Also drove past Tapleys Hill Rd / Burbridge Rd corner where the Uni cricket ovals are being developed. Seems to be coming along. Anyone know what they're being used for and when they'll be ready? Just spare cricket facilities at this stage are they?

With the way the SACA has worked this whole thing (I.e. Unprofessionally, unfairly with bully tactics) heater and c horse do have a point that by West Torrens leaving open the option of considering merger talks, they have put their hand up as a target by SACA.

However, what choice did they have and would it make a difference?

Originally after the Zadow Report, it was due diligence to explore given 8 of 13 clubs were put in the firing line to reduce to a ten team comp.

WT didn't want to merge. Our junior program was producing 1st Grade cricketers with a production line in progress from local talent and country zone. Our arrangements and relationship with Henley FC was/is positive with us being able to control our own bar/canteen. We were making small profit on the back of great volunteers and an engaged playing group. We made finals in 14/15. We were rebuilding from a decade where we won 4 Club Championships and could/should have won a couple more 1st Grade premierships - we lost a bunch of quality and experience in a short space of time. We did play in the GF of both comps and won club champ only 5 years ago in 11/12.

However, if a revolution of Grade cricket was going to happen, WT were not going to miss out on funding and the possibility of forming a super club with Woodville with all the $$ SACA were fishing with. So while preference was to stand alone, official stance was to consider a merger. To me, this is wise management at a time when SACA were still deciding what they'd do.

To SACA's detriment, they didn't offer a concrete offer until well after the bomb they dropped on WT/PA/Wood. This wasn't appealing to Woodville so SACA have followed mistake after mistake and now it gets to this.

There were whispers WT was in firing line at the beginning of the process and then the Uni ovals at West Beach became public knowledge. A spanner in the works. Any good faith left completely out the window.

SACA could have chopped out a club by now and it could have been WT. For no good reason mind you. At least as it stands we're still in with a chance. Metaphorically speaking, we've taken a few quick wickets after Tea after a long first couple of sessions in the field in 40 degree heat.

After 159 years, a strong recent record and plenty to look forward to in the future, we're still in with a chance.

I guess wait and see the outcome of the meeting Monday night.

Every outcome from a meeting so far has been a further threat to the existence of WT and PA.

The same people are still on the board. Clearly those involved in Grade cricket that are on the Board are pretty keen to get rid of the two clubs. Every decision they've made has been a kick in the guts and the likes of Phillips, Snewin, Adcock etc still have the hide to be involved and Bernhardt somehow still has a job. I wouldn't be too confident while these individuals and others are still on the board/employed.

The standard doesn't matter so much imo, game style is more important.

If you want to watch the best, the AFL is the way to go and the gap in standard is ever increasing.

There are other reasons why the SANFL is appealing.

Number one is the link of clubs to South Australian families. This should always make the Grand Final an occasion well supported.

Number two is accessibility to the SANFL, taking children along, making it an affordable day out with a family or for a group of friends. A drop in ticket prices would help this further.

Make the SANFL matter again by differentiating it from the AFL, instead of making it a poor mans clone.

It shouldn't matter from which clubs or from what background people come from who are on the SACA Board.

It is big business, so someone who might be an expert in a field, but doesn't have a cricket background, could be a valuable member. Provided there are others with that cricket background and the right mix in all the various fields.

There should also not be an issue with what club board members come from. Though, this surely is an issue in this current environment.

The way this has been handled has been a disgrace and the current board members who are close to the Grade Cricket scene can't be trusted and shouldn't be re-elected.

What needs to happen is a clear and detailed plan. The SACA commissioned the Zadow Report. That was a good start. Then they gave no feedback on it back to clubs, with the exception of new balls and better turf wickets (University's square was the first re-done), until they decided to force a merger, or threaten expulsion, of West Torrens, Port Adelaide and Woodville a long time after the report was released. Taking a tiny bit of the report to justify that decision. Meanwhile they were protecting all the clubs that had links to those on the Board. Including those with a recent history of terrible performance including Prospect, Adelaide and University - who also don't have a junior program - probably because previous Board members wanted to protect their club instead of allowing Uni to have them!

If 8 clubs is the plan. Say it!

