HFL Division 2 (Country)

[Champ]

Also in regards to Hosting the Grand Final - It cannot be at the ground of either team playing in the A Grade. I believe this is the only ruling.
You would think Grounds that will get finals would be at this stage:
* Callington (always seem to get one, even though facilities are very poor) and keeps attenance down!
* Macclesfield (Ground looking good and plenty of room for a big crowd - Possible GF)
* Kangarilla (Good Ground and facilities - Possible GF)

You would also think Echunga, Kersbrook & Nairne will get a final just depends on the outcomes of finals to decide which ones they hold.

So... nothing North...?

Also, could it easily be done that all Central teams play finals on the best country div ovals and vice versa? Then finals could be set pretty early and I'm led to believe there are a heap of ovals ion both divs that are as good as each other?

[Kick'n Back]

Also in regards to Hosting the Grand Final - It cannot be at the ground of either team playing in the A Grade. I believe this is the only ruling.
You would think Grounds that will get finals would be at this stage:
* Callington (always seem to get one, even though facilities are very poor) and keeps attenance down!
* Macclesfield (Ground looking good and plenty of room for a big crowd - Possible GF)
* Kangarilla (Good Ground and facilities - Possible GF)

You would also think Echunga, Kersbrook & Nairne will get a final just depends on the outcomes of finals to decide which ones they hold.

So... nothing North...?

Also, could it easily be done that all Central teams play finals on the best country div ovals and vice versa? Then finals could be set pretty early and I'm led to believe there are a heap of ovals ion both divs that are as good as each other?

Regarding oval for Grand Final i think only 3 ovals fit the criteria of hosting (that being ground condition, facilities and parking) are Kersbrook, Echunga and Maccy. With Kersbrook and Echunga likely to be around the mark gf day i see it being played at Maccy.

[jumbo20]

Why not Meadows?

[Footy Warrior]

Why not Meadows?

Are you serious? The Oval is small and there is no parking to cater for such a big crowd.

It won't be at Echunga or Kersbrook, Nairne has similar problems with the parking, Callington is too far, Gums and Birdwood ovals are poor, Kangarilla has too many ferrals, so it looks like here we go to Maccy.

[false]

Why not Meadows?

Are you serious? The Oval is small and there is no parking to cater for such a big crowd.

It won't be at Echunga or Kersbrook, Nairne has similar problems with the parking, Callington is too far, Gums and Birdwood ovals are poor, Kangarilla has too many ferrals, so it looks like here we go to Maccy.

I really think they should just do it at the best oval available... ie use Central ovals if need be. Lobey is a fantastic place to have a Grand final, as would be Balhannah and Mt Pleasant.
It gives reward to those clubs who put effort into their facilities.

[Goal side]

The GF should be played at kangarilla, once you get the cows of the ground it's a nice size oval and it's got a good warm up area for the players plus a grandstand what more do you need!

[The Sorce]

Dont Really see anything wrong with the Kangarilla Option as the "Ferrals" we be outnumbered on the day due to none of their Senior Teams making it!
Maccy on the other hand will have no one training on the oval after the the Regular season, and will have plenty of time to get the oval right, I believe you may be able to squeeze a little more people into the ground at Maccy as well.
The Two ovals I see holding the GF this year are either Kangy or Maccy.

[Champ]

Hot off the press; while all the talk has been about what to do with Callington and the relative improvement of sedan it appears there is another coutnry club on the cusp of admitting defeat and potentially heading to the C's.

This again comes to me from a friend of a friend, who knows this guy that used to know this other guy. Anyway, they got to talking and it appears that Maccy are not confident of numbers for season 2013 and beyond....

[pushing forward]

To even consider a gf at kangy is crazy. Poor oval, very poor parking and surely if birdwood or kersbrook were in the a grade wouldn't be to impressed the hour + drive. Not sure where the warm up area is you speak of also. Maccy would be my guess.

[Kick'n Back]

Why not Meadows?

Maybe the div 1 gf could be played at Meadows sounds like they are use to playing on small ovals and having cold showers.

[ORDoubleBlues]

Hot off the press; while all the talk has been about what to do with Callington and the relative improvement of sedan it appears there is another coutnry club on the cusp of admitting defeat and potentially heading to the C's.

This again comes to me from a friend of a friend, who knows this guy that used to know this other guy. Anyway, they got to talking and it appears that Maccy are not confident of numbers for season 2013 and beyond....

Don't want to rain on your parade but this did come up earlier in the season although it will still be very unfortunate all the same, especially with the money that was spent on the oval in 2008 and new change rooms built in 1997.
Combined with other things I've said previously, there has been far too much done there by far too few dating back to 1981.

[The Crumber]

Hot off the press; while all the talk has been about what to do with Callington and the relative improvement of sedan it appears there is another coutnry club on the cusp of admitting defeat and potentially heading to the C's.

