My opinion as a follower of Echunga.
1. I was and am still against us going up to Central.
Why: It's not because i want the club to stay in Country for ever , I don't. I believe it is an admirable goal for the club to want to go up to the next level, but when we are ready as a club.
My feelings are we should take 12 months and really plan for it.
A. our B grade scraped into the finals in country.
B. Under 17's won one game.
C. Under 15's missed finals.
D. No under 13's.
E. Extra cost in running a Central Division A grade team.
Yes our A grade was undefeated, but the rest of the club needs some serious building to compete as a club at Central Division.
Cliche : "The house will fall without good foundations".
BUT,
The club had a meeting and voted to go up. The HFL voted it through or to continue with the promotion / relegation system effectively voting it through.
Then at the eleventh hour the HFL used a loophole to deny it .
So despite the fact, as an individual Echunga follower who thinks we could use 12 months to plan for promotion it does on the surface look poorly handled to say the least by the HFL members on the board involved in the decission making.
On the Mt.Lofty comments. It is completely understandable they would leave no stone unturned to do what is best for their club. The final outcome lies solely with the HFL. It is not a Echunga vs Lofty situation but a question of the rules and playing conditions in which all HFL clubs need to operate under.
My two cents worth.