They could say the season 2017/18 there will be an 8 team Premier Grade competition. 14 rounds home and away. The bottom 5 teams from next season will start their 1st Grade in the second tier (playing for the Community Shield or something). The 8 Premier Grade teams will have their 2nd Grade in this competition.

Introduce a transfer system to compensate those clubs who lose players to the top grade, whilst encouraging the best to be playing in the top grade. This is crucial to get right.

Have promotion/relegation to give those clubs who win the "Community Shield" the opportunity to get back to the top grade.

Have equal funding to ensure every club is representing an area that provides a pathway through to the top level. Including allowing University to have juniors.

Scrap the Premier League and provide small incentive to players who play 1st Grade in the top division (say a payment of $100 per game to the 11 that take the field).

This provides opportunities to expand (Mt Barker or whoever could start in the second tier if the need arises) without effecting the top division. It also allows for future mergers without effecting the top division. It ensures all clubs can survive and continue to represent cricket in their community. It ensures clubs are actively trying to improve to either avoid relegation or gain promotion. It improves standard at the top without cutting opportunities at the bottom. It will not cost the SACA any more in finances than what they are already paying.

Instead of the junior one day tournament in January - the SACA could pick their own Metro West / Metro East / Metro North / Metro South / Country West / Country East sides to compete as they do in Premier League now and again in the 1st school holidays to have a look at the best juniors against each other and have some say in their development.

If it doesn't work it is easily reverted. Once a club is gone, it is gone forever.

Watch out for the South one-off jumper for this game as it names every player who have played league footy for the club since 1876, 1,750 names are listed on the guernsey. This is in celebration of our 140th year with the jumpers being available for sale after the game.

What a great idea. My wife's Grandpa played a few league games for South back in the 40's or 50's. Will have to find out what number he wore and get one of those replica ones.

Just by speaking to some players they are not overly happy with the situation. Full Time professionals vs blokes who play for peanuts after digging trenches, busting open packs of timber or crunching numbers all day. However they do take great satisfaction that they can beat these bubble boys when they play to their absolute best of their ability.

You can definitely understand that. What has been proven is that there is no extra interest (via attendance/memberships) to the SANFL clubs as a result of AFL Reserves sides in. Besides the $50k from the Crows, is there any commercial benefit? Paying $1m to occasionally show the SANFL on 7mate seems like a stinking deal to me. At least on Ch 2 you knew there was an SANFL game every Sat arvo and it wasn't costing $1m.

I think in general the public don't like it. What it means is that the SANFL players need to keep up a certain standard to keep up with the ever increasing professional AFL teams, constantly increasing funding to their football department spending. This could be a good or bad thing depending on how you look at it.

Obviously the AFL teams like it, but it can't be up to them.

I'd love to see the results of a player wide survey and go from there. Now is a pivotal time with funding coming forward from the sale of West Lakes. The most sustainable option needs to be taken.

Could they just program junior grade cricket on Sunday's? Could then use the senior ovals not being used. Those keen junior cricketers can play school on Saturday and club on Sunday.

Could they just program junior grade cricket on Sunday's? Could then use the senior ovals not being used. Those keen junior cricketers can play school on Saturday and club on Sunday.
That upsets community clubs as they would have no players for under 17 and under 15.

This sounds like SACA logic.

Let's not have a competition for the best kids to play against each other.

If the numbers are so dire and it is so important to have community clubs filled with juniors playing on a Sunday, then only have the Reds teams and make sure there is always a game for those who don't make Reds.

First priority though, should be a stronger SACA underage competition - then you consider how other competitions can work around that. This is given that Private Schools think their sport is so important and won't budge their important schedules.

Heard discussion on 5AA this morning and disappointing they were comparing stats to the year before the AFL sides came in. This was the worst year of crowds up to that point and many SANFL fans were disrupted that year by all the discussion - which probably contributed in some way to the poor turn outs that year as well.

Sturt are a positive club at the moment. Good on them, it is working on and off the field. But trying to say anything positive about the inclusion of AFL teams to the competition and the positive impact of the AFL to anything to do with the league is pulling the other one. Especially with the benefit of hindsight, which we now have.

