skywalker wrote:Wizard of Oz wrote:You have to question what the standard has become in Grade 1. Episodes like this just never happened in yesteryear.
Something needs to be done to ensure the depth of each grade increases and that each grade becomes more even....
How come it was more even yesteryear? What do associations do to ensure their comps are evenly balanced? ATCO haven't been thrashed every game though. I'm sure on their day they can compete. But Grade 1 this year is probably equivalent to Grade 3 years ago.
I remember playing Grade 1 a few years back for EPFC when we had K Thomas and Kenny Mac (knocked out in Semi vs SW), and the standard back then was much much better. There were no easy games, although I think Two Wells and OTH did struggle but not as bad as ATCO and SNth. I guess the depth has decreased, and as is the case all the good players seem to play for 1 team. For example, SW have Davies, McInnes, McIntyre, Parkhouse, Macaferty etc, R&C have Feltus, Kent, Figallo, Brookes etc. The previous were cases of teams having multiple good players, while those that struggle only have 1 or 2. This year, there seems to be less teams with those core good players, and more with 1 or 2.
The loss of TW and Sandy Creek has definitely forced the standard to drop, all those good players from those teams didn't remain in PDCA, they went to other associations. It will take time, some teams have good junior programs so patience is required. until then, SW will prob win 5 flags on the trot.