HFL Division 1 (Central)

[Cougar]

Cougar thanks. Is it fair to say then that your feelings and opinions of Birdwood are based on years of rivalry and emotion ?

Probably true. And the fact that very early in my senior career, we beat Birdwood by a point in the greatest Hills Football League Grand Final of all time. (Little bit biased).

[Rapper]

Rumour has it that Barnabie French will play the last game for Ironbank against Lofty.

Why would you bother as he cant qualify for finals?

I feel sorry for the young bloke that misses out.

[Amateur Footy]

Rumour has it that Barnabie French will play the last game for Ironbank against Lofty.

Why would you bother as he cant qualify for finals?

I feel sorry for the young bloke that misses out.

Actually it will be this week against Uraidla, and since Fev hasn't been getting a kick recently at Carlton Barnyard brought him over too. Fev will have to play out of a pocktet tho, as Graetzy is on fire.

[Hills#fan]

I'd have to agree hills#fan- Mt Barker are perfectly poised to make the finals now as they have three very winable games (Lobey, Shanty and Birdwood) ahead after this week's massive game against Blackwood. Blackwood still have Onkas and Uris to go (plus Hahndorf, no gimme). Fair to say Blackwood are playing for thier season this week. Mt Barker v Blackwood definately worth a look this week (apart form the fact it is in Blackwood).

Indeed, that was how i had the ladder looking assuming Blackwood win aginst MtBarker this weekend; blackwood are going to have to pull something out of the hat if they want to make the finals in either grade; how long since that has happened?

[Rooster]

Cougar thanks. Is it fair to say then that your feelings and opinions of Birdwood are based on years of rivalry and emotion ?

Probably true. And the fact that very early in my senior career, we beat Birdwood by a point in the greatest Hills Football League Grand Final of all time. (Little bit biased).

i was a young junior watching that game...was a great game i agree, if i remeber correctly birdwood were undefeated the whole year, had the likes of ivan muster,andy deviet,dave mcgree,john thompson, a team of deadset stars... only to lose by a point. still we won the flag the previous and following years, so it ended up all good..

[Justquietly]

Hillsfan - I think I'll agree with you, but I still think it may only come down to %, although I haven't had time to look at each team's remaining games. If Barker can beat Blackwood this week (which I doubt), it will be over for Blackwood. The Roos will win the rest of their games.
And why do people keep referring to French coming back? Surely that's a croc.

[Cougar]

Hillsfan - I think I'll agree with you, but I still think it may only come down to %, although I haven't had time to look at each team's remaining games. If Barker can beat Blackwood this week (which I doubt), it will be over for Blackwood. The Roos will win the rest of their games.
And why do people keep referring to French coming back? Surely that's a croc.

And Josh Francou was named Ruck Rover in last weeks Budget 'Team of the Week'. He did sneak a game in after all JQ!

[Justquietly]

Classic!
Well...maybe it was cos the Power were at home on a Sunday arvo...
Is there much point in that anyway? I thought this close to finals and being such a chance, they'd be playing guys that'll qualify.
I heard he's playing at Ironbank this week too.

[2 Old 2 Slow]

Classic!
Is there much point in that anyway? I thought this close to finals and being such a chance, they'd be playing guys that'll qualify.
I heard he's playing at Ironbank this week too.

JQ - Barnaby took training on Tuesday night a couple weeks back, was great for the club & by all reports he is keen as to "give something back" where it all began. He spent a good half hour with the colts & then took some drills with the seniors... I have never seen so many players at training on a Tuesday ANYWHERE, fairly sure the number of seniors (on the track) counted was 58.

Read into that what you will, of course the club would be vigorously chasing his services as a player but NOBODY knows what he is going to do next other than the man himself.

Fair to say that the fleet footed running game of IB would derive HUGE benefits from a ruckman of this calibre.

[Justquietly]

You're right, 2Old, no-one but the man himself would know. And of course he'd be great value, but did he run around? or was that him giving something back, knowledge-wise?
He's running out of games if he was to qualify too.
Just the earlier rumour of him playing against Lofty, I just didn't think that made all that much sense.

[Cougar]

Cougar thanks. Is it fair to say then that your feelings and opinions of Birdwood are based on years of rivalry and emotion ?

