HFL Division 1 (Central)

[grumpy]

Can anyone tell me about the new coach at Lofty. Young bloke. Not sure of his name?

[onkas-valleysvirgin]

I agree with Robbie. I Have heard that several juniors have returned back to the club. Regardless of how talented they are its great to see the Hills league attracting players.
Bazzw, surely Onkaparinga have spent some serious coin on the likes of Goldsmith etc in the past. I heard a rumour that they offered Travis Oakley in access of $500 a game.

Onkas certainly did not offer Travis Oakley anything like that. Travis had agreed to play at Balhannah but the Eagles came knocking on his door and you can't stop someone from playing at the highest level possible. Also, although probably the highest payed player,Goldsmith was on nothing like that either.

The reality is that most senior players play for either hardly anything or nothing at all. Most sides will have a couple, or maybe a handfull, of 'marquee' players who are contracted and receive match payments only. People like to think that everyone is a millionaire on someone else's side but the reality does not reflect that. To subsist with the general thinking about player payments would mean a club would need around $50,000 per annum...that is in fantasyland.

Don't blame the players for big match payments when they occur however...it's the clubs that prostitute their own markets.

[Chook]

I haven't much about the coach from lofty, I hear he comes from the SAAFL with one of the college clubs.

I hear he is a nice bloke and fitting in well at Lofty but don't know too much about his footy background.

Anyone else know anything?

What about Bridgewater?? Any players recruited? Is it Snowden who's coaching??

[robby]

Nathan Grainger is he name, bridgey have picked up a few norwood union/paynenam players apparently, so should be better than expected. Bridgey are a tough team to beat on their home track, so should avoid the spoon.

[grumpy]

Nathan Grainger coached SPOC successfully over the last few years.

[robby]

Would u say he is good enough to lead the team to a premiership?

[stan]

I dont know him personally but have heard that he's not a bad coach. So i would say he would be able to coach to a preimership. But alot depends on what type of list you have as well.

[Chook]

I don't know enough about grainger to be able to predict that.

Bridgey have been hard to beat on their deck, if they have a few reasonable players then they become harder again to beat on home turf.

I can't see them winning away from home besides maybe an upset or two.

Uraidla have picked up a few players this year by the sounds of it.

Does anyone know of the players they have picked up? I have heard Matt Thomas is back, big centre half forward and has won a mail medal.

[ORDoubleBlues]

I agree with Robbie. I Have heard that several juniors have returned back to the club. Regardless of how talented they are its great to see the Hills league attracting players.
Bazzw, surely Onkaparinga have spent some serious coin on the likes of Goldsmith etc in the past. I heard a rumour that they offered Travis Oakley in access of $500 a game.

Onkas certainly did not offer Travis Oakley anything like that. Travis had agreed to play at Balhannah but the Eagles came knocking on his door and you can't stop someone from playing at the highest level possible. Also, although probably the highest payed player,Goldsmith was on nothing like that either.

The reality is that most senior players play for either hardly anything or nothing at all. Most sides will have a couple, or maybe a handfull, of 'marquee' players who are contracted and receive match payments only. People like to think that everyone is a millionaire on someone else's side but the reality does not reflect that. To subsist with the general thinking about player payments would mean a club would need around $50,000 per annum...that is in fantasyland.

Don't blame the players for big match payments when they occur however...it's the clubs that prostitute their own markets.

Agree that the $50,000 sum you mention is preposterous on the whole but I'd be confident that there is at least one Central division and one Country division team that is paying this amount of money. Sums of $500+ a game (for one player) are not exaggerated.
One club could be in for a rude shock if their star recruit pulls up stumps half way through the year .
Will still say Hillsrider that Maccy is within the salary cap and aren't paying as much as a few other Country Division teams. Get a feeling though that you are someone who is a bit closer to the club than you are letting on. Think Maccy is a situation that OVV is referring to, people look at the names and assume huge dollars are being spent.
Apparently Maccy had their biggest gate take ever for the match against Meadows on Saturday which I must say is a bit of a surprise as I remember playing in a Sunday Match at Maccy against Meadows in 2002 when there were about 3 dozen cars parked on the oval behind the Northern goals.
Country matches this weekend:

Echunga V Maccy
Nairne V Torrens Valley
Meadows V Kersbrook
Birdwood V Callington
Kangarilla V Gumeracha

[hillsrider]

ODB, what is the salary cap. i'd be very surprised if any club got near it. and if the did, who is going to police it anyway. player sponsorships do come from outside clubs these days.
the meadows maccy games generally get a good crowd, especially on a sunday. but to beat that on a saturday must be very pleasing for the club.
will be very interesting to see how maccy go against echunga this weekend. i do expect maccy to win.
otherwinners should be Nairne, meadows, birdwood ang kangarilla.
btw, i havent let on if i am close to any club.

