Gaelic Football in South Australia

[Lynwood]

Two divs in the State League will only help. I see other leagues arund Aust running Reserves leagues with comps running 5 team comps. We should look at moving to two divs within a few years with clubs who are able to pull extra numbers having the option of running reserves or even U18 sides in the div two comp as we would have to set up 3 more clubs to be able to run div two which means finding peiople to runn them. It will give an options for 7's sides who want to step up to go to div two rather then compeating with the best sides right fromt he start.

There is also the option of making the div 2 13 or even 11 a side if the numbers are no there while we build up numbers. I know everyone wants 15 a side but we have to start somewhere and it will allow clubs strugling for numbers somewhere to go rather then not compeating or playing 13 against a team who came ready for 15 plus have a bench.

[Flinders O'Neills]

IMO the state league should only go to 2 divisions if there was 10 teams, ideally 12 with a top 4 finals series for div 1 and perhaps A playoff system with 5&6 vs 1&2 in div 2 for promotion/relegation.

Where would the teams come from? Dingoes? Christies beach? Steve irwins, kenilworth? Mitcham returns?..... Is doable but would need planning to start now?

[Lynwood]

IMO the state league should only go to 2 divisions if there was 10 teams, ideally 12 with a top 4 finals series for div 1 and perhaps A playoff system with 5&6 vs 1&2 in div 2 for promotion/relegation.

Where would the teams come from? Dingoes? Christies beach? Steve irwins, kenilworth? Mitcham returns?..... Is doable but would need planning to start now?

I thinks that is the point WW is getting at, We need to plan for this and have a Development officer to help bring new players in. I agree 10 teams is needed at least for 2 divs (which is the reason the 7's is one div as we had 9 start) If we can start recruiting and bringing more juniors in there is no reason we can not have this in a feew seasons. The Dingoes have a plan but nneed alot more work but it is still in out long term plans to enter the state league. From what i hear Mitcham want to try to come back (can not confirm) that gives one more team to be able to stat in in say 3-5 years. Having a minors comp set up can only help this happen and is aanother way to ensure we have the players to suport this. Planning is the key though

[Flinders O'Neills]

Could the state minors play in a div 2 comp, would be great prep for nationals, much like SASI in soccer

[wristwatcher]

Could the state minors play in a div 2 comp, would be great prep for nationals, much like SASI in soccer

For 2 years in 2001 and 2002 i ran i State Minors team through the Gaza comp....Nek Minnut....3 National Titles. Obviously not the sole reason for the sucess of a talented group of fine young Gaelic Footballers but certainly a contributing factor to the education and preperation for the challenges the boys would ultimately face on the big stage.

Reading through the above posts i agree with all of what is being said and a lot of good ideas put forward and as Dingo Pete said (sorry to give away your secret identity BatDingo) the need for a development officer is paramount for the comps to thrive, grow and new comps develop.
When i filled this role for 3 years previously i concentrated heavily on school age children and taught at up to 50 schools a year and held State junior titles. Now the develpoment officer IMO would need to focus on the development, stability, growth etc of our current comps and work on getting the 2 comps back where they once were.

[Lynwood]

Could the state minors play in a div 2 comp, would be great prep for nationals, much like SASI in soccer

Would be a great idea but if some of them are good enough you would want them in div one. But a development team in div 2 would be great Of course running a development team in div 2 brings up the question of promotion of them as they will most likely have new players each season once the current crop reach 18 ( you don't want one group to win promotion then move on and leave another group to just get relegated. This is def something to work towards. Question though what is the max teams we can have playing at St Marys. We can talk about this forever but if we do not have the ability to run a two comps. As i write i realise that two 5 team comps would mean the same amount of matches as last year but what if we have two 6 team comps could that be done or even a 6 team div one with a 5 team div two having 5 mens matches each weekend.

[Flinders O'Neills]

The minors team would play like SASI on soccer, can win the league but can't be promoted.

I think it would be great if when a 18 year old kid has just finished playing 2 years of nationals he could be picked up by a div 1 club at the ripe old age of 19, would ensure the standard of the comp grows and SA kids are equipped to compete at nationals at a senior level.

Kilburn f.c have offered their ground, this could be used by (just for example) Flinders, port and na fianna for their "home" games

[Lynwood]

On the topic of a dev team in a div two I am sure we would have no trouble finding sponsors for young guys or even grants to help, we could trhow it in with sponsorship of the U18 state team as well and offer deals for both and if titles come with it we will have even less trouble with finding money to run the team. On top of that having a coach who does the teams during the season and at championships will only help the team. We will also have better players coming out of it ready to move to other clubs once they reach 18 rather then with little or no knowledge of the game.

[the milky bar kid]

Whilst I think the idea of 2 divisions is great for the long term of the game, ultimately the number required to do this is 12 teams. A 5 team division just wouldn't work IMO.
However, there is some important things that need to be done in the short term to ensure that the competition is heading in the correct direction.
We have just lost a team & the rumours of a reformation next year have certainly quietened & wouldn't be surprised if they didn't come back. In the women's competition 1-2 sides have been struggling for numbers & number of 15-a-side games have dramatically reduced.
IMO we need to start putting some measures to protect the teams at the bottom & assist them in growing successful cultures.
I have great respect for Doeckes, but realistically how long will he be prepared to frantically produce players on a Sunday afternoon. Especially when there is a fair chance that particular teams at the top are going to see a good player & start trying to steal this player. This has happened very recently in both the men's & women's competitions & is an issue that is effecting the quality of the competitions in other states as well.


