HFL Division 1 (Central)

[Dashin]

Unsure how many points he'll attract but it won't be an issue for Lofty.

Tips boys:

Round 4 – May 3
Lobethal v Mt Lofty - This could get ugly - 35 goals
Blackwood v Hahndorf - I'm tipping what some might call an upset, I disagree - 2 goal
Bridgewater v Ironbank - Will walk it in
Uraidla Districts v Mt Barker - Should be close, the cabbage by 3 goal
Onka Valley v Birdwood - 5 goal win over an improving Birdwood

[GetTheSherrin]

Dashin, good tips there id have to agree, i know hahndorf are missing a couple this week. tate isnt playing due to sanfl commitments and theres another that i cant think of.

may actually go with an upset of barker gettin up. wasnt totally convinced with uris.

[bazzw]

Just heard that the Mt Lofty v Blackwood game later in the season at blackwood will be a night game under their new lights. good to see night football is alive and well in the hills

[bookie]

Flash should only be a 1pt player, he has played more than 3 yrs at lofty and less than 5 games down at the saafl this yr so he should only attract 1 pt

[Dashin]

Just heard that the Mt Lofty v Blackwood game later in the season at blackwood will be a night game under their new lights. good to see night football is alive and well in the hills

Thats ridiculous playing a night game at that time of the year! It'll be absolutely freezing and more than likely muddy. A spectacle that will be...not!

[Dashin]

Flash should only be a 1pt player, he has played more than 3 yrs at lofty and less than 5 games down at the saafl this yr so he should only attract 1 pt

Can anyone confirm if he's going to pull on a geurnsey this week for lofty? How long will it take to get the clearance provided Athlestone give it the ok?

[bookie]

i doubt he will play this week especially with a suspension looking inevitable

[Dashin]

i doubt he will play this week especially with a suspension looking inevitable

Nah he was cleared at the tribunal last night

[Shirtfront]

Surely if he signed a contract, the Raggies are well within their rights to not clear him, from what i understand he played reasonable hard ball at the start to get the sorta coin he wanted there. Interesting if they just let him go, very lucky boy.

[kick it to me]

Surely in the next few years a couple of clubs will decide to amalgamate for the good of footy in their communities. Its been happening in the uraidla area for a long time know, most recently with Eastern Ranges coming on board almost a decade ago. Eastern Ranges itself was made up of Ashton, Lenswood, Forest Range, Fifth Creek at one stage or another throughout its history.

Now with the C Grade up and running and some clubs really dwindelling in numbers maybe it wouldnt be such a bad idea. 20 goal floggings have started to become the norm right across the comp, and im sure thats not a good thing for clubs on the recieving end.

[Dashin]

Surely if he signed a contract, the Raggies are well within their rights to not clear him, from what i understand he played reasonable hard ball at the start to get the sorta coin he wanted there. Interesting if they just let him go, very lucky boy.

There's no point keeping him though if he doesn't want to be there. I'd understand if he was wanting to go to a competing club but it's a completely different league. Will be interesting to see what follows.

I wonder if he'll be out at training tonight

[GetTheSherrin]

i dont think clearances can be held back when the player is leaving to a different league. if there is a contract then there may be some money paid to athelstone to cover that.

[Rooster]

Surely in the next few years a couple of clubs will decide to amalgamate for the good of footy in their communities. Its been happening in the uraidla area for a long time know, most recently with Eastern Ranges coming on board almost a decade ago. Eastern Ranges itself was made up of Ashton, Lenswood, Forest Range, Fifth Creek at one stage or another throughout its history.

Now with the C Grade up and running and some clubs really dwindelling in numbers maybe it wouldnt be such a bad idea. 20 goal floggings have started to become the norm right across the comp, and im sure thats not a good thing for clubs on the recieving end.

i totally agree.... aren't mt.lofty a similar kind of team? i think gumeracha and birdwood should have and still should merge, gumeracha cannot continue on much longer this way. there's a lot of history at both clubs, but for the long term sustainability of football in this area there are just too many teams. birdwood,gumeracha,kersbrook,torrensvalley and lobethal.

[Felch]

i dont think clearances can be held back when the player is leaving to a different league. if there is a contract then there may be some money paid to athelstone to cover that.

If he signed a recognized, official contract (SANFL-type), then Athelstone are completely within their rights to stop him playing anywhere else. The only get-out clause he would have if is Athelstone have changed anything that was agreed to in the contract intially - eg. payments/incentives/conditions.

It would be in the players best interests to sit down with Athelstone and work something out, as they hold all the cards.

[The Panther]

1. We have already played Bridgey's under 17's and i would be surprised if they finish last. I would think about 8th. Obviously not great but they did appear to have 4 or 5 guys capable of playing good senior football in the next few years. Depth an issue at under 17 level , but if you are able to have 4 or 5 move up each year that is all you need to have a strong side in a couple of years - to go with the already young senior side. I would suggest if they looked at a 3 year plan to improve each year with a goal of finals 3 years from now that would be reasonable. You don't need to recruit 20 blokes for a one year quick fix and then all fall apart again when they leave. recruit 4 to 5 key players with experience ( but not over the hill ) who potentially will give several years service and help the young blokes develope. Who knows this maybe already be in play at Bridgy with the young side they have and us outsiders won't see the results for a few seasons.

2. Having played both country and central divs. I don't think a relegation system would work, especially one based just on A grade results.
If there was going to be a relegation system my suggestion would be one based on all grades and over a 3 yr period. After each 3 yr period a committee could meet to assess all clubs in the hills. If there is a club struggling consistently in central and a club consistently dominating in country ( in more than just A grade ) then swap the 2. If there is not a genuine need to swap then don't.

3. I would hate to see clubs merge as clubs histories just dissolve and are lost. If your club is struggling hang in there and put your hand up to work to strengthen your club. Gumeracha obviously struggling at the moment , but i do remember going up there in 01 or 02 i think and getting belted , their juniors were strong too. A few hard yrs work and things can be turned around - look at Lofty (although they always had strong juniors ) . Echunga a small club who work hard with what they have. Ironbank a small club who have focused on juniors for many yrs now getting results against bigger more established clubs.

[Dashin]

Anyone know if Karger has been playing for Lobey yet this year?

[bookie]

ive heard a rumour gordon didnt get cleared can anyone confirm this??

[Rams52]

ive heard a rumour gordon didnt get cleared can anyone confirm this??

Apparently not - check Div 2 Am thread in Metro Footy

[Dashin]

ive heard a rumour gordon didnt get cleared can anyone confirm this??

yeah he didn't, check the div 2 forum.

[bookie]

thats balls, great guy sad that he cant be enjoying his footy this yr.