HFL Division 1 (Central)

[the big fella]

wots happening at lofty..3 quality outs..$$$???

[in and under]

Think Mt lofty will struggle this year, no money, no recruits and exodus of quality players.
Heard that out of last years side are peterson-grey, brown, mcdonald, gordon, k.artis, m.artis, r.wait, t.white, oconnor, luitjes, crabb, chapman... and thats just thinking off the top of my head. Long season ahead at mt lofty.
Think Bridgewater and lobethal will be the big improvers, young kids getting some games under the belt and a sprinkling of a few quality new heads.
With mt lofty, TV and Hahndorf to be at the bottom.

[Gervais]

Think Mt lofty will struggle this year, no money, no recruits and exodus of quality players.
Heard that out of last years side are peterson-grey, brown, mcdonald, gordon, k.artis, m.artis, r.wait, t.white, oconnor, luitjes, crabb, chapman... and thats just thinking off the top of my head. Long season ahead at mt lofty.
Think Bridgewater and lobethal will be the big improvers, young kids getting some games under the belt and a sprinkling of a few quality new heads.
With mt lofty, TV and Hahndorf to be at the bottom.

some big outs for lofty. while they are unlikely to make the finals, i think they will still be competitive. they have a strong junior system with a number of quality 17-19 year olds ready to play a-grade. they will slip back, but i think they will still be better than bridgewater and torrens valley.

torrens valley have lost a couple of big names but have replaced with equally big names, so no change for mine. bridgewater are a bit harder to judge. they were very poor last year, but made the decision to invest in youth. i hear they've recruited well, but dont know any names. not sure how they will travel in 2012, but hopefully for the competitions sake wont get flogged this year.

[Zipper]

Think Mt lofty will struggle this year, no money, no recruits and exodus of quality players.
Heard that out of last years side are peterson-grey, brown, mcdonald, gordon, k.artis, m.artis, r.wait, t.white, oconnor, luitjes, crabb, chapman... and thats just thinking off the top of my head. Long season ahead at mt lofty.
Think Bridgewater and lobethal will be the big improvers, young kids getting some games under the belt and a sprinkling of a few quality new heads.
With mt lofty, TV and Hahndorf to be at the bottom.

Most of the players you've named would've been the only ones getting paid so I don't think they will have money issues.

[dangermouse]

Yeah some big outs, but of that list, Wait, White, Oconnor and chapman barely played a grade if at all, Crabb was hopeless, K Artis and J Mac missed quite a few games due to travel, and M Artis is not done and dusted just yet (fingers crossed!). Browny, Peto and Flash are big losses but so far many young heads have raised their standards in response. It is an exciting time at Mt lofty, we'll have ayoung side who will play well as a unit and everyone there will play for the right reasons. And a side-question- if your club instantly stopped player payments, how many players would leave?

[From The Outer]

Very noble of Mt Lofty not to pay players. History shows however that no club has been successful without the inclusion of some paid outside players. I would like someone to suggest a premiership team made up of unpaid locals. If Mt Lofty are doing this for financial reasons that is fine but I think you will find this decision will result in a very quick slide down the ladder.

[Banker]

[dangermouse]

I guess the question could be asked, what purpose do football clubs serve? Is it to provide a facility for young blokes to play the sport they love with their mates and provide a vibrant, sustainable environment for locals to enjoy and be proud of? Or does it simply exist to win flags? Ideally you would say both, but unfortunately in many instances thesedays one is often chosen at the expense of the other. As long as the player payment arms race continues clubs will probably choose the latter over the former but with the global economy as it is, how much longer will sponsors be happy to donate their hard-earned to a select priviledged few?

[Dutchy]

Very noble of Mt Lofty not to pay players. History shows however that no club has been successful without the inclusion of some paid outside players. I would like someone to suggest a premiership team made up of unpaid locals. If Mt Lofty are doing this for financial reasons that is fine but I think you will find this decision will result in a very quick slide down the ladder.

If rumours are correct Lofty in a fair bit of trouble financially.

[spot on]

Very noble of Mt Lofty not to pay players. History shows however that no club has been successful without the inclusion of some paid outside players. I would like someone to suggest a premiership team made up of unpaid locals. If Mt Lofty are doing this for financial reasons that is fine but I think you will find this decision will result in a very quick slide down the ladder.