This again comes to me from a friend of a friend, who knows this guy that used to know this other guy. Anyway, they got to talking and it appears that Maccy are not confident of numbers for season 2013 and beyond....

Even hotter off the press; as in the last hour or two. Callington will definitely not be playing in Country Div next year and are extremely unlikely to field C's either. The club is about to disappear altogether. Good management could have easily avoided this. Absolutely disgraceful.

[saintal]

Bit of a tease there Crumber. You seem awfully confident about it all. Calling MLWALKER to the thread

I cant quite understand why the club would conceed 'defeat' in July for the following season. Have the majority of the current playing group confirmed that they wont be around in 2013 perhaps, hence the club will have even poorer stocks than it has now? Has it all gotten too hard? Winning 1 game in 4 years will test of toughest of people I'd imagine. The lack of juniors doesn't help the situation.

As for their short term playing future I had the impression from an article in the Courier earlier in the year that it had already been decided/agreed that in 2013 CUE would be forced back to the C Grade.

http://www.courier.net.au/wp/eagles-survive-season/

“As a result of that meeting, issues affecting the club and the HFL were addressed and desired outcomes – agreed to by the United Eagles – implemented.”
“These outcomes include the placement of United Eagles in the HFL C-grade competition as of season 2013, and another which at the request of the United Eagles will remain confidential, allowing further discussions within their club and other sources"

I dont have any particular connection to the club (played against them a few times in their early days), but wouldn't want them to disappear. Such a waste that would be. Growing up in Lenswood I can relate to what it's like losing your local club (Lenswood/Eastern Rangers)

[MLWALKER]

Bit of a tease there Crumber. You seem awfully confident about it all. Calling MLWALKER to the thread

I cant quite understand why the club would conceed 'defeat' in July for the following season. Have the majority of the current playing group confirmed that they wont be around in 2013 perhaps, hence the club will have even poorer stocks than it has now? Has it all gotten too hard? Winning 1 game in 4 years will test of toughest of people I'd imagine. The lack of juniors doesn't help the situation.

As for their short term playing future I had the impression from an article in the Courier earlier in the year that it had already been decided/agreed that in 2013 CUE would be forced back to the C Grade.

http://www.courier.net.au/wp/eagles-survive-season/

“As a result of that meeting, issues affecting the club and the HFL were addressed and desired outcomes – agreed to by the United Eagles – implemented.”
“These outcomes include the placement of United Eagles in the HFL C-grade competition as of season 2013, and another which at the request of the United Eagles will remain confidential, allowing further discussions within their club and other sources"

I dont have any particular connection to the club (played against them a few times in their early days), but wouldn't want them to disappear. Such a waste that would be. Growing up in Lenswood I can relate to what it's like using your local club (Lenswood/Eastern Rangers)

Unfortunately I'm not going to be much help here, I was called in to work tonight so didnt make it out to training, so I'm not aware of anything that may have transpired.
I'm reluctant to make any reply or comment on the current situation or future plans on behalf of the club until i'm aware of all the facts. Once the committee reaches a resolution, and the rest of the club is informed, i'll give you all an official statement of what is happening.

[Lightning McQueen]

Hot off the press; while all the talk has been about what to do with Callington and the relative improvement of sedan it appears there is another coutnry club on the cusp of admitting defeat and potentially heading to the C's.

This again comes to me from a friend of a friend, who knows this guy that used to know this other guy. Anyway, they got to talking and it appears that Maccy are not confident of numbers for season 2013 and beyond....

Even hotter off the press; as in the last hour or two. Callington will definitely not be playing in Country Div next year and are extremely unlikely to field C's either. The club is about to disappear altogether. Good management could have easily avoided this. Absolutely disgraceful.

Have a heart mate.

[Champ]

In order for the HFL country and central divsion to NOT be through of div 1 and 2 the HFL and each club must agree to new set of by-laws solely created for the purpose of deciding who plays in which competition each year.

Underperforming clubs are offered places in the C'Grade, others are able to remain in country. If a central club is failing they are asked to meet the requirements of playing in country on a promotion/relegation system. If they do NOT meet these requirements they are sent to the C'Grade to re-build/focus whatever.

Time has now past for the fools pride, loyalty and living on reputations. For the good of football in the area and the future of all of the HFL this must be dealt with swiftly.

People can jump up and down but the writings on the wall, once clubs like Maccy, CUE, Gumeracha (no juniors) start to disappear/fail without anything being done the rot will slowly rise; within a generation teh clubs that are sitting pretty now will feel the pinch.

Fast forward to 2022 and I wonder if there will be only one competition in the HFL consisting of between 9-11 clubs.

Volunteers, administration and players don't last forever however structure and a good 'business' model will outlast all.

