cracka wrote:For the ill informed, the deal with Hahndorfs Country U15's is that they had to nominate their 14 best players (all of the top age group) who could only play in the Central side, the rest made up of their mainly U14 kids could play country & be able to swap between teams. Their U15 Country side is really their U14 team with some lesser players (for want of a better word) from their U15 age group. They didn't stack their side at all as the 4 kids, who someone has claimed aren't lesser lights, actually played half the season in the country side. . They've been doing it for a couple of years & was never an issue until they started winning some games, how ironic. They actually finished 3rd after the regular season & just played better in the finals & didn't choke.
Having a Hahndorf U14 team filling a slot in the country U15 comp meant their was no bye in that comp so kids got a full season rather than only 16 games, surely that's good for the kids. The same with having Hahndorf, Mt barker & Blackwood having (majority) U12 teams in the country U13 comp meant no byes & country clubs who had the full compliment of junior teams got to have more home games with all their sides playing at the same ground, surely that's better for the country clubs.
Now for the naïve thinkers who say "if Hahndorf aren't allowed to have a 2nd side in the country comp then their excess kids will play for a country team", you are wrong. The kids want to play for Hahndorf & Hahndorf only. It was about 3 years ago when they had 35 kids in their U15 side & were rotated week in week out, the KIDS would rather do that & miss out every 3rd week than play for another team. They are NOT willing to play for the likes of Sedan, Kangarilla, Gumeracha or Kersbrook who are all struggling for numbers. If anything the excess kids will play for another central club. Not letting Central clubs have a 2nd side in country div will probably kill off the country div as quick as all the other stupid ideas some have mentioned on here, all that will happen is the Gold comp will start up again.
Thanks for a very measured, sensible and informed post.
Wondering in the future could a Littlehampton club reactivate starting with juniors (later seniors? )and play at least for the time being out of Cornerstone or Dunn Park (if it could be brought up to standard)? With the population increase in the general area, especially young families could give further opportunities for kids to play.
second thoughts don't Littlehampton already have some u8's or 9's?
Also if they ever built another oval especially if near the golf course could Mt Barker and Littlehampton share it or is there too much rivalry?