[ORDoubleBlues]

btw, i havent let on if i am close to any club.

No, you haven't but you must have good spies or a good memory.
Apparently the salary cap for Country Division is $17,000.

[hillsrider]

ah odb, its not that hard to now what is going on up there. most people that have been close to the country div over tha past few years have a good handle on the happenings around the traps. did hear last year that maccy didnt quite make it to the salary cap. but only a few k off.

[ORDoubleBlues]

You're right about the "who would police the salary cap" part. If the stories are to be believed, there would be one player at one Country division club who would just about use up their salary cap all by himself.

On the subject of juniors, Meadows have done a good job but a few years back they were fortunate that Dawe, Maidment, the Reids, Du Bois and probably a few others that I can't remember, all came through at the same time. Frustrating to see the son of former Macclesfield enforcer Ian McEvoy running around for Meadows. When the missus and Macca split up some years ago, she moved to Meadows and the rest I guess is history.
When Maccy had good junior and senior colts sides from '92 to '95, that did translate into a succesful senior side, albeit only briefly.

[GWW]

Ironbank picked up a few this year a couple from the southern league and a few from the amateurs solid players but no big names I know of.

I think Ironbank has picked up Scott Wendleborn from River Murray League club Tailem Bend. Hes a very versatile player, can play on ball, in the forward line, and due to high leaping can even do some rucking. I think he played zone footy but was a bit inconsistent, and one criticism of him was that he didnt deliver in big games (finals).

[hillsrider]

ODB,
the club you refer to with the player that almost takes up all the salary cap has a very large cheque book. i dont think we need to elaborate too much. but we do know that when the coach leaves, bye bye team!!!! money does buy success. and alot of money at that!!
in the very late 90's and about 2000 2001, meadows had a great influx of juniors coming through. the reids, maidment, du bois, the russells and also the two lanyon brothers as well. all a graders. and it must be remembered that chad dawe didnt really start playing good footy till he was 19-20 yrs old. and his brother kris. could have been the best of the lot if not for injury. there's a half team right there. half a premiership team in fact.
maccys very young juniors have been on the up for a couple of years now, but that wont assist the u/17's for quite a few years yet. hope they can get a full team on the park this year, as i do know the last couple of years quite a lot of juniors (and seniors at some stage) are playing 2 games on saturdays.
can maccy beat echunga tomorrow?

[BubblesOfBlue]

Ironbank picked up a few this year a couple from the southern league and a few from the amateurs solid players but no big names I know of.

I think Ironbank has picked up Scott Wendleborn from River Murray League club Tailem Bend. Hes a very versatile player, can play on ball, in the forward line, and due to high leaping can even do some rucking. I think he played zone footy but was a bit inconsistent, and one criticism of him was that he didnt deliver in big games (finals).

Have seen him play in trials and he has been really good, he tried in ruck a bit but did not think he was that good there, great on the wing for mine.

[PPLions]

the club you refer to with the player that almost takes up all the salary cap has a very large cheque book. i dont think we need to elaborate too much. but we do know that when the coach leaves, bye bye team!!!! money does buy success. and alot of money at that!!

Didnt buy a lot of success at the Coach's former team

[hillsrider]

fair call pp, but i dont think he had the quality at his previous club compared to the quality he has now. i also think a few more $$ has gone around this time as well.

[grumpy]

I think its great that clubs like Lofty, Uraidla and Ironbank have employed young coaches that have played in the city. They attract younger people to the competition. Good luck to them all.

[MatteeG]

I think Ironbank has picked up Scott Wendleborn from River Murray League club Tailem Bend. Hes a very versatile player, can play on ball, in the forward line, and due to high leaping can even do some rucking. I think he played zone footy but was a bit inconsistent, and one criticism of him was that he didnt deliver in big games (finals).

That confirms Ironbank have money to splash around- Scooter follows the $$!

Marion- Tailem Bend- Ironbank

BTW he is a great guy, and should be played on a wing, half forward or half back.