HFL Division 1 (Central)

[Cougar]

S&B, P.James would be welcomed with a big cheque if he was at your club. It's pretty easy for any footballer to look ordinary when you're chasing guernseys all day. As for our other reps., they wouldn't be in our best 5 at our club, but had 'the balls' to make themselves available. Also understand P.James copped a knock in the 1st quarter which may have hindered his performance.

[Tex]

Can anyone tell me how Levi Bailey is playing this year?

Levi has had an injury interupted season & therefore not played too many games. He will be a massive boost to the Meadow's team in the latter part of the season!!

[Rapper]

How did Michael Artis go on saturday

[Dr.Football]

Shake'n'bake that was not the cream of Country division representing us, but good on the blokes for playing. If you ask me make association open to anyone who wants a crack, if you get too many numbers you cull them after the first night so as to not waste anyones time. At least in the end you get players who want to play, not players the President has in his mobile on the Friday night beforehand. I know of plenty of higher quality players who would have played, but didn't get invited.

Shaker i know of plenty of ex league footballers who struggle when the quality around them struggles. Paul James can play the game.

Heard a rumour the umpires still had not sorted the stretcher rule out even after the debacle at the Nairne/Blackwood match ???

[The Crumber]

I'd like to make a few comments re interleague footy, for what they're worth. Firstly, I"ve never been in any danger of being selected, but have had a fair bit to do with interleague over the years. Well done to all on this site who put their hands up last weekend; hell, I wish I'd had the ability........ I think I would have taken many things into consideration, but probably would've said 'no', depending on personal circumstances at the time.

When Owen says most clubs support it, he is right to a point. The topic arises regularly among other routine matters at HFL AGM's and, as always, the club reps are pretty keen to say 'yeah, yeah, we're in favour', so that it can be over with and more pressing topics discussed. Maybe a whole meeting needs to be held with that as a sole topic, with required attendance from all clubs so that whole thing can be settled one way or another for the next few years at least. Don't hold it in December when clubs want some peace. Hold it in the season so the reality of it all is more relevant.

Firstly, I think the demanding suggestion that players selected must play or incur club penalties must be OUT! How dare any organisation dictate how players must spend their personal time! What a huge invasion on someone's privacy and that of their family! Secondly, I will use the proposed KI trip as an example of the huge costs involved. Without boring everyone with the minute financial details, I estimate that the league would be lucky to slither out under $8000 for just ONE grade. (22 players, 3 trainers, 3 officials).

I think the League should ask themselves just why they bother with it all in the first place. We have all known for years that it doesn't showcase our league. It seems to me that it's just a feather in the cap for those in high places, but Joe Public doesn't care. If we want to see
talented players in action, we can choose to attend the 'match of the day' on any week. There are 2-3 games each week more entertaining that association footy.

$8000 would go a long way towards solving the never-ending umpiring issue (another gross invasion of a clubs' rights re penalties for not providing etc.) So why don't we just train and PAY good umpires and give them whatever $ it takes to provide quality and quantity? Like slaughter-men etc., it's a job no-one wants to do so but money talks. Let's have a giant recruitment drive. I know this sounds naive but lets get our priorities right Owen and Co. Don't be re-active and whinge every year over the apathy of us all. Be pro-active and spend that money solving real, long-term issues.

[shake'n'bake]

Boys i think if you read my post more closely i do not say that Paul James is not a gun, i said his skills were ordinary on the day for whatever reason, his tackling was terrific however. Though i probably didn't make that too clear, and as this was the only game i have seen him play that's all i can judge him on. In terms of the country div boys i was more talking about Bingos, McAvoy etc! And would strongly agree with Bookie about Kerber's game, but like many at least he wanted to play!

[dangermouse]

Here here Crumber- footy players are not cattle, they have lives outside of football and some (including me) chose not to participate as spending a full long weekend with my family IS MUCH MORE important than playing rep footy. Even if there were another two byes like last year I wouldn't play. I play and train with pride and commitment for my club every week and my club understood completely when I decided to enjoy the weekend off. To then impose a fine on my club for exercising my right to choose to have the week off is absolutley ridiculous. And if I was FORCED to play, you can bet i'd be playing to not get injured. That is just my perspective, and i know it is shared by quite a few. On the flipside- If Uraidla banned it's players from playing, that's not fair on blokes who want to play, once again, every player should have a right to choose if they play or not without being dictated to by club or league. If that means the concept falls over, get over it.

[devilsadvocate]

Here here Crumber- footy players are not cattle, they have lives outside of football and some (including me) chose not to participate as spending a full long weekend with my family IS MUCH MORE important than playing rep footy. Even if there were another two byes like last year I wouldn't play. I play and train with pride and commitment for my club every week and my club understood completely when I decided to enjoy the weekend off. To then impose a fine on my club for exercising my right to choose to have the week off is absolutley ridiculous. And if I was FORCED to play, you can bet i'd be playing to not get injured. That is just my perspective, and i know it is shared by quite a few. On the flipside- If Uraidla banned it's players from playing, that's not fair on blokes who want to play, once again, every player should have a right to choose if they play or not without being dictated to by club or league. If that means the concept falls over, get over it.

