HFL Division 1 (Central)

[kick it to me]

I personally find the budget very hot and cold as far as the humour is concerned, however i do agree that sometimes it can go a bit far. Anyways regarding the grand finals here are my tips.

Junior Colts
Blackwood by 4 goals, although i havent watched much junior colts during finals i have followed our colts all year. When we played them the woods were just far too good and leauges above any other team we came up against.

Senior Colts
Uraidla by 2 goals in a nailbiter. After last years GF loss the Uri colts are pumped for this game however Ironbank will be a real test, a hard and physical game. However on a side note; i feel so sorry for a number of the younger Ironbank boys who will be missing out this weekend because they insist on bringing back "college kids".

B Grade
Blackwood by 6 goals. Ever since ditching the country div Blackwood have dominated in the B Grade. Again heads above the rest will win this one with ease.

A Grade
Mt Lofty by 7 goals. The devils proved two weeks ago that they are yet again the best team in the HFL. Blackwood just wont have the goods to match them for 4 quaters.

[devilsadvocate]

These teams have deliberately put opposition team supporters off with their bunker approach at home games

For the ignoramuses amongst us, do you mind explaining the bunker approach?

[The Panther]

Tips: u/14 - BLACKWOOD but this will be closer than people think and the devils could cause an upset. Blackwood look a bigger side and have some gun players but Lofty are sure playing a good team orientated running game - rarely seen in this age group.

u/17 - TOSS A COIN ON THIS ONE , MAYBE URAIDLA BY LESS THAN 2 GOALS. This game will be worth seeing. Uraidla's top six would be the best six pack in the under 17's but they do have some weak links , where as Ironbank are a very even side - may come down to who from Ironbank gets selected to play in the Sturt under 17 GF.

B GRADE - BLACKWOOD but another one where we could see an upset - if you could call it one , aren't lofty going for 4 B grade flags in a row. Also they lead close to the end last time these 2 teams played - the old infamous player count.

A GRADE - BLACKWOOD ( if it is dry ) IN AN UPSET. If the rain comes in LOFTY by a million.
I think Blackwood had their opportunities in the 2nd semi but ran out of gas with a few players coming back from injury. These players have now had 2 finals intensity games under their belts and would be better for the run . Also Gigney played against Hahndorf and will be a big inclusion - maybe off set though if big billy Bawden comes up. I think this will be a cracker !

4 GF's where the game could go either way - can't wait till saturday - hopefully it will be warm and dry.

[Saint]

Tips: u/14 - BLACKWOOD but this will be closer than people think and the devils could cause an upset. Blackwood look a bigger side and have some gun players but Lofty are sure playing a good team orientated running game - rarely seen in this age group.

u/17 - TOSS A COIN ON THIS ONE , MAYBE URAIDLA BY LESS THAN 2 GOALS. This game will be worth seeing. Uraidla's top six would be the best six pack in the under 17's but they do have some weak links , where as Ironbank are a very even side - may come down to who from Ironbank gets selected to play in the Sturt under 17 GF.

B GRADE - BLACKWOOD but another one where we could see an upset - if you could call it one , aren't lofty going for 4 B grade flags in a row. Also they lead close to the end last time these 2 teams played - the old infamous player count.

A GRADE - BLACKWOOD ( if it is dry ) IN AN UPSET. If the rain comes in LOFTY by a million.
I think Blackwood had their opportunities in the 2nd semi but ran out of gas with a few players coming back from injury. These players have now had 2 finals intensity games under their belts and would be better for the run . Also Gigney played against Hahndorf and will be a big inclusion - maybe off set though if big billy Bawden comes up. I think this will be a cracker !

4 GF's where the game could go either way - can't wait till saturday - hopefully it will be warm and dry.

Would you mind explaining how Ironbank are a mor even side than Uraidla's? I would have thought that it would have been ther opposite with Ironbank relying too much on their sturt boys to perform with Uraidla being the more even side.

[The Panther]

Sure , As a whole i think Ironbank have a more even spread of talent across the 18 positions on the paddock ( sure there are 2 probably only 1 that will play for Sturt but Ironbank has greater depth ) where as Uraidla rely heavily on their top players ( wotton, liebelt, thomas,tudor, kluvenek , parker ). M.Pope would leave a whole in Ironbanks middle but they have the depth to cover this - would Uraidla have the depth to cover say Wotton or Liebelt ? If you went purely on man on man matchups you would say Ironbank would win more of these , but the question and what i think will determine the outcome on saturday is how dominate the six Uraidla players mentioned are.

[Saint]

Sure , As a whole i think Ironbank have a more even spread of talent across the 18 positions on the paddock ( sure there are 2 probably only 1 that will play for Sturt but Ironbank has greater depth ) where as Uraidla rely heavily on their top players ( wotton, liebelt, thomas,tudor, kluvenek , parker ). M.Pope would leave a whole in Ironbanks middle but they have the depth to cover this - would Uraidla have the depth to cover say Wotton or Liebelt ? If you went purely on man on man matchups you would say Ironbank would win more of these , but the question and what i think will determine the outcome on saturday is how dominate the six Uraidla players mentioned are.

Yeah that does sound about right but Uraidla do have some players that sneak under opositions radars Like Tim Halliday, Daniel Richardson, Alex Heptinstall, Liam soar. While Uraidla do have some big name players they have got great depth around the park, it should be a good game!

[The Panther]

Forgot Tim Halliday and i would put in the goal sneak Tony Virgara - This could be the match of the day but you could say that about all 4 - thats why i will be there at 9:15 , just read the courier and the sponsored well wishes squares for mount lofty and blackwood must have set a new record - spread over 3 pages.