Probably true. And the fact that very early in my senior career, we beat Birdwood by a point in the greatest Hills Football League Grand Final of all time. (Little bit biased).

i was a young junior watching that game...was a great game i agree, if i remeber correctly birdwood were undefeated the whole year, had the likes of ivan muster,andy deviet,dave mcgree,john thompson, a team of deadset stars... only to lose by a point. still we won the flag the previous and following years, so it ended up all good..

Same result happened in 74 and 93. In 93, Birdwood dropped only one minor round match of the year, and were clear favourites. We had done it the hard way after losing the Qualifying, but jumped Birdwood in the GF setting up a handy lead. At the 35 minute mark of the Final quater Birdwood hit the front for the first time of the match only to see Andrew 'Bear' Newman kick the winning goal for the Brookers with 30 seconds left!

That GF would rival the Lobethal Hanhdorf draw of a few years back.

[2 Old 2 Slow]

Haven't heard much from "The O'Knowledgable One" lately....

[Alaska]

You're right, 2Old, no-one but the man himself would know. And of course he'd be great value, but did he run around? or was that him giving something back, knowledge-wise?
He's running out of games if he was to qualify too.
Just the earlier rumour of him playing against Lofty, I just didn't think that made all that much sense.

JQ I think what was put up before regarding possible final five placings is important to this discussion. The way I look at it, to ensure that IB even play finals they need to beat either Lofty or Uri's and win their other two games. Of course if we want to rely on other games going the right way, such as Blackwood v Barker fine.
I don't think Barney will play but it was great for the club and especially our two young ruckmen he spent some time with. Although if it came down to beating Lofty in the last match to get in I wonder if he could be convinced?

[Yoda]

can anyone tell me if big barnaby had signed the correct papers to play? herd he might have at the start of the year?

[Justquietly]

Alaska - I reckon you guys look fairly safe. You'll beat Birdwood and Hahndorf and Blackwood V Onkas works in your favour either way, really.
But of course you'd take any experience you could take when coaching younger guys.
I think it's more between Barker and Blackwood for 5th.
Barker, Onkas, Uraidla, then Hahndorf - Blackwood have a tough run home.

[Silky skills]

Cougar the Hahndorf Vs Lobethal game was the best game i reckon i have ever seen, hahndorf blew it in the dying stages, matt cooper got knocked out in the last quarter, was a very good game, how many Grand finals in the HFL have gone to extra time??? is that the only one??

[Cougar]

Cougar the Hahndorf Vs Lobethal game was the best game i reckon i have ever seen, hahndorf blew it in the dying stages, matt cooper got knocked out in the last quarter, was a very good game, how many Grand finals in the HFL have gone to extra time??? is that the only one??

As far as I am aware. There have been a few Colts and B grade GFs that have done it. Kersbrook lost an extra time 'B' grade GF in the 80s to Nairne.

[2words]

Cougar the Hahndorf Vs Lobethal game was the best game i reckon i have ever seen, hahndorf blew it in the dying stages, matt cooper got knocked out in the last quarter, was a very good game, how many Grand finals in the HFL have gone to extra time??? is that the only one??

As far as I am aware. There have been a few Colts and B grade GFs that have done it. Kersbrook lost an extra time 'B' grade GF in the 80s to Nairne.

Mt Lofty drew with Shanty in the 1990 A grade grand final. Was before they brought extra time in. Came back the next week and the devils came away victorious.

[GWW]

can anyone tell me if big barnaby had signed the correct papers to play? herd he might have at the start of the year?

Wouldn't he still be on Ironbank's books given that it was his local club. When players go to a SANFL (and then AFL club) i'm pretty sure they dont get cleared in the normal in which they do when they go from one country/amateur club to another, but in saying that, perhaps there is a different type of paperwork that needs to be processed??

[Stirlo]

Yeah he did play for Sturt, in his best days, but they have well and truly deserted him. Kicked 17 against the bottom side in the first game of the year, then hardly got a kick against Kersbrook the following week, and has been all downhill since then. So much in fact, that he started on the bench against Kersbrook in the Second Round. Looks disinterested and no where near fit enough. Not one of Gary Hughes better investments.

It is understandable that a player of his calibre would get disinterested playing in sub zero climates to the roars of all 100 locals.