No offence Lynwood, on the topic of sponsorship, it is extremely hard to find sponsors. Being a minority sport in this current financial climate, it's very hard to find dollars.

[Lynwood]

No offence Lynwood, on the topic of sponsorship, it is extremely hard to find sponsors. Being a minority sport in this current financial climate, it's very hard to find dollars.

No offence taken. Just saying people would more likely put money towards juniors then they would seniors teams

[Lynwood]

Whilst I think the idea of 2 divisions is great for the long term of the game, ultimately the number required to do this is 12 teams. A 5 team division just wouldn't work IMO.
However, there is some important things that need to be done in the short term to ensure that the competition is heading in the correct direction.
We have just lost a team & the rumours of a reformation next year have certainly quietened & wouldn't be surprised if they didn't come back. In the women's competition 1-2 sides have been struggling for numbers & number of 15-a-side games have dramatically reduced.
IMO we need to start putting some measures to protect the teams at the bottom & assist them in growing successful cultures.
I have great respect for Doeckes, but realistically how long will he be prepared to frantically produce players on a Sunday afternoon. Especially when there is a fair chance that particular teams at the top are going to see a good player & start trying to steal this player. This has happened very recently in both the men's & women's competitions & is an issue that is effecting the quality of the competitions in other states as well.


No offence Lynwood, on the topic of sponsorship, it is extremely hard to find sponsors. Being a minority sport in this current financial climate, it's very hard to find dollars.

I agree 12 teams is what is needed but a 5 team comp would work and does in Vic and WA QLD have 6 with each having reserves. The Short and long term goals need to be put together to as you say first ensure we retain all our current teams and get them all up to full numbers but have the plan to expand ready for when that happens so we are not turning people away. How many juniors do we have now? if there are only going to be 7 teams we could look at a state development team playing before a 2nd div comes in even if it is only for one of each teams byes.


In terms of Junior development look at what WA are doing http://www.gfhwa.com.au/junior-academy- ... australia/

[Neville Bartoss]

Flinders beat Irish by five points
Think it was 3-7 to 2-5

[Neville Bartoss]

Ultimately an 8 team comp each with reserves and minors would be a good option in the future. Much like footy is set up. Each team could have their own home ground and play out of there each week.
Flinders/port Kilburn
Irish/mitcham Cumberland park
Na fianna/western Ireland- Brighton rugby or tk shutter?
St brendans/onkas - st marys

[Neville Bartoss]

Each club really needs a women's team also. 4 games involving the same teams each week culminating in the men's state league fixture. All games could be played on the same day. IMO the existing clubs need to be strengthened and expanded rather than bringing new teams in. Possible a couple of mergers to bring the number of clubs down to 6 which will allow each club to also have a women's team

[the milky bar kid]

Good work Nev

[Neville Bartoss]

Another option

Flinders/na fianna playing out of Kilburn.

Combined port/Irish club and western ireland playing out of Cumberland rugby ground

Onkas and combined saints/mitcham playing out of st marys

Maybe clubs struggling with players could form loose associations with football clubs with juniors to boost up numbers, especially minors?

I like the idea of 11 a side for minors/reserves to begin

[Neville Bartoss]

Meant combined western Ireland/mitcham given their association this season

[Neville Bartoss]

The stable structure of games ie same time each week for each grade would allow clubs and players to plan their teams weeks in advance and allow players to play reserves if they need to leave early.

Could also allow 3-4 overage players per team each week in the minors to assist in coaching/mentoring and also allow state league players to play if unavailable for later games

[Neville Bartoss]

Could see the number of referees being an issue although if a partnership could be developed with saafl/great southern leagues for umpires this could work. Guaranteed 4 games at 30 each. 120 for a Sunday arvo may tempt some.
Having home games also gives clubs the opportunity to make money with barbies and drinks

[Lynwood]

Each club really needs a women's team also. 4 games involving the same teams each week culminating in the men's state league fixture. All games could be played on the same day. IMO the existing clubs need to be strengthened and expanded rather than bringing new teams in. Possible a couple of mergers to bring the number of clubs down to 6 which will allow each club to also have a women's team

Would really help having each club have mens + womens being played on the sameday. bringsing number of clubs down though? Would these players be able to find other teams? and would this put player numbers to the limit resulting in people being turned away. I have no idea about total numbers at each club but all this would need to be looked at. Maybe with all this talk a samll sub committe may need to be formed which looks at planning for the future. Was not at the last committee meeting so I do not know if this discussion is all part of xsome talk that went on there.

What we have got is some good ideas on here and a few options as the fact we have lost a side this season we need to look at not only what we can do to stabalise the remaining teams in the short term but also past that to what we can do to allow new players to come in and promote the league and in the long term expand the league once those teams fill up. This could hapen qick or take a few years to acheive but the plan needs to be in place. I know one thing I would like to be part of that planing as this Association does have some potential we just need to find how to best utalise it.