HFL Division 1 (Central)

[shake'n'bake]

I jst believe you guys have more talented players missing out on a game each week! No personal issues against the bloke at all but, just can't see how players like sam broadbridge are missing out on games! As for bookies comment about Nick being a walk up start for any other A grade side think that's a bit far fetched! He is first year up after all... And i'd be confident that in a side like that at Mt Lofty at the moment, players like Nick would be having a cake walk! Not hard to get the ball when you've got the likes of Trigger, Flo, Gordon, e.t.c skills would be second to none!!!

[Rapper]

Im a huge Mount Lofty fan. I love the fact that the coach took a chance with Maslin last year. Has given Paech, Jones a game and Nielson plenty of game time. I reckon Paech will get another opportunity this week. I spoke to Grange the other day and he said he went alright.

Good to see Chapman back to some form.

[footy_pie]

Deat set mate, you write some of the most stupid and contradictory posts on this forum. Someone has already mentioned the stupidity that you mentioned regarding Maccy to stop spending cash, yet for birdwood to start spending cash!! I am an interested follower in Hills football and commend any team that has the balls to step up, knowing quite well that they will be bottom dwellers for a few years while they build. From what I know about Birdwood they seem to have always been one of the strongest Country Division clubs (understandably even the strongest clubs have their rough seasons eg. last year) However the strength of a club should not only be judged on the A grade success throughout one year. Birdwood seem to have been strong across all grades for many years... which shows that they are much more of a contender to step up to Central division than a club that cant even field a side of juniors!! I think everyone (except you) is pretty excited to see what Birdwood can do over the next few years and if things do go bad as you expect them to do I'm sure the experience they have gained in Central division will give them a pretty big edge over Kersy and the other Country teams if they do drop back down.

[Cougar]

Deat set mate, you write some of the most stupid and contradictory posts on this forum. Someone has already mentioned the stupidity that you mentioned regarding Maccy to stop spending cash, yet for birdwood to start spending cash!! I am an interested follower in Hills football and commend any team that has the balls to step up, knowing quite well that they will be bottom dwellers for a few years while they build. From what I know about Birdwood they seem to have always been one of the strongest Country Division clubs (understandably even the strongest clubs have their rough seasons eg. last year) However the strength of a club should not only be judged on the A grade success throughout one year. Birdwood seem to have been strong across all grades for many years... which shows that they are much more of a contender to step up to Central division than a club that cant even field a side of juniors!! I think everyone (except you) is pretty excited to see what Birdwood can do over the next few years and if things do go bad as you expect them to do I'm sure the experience they have gained in Central division will give them a pretty big edge over Kersy and the other Country teams if they do drop back down.

Might write some contradictory posts, but know my Hills Football. Birdwood have always had strong colts, but up until 4 years ago, there senior sides were still recovering from a Div 1 onslaught in 95. They were hardly a strong club and have a premiership drought now extended to 94. When they came back from Div 1 in 95, after gaining some experience to 'give them an edge' when they dropped back, they became our (and others) whipping boys for an extended period. Ironbank in Div 2 in the 90s however, played in 4 Grand Finals (winning 2) in a row, had established a strong junior base and had player depth, before deciding to spend some more coin and having a crack at Div 1. Ironbanks judgment at the time, sounded more logical to me.......???

[The Gimp]

Cougar, I believe when Birdwood went up to div. 1 in 95 they lost quite a few players due to age. Their 94 premiership team was full of older, more experienced players that just really didn't want to play div. 1 and I don't think they were consulted.

In hindsight it was a mistake to go up 95. Birdwood are now in a position where their squad is very young and and the players were consulted last year and a clear majority wanted to take the step up - totally different than 95.

I also don't think that Cougar/Kersbrook are in any position to give advice on running a club. Kersbrook would want to hope that Brett James isn't just there to get a bit of coaching experience and then leave in a couple of years. Because if the James boys leave, that club is in BIG trouble with no colts to carry it.

On another point,. do the clubs with C grade have any player doubling up by playing C's then B's? Or do they have about 60 fresh players each week?

[Armytank]

Gimp - Ironbank have not doubled up any of the players from C grade to B grade as yet and are unlikely to this year, so yeah we have over 60 blokes available each week to play footy. There is a bloody good club atmosphere at Thunder Park at the moment!

[Dogwatcher]

AT - you'll be interested to know that Shaun 'Gonzo' Gray played for Wunkar on the weekend.
Seems still to have a predilection for hangers too.

