players...both divisions had players invited, didn't they?

[the wonder elephant]

why wernt u at association armytank shame on u
alaska who if any of the ironbank boys (besides armytank ) were at training ? is anyone playing sat ?

[Alaska]

[quote="the wonder elephant"]why wernt u at association armytank shame on u
alaska who if any of the ironbank boys (besides armytank ) were at training ? is anyone playing sat ?[/quote]
Gaz and Will were there, Scooter and Naughts still injured and not available.
Team to be picked Thursday Night.
Owen was asking after Muffy, I do not know that situation.
Ledge king was there again and Alfy was an apology.

[bernie]

Solutions for Association anyone?
Like JQ stated it seems a bit disappointing considering the level of play in the league at the momento.
Older players who have played in the game for a year or two seem to lose interest so perhaps the league should push a few more younger players into the squad. Can't hurt surely. And from my sources I hear that a few are not playing due to wanting the week off. The league started really late this year.....why not simply start 2 weeks earlier and throw in a bye or as someone suggested a split round or 2?

Managed to catch Lofty v Bridgey last week too. Bridgey were once again way behind the eight ball compared to the Devs. Way too much run, skill and effort. Comparing Bridgey's recruits to the Goats is like comparing chalk to cheese. Donnelly and couple of others are too slow, give up way too easily , no second efforts. Look at these guys compared to Trzeniski, Wood, White, etc. who go in hard, run all day and have clean skills. Big difference in talent, fitness and class. Shanty could certainly learn a bit from following IB's example of pushing their locals hard and importing wisely.

[Cougar]

There WILL be a split round next year because of this Association side dilemma. Apparently it's Alf Stephens, The Lege and Apples James v Barossa. Good Luck to those blokes but where's the support? Where's the numbers from the Best sides in the HFL?? i.e. Uraidla, Lofty.

[Armytank]

why wernt u at association armytank shame on u
alaska who if any of the ironbank boys (besides armytank ) were at training ? is anyone playing sat ?

With only 16 on the track I still might get the call up!

I must admit I was devestated when I didn't get a personal invite from Owen when we played Uraidla

[Donkey]

I heard from a mate who plays in the country div that those blokes who had trained for country before it got caned were still asked to play in the central side. No offence to country players but if thats the case won't the barossa league pump the hills side.

[bookie]

i reckon u could add matt baldock to that list he is absolutely carving up at the moment

[ORDoubleBlues]

I heard from a mate who plays in the country div that those blokes who had trained for country before it got caned were still asked to play in the central side. No offence to country players but if thats the case won't the barossa league pump the hills side.

I heard the same and you're right.
I suppose the candidates IMHO from Country would be Carter, Dawe, Murphy, James boys, Trent Thorpe and perhaps a few others.
Cougar may like to correct me but I'm pretty sure Kane Paues played for the Barossa in his last season in that league in 2005. Kane is in the veteran class now but what I'm implying is that there are probably others than the above mentioned that could handle themselves but that would depend on the standard of the side around them to as well.

[Cougar]

ODB, Kane Paues did play for Barossa in 2005. Most of the good Country Div players are unavailable this weekend. Thorpe injured for 6 weeks, M.Westley,Dawe and B.Pearce away interstate, R. & B.James away.

P.James is flying the Kersbrook flag and understand Bingos and N.Pearce might get a gig if things don't improve.

[Justquietly]

Long season seems to be taking its toll. That's a shame. Seems as though Hills may not offer too much.
Will be interesting to see how Barossa go enticing their boys to make the trip.
No doubt that some of the 'injuries' will be fine for next week...

[devilsadvocate]

It's like the old Club v Country debate in the real Football.

I'm just waiting for the first person to open the old paying players debate, by suggesting players should get paid to play association.

Oooooooppppsssss I'm an idiot!

Hope Pencil goes well, he's a gun. And it would be awesome if Baldy got the call-up.

