Mallee FL

[GWW]

the mail i got last night about karoonda is that they are very close to doing a merger deal with Tailem Bend. They have offered karoonda there name printed on the back of their footy jumpers and three home games at karoonda but they will be stilled be called Tailem Bend.

It will be interesting to see of this happens or not, sounds like its a good chance it will. I was thinking maybe the name could be changed to Tailem Bend Districts or something like that, and maybe even they could bring in the Magpie colors/motif, given that theres no existing Magpie club since Borders left a few years ago.

Not being close to the Karoonda situation, i would say though that i doubt the new club would get all Karoonda's best players. Quite a few played for other RMFL clubs previously, so i'd say they'd probably either play for them them, retire or maybe another Mallee League club. If the new club could pick up a few of Karoonda's top players, would certainly help them be more competitive though. Realistically Tailem probably see it as a long term move not a short term one though.

[KS41]

I think you blokes should seriously have a look at your atlas. I agree with the reshuffling of leagues, but if you are seriously talking about some of the mallee sides on the eastern end of the league. eg Pinnaroo and Murrayville driving to Blanchetown, etc. that is more ridiculous than joining the RMFL . The sides at that end would be better off heading up the Riverland and joing the RFL. Lameroo could swing one way or the other, but some serious rethinking needs to happen through the SANFL.

Not that un-realistic, blokes comin from town to play and all. If you think about it, it was'nt that long ago that Perponda, which is no more than 30km's from Karroonda, played in the Mid Murray against Robertstown!!
The point I sould have posted is that if you merged these leagues and segregated into two divisions based on location, it could be a possibility?

[GWW]

There was a segment on ch 7 news tonight about the Karoonda situation. I think they said theres going to be a players vote this week as to what they should do (eg merge/fold etc).

[Brock Landers]

is justin bailey playing this year for murrayville?

At the moment Justy is not playing this year. Whether this is a ploy to get out of pre-season training is yet to be seen.

[Brock Landers]

I think you blokes should seriously have a look at your atlas. I agree with the reshuffling of leagues, but if you are seriously talking about some of the mallee sides on the eastern end of the league. eg Pinnaroo and Murrayville driving to Blanchetown, etc. that is more ridiculous than joining the RMFL . The sides at that end would be better off heading up the Riverland and joing the RFL. Lameroo could swing one way or the other, but some serious rethinking needs to happen through the SANFL.

Not that un-realistic, blokes comin from town to play and all. If you think about it, it was'nt that long ago that Perponda, which is no more than 30km's from Karroonda, played in the Mid Murray against Robertstown!!
The point I sould have posted is that if you merged these leagues and segregated into two divisions based on location, it could be a possibility?

The hard fact of it is that there is going to have to eventually be more travel within leagues to ensure that there are competitive leagues that are going to go forward for the next 20 years or so.

[Brock Landers]

I honestly would have thought (from a person who has not seen a game mind you) a league with 6 teams was un-reasonable in the first place.I take it that it's top 4 finals,obviously it is viable as it has survived a fair time........

It's the minimum number of teams for a viable comp I think.

[Not Scared]

It's definitely not a good scenario but it sounds like the populations and people's willingness to play footy is a big issue. I think teams splitting from the league and going their own ways would not be a bad result, although I can certainly understand people's attachment to the league. Pinaroo and Lameroo are close enough to the RFL to make it work, and that comp would be bigger and stronger as a result. Similarly, BDT with the RMFL and if Karoonda could sort out a merger with someone that may be the best scenario for them.

I'm not too sure on the options of Peake and Murrayville. Would have to get on Google Maps to work out what they are close enough to, but overall, I think we need to look at having big, decent sized comps. The RFL is very strong, as the Mallee League has been, but a 6 team comp with a top four is right on the verge of being too small. Getting comps up to at least 8, and preferably 10 teams would be ideal for creating interest and keeping teams afloat. Having divisions, as the Amateur League does, also works very well, but I'm not sure this would be viable in the country.

[KS41]

possibly peake merge with some one in the Rmfl. Meningie?? And as for Murrayville, they could either go to the Riverland or the Mallee League on their side of the border, where they played a long time ago. (according to footypedia.com)

[Aerie]

It's sad to see clubs in the Mallee League in this situation. The footy and netball clubs are the centre of town in the winter and to not have sport and the socialising that comes with it would be devastating for the town. There are quality players, most of the better ones locals who play for nothing and can sometimes be seen umpiring or coaching juniors in the morning and then serving behind the bar at night. Top blokes who deserve to have a club they can call home and a place where they can bring their kids through.