Morphett Vale in the SFL have won five flags in six years with all local lads, some were paid but not much, that's why each year they lose players to other clubs that have offered higher dollars.

[in and under]

Yeh the devils have a few good juniors but you do need some experience and I think burch and stapleton are the only with a number of games under there belt. Think Mt lofty will be alot like bridgewater of last year.

[always there]

rock you are way off the mark I personally know many lobey players and supporters and I can assure you they are not feral or thieves as you suggest. Before degrading the character of any individuals make sure you have facts and not assumptions! I suggest you crawl back under the rock you came from and talk footy not character assassination!!!!

[hotstuff!]

Karma Mt lofty, You wrote the book on paying players and it has given you sucess in the past. You have changed the hills football league forever for the worse, now you find yourself in your current position.

The only positive I can see for Mt lofty is now they have sorted out who wants to play for the club and who was only interested in the coin.
Build from there dont go back to your old ways.

[From The Outer]

Well said Hotstuff!

[Champ]

Karma Mt lofty, You wrote the book on paying players and it has given you sucess in the past. You have changed the hills football league forever for the worse, now you find yourself in your current position.

The only positive I can see for Mt lofty is now they have sorted out who wants to play for the club and who was only interested in the coin.
Build from there dont go back to your old ways.

I'm positive Bridgewater were more than happy to follow the trend of paying players for success and still do quite willingly. Does that mean they'll now stop and follow Lofty?

[StickyFingers]

Karma Mt lofty, You wrote the book on paying players and it has given you sucess in the past. You have changed the hills football league forever for the worse, now you find yourself in your current position.

The only positive I can see for Mt lofty is now they have sorted out who wants to play for the club and who was only interested in the coin.
Build from there dont go back to your old ways.

I'm positive Bridgewater were more than happy to follow the trend of paying players for success and still do quite willingly. Does that mean they'll now stop and follow Lofty?

bridgy chose to play locals (unpaid) last year rather than bringing in recruits. So you could say that lofty are 'following' bridgy on this one, although it doesnt sound like they are doing it by choice.

[hotstuff!]

Karma Mt lofty, You wrote the book on paying players and it has given you sucess in the past. You have changed the hills football league forever for the worse, now you find yourself in your current position.

The only positive I can see for Mt lofty is now they have sorted out who wants to play for the club and who was only interested in the coin.
Build from there dont go back to your old ways.

I'm positive Bridgewater were more than happy to follow the trend of paying players for success and still do quite willingly. Does that mean they'll now stop and follow Lofty?

Bridgewater have maybe 5 paid players? Those players aren't only selected on ability but how they will influence culture.

Mt lofty back in the day had locals who couldn't get a game and loved the club, players that would make A grade at ANY other club, how would that influence culture? Yet Mt lofty would still pay 80-90% of the team. The locals who couldn't get a game went to Echunga and won a premiership.
As said above Mt Lofty following on our example, culture is the priority.

[One Club Player]

Seriously........Bridgewater taking the moral high ground on player payments and club culture

[overthehill]

Karma Mt lofty, You wrote the book on paying players and it has given you sucess in the past. You have changed the hills football league forever for the worse, now you find yourself in your current position.

The only positive I can see for Mt lofty is now they have sorted out who wants to play for the club and who was only interested in the coin.
Build from there dont go back to your old ways.

I'm positive Bridgewater were more than happy to follow the trend of paying players for success and still do quite willingly. Does that mean they'll now stop and follow Lofty?

Bridgewater have maybe 5 paid players? Those players aren't only selected on ability but how they will influence culture.

Mt lofty back in the day had locals who couldn't get a game and loved the club, players that would make A grade at ANY other club, how would that influence culture? Yet Mt lofty would still pay 80-90% of the team. The locals who couldn't get a game went to Echunga and won a premiership.
As said above Mt Lofty following on our example, culture is the priority.

So your saying Bridgewater recruited Adam Curkpatrick based on cultural influence?

[Gervais]

So your saying Bridgewater recruited Adam Curkpatrick based on cultural influence?

i think what hotstuff is saying was that recruits are now being selected on ability AND how they will contribute to the changing culture of the club.

like all hfl clubs, bridgewater have paid player (although possibly less than most). i like the fact that they have become more selective on the type of individuals they bring in.

i know the onkas coaching panel are also very diligent to ensure that any recruits will be positve influences around the club.