[shake'n'bake]

Mate Birdwood are useless! 5 more players will do nothing for that team, their skills are ordinary, their decision making is ordinary and as a unit they are far from a win! I also love all this talk about Ironbank's numerous recruits from tailem bend. there are three guys from tailem bend that are new this year Howes, Graetz and Muff, not exactly a majority of a 21 person side! TD you are a joke... All the guys from Happy Valley have played for Ironbank through juniors, are we all classified as recruits if we don't live in the suburb we play? Cos god knows all the lads from Happy Valley have their hands out for petrol money cos they can't afford the ten minute trip, better get on blackwood's back cos half the team lives in Eden Hills. You Idiot!

mate for a side full of 18 and 19 year old kids, in my extremely biased opinion birdwood are doing well, didn't pick up a single recruit over summer, and were only 3 goal down during the 3rd quarter against ironbank, just lost to lobethal, took it right up to bridgewater. not far from a win at all i'd say.

Not so sure that Birdwood is filled with 18 and 19 year old kids... don't know they are any younger than sides such as Ironbank and Mt. Lofty which are both in the top 5.... And if you think bottom of the ladder with no wins is "doing well" then you should have a satisfying couple of years ahead of you!!!

[dangermouse]

Let's not forget where Ironbank finished last year shake-n-bake, didn't they win one more game in 2006 than Birdwood currently have? And also, where were Lofty 3 seasons ago? Stone motherless last. Shows what a bit of div1 experience for the young blokes coupled with some wise recruiting can do for a team. How quickly we forget......

[shake'n'bake]

Not sure that you could compare the young guns of Birdwood with the young guns of Ironbank and Lofty Dangermouse! In terms of young talent those two teams are probably very superior to most other clubs in the league, and in both divisions. The only stand out youngster in Birdwood's side is Scott Friend and maybe their ruckman and i could see him being chased by a couple of teams, massive potential! So i don't think it's that we are forgetting but more the fact that we are comparing chalk with cheese.

[Banker]

i would be interested to know how many of the players that were invited out to training either live in or have played juniors in the hills, seems these days there are more townies playing HFL, maybe there not interested in representing the league? Or maybe there just chasing $$ ?

[dangermouse]

Fair call shake-n-bake, but Birdwood's locals will be much better for the experience next season you'd reckon. In regard to inter-league, I reckon the league should try to attract more locals into the squad as they are the true products of the HFL. Even though a lot of the recruits in the Hills are having a fair-dinkum crack on saturday for their club and EARNING their pay check (some aren't and haven't in the past) you can't expect these guys to suddenly find the passion to represent the HFL when really, the league they are playing in is irrelevant to them, especially when the season only contains one week off. I think the league and clubs should really hammer the local guys to get involved- maybe restricting selection to guys that have played in the HFL for at least 3 full seasons might make playing for the HFL side more of a privilige for locals. I don't think desperately trying to fill a side with anyone who is willing is the answer, if anything it devalues the experience. Adding another bye also would'nt hurt.

[Chook]

I dissagree banker.

The past few seasons, the interleague side has been filled with a mix of townies and locals.

The last two captains are townies (nithcekowski and trazinski) (geez what a mouthful!), they obviously wouldn't have been chasing the coin if they played.

There are plenty of local lads playing in the interleague over the past few seasons. I think the hills have done it pretty well before they decided to have only the 1 bye this year. Old Owie Lambshed will have to get his act into gear next year, and you watch everyone jump on board!

[Armytank]

I dissagree banker.

The past few seasons, the interleague side has been filled with a mix of townies and locals.

The last two captains are townies (nithcekowski and trazinski) (geez what a mouthful!), they obviously wouldn't have been chasing the coin if they played.

There are plenty of local lads playing in the interleague over the past few seasons. I think the hills have done it pretty well before they decided to have only the 1 bye this year. Old Owie Lambshed will have to get his act into gear next year, and you watch everyone jump on board!

I think that is the question banker was asking Chook, not so much as a statement. But yeah, good to point out the last two captains have not been "home grown"

[Cougar]

I dissagree banker.

The past few seasons, the interleague side has been filled with a mix of townies and locals.

The last two captains are townies (nithcekowski and trazinski) (geez what a mouthful!), they obviously wouldn't have been chasing the coin if they played.

There are plenty of local lads playing in the interleague over the past few seasons. I think the hills have done it pretty well before they decided to have only the 1 bye this year. Old Owie Lambshed will have to get his act into gear next year, and you watch everyone jump on board!

There WILL be a Split Round next season to avoid another disaster or unless Birdwood drop down and give us our (once dreaded but now loved) bye back!