For those who don't understand, you only have to think about how you'd feel if the AFL competition was compromised to the extent the SANFL has been. Then understand that there are/were people who prioritised their SANFL clubs over anything else. These people were treated like a joke. Hence the drop off.

I don't know how they expect a vibrant SANFL competition with the AFL Reserves teams in. The passion is lost in the outer. When you get told enough times that you're following a 2nd tier league whose aim is to be 2nd best, you start to believe it. Those who spent their hard earned and stood in the outer on a wet day wanted to watch their club be the best in the SANFL. It didn't matter about being 2nd best. No one remembers who is 2nd best.

The difference between then and now is stark:
- AFL at Adelaide Oval is a huge success (perhaps more so than expected)
- Crows and Port are flying financially (more so than expected)
- Reserves teams have been good for the AFL clubs (as expected)
- The Channel 7 deal is a flop considering $1m has to be spent (not what was meant to happen)
- SANFL clubs are facing extinction and losing money more than ever (not what was meant to happen)
- Port Magpies are losing crowds (as expected)
- Crows Reserves are hardly supported (not what was meant to happen)

So the benefits of the AFL Reserves teams coming in to the SANFL are minimal. It has been a costly exercise. And Olsen is still saying the same crap - taking up the slack of Davies and Trigg who departed before the mess they helped create even had its first bounce.

The alternative I suggested back then is still a possibility IMO. It possibly makes more sense now with the AFL zoning being introduced. What isn't known is how much damage has already been done to the SANFL and whether those that have left (in their thousands) would come back to regularly supporting their SANFL club.

That was to field AFL Reserves teams in the VFL with Port and Crows working closely with the SANFL clubs to use players in their first two years out of the SANFL U18 system as top up players and keeping them aligned with their SANFL club. Not that costly, surely. Not compared to the cost of what has happened to the SANFL and what will happen to the SANFL if this commission continues down the path it has created.

You integrate football in SA from grass roots all the way through to AFL. You add your bits and pieces Reserves teams to a bits and pieces league that is the VFL - competing on the same page as at least 10 other AFL clubs. You have an SANFL competition that is fair and can go at its own pace. You know that the team you are supporting is trying to be the best in the SANFL by beating other teams that are trying to be the best in the SANFL. Because being 2nd best has never mattered.

heater31 wrote:

Tony Clifton wrote:Who are the candidates?

Jason Gentle from Glenelg is one.

The SACA Board definitely needs more Glenelg. Hopefully there are a couple more University CC members putting their hand up also. I take my hat off to those willing to compromise their CV by joining the SACA Board.

Sounds like Port Adelaide attempting to buy a flag. Tom Cooper and a few Victorians being targeted.
Have they not learnt anything these past 18 months???

What do you mean?

SACA have made it clear a good junior program and promotion of youth at your club makes stuff all difference in terms of what they want in a Grade club.

Why shouldn't Port bring in some interstate talent or target other clubs as the likes of Glenelg, Woodville and Uni do?

The only thing to learn from season 2015/16 is that its dog eat dog and that is thanks to an incompetent SACA Board, administration and Grade Cricket Committee.

Only advertisement last night at Adel Oval for today's games was an ad on the scoreboard saying get down to watch the Crows at 12:10. No mention of the 2nd game or that it is a double header. I thought the Crows were going to promote the competition? It would not be hard to give 20 seconds every quarter break to advertise all the SANFL matches at the Crows AFL home games and in particular last night for the finals today.

There is surely now enough evidence and proof that this whole concept has not worked and the path this is going down isn't a bright one for the SANFL clubs. It is time for the directors and administrators who are still around to admit a mistake was made and turn back on their decision. Any compromise (I.e. more restrictions on AFL Reserves teams) would be even more of a disaster. The SANFL need to provide a solution with the AFL that satisfies all elements that make up football in this state. They can, and should, still work together, but not in the current form.

There is opportunity with cash from West Lakes and high speed internet for the SANFL to find its niche in today's football world independent of the AFL.

Well done to Kirkwood.

Thought Brenton Phillips speech for his hall of fame induction was fantastic. Clearly very passionate about the SANFL.

