HFL Division 2 (Country)

[daysofourlives]

Noticed on sportingpulse Cally kicked six (probably their highest for some time), and had about 27 players listed??
clerical error?

Na they played with 27, what are the league going to do, take their points off them

[Gervais]

Birwood President was on the Barossa's #1 radio show yesterday stating his claim to become part of the BL&G next year.

i really hope that the hfl board is on top of this situation and is working closely with birdwood to resolve their issues.

the hfl cannot afford to lose a club like birdwood. they are well administered and field teams across all age groups. to lose them will further downgrade the country division. as hard as it sounds, clubs such as callington and sedan/cambrai should be moved on or encouraged to play in the C grade comp.

i feel sorry for the roosters. it now looks increasingly unlikely that they will make the country division grand final, and as a result will be ineligible for promotion to central division. they obviously don't want another season in hfl country with the farcical junior set-up.

the hfl board must consult with them immediately and deal with their concerns.

[Alaska]

Speaking to them on Saturday it sounds that it is too late for the HFL to do anything Birdwood just need acceptance from the BL &G league to move on next year.
So it seems it was my last visit to the Velodrome.

[Banker]

Where are finals being played at this weekend?

[Gervais]

Speaking to them on Saturday it sounds that it is too late for the HFL to do anything Birdwood just need acceptance from the BL &G league to move on next year.
So it seems it was my last visit to the Velodrome.

alaska, what are you hearing about echunga for 2013? do they want to move to central division?

[Alaska]

Where are finals being played at this weekend?

You are at Nairne on Saturday Elimination at Birdwood on Sunday.

[Alaska]

Speaking to them on Saturday it sounds that it is too late for the HFL to do anything Birdwood just need acceptance from the BL &G league to move on next year.
So it seems it was my last visit to the Velodrome.

alaska, what are you hearing about echunga for 2013? do they want to move to central division?

Players want to go up for the Juniors to prosper, but I suspect the decision from the Board will be not to.

[Panther32]

Birwood President was on the Barossa's #1 radio show yesterday stating his claim to become part of the BL&G next year.

i really hope that the hfl board is on top of this situation and is working closely with birdwood to resolve their issues.

the hfl cannot afford to lose a club like birdwood. they are well administered and field teams across all age groups. to lose them will further downgrade the country division. as hard as it sounds, clubs such as callington and sedan/cambrai should be moved on or encouraged to play in the C grade comp.

i feel sorry for the roosters. it now looks increasingly unlikely that they will make the country division grand final, and as a result will be ineligible for promotion to central division. they obviously don't want another season in hfl country with the farcical junior set-up.

the hfl board must consult with them immediately and deal with their concerns.

Yeah I noticed a couple of Barossa Officials came to watch the Echunga v Birdwood game.
I don't blame Birdwood to be honest, the Hills Country League needs to be fixed.

[Champ]

The demons considering a discussion with the GSFL if the Roosters also jump ship AND the junior program is not fixed.
Board being relatively quiet but rumor has it are prepared for some forward planning....?

[MOHAMMAD]

Birwood President was on the Barossa's #1 radio show yesterday stating his claim to become part of the BL&G next year.

i really hope that the hfl board is on top of this situation and is working closely with birdwood to resolve their issues.

the hfl cannot afford to lose a club like birdwood. they are well administered and field teams across all age groups. to lose them will further downgrade the country division. as hard as it sounds, clubs such as callington and sedan/cambrai should be moved on or encouraged to play in the C grade comp.

i feel sorry for the roosters. it now looks increasingly unlikely that they will make the country division grand final, and as a result will be ineligible for promotion to central division. they obviously don't want another season in hfl country with the farcical junior set-up.

the hfl board must consult with them immediately and deal with their concerns.

Yeah I noticed a couple of Barossa Officials came to watch the Echunga v Birdwood game.
I don't blame Birdwood to be honest, the Hills Country League needs to be fixed.

Was there a big fella and a lttle bloke drinking any beverage that was offered for free.

[sunbowler]

Apparently they left at half time but was speaking with BLG Vice President later that evening and they were pleased with most things and impressed by standard of footy. Saw Birdwood v Echunga last year in Courier Cup Final and can only agree. Very hard working administration, but despite what Bear said on BBB I think you would have trouble squeezing a 5000 plus BLG GF crowd into the park. BLG netball also present an obstacle but am surprised by the number of people that have no issue with Birdwood joining BLG. What's clear though is that football in the Adelaide Hills needs a new direction or it will implode. It has to go to 3 comps, whether collective or independent with a proviso that clubs in top two comps must field in all grades that play for points. This is where the SACFL need to be involved, however I doubt if they could understand the problem. Callington may spit the chewie, but would imagine they would do a Milang eventually and reappear in the C Grade or its new equivalent. Sedan Cambrai are probably a better fit in the Independent league and would probably bolster that competition. Bridgewater down to Country and have two nine team comps (byes 8 weeks apart can be handled) . Any relegation system should be based over 2 or 3 seasons with possible promoted clubs given the option of 'going up'. Reverting to a final four would also toughen up the competition. Only my thoughts as an outsider, but hope footy is the winner here.

Birwood President was on the Barossa's #1 radio show yesterday stating his claim to become part of the BL&G next year.

i really hope that the hfl board is on top of this situation and is working closely with birdwood to resolve their issues.

the hfl cannot afford to lose a club like birdwood. they are well administered and field teams across all age groups. to lose them will further downgrade the country division. as hard as it sounds, clubs such as callington and sedan/cambrai should be moved on or encouraged to play in the C grade comp.

i feel sorry for the roosters. it now looks increasingly unlikely that they will make the country division grand final, and as a result will be ineligible for promotion to central division. they obviously don't want another season in hfl country with the farcical junior set-up.

the hfl board must consult with them immediately and deal with their concerns.