Good points there DM.

I agree too Crumber on the umpire payments. It's a tough gig and should be rewarded accordingly.

[bernie]

You just want to see boundary umpires get paid don't you DA?

You dirty custard arm!!!

[Rapper]

Ross Wait and Lochie Fleet trained at full pace this week and have put their hand up to play. This mail came from one of their mates.

This could be a cricket score this week. Birdwood have more to worry about than their guersey.

[dangermouse]

My tips for this week

Uraidla by 8 goals which means 4 losses in a row for the woods and also that they are will be keeping Barker out of the five by % only as...
Barker will beat Bridgey, who won there last year and will be confident by that won't translate to a win
Onkas will smash Lobey and get back into form (they've been good enough to win whilst playing shite in past weeks)
Ironbank in a now regulation win for the Banker boys, they are clearly enjoying this end of the ladder.
Mount Lofty by 35 goals, only joking, i mean 45 goals. They will look ominous with two of their big three forward guns back.

[Justquietly]

Ross Wait and Lochie Fleet trained at full pace this week and have put their hand up to play. This mail came from one of their mates.

This could be a cricket score this week. Birdwood have more to worry about than their guersey.

Fleet puts his hand up to return in a 'tough' encounter at home against a winless team...hmmm, knock me down with a feather.
I'd start him in the Super B's but bring Wait in at CHF.
White, Mehta, Wood, Baldock and Chapman will kick enough without Fleet.
Wait needs to get hands on the ball for the battle for 2nd spot next week.

[No Respect]

Ross Wait and Lochie Fleet trained at full pace this week and have put their hand up to play. This mail came from one of their mates.

This could be a cricket score this week. Birdwood have more to worry about than their guersey.

Fleet puts his hand up to return in a 'tough' encounter at home against a winless team...hmmm, knock me down with a feather.
I'd start him in the Super B's but bring Wait in at CHF.
White, Mehta, Wood, Baldock and Chapman will kick enough without Fleet.
Wait needs to get hands on the ball for the battle for 2nd spot next week.

Agreed on Fleet, has he even played a game this year? Must come through the B's if Lofty have any credibility.From what I hear, he has a constantly sore groin. Wonder if he has been injured....

[Cougar]

Boys i think if you read my post more closely i do not say that Paul James is not a gun, i said his skills were ordinary on the day for whatever reason, his tackling was terrific however. Though i probably didn't make that too clear, and as this was the only game i have seen him play that's all i can judge him on. In terms of the country div boys i was more talking about Bingos, McAvoy etc! And would strongly agree with Bookie about Kerber's game, but like many at least he wanted to play!

Bingos would have been chosen to build morale. If his Misses was there, and the Club Rooms had there heaters on (Always on at Kersbrook!), the players would been inspired. He has the 'Best Team Man' award wrapped up this year at Kersbook, by advising his girlfriend what she should wear around the club.

[Justquietly]

I don't think Fleet has played any footy since the Uri's game, just modelling on TV. That's easy on the groin.
If Saturday is anything like today, Birdwood are in even bigger strife and the only thing that will prevent a 40 goal massacre is Lofty's notorious wayward kicking at goal.
White to kick 9, Baldock off the wing with 5, Mehta 8, Wait 4...there's 26 without an onball brigade scoring or half forwards or fwd pockets.
Super B's have to win well to farewell their Captain as well this weekend.

[bookie]

why wouldnt wait come through the B's aswell as fleet? wait has only played the one game of A's this yr and that was the game in which he got in injured
lofty seems to already have a promising young CHF in Mark "buckets" nielsen who seems to be providing a good target and is kicking a few goals. dont know if wait could replace him!

[Justquietly]

why wouldnt wait come through the B's aswell as fleet? wait has only played the one game of A's this yr and that was the game in which he got in injured
lofty seems to already have a promising young CHF in Mark "buckets" nielsen who seems to be providing a good target and is kicking a few goals. dont know if wait could replace him!

He wouldn't replace him...a new ploy - TWO CHF's. Maybe off the bench then or Fwd pocket??
Wait is more vital to a flag chance than Fleet, that's one reason I'd have him back in.

[devilsadvocate]

Good to see the forum back on topic lads - Mt Lofty!! HAHAHAHA!

Rossy will never play B's IMO. Even when he doesn't get a lot of the pill, he plays a big role in the A's. If he's fit, he should play in the 1's.
Chappy to continue his red hot form and slot a lazy 32 this week. 8 goals a quarter should be a walk in the park for the terminator.

What's that about Fabes? Is he leaving? What's the go JQ?

And what was that about Fleety modelling? Fleetdog is all class!! I think Mado would force him into the A's to avoid losing his position!

And Bernie, my custard arm is getting twitchy, not having thrown a pill in for almost 9 months now. Just getting it right for when I return and boundary umpires are on James Packer wages!

[Justquietly]

DA - Due to an imminent change in work direction, the capt. is forced to play his last game this weekend. I believe it will be retirement after that, not just a spell outta the game.

[devilsadvocate]

That's disappointing. I would have liked to see him win a flag for the Devs after being one who played through the lean period.