[Saint]

Jarrad Byers-gerbert is another one to add to the Uraidla list quality in and under on baller who will be important for Uraidla in the GF

[magpiemaster]

i also agree that on saturday there are 4 grand finals that could go either way. congratulations to both blackwood and mt lofty for being in 3 gf's a piece and are the 2 most dominate clubs this yr and have set the standards for others to follow.

A grade- Mt lofty by 6 goal- Plain and simple best team all yr. only time that they were the best team all yr was after the first game when uri flogged them. they have too much pace and class around the footy, with burch, stapelton, mehta, artis, just too good. blackwood dont have the same class around the footy, having said this gigney could b a match winner if playing forawrd or even playing back on lofty's best forward in gordon. BOG- BURCH

B grade- lofty by 3 goal. have some awesome players running around in their b grade. alot of whom have played numerous amts of a grdae footy and would b for alot of other clubs.
BOG- Huff

17's- Uri by 4 points- i agree with the posts saying uraidla rely heavily on a few players although all of there players are quiet capable. they have stars of wotton, thomas leibelt, haliday and tudor but have good back up players in kluvenik, parker, richardson, heptinstall. If ironbank are to win they must win more of the footy, to do this must stop Wotton in and under and thomas on his wing kicking goals. leibelt and kluvenik seem to b the most dangerous forwards and maybe o' sullivan may have to take one of these boys. Ironbank must have sheerwood, spacie and m pope kick goals while roatating in their forward line to win while copeland, malzard and t pope must provide options in the midfeild and half forward, ironbank also have very even players who can change the game such as Hobbs, irwin and van paridon.
BOG- either Haliday or Spacie

Under 14's - blckwood are just too big and too strong, great team with minozzo their best along way ahead of any lofty players.

[Holy Grail]

[b][b]u/17 - TOSS A COIN ON THIS ONE , MAYBE URAIDLA BY LESS THAN 2 GOALS. This game will be worth seeing. Uraidla's top six would be the best six pack in the under 17's but they do have some weak links , where as Ironbank are a very even side - may come down to who from Ironbank gets selected to play in the Sturt under 17 GF.[/b][/b]

Uraidla may not have the depth of Ironbank but for ironbank to win they would need to cut out almost all of the 6-8 "Star" Uraidla players. cutting out these players would have be done by most of ironbanks best. Seems a a hard task

[The Panther]

Just a side note : A positive about having the same 2 clubs in A and B Grade GF's is that no one misses out because of stupid qualification rules.
Will Anthony Cooper play B's or A's . If he plays B Grade will he remain a Devil next year ? I know he would play A grade at any other hills club including Blackwood.

[tedbullpit]

Just a side note : A positive about having the same 2 clubs in A and B Grade GF's is that no one misses out because of stupid qualification rules.
Will Anthony Cooper play B's or A's . If he plays B Grade will he remain a Devil next year ? I know he would play A grade at any other hills club including Blackwood.

The same would have to be said about Lachy Chapman. Seems to spend more time in the Mt.Lofty B grade than the A's. Only two seasons ago he was a HFL rep. Like Cooper he would play A Grade at any other club.

[Dashin]

There's no doubt L Chapman and A Cooper are both good enough to play A grade, at any club. However training has been the issue, you know any clubs ethos, if you don't train, you don't play. I've heard a lot of people who want A1 Cooper in the side this week, and probably rightfully so. It's going to be an interesting call. Could almost be a game-turner in my mind, but i won't say anymore than that, we'll just have to wait and see.

[dangermouse]

Lofty have a number of players playing B's that would be in the first 18 of most if not all other HFL clubs. Lofty's A grade would be just as strong if they exchanged either Cooper, Chapman, O'Gorman, Huff, Mutton, Morgan or a couple of others for a current A grader. It is very competetive for spots and if you find yourself out of the side for whatever reason, it is very hard to get yourself back in, particularly with guys like Michael Stapes, Broadbridge, Weeks, Pistola, Nielson, Fleet etc playing such good, consistent footy. That is the unfortunate fact about playing for a strong club. If these guys were playing for anyone else (Except Blackwood, but why would anyone move to play for them?!) their season would already be over. I'd rather play in a B grade Grand Final with a good bunch of blokes than be losing A grade games. Just my opinion.

[Dashin]

Is O'Gorman playing this week dangermouse? He was injured last week wasn't he? Although i believe he played. He does dominate the sweet B's. Having said that it's no surprise Chapman and Mutton have be taking out the best player awards of late. L Chapman is fit as a fiddle at the minute, could find a harold holt medal around his neck after the game.

[Silky skills]

heard from a very strong source that michael bratton has been contacted by lobethal football club, and is considering going back to where he started next year. heard also that if he goes back his brother will join and maybe a few boys from the clubs hes at now might be joining him there to. time will tell

[the big fella]

heard Aufterheide might return home to the Tiges as well..

[dangermouse]

We heard that one last year as well Big Fella. It would be good to see Lobey get a bit more (some!) quality into their side as it sucks having six games a year which are essentially no-contests for the top 6 or 7. Bratten and Aufterheide would certainly be quality inclusions.

Dashin as far as I know the Lofty B grade are at full strength, including O'Gorman. In saying that I wouldn't say anything different on this forum even if it was the case!

[Spearhead]

heard Aufterheide might return home to the Tiges as well..

I have heard this one and that he is good mates with the Gowans brothers who won't be playing SANFL next year....

[dangermouse]

I know, it's like de ja vu. I for one hope there is some truth in this year's rumours.