HFL Division 1 (Central)

[Dr.Football]

Perhaps Owens asking the wrong country footballers ?? My left nuts awaiting the butcher Armytank. It does appear to be a problem though, don't understand why. The money sharks probably don't want to play, but i would have thought the locals would want to fly the flag for the league. The mates you make from other clubs through association games are a big positive of the event also. What are the thoughts on open invitation, with numbers narrowed down after first training. Will guys see this as being arrogant by turning up ??

[Justquietly]

Perhaps Owens asking the wrong country footballers ?? My left nuts awaiting the butcher Armytank. It does appear to be a problem though, don't understand why. The money sharks probably don't want to play, but i would have thought the locals would want to fly the flag for the league. The mates you make from other clubs through association games are a big positive of the event also. What are the thoughts on open invitation, with numbers narrowed down after first training. Will guys see this as being arrogant by turning up ??

In other sports as a junior, when it came to rep duty, clubs would put forward who they thought GENUINELY deserved it from their squad.
I found that you pretty much end up with the guys that would love to be there and the better players. The club can even guage the enthusiasm from players, instead of having embarassing numbers show up.

[Dutchy]

Simple IMO...theres no $$$ in playing Rep footy

[Dr.Football]

Very true JQ. Surely caning it completely is a fairly poor attitude. I could only assume that this is probably held in high regard by those on Kangaroo Island, and they would be very dissapointed with the league.

[ORDoubleBlues]

Dunno...are we more time-poor now and cherish our weekends more? That's really all I can put it down to.
And it's not just in the HFL though.

I think the general consesus is that with a 18 game round, 4 weeks of finals and a couple of months of preseason its just a matter of fitness, injuries and morale. I know of several clubs with a growing injury list with NO time to try to get those players better. Especially with minor injuries like niggling hamstrings, a week can make the world of difference. It was nice with those couple of weeks off and now with Sunday/Friday night football it feels like im working a 7 day week all winter.

Bring back the bye and im sure you will see more interest in association football.

Think you're on the money there regarding the bye.
The other comment about the selection is valid as I do remember back in 2000 that there were players asked and some that even ended up playing that were not deserving when our Div 2 side got beaten pretty handily at Meadows.

[GetTheSherrin]

spot on about the bye luvinfooty, its simple bring back the bye and youll get numbers out there. what happened to the byes this yr. i know birdwood took away 2, there is still one. but didnt we have 4 byes last yr??

its not as simple as wearing different colours in the clash against birdwood. im assuming the guernseys are all different sizes as the club ones. you might end up seeing matty baldock or woody line up in a large or xxl. or would you just change numbers for the game. must admit i think if birdwood want to come to our league (which i comend them for doing) then they should be the ones made to fit in, this means theyre the ones that should change their colours. having said that definately not the end of the world either way. id have to say that playing naire was near impossible to tell the difference, the stripes do make a big difference.

[The Gimp]

Birdwood were never told it was a condition of entry into div. 1 to wear a clash jumper. They were only told AFTER they had said they will go up.

And Mt. Lofty did have the choice to decide on wearing a clash jumper at Birdwood but they decided against it and said they would follow whatever the HFL stipulated. Unfortunately for Birdwood the HFL wouldnt make Mt Lofty wear the clash jumper but told them that if they "wanted" to they could. Just another cop-out by the HFL. I bellieve the matter is still being discussed by the HFL on whether Birdwood will wear the clash jumper at their home game. I just don't understand why the HFL are making Birdwood wear it in only their first year and it then reverts back to away team wears it from 2008 onwards.

They have also said they wouldn't like the association jumpers to be worn and I think Birdwood are going to wear the Norwood jumpers.

There have also been clash jumpers offered to Mt. Lofty for their game at Birdwood. I doubt they have taken up the offer.

[Armytank]

What happened when Birdwood played Div 1 back in 95/96? Birdwood would still have been the candy stripes then so it is not as if it is a new problem. (And in 1983 when the league was one super division, did Birdwood play in the HFL? If so what happened then?)

GTS - why not play with a different number for the game so all the jumpers fit the players? The jumpers are rarely used so surely the clubs could get hold of them a week before and everyone try them on to get the numbers sorted out in the budget, it is not that hard to organise.

Mt Lofty have been and are a div 1 club since 1979. Birdwood have been red and white since 1893 or what ever, so which has more importance?

And really, for each club it is for one game of the year, I can't see how it is such a big deal.