Regardless of the current format and hype around clubs that are well and trully underperforming there is a much larger problem in that the junior compeition is seemingly already depicting the fuiture of HFL football. Simply look at the clubs that fail to fill senior grades in comparison to the clubs that have strong junior numbers.
In what possilble sporting competition would it be suitable to have the Mt barker FC spruke that they have 600+ registered players however refuse to field more than the minimum required amount of teams. While neighbours such as maccy and the like struggle for numbers.

Thats just one example and not the soul nature for the state of this rapidly depretiating competition.

[Gervais]

In order for the HFL country and central divsion to NOT be through of div 1 and 2 the HFL and each club must agree to new set of by-laws solely created for the purpose of deciding who plays in which competition each year.

Underperforming clubs are offered places in the C'Grade, others are able to remain in country. If a central club is failing they are asked to meet the requirements of playing in country on a promotion/relegation system. If they do NOT meet these requirements they are sent to the C'Grade to re-build/focus whatever.

Time has now past for the fools pride, loyalty and living on reputations. For the good of football in the area and the future of all of the HFL this must be dealt with swiftly.

People can jump up and down but the writings on the wall, once clubs like Maccy, CUE, Gumeracha (no juniors) start to disappear/fail without anything being done the rot will slowly rise; within a generation teh clubs that are sitting pretty now will feel the pinch.

Fast forward to 2022 and I wonder if there will be only one competition in the HFL consisting of between 9-11 clubs.

Volunteers, administration and players don't last forever however structure and a good 'business' model will outlast all.

Regardless of the current format and hype around clubs that are well and trully underperforming there is a much larger problem in that the junior compeition is seemingly already depicting the fuiture of HFL football. Simply look at the clubs that fail to fill senior grades in comparison to the clubs that have strong junior numbers.
In what possilble sporting competition would it be suitable to have the Mt barker FC spruke that they have 600+ registered players however refuse to field more than the minimum required amount of teams. While neighbours such as maccy and the like struggle for numbers.

Thats just one example and not the soul nature for the state of this rapidly depretiating competition.

this is a great post and reflects the key issue facing the hfl. it must be the focus of the hfl board.

there is a growing disparity between clubs across both divisions. the residential developments in mt barker and blackwood are providing these clubs with a catchment bigger than the rest of the league combined (there's a seperate discussion as to whether a metropolitan club such as blackwood should even be in the hfl, but that's another story).

ask yourself, how does a club like uraidla with limited juniors compete with barker/blackwood for numbers? does a club like bridgewater (hemmed in between lofty and hahndorf) really have the scope to grow beyond the small club it is?

similarly in country division, score blowouts and lack of colts teams has made the division a laughing stock to outsiders. it’s a shame for the strong clubs who compete in this league, but their efforts are often overshadowed by the 50 goal floggings and the ridiculous number of players who have kicked 100 goals in a season over the past 4 years (normally clocking 70-80 of these goals in four games).

like champ, i also fear for the future of some hfl clubs.

maybe time for an independent review of the league, commissioned and undertaken by the sanfl/cfb.

[the big fella]

Quote:maybe time for an independent review of the league, commissioned and undertaken by the sanfl/cfb..

What will this do? Very little except cost money I expect.

[Gervais]

Quote:maybe time for an independent review of the league, commissioned and undertaken by the sanfl/cfb..

What will this do? Very little except cost money I expect.

i understand your scepticism, however the hfl board appear to be unable (or unwilling) make the hard calls for the betterment of the league. also, any hfl review will be tainted by local politics, lobbying and club self-interest. taking the hard decisions away from the hfl removes this.

just a thought. i'm not naive enough to think it would actually happen, but it should.

[Champ]

Quote:maybe time for an independent review of the league, commissioned and undertaken by the sanfl/cfb..

What will this do? Very little except cost money I expect.

i understand your scepticism, however the hfl board appear to be unable (or unwilling) make the hard calls for the betterment of the league. also, any hfl review will be tainted by local politics, lobbying and club self-interest. taking the hard decisions away from the hfl removes this.

just a thought. i'm not naive enough to think it would actually happen, but it should.

Big fella, attitude reflects leadership. Personal views and favourtism needs to be put aside to adopt a well governed, fair and equitable model. Bottom line; what has been happening to date hasn't work and as a coach of mine once said, 'the purest example of stupidty is repeating the same thing and expecting a different outcome.'

The HFL is running a business which is football, argue all you like about whether or not its a business or just this or that but you cant put half your foot in the water and then pick and choose when you are dry or wet. This being said any good business would not allow this state of affairs to continue as it would spell bankruptcy in years to come, the only problem is the HFL's form of bankruptcy is a loss of clubs, towns, players, families, quality, juniors.

Deep breath.