the smokey wrote:Does anyone feel it a disgrace that there is so much money$$$$$ floating around in this grade.... St Paul's, Houghton, Marion, Mawson lakes, (not sure about osb have just joined)etc whole are paying big money per game to only be a div 7 club and the majority for a long time!!
Instead of spending the $$, build a club, culture etc and maybe one day you might become a club like ttg or gg
The fact there is so much floating around in div 7 is a joke and will discourage successful higher grade clubs to play in this division!!
Not sure where you get your info, but don't think clubs like St Pauls, Houghton or Mawson Lakes have "big money",
It's also unfair to try and compare their situations to clubs like TTG and GG - two clubs who have massive facilities, junior programs and multiple sporting/social organisations that assist to contribute to their infrastructure.
Small, low grade clubs will never reach the lofty heights of those well established D1 clubs, and whilst floating around in the lowest grade "building a club culture" is good in theory, the reality is, it is increasingly difficult to recruit and entice players of a higher calibre to the club and build any success.
Fact is the landscape or footy has changed, and unfortunately coin is king.

FWIW I think with the introduction of the SFL clubs, I believe we are slowly moving towards a pure A grade competition in the all the major divs, which would allow the "higher grade clubs" to participate in the C grade competitions.