I guess if there are not enough numbers then what can you do but merge? Obviously paying inflated wages to out of towners is not sustainable. It would be great if things could improve and the current clubs could stay in the MFL and be strong but that looks unlikely at this stage.

Personally, and I have no idea if this is practical or possible, I'd prefer to see Karoonda/Peake or Karoonda/Peake/Lameroo merge and join the RMFL in much the same way the CMS Crows joined the YP League in the mid 90's.

If Karoonda do join Tailem Bend I hope enough recognition is given to the Karoonda Districts Footy Club as well as the Wynarka/United/Karoonda-Borrika clubs that combined previously.

I hope the SANFL and AFL are doing everything they can to keep alive and well country footy and have games in as many towns as possible. Country sport, in particular footy and netball on Saturday's, is a national treasure.

[GWW]

Looks like its inevitable that Karoonda will fold (or merge). I've heard a couple of senior Karoonda players have been linked with Lameroo.

[wal65]

I don't think this has much to do with paying too much for players. The biggest problem is the drought and not enough work for the locals. I work as a travel consultant in the Riverland and the amount of young men and families who come in and ask for flights to WA and QLD because they have found work there is frightening. Makes you wonder if anyone will be here in 5 years time.

Sadly this is a problem that all rural South Australia is facing and their are no real solutions. Not a lot of people want to work on the land anymore. I should know. I used to be a "cocky" as well.

[crowmuncher]

Looks like its inevitable that Karoonda will fold (or merge). I've heard a couple of senior Karoonda players have been linked with Lameroo.

Id say if Karoonda do fold this seaosn.. I can see the league following next season.

Playing 12 games in a season just isn't enough..

[Brock Landers]

Looks like its inevitable that Karoonda will fold (or merge). I've heard a couple of senior Karoonda players have been linked with Lameroo.

Id say if Karoonda do fold this seaosn.. I can see the league following next season.

Playing 12 games in a season just isn't enough..

Agreed. Logistically I don't see how the league could be viable with only 5 clubs and it'd make it hard for clubs to recruit new players only playing 12 games a year.

[floataboy]

they had their meeting last night to decide. has anyone heard any news.
apparently the ended up with less players than when they started the campaign 2 weeks ago, as blokes werent keen to get flogged every week so would rather retire.
not good when you are trying to improve the numbers

[Down&Out]

crowie while you are a learned man- I think comp can exist. Old Murraylands comp ran a few years with 5 teams- while not great 12 games certainly better than extensive travel or no game at all!! KI runs with 4 teams??

[Brock Landers]

The KI league (and a few other remote leagues like Roxby & Districts) only operate out of nescessity because they have no other comps to join up with. With the Mallee league, there are at least 3 other leagues surrounding it that can absorb the existing Mallee clubs or players if they want to play more than 12 games a year, whilst keeping the travel reasonably low.

[Down&Out]

Not as easy as that- I am not sure all clubs can be absorbed- unsure as to whether BDT want to go back to RMFL, and I feel Peake will get left out in the cold- They cannot compete with RMFL and too far to go to Independants/ Riverland- this becomes a neccesity!!

[carey18]

Shouldnt you be on yard duty?

[Brock Landers]

I know that Murrayville have about 15 kids in their colts this year, the rest coming from junior colts to make up the numbers, and the numbers in each year level at the school are smaller each year (7 kids in reception last year). How long can the club keep going with this happening?? In 10 years these kids will be 15. That's the cold hard facts. Smaller towns like Murrayville will have to merge to keep any identity at all.

When I was recruited to the league, the only doubt I had in my mind was that there were only 6 teams and only 15 games. You reduce that to 5 teams and 12 games a year and I doubt I would've played in the Mallee at all. If 50% of recruitment targets from Adelaide etc think the same way then it's going to put pressure on the senior numbers. Idiots like Crowtosser can call Murrayville, Moneyville but if there were no players coming from Adelaide to play for Murrayville then we wouldn't get 2 teams on the park each week and severely weaken the comp.

A bit of short term pain for longer term gain.

[Hardly_super]

Hey why does the there only have to be 12 rounds if a team folds im pretty sure you just play someone more often, please slap me if im wrong?