I know there are bits of crowd stats in several threads, is it possible to have one post which shows :-

(a) total minor round attendances from 2000 to present
(b) total major round attendances from 2000 to present (broken down by finals week if possible)
(c) average minor round crowds per team from 2000 to present

I think that would clearly allow everyone to reference it / copy it in emails to clubs and the league when asking for explanations. It would also clearly show what trends there are year to year by league, by finals, by club.

Over to those guys who are the stats masters! :-)
I agree, I've seen the figures on here that shows peaks and troughs between 1999 and 2012 (significant year in that the reserves debate really gathered momentum and the SANFL began contravening their own rules concerning mid season player swaps), but I believe that overall there'd been no significant loss of crowds, and perhaps even an increase?

Yes, I think there was an increase in the mid to late 2000's. From 2007 through to 2011, despite Central winning 4 flags, they had Eagles, North, Glenelg, Sturt and Norwood as opponents in the Grand Finals. The finals crowds were excellent at Adelaide Oval for the double headers and dipped when they went back to Footy Park with the renovation at AO.

For the couple of years before Reserves in the SANFL, when Port Power took over the Magpies, the stench started. The season when the decision was made people were already dropping off.

The likes of Bassett, Godden, Collins brought in AFL style game plans and umpires started to umpire in a more AFL style. A far cry from the free flowing footy of the Phillips, Jarman, Fuller era. Around 05/06 the SANFL was higher scoring footy than AFL. Now it is the opposite.

I think the SANFL still has plenty to offer. Just not as a Reserves league.

What years were the price increases? From memory it was $8 for a long time, then shifted to $10 possibly around 2009 and then up to $14 for the 2012 season?

SANFL has no one to blame but themselves for the demise in this competition. The coaches and players do everything possible to keep the standard high, but the administration has made mistake after mistake.

Anyone going today who was there in 1924?

My Poppa was there in 1924. And 1933, 1945, 1953, 1993, 2006. Was sadly too ill in 2011, but enjoyed watching the DVD with him. He bought about 10 copies for everyone in our family. Will be watching down today, to hopefully see the 2016 flag added to the collection in the club rooms at Woodville Oval. Go the mighty Eagles!

Would need either Sturt vs Glenelg or Norwood vs Glenelg for a big crowd. Sturt and Norwood supporters are one and the same aren't they? A redleg and double blue scarf either side of their Crows scarf in the wardrobe?

Those two goals to Sturt just before 3/4 time were the killer. Eagles threw everything at Sturt for that first 20 minutes of the 3rd, but Sturt held, steadied and then broke away. The better team won.

All the avenues to the forward line were through Ainger and he was beaten. All the avenues to goal were through Wundke, who played a lone hand. The Eagles midfield and runners could not bust through at any stage. Sturt defence was immense.

Well done Sturt. A great crowd and good day for SANFL footy. Grand Final monkey well and truly back on the Eagles back.

Glad that someone has finally spoken out.

No surprises really. I've said it before and will again, the way this has been handled by the SACA Board is nothing short of a disgrace.

I wonder what the consequences will be?

Where does the money go computer crashed?

I can only talk of the club I was involved with, but all players paid subs and the volunteers along with the players were responsible for raising funds to keep the club financially in order.

All extra cash/grants etc were used to improve facilities or pay coaches to help generate better cricketers.

1st Test vs South Africa starts at the WACA next Thursday.

Interesting selections. Very open field with Burns and Khawaja dropped for Sean Marsh and Henriques for the 3rd Test in Sri Lanka. Marsh hit a century.

The batsman/all rounders:

Warner - century for NSW this match, a certainty
S.Marsh - a century in his last Test and 73 & looking like another century for WA this match
Burns - dropped last Test, 129 for QLD this match and currently on 2*
Khawaja - dropped last Test, 79 for QLD this match
Smith - a century last Test and another century for NSW this match, a certainty
Voges - struggled in SL, 20 & a duck for WA this match, but averages 79 in Test cricket
Henriques & M.Marsh - barely ever perform...

The outsiders for a baggy green:
Ferguson - back from a knee with a century for SA in this match. Besides injury, has dominated SS for the last 3-4 years
Patterson - building his career with a solid season last year, runs early this season with a century this match for NSW

Nevill looks to have the keeping spot - although needs to perform this summer with the bat.