[Rapper]

The HFL doesn't allow you to play C and B grade in one week.

Can anyone tell me what has happened to Nash Stark?

How can gatto play for two competitions

[Rapper]

Sorry lads I thought that was Shaun Gatto. Ignore that comment

[Shirtfront]

Did anyone find out why Gatto left North's???

[ORDoubleBlues]

Cougar, I believe when Birdwood went up to div. 1 in 95 they lost quite a few players due to age. Their 94 premiership team was full of older, more experienced players that just really didn't want to play div. 1 and I don't think they were consulted.

In hindsight it was a mistake to go up 95. Birdwood are now in a position where their squad is very young and and the players were consulted last year and a clear majority wanted to take the step up - totally different than 95.

From what I remember, that's pretty much correct. The coach at the time, who I think was Peter Young, had brought a few players with him and he wasn't interested in Div 1, hence the players he brought weren't interested either and you had thugs like "tatts" Thomas who wouldn't have been anywhere near good enough to play Div 1. Were some talented youngsters around at the time like Genda Campbell, Stephen Barter, Jason Copeland, Luke Hutchinson, Kristian Wehner and Andrew Stark but I don't think that there were many others around that could give the club enough depth.
Seems to be a common thing that a club that will be good in Div 2 has older, experienced players (Ironbank early this decade for example) that aren't interested in Div 1 so when they go up, they play with a lesser side than what they had in Div 2 (Echunga in '97 is another example).
Even the Kangarillas and Meadows of the world would want to recruit to seriously challenge in Div 1 as Kangarilla found out in the Southern League when the divisions were merged and when Meadows lost a few and had injury problems in '05 that saw them finish out the finals.

[Dogwatcher]

AT - you'll be interested to know that Shaun 'Gonzo' Gray played for Wunkar on the weekend.
Seems still to have a predilection for hangers too.

Sorry Army Tank, it wasn't you who asked about Shaun previously. It was The Wonder Elephant.

[footy_pie]

The HFL doesn't allow you to play C and B grade in one week.

Can anyone tell me what has happened to Nash Stark?

How can gatto play for two competitions

Nash Stark has left Loby and is now running around for Angaston, Loby held up his clearance for a while but finally released him and I believe he played his first game a fortnight ago. Not really sure of the ties he has with Angaston, however I suggest it may be through Simon Johnson who would have coached him in interleague. Suprising move none the less

[shake'n'bake]

I was speaking to some of the Lobethal boys re: Nash Stark and they didn't even know where he had got to! Someone said they thought he was just badly injured and another said he had moved on... one noticeable absence from playing there though was his mum and sister on the sideline! This to me would suggest he is playing elsewhere or not at all! Could not be definite though

[shake'n'bake]

Simon Johnson there's a name i haven't heard in a while! Not sure there would be too many players who would move to play under him. Can recall a few disgruntled U/17 hills reps who didn't enjoy his coaching style one bit! Had a good side the year Stark played under him, and the team as a whole under performed, coaching style would have to come under review with the amount of talent that side had!

[Armytank]

AT - you'll be interested to know that Shaun 'Gonzo' Gray played for Wunkar on the weekend.
Seems still to have a predilection for hangers too.

Sorry Army Tank, it wasn't you who asked about Shaun previously. It was The Wonder Elephant.

No worries DW

[robby]

Shake and bake, what a disgusting comment mate. Paechy is a quality up and coming player.......spent time at SANFL level in the juniors and is a premiership captain in the Under 17's. Has shown he is above B grade football by dominating it this year.
Where would you have Sammy in the A grade side, when he has played it has been up forward hasn't it?? Dont really rate him as a forward line player...

[Mop Up]

Are you sure your not allowed to play C grade and B grade on the one weekend?? I think you'll find you are allowed to but you must start on the bench in the B grade. Same as the rule from B to A grade.

But never the less Ironbank last thursday had 65+ on the track so even those who trained missed out on a game. Crazy! bit hard to find space on the oval wit that amount of numers at training too

[footy_pie]

Just spoke to the boy, is definitely playing at Angaston under 'supercoach' Johnson, has played the past two games in the A grade and will stay there for at least the season. I havent seen the guy play before is he worth any $$

[Joe]

That's a loss for Loby with a kid that they developed but surely the baggage going too would help with covering the loss.