[The Gimp]

What happened when Birdwood played Div 1 back in 95/96? Birdwood would still have been the candy stripes then so it is not as if it is a new problem. (And in 1983 when the league was one super division, did Birdwood play in the HFL? If so what happened then?)

And really, for each club it is for one game of the year, I can't see how it is such a big deal.

Mt Lofty wore the Sturt jumper for the game at Birdwood last time Birdwood were in div. 1.

Would it be a big deal if you had to wear another jumper when you played on you're home ground - when the reasoning is ridiculous?

[shake'n'bake]

In regards to the bye's im not a huge fan! I am a fan of the split round however!!! The major problem with the bye is finals time! If you finish top and have the bye last round, your effectively having three weeks with no match play. Surely thats not something we want to see happen! Maybe the Inter league team could be cut to an under 25 rep side? Don't know you would see too many young locals denying the chance to represent their league. The standard of footy would be no worse either, with some of the young local talent around at the moment more than impressive!

[Alaska]

I don't think you could bring in the U25 rule.
What are u going to say to Ledge King, Alfy Stephens and Dingo from Onka's who coincidently were all at training last night.
Obviously with the same pride as ArmyTank showed.

[Justquietly]

Get the Devs in the Healthfield/Aldgate United colours!
RETRO!
This has gotten probably bigger on this forum than in 'real life'.

[Mop Up]

I think Shake n Bake was suggesting the 2nd team be an under 25 team Alaska! mite be wrong.
I agree with whoever said it before that the clubs should be the ones to give out the association invites as they truly no who the better players are and the enthusiastic ones. Often are some dubious invites given out or not received due to certain people not knowing the players or there being underated players.

[magpie in the 80's]

Dunno...are we more time-poor now and cherish our weekends more? That's really all I can put it down to.
And it's not just in the HFL though.

I think the general consesus is that with a 18 game round, 4 weeks of finals and a couple of months of preseason its just a matter of fitness, injuries and morale. I know of several clubs with a growing injury list with NO time to try to get those players better. Especially with minor injuries like niggling hamstrings, a week can make the world of difference. It was nice with those couple of weeks off and now with Sunday/Friday night football it feels like im working a 7 day week all winter.

Bring back the bye and im sure you will see more interest in association football.

how times have changed. i agree with armytank, in our day if you got chosen to EVEN train for the then LOVELOCK sheild team it was an honor let alone getting to play "TWO GAMES" on the w/end plus your 18 h/a games and finals.

[GetTheSherrin]

yeah tank ur right give out the jumpers with plenty of time to make sure they fit. give you the hot tip, if i line up in a hills jumper at birdwood, they wont be seeing it again. also theyd need two sets of jumpers for the A's and B's, do they have this many?

[Justquietly]

I think Shake n Bake was suggesting the 2nd team be an under 25 team Alaska! mite be wrong.
I agree with whoever said it before that the clubs should be the ones to give out the association invites as they truly no who the better players are and the enthusiastic ones. Often are some dubious invites given out or not received due to certain people not knowing the players or there being underated players.

Yeah that was me...just reminds me of juniors, when you were chomping at the bit to represent your association.
Let the club decide, in REALISTIC terms.
Maybe a C grade team would be keen to do it if it means a road trip

[the wonder elephant]

you boys all raise a couple of good points.
1. i think lofty should go retro as well go back to there roots and pick a few colours out of there pre merger teams and create a new style (what were the heathfield,aldgate and stirlings colours b 4 hand )this could be there away or clash strip .when thry play either birdwood or naine or hahndorf depending on which teams are up or down at any given time !!
2.Association teams should be picked by the clubs .there 4 they could sound out the guys that want to play and if anyone dosent want to play so be it BUT im sure with the great amount of young talent in the hills that you would not have 2 much trouble filling both sides .the under 25s is the way to go plus a limit of 6 to 8 over 25s i think this would make 4 a good mix .the better teams in the comp all have a good ratio of senior players (25 plus maybe 6 to ten players)and rookies to make up the rest of there teams (25 and under ),surley even if they cant fill all of the senior there is enough rookie talent to fill sides anyway !!
3.army boy was the great man on the track tonight if so surley will be a big inclusion in the 2s ?
4goodluck to all this weekend .

[Armytank]

TWE - Heathfield/Aldgate United wore jumpers like Blackwood do and Stirling wore the old West Torrens blue with a gold sash.

Yeah mate he was out there and is a BIG inclusion in the B grade

[the wonder elephant]

may be they could come up with an alternate jumper then from those colours ...maybe a crows style or similar to wear in these clash games

[Justquietly]

Green with a yellow 'V'??