Yeah I noticed a couple of Barossa Officials came to watch the Echunga v Birdwood game.
I don't blame Birdwood to be honest, the Hills Country League needs to be fixed.

Was there a big fella and a lttle bloke drinking any beverage that was offered for free.

[bailey39]

Apparently they left at half time but was speaking with BLG Vice President later that evening and they were pleased with most things and impressed by standard of footy. Saw Birdwood v Echunga last year in Courier Cup Final and can only agree. Very hard working administration, but despite what Bear said on BBB I think you would have trouble squeezing a 5000 plus BLG GF crowd into the park. BLG netball also present an obstacle but am surprised by the number of people that have no issue with Birdwood joining BLG. What's clear though is that football in the Adelaide Hills needs a new direction or it will implode. It has to go to 3 comps, whether collective or independent with a proviso that clubs in top two comps must field in all grades that play for points. This is where the SACFL need to be involved, however I doubt if they could understand the problem. Callington may spit the chewie, but would imagine they would do a Milang eventually and reappear in the C Grade or its new equivalent. Sedan Cambrai are probably a better fit in the Independent league and would probably bolster that competition. Bridgewater down to Country and have two nine team comps (byes 8 weeks apart can be handled) . Any relegation system should be based over 2 or 3 seasons with possible promoted clubs given the option of 'going up'. Reverting to a final four would also toughen up the competition. Only my thoughts as an outsider, but hope footy is the winner here

totally agree something has to be done

[Alaska]

The problem is with the Junior Grades. Presently you only have 15 teams that are fielding all junior grade teams and 3 to 4 of these are on a year by year proposition. So that makes a 7 to 8 team comp if split to two grades. Kangarilla need an U13, and Maccy, Sedan and the Eagles all have one junior team. Gums with no juniors at all looks to be in the most strife.

If something is not done of course teams will look at their options outside the HFL. If we combine the grades to one comp the strong teams like Blackwood, Uraidla and Mt Barker will not put up with the lopsided nature of the comp and move leagues. But if the HFL does not give a feasible alternative for the Juniors then teams such as Birdwood, Echunga, Meadows, Kersbrook and Nairne will look elsewhere.

Perhaps its time to split the juniors off to a Sunday comp like town? Although I do not like that option as it goes against the Saturday sports day for families for footy and netball.

[FlyingHigh]

Why was the U/13's brought in in the Country Div in the first place? Junior numbers are always going to fluctuate in the small towns, seems a bit ambitious at that level. Also think some clubs could look beyond themselves for the good of kids and footy, for example the Brookers and Gum field a combined junior side if required, or Gum and SC.

SC might have a better fit in the Riverland Independents, but it's a helluva lot of travel.

Wouldn't be the same Hills comp without Birdwood or Echunga, but can understand their frustrations. After Cally's first year of being really sh!t the HFL should have sat down with them and seen if they had a viable proposal to improve the next year, if they did but then didn't improve thye should have been given to the end of the first round of games the next season (so no clubs would be disadvantaged) and if still no improvement, given the boot. Basically it should have come to a head in 2.5 years rather than still going on after 5.

[The Gimp]

The problem is with the Junior Grades. Presently you only have 15 teams that are fielding all junior grade teams and 3 to 4 of these are on a year by year proposition. So that makes a 7 to 8 team comp if split to two grades. Kangarilla need an U13, and Maccy, Sedan and the Eagles all have one junior team. Gums with no juniors at all looks to be in the most strife.

If something is not done of course teams will look at their options outside the HFL. If we combine the grades to one comp the strong teams like Blackwood, Uraidla and Mt Barker will not put up with the lopsided nature of the comp and move leagues. But if the HFL does not give a feasible alternative for the Juniors then teams such as Birdwood, Echunga, Meadows, Kersbrook and Nairne will look elsewhere.

Perhaps its time to split the juniors off to a Sunday comp like town? Although I do not like that option as it goes against the Saturday sports day for families for footy and netball.

I know I wouldn't be expecting every club in div. 2 to have a full 5 teams on saturday. We understand that some years some clubs struggle to fill some age groups so we need to be flexible.
But I would say as a bare minimum, the clubs need to fill 2 x senior teams and 2 x colts teams (out of the 3). Clubs can handle having a bye in a junior grade every now and then but what they can't handle is what we've had this season with 4 clubs with only one junior team or less.

[The Sorce]

Finals Time!!!!
Does anyone see any upsets coming this weekend (as per what Meadows did last year?)

Saturday - Qualifying Final at Nairne
A Grade - Kersbrook Vs Birdwood - I would say Kersbrook should come away with this one going on what happened to Birdwood Saturday.
B Grade - Echunga Vs Meadows - Meadows won the past two but going for Echunga by 1 goal.

Sunday - Elimination Final at Birdwood
A Grade - Meadows Vs Nairne - Close games I would think but going for Meadows by a few goals.
B Grade - Kangarilla Vs Nairne - Kangarilla by a few.

[pushing forward]

With heavy rain forecast for next 2 days a venue change wouldn't suprise over the next 24 hours.

[The Sorce]

For Which Oval? Nairne or Birdwood?

[pushing forward]

Haven't seen the condition of either oval but it has happened in the past. Usually the switch is to callington

[youngpace]

Haven't seen the condition of either oval but it has happened in the past. Usually the switch is to callington

Birdwood was quiet good, considering the rain we had leading into the weekend. nairne known to bog up fairly bad however, Is echunga set to host a final yet? Surely a better option then throughing more finals at callington