Bowlers:
Starc, Hazelwood and Lyon certainties.

The 3rd pace spot could go to Bird, Sayers, Siddle? Is Mitch Marsh good enough to be the 3rd paceman (I don't think he is good enough to be the 6th batsman).

My team would be:

Warner
S.Marsh
Khawaja
Smith
Voges
Patterson
Nevill
Starc
Hazlewood
Lyon
Sayers

Marsh goes ahead of Burns due to a century last Test and good current form at the WACA.

Patterson debuts at number 6.

Mitch Marsh and Henriques need to pile on runs or wickets in the Sheffield Shield to earn their spot - although I get the feeling the real selectors will select Marsh as insurance for the bowlers.

Ferguson needs a few more runs early in the season coming back from injury, but very close. Voges in on his record.

Sayers pips Bird and Siddle due to consistent wickets, recent form at the WACA and the ability to swing the ball.

Ferguson would and should be ahead of Head for Test selection. Head is a bit like Maddinson from NSW - goes hard and that's it. Should be good for one dayers and T20 but unless he transforms (which he very well could as he matures) I'm not sure he's got what it takes for Test cricket (at this stage). Would like to see him get picked though, he's exciting to watch.

Thoughts on South Africa's racial quota selection policy?

I didn't realise it was now so full on until listening to the radio today. For an average period of a year in all 3 formats, there needs to be at least 6 of the 11 players non-white and 2 of those must be black African.

I guess if it gets the majority of the population involved in professional sport (it's for other sports too) it will be a good in the long term, but too bad if that white guy is best XI but can't get picked because of the colour of his skin.

All the batsman should play Shield on Thursday, except Smith.

Patterson in for Voges definitely.

Any of Handscombe, Bancroft, Maddinson, Wade, Maxwell, Weatherald, Head, Lehmann hit a century in this round of cricket they come in for consideration to replace Burns or Ferguson for Adelaide.

Agree

Pink ball matches have been a refreshing change from the run feats we sore for many years.

Love watching innings like Khawaja in the test match

seeing them struggle at periods and get through that and post a big score is great to watch.

The change from twilight to night and the associated change in batting conditions has added a new dynamic. Usually if a team is 2/200 after 2 sessions you pretty much know how the third is going to go, but not anymore

Agree. In some ways I think it has saved the Adelaide Test match. Previous to drop-ins, it would be a batting paradise for 3 days and then would crumble making it extremely difficult to bat in the 2nd innings (especially the 5th day) - often providing a result, even if both teams posted 400 plus in the 1st dig.

The batting paradise was still there after the drop ins but it didn't crumble as much.

The need to add grass to protect the pink ball saw a different wicket last year. Adjusted slightly this year to give the perfect pitch and conditions for Test cricket and an even balance between bat and ball (pace and spin). I think how Hough had it prepared this year will and should be the template for all Test's at Adelaide moving forward. Just as Burdett had it right for his time - Hough has got it right for this time and just as there was significant variation from Day 1 to Day 5 due to the pitch in Burdett's era there is significant variation due to conditions throughout the match.

Pace bowlers would prefer coming to Adelaide now. There is something for the spinners all match, although not as relied upon on the 5th day as they once were. Centuries at Adelaide Oval will be much harder to come across, but as proven by Du Plessis and Khawaja, are possible and even more commendable than they once were due to their difficulty.

I'd be happy for Adelaide to have Day/Night Test matches from now on if it resembles something close to what we saw this year.

Drew and Williams are having some sort of seasons. Similar team that made the semi finals 2 seasons ago (Bess in for Cullen) but with some more experience/contributions.

helicopterking wrote:T20 GF
West Torrens v Glenelg

Too many clubs on the western seaboard in the T20 Grand Final.

Must have been an incredible game at Woodville. Chasing 2/419 declared Prospect put on 288 for the 2nd wicket and then over 100 for the 9th wicket - getting to 8/418 before losing the last 2 wickets for 0 to be all out 1 run short!

All other games as expected - West Torrens go 25 points clear on top after a match winning partnership between Kelly and Johnson after slumping to 7/100 chasing 167 against Kensington.

heater31 wrote:

Aerie wrote:A state under 19 side as the 14th team in 1st grade?

Not sure how well that works in England with the County club having a side in the local league. Takes players away from their own club.

I don't like the idea of it. Would rather they invest in a growing region such as Mt Barker.

If the main issue is having Redbacks players not having a game of cricket to play if their club has the bye, why not just allow these players to play for another club on that day? That is then technically creating a stronger competition instead of weakening it by adding an U19 team.

Which club has the most state squad members? Doubt any would have more than 3 or 4. Just place them in the bottom teams for that day (I.e. If there are 4 players without a game one each gets added to the bottom 4 teams.

It's a strange set up when you have futures squad players currently playing B Grade to ease their workload yet at the same time going through and trying to cull a successful club to ensure these same players are playing enough cricket.

How did Glenelg pull off adjusting the date of their semi and therefore the final at the last minute? Do they run the show?

Now the final won't feature any Redbacks players as a Shield game is on and Glenelg get the added bonus of having Sayers and Carey playing for them against Tea Tree Gully in the Semi-Final, who presumably won't have Head as he's playing T20 for Australia.

Fox reporting this morning that hazelwood could be the one to miss out, and we play 3 spinners. Guess that would mean Mitch marsh would play and then agar or swepson comes in

That sounds terrible imo.

The plot has officially been lost if this is the case. If they need a 3rd spinner it has to be Agar or Maxwell in at 6/7 as allrounders. If they want Swepson it would have to be at the expense of Lyon or O'Keefe. Hazlewood is one of the best bowlers in the world.

Shaping as a classic Test match. Don't want to chase any more than 200 so first 30 minutes tomorrow will be vital.

Every run is gold right now. India have enough to be competitive. Still advantage Australia. 200 is par I reckon.

Khawaja is comfortably in the top 3 batsman in the country. If Shaun Marsh had performed well, the selectors could have been considered genius for dropping a top 3 bat for him, but given he's failed, the selectors should be sacked.

Maxwell (or Khawaja if they really wanted S.Marsh) should have been in instead of Mitch Marsh from the start. Every cricket watcher in Australia could have told you that. How do the selectors get it so wrong?

Surely we have seen the last of any Marsh playing in a baggy green after this Test match.

If Maxwell and Smith can see out this session we have one hand on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

West Torrens were cruising at 0/42 before O'Hara came on and picked up Smith in his first over LBW. Then bowled Capel and Drew in successive balls and had Drennan driving a wide one to 2nd slip in the 2nd last over. Port were 5/60 as well so West Torrens will need the lower order to do the job that Port did tomorrow.

Thankfully they did! Great work by Trent Kelly and Spencer Johnson, supported by night watchman Ben Williams and Patrick Fisher saw them home by two wickets over a gallant Port Adelaide.
Cheers

Great stuff!

Was following on MyCricket from work, but then no updates from lunch, so took a lunch break myself and caught the last 5 or 6 overs from Cudmore Tce. Great to see Kelly and Pastyn there at the end. Two great club men with plenty of experience and both real competitive types that made sure the job got done.

Reckon Spencer Johnson and Kelly did something similar earlier in the season.

Great effort by Port. That spell of bowling last night was as good as you'll see in Grade cricket. Unlucky for them not to progress further, but glad there will be plenty of Port vs West Torrens games in the years ahead.

Will be West Torrens vs Kensington next weekend at Woodville Oval.

Maybe Pooraka can be the 14th club.

Well done Daniel Drew on winning the Bradman Medal. What a great season and his development from year to year has been great to see. Hopefully some first class cricket for him soon.

Great write ups above. Incredible season. The greatest achievement in the history of Grade Cricket in SA and that's before you even delve into the mess the incompetent SACA board put the club through last season. It was only a month or so ago the SACA backed down and said West Torrens and Port could continue.

It really is about the players though. And the coaching staff Harrity, Woolford and co, amazing job.

As eagles2014 said, it would have been easy for this group of players to have gone elsewhere last year. It wasn't until June that SACA indicated we would be allowed to compete this year. Can you believe that?

The first XI is made up of board members, club coaches, sponsors.

Trent Kelly is a born leader and his importance is evidenced by the last 4 years - the two he missed we finished towards the bottom. The two he played we finished in finals.

Kelvin Smith and Leigh Drennan have shown terrific leadership over the last 4 years. Smith batted for half a day (normally that would be a century for him) and Drennan to win the Hookes Medal with his century was so apt. The best keeper-batsman the club has had since Tim Nielsen and as important recruit as Wes Thomas was 10 years ago.

The emergence of Bradman medalist Drew, Johnson and Williams as three of the best players in the comp has been satisfying for those who believed in our junior program and hopefully these three along with Kelvin can be seen playing for the Redbacks sooner rather than later.

Capel has been solid in his first full season and his knock in the Grand Final should give him plenty of confidence heading into 17/18. Great experience for him to bat with Smith this year.

Renshaw, Pastyn, Mickan and Fisher are great club men. Great blokes who deserve all the success that has come their way.

Sensational. Instead of a chapter closing, this club can continue to make its own history. 160 years young and still fighting fit.

https://hansardpublic.parliament.sa.gov ... D-11-25801

More stuff worth reading if interested in the Select Committee findings.

Did all the merger talk that's been going around since the Zadow Report put the wind up a few clubs? Force them to get serious, improve, get better coaches, retain players etc?

Did it ultimately have a positive effect, whether a merger ends up happening or not?

The perennially poor clubs still finished in the bottom half of the table - they've just got a gold pass because of who is on the SACA board.

When did Prospect, University and Adelaide last make 1st Grade Finals?

Having just enjoyed the 4-day break over Easter, I reckon another one over the long weekend in October would be good. Move the Jan 26 holiday or the March holiday to the Friday of that weekend.

Celebrate Australia Weekend
Friday: Celebrate Indigenous Australia (The Melbourne AFL GF Parade could become part of this)
Saturday: Celebrate Australian Sport and Recreation (also AFL Grand Final Day)
Sunday: Celebrate Australian Agriculture and Industry
Monday: Celebrate Multicultural Australia and have ceremonies on this day

Has to be 2014 when on field they became a Reserves team. That was the most significant change with regards to their ability to win or lose a game as they play with a different set of rules to the other teams in the "competition" when it comes to compiling a playing list.

Becoming Port Magpies in 1997 was obviously a big change, but on field probably not heaps more than Glenelg in 1991 and their ability to compile a playing list was at least similar to the other SANFL clubs at the time.

Reckon we'll go into the game a bit beaten up after yesterday's game, will take a huge effort to get over the franchise.
Here's some interesting numbers.

Port Semi final team-
Av age 23.04 years
419 AFL games
16 players from an AFL list

Sturt Prelim team
Av age 23.76
125 AFL games
7 players from an AFL list

Go Blues

Take out Monfries games and it's not as damning as you think.

Take out Scott McMahon and it's pretty damning!

Looking at the results from today, One Day Quarter Finals as follows: (?)

Woodville (4-0) vs Kensington (2-2)
TTG (3-1) vs Port (2-2)
Glenelg (3-1) vs Prospect (2-2)
Sturt (3-1) vs Uni (3-1)

West Torrens miss on NRR. Adelaide and Southerns winless. A good run chase by Kensington against Adelaide today to scrape in to 8th spot.

Unbelievable penalties on South, West and Glenelg. Hard to fathom. If 3/8ths of the clubs are deemed unable to manage 100% payments of the salary cap then surely they just reduce it for all clubs given the entire point is to make a fair competition? Oh, wait a minute... never mind, carry on.

bennymacca wrote:Jeez Lyon is a good bowler. Has improved massively over the last couple of years

Australia’s best finger spinner of all time.

Renshaw should not have been dropped for the 1st Test. Came in to the side as opener for the Adelaide Oval Test last year (after the Hobart debacle) and performed very well, including 180 in his last Test innings in Australia and a solid series in India in difficult conditions. Showed a temperament and valuing of his wicket more so than any other Aussie for years.

Since when has Shield form mattered? Half the time the Aussies hardly play a Shield game before the Test summer.

Bancroft should have come in to the side at 6.

I get the feeling it might be a long road back for Renshaw. Not sure he fits in any position besides opener and the position is now Bancroft's to lose - of which you shouldn't lose because of a few average Shield performances.