HFL Division 1 (Central)

[caleb777]

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wow

[Barkeroo]

Not surprising really from what I've heard.

[caleb777]

Not surprising really from what I've heard.

What does that even look like for both clubs next year? How will that impact their place in division 1?

[Toto]

I can’t see how Ironbank can stay in D1. Even though I don’t think Bridgey contributed much in the way of senior players.

[caleb777]

I can’t see how Ironbank can stay in D1. Even though I don’t think Bridgey contributed much in the way of senior players.

How can Bridgey stay in div 1 if they arent having senior sides? No club exists like that in the entire league. Ironbank will have to go back to div 2 because they will struggle to have juniors clearly. But how long will div 2 even last?

[Dutchy]

Surely the league isn't keen to go back to a 9 team Div 1 comp?

No surprise the merger isn't going to formally proceed.

[batmanbegins]

Surely the league isn't keen to go back to a 9 team Div 1 comp?

No surprise the merger isn't going to formally proceed.

Why does it matter if it's 9 teams? A bye probably isn't a bad thing with this generation. 16 games is still plenty.

Not a big shock. Ironbank will probably have an issue with Juniors considering the 16s are mainly bridgey and don't know how many 18s stay down again. Be preferable if the Juniors could stay together probably.

[Toto]

Bridgey wouldn’t stay in div 1 as a junior club. They can take the place of one of the div 1 clubs that has seniors but not juniors, like Gumeracha.

[FlyingHigh]

Surely the league isn't keen to go back to a 9 team Div 1 comp?

No surprise the merger isn't going to formally proceed.

Why does it matter if it's 9 teams? A bye probably isn't a bad thing with this generation. 16 games is still plenty.

Not a big shock. Ironbank will probably have an issue with Juniors considering the 16s are mainly bridgey and don't know how many 18s stay down again. Be preferable if the Juniors could stay together probably.

Yeah agree, always thought 9 teams was the best number for a country league, and that the Hills should aim for 2 x 9 team divisions. 16 games, draw is even so play each other twice H & A have a bye, still keep the final 5. Unlike comps with less teams where they play each other 3 times a year, which can get a bit monotonous over a number of years.

While it's hard than cricket teams folding adn re-emerging, hopefully if Bridgewater can keep some pulse with their juniors they can work on senior numbers and re-establish themselves in Div 2

[cracka]

Surely the league isn't keen to go back to a 9 team Div 1 comp?

No surprise the merger isn't going to formally proceed.

Why does it matter if it's 9 teams? A bye probably isn't a bad thing with this generation. 16 games is still plenty.

Not a big shock. Ironbank will probably have an issue with Juniors considering the 16s are mainly bridgey and don't know how many 18s stay down again. Be preferable if the Juniors could stay together probably.

Yeah agree, always thought 9 teams was the best number for a country league, and that the Hills should aim for 2 x 9 team divisions. 16 games, draw is even so play each other twice H & A have a bye, still keep the final 5. Unlike comps with less teams where they play each other 3 times a year, which can get a bit monotonous over a number of years.

While it's hard than cricket teams folding adn re-emerging, hopefully if Bridgewater can keep some pulse with their juniors they can work on senior numbers and re-establish themselves in Div 2

Depends when you get the bye. If you get it either side of the long weekend it sucks. A couple of years ago we played 2 games in 5 weeks because of public holidays & having a bye & both the games were away.

[Cougar]

Surely the league isn't keen to go back to a 9 team Div 1 comp?

No surprise the merger isn't going to formally proceed.

Why does it matter if it's 9 teams? A bye probably isn't a bad thing with this generation. 16 games is still plenty.

Not a big shock. Ironbank will probably have an issue with Juniors considering the 16s are mainly bridgey and don't know how many 18s stay down again. Be preferable if the Juniors could stay together probably.

Yeah agree, always thought 9 teams was the best number for a country league, and that the Hills should aim for 2 x 9 team divisions. 16 games, draw is even so play each other twice H & A have a bye, still keep the final 5. Unlike comps with less teams where they play each other 3 times a year, which can get a bit monotonous over a number of years.

While it's hard than cricket teams folding adn re-emerging, hopefully if Bridgewater can keep some pulse with their juniors they can work on senior numbers and re-establish themselves in Div 2

Would be good to see Bridgey re-emerge in Div 2 in all capacities. Div 2 now has Junior and Senior colt comps and the division would be easier option reinstating seniors. Lot of ex Bridgey blokes at Maccy but unsure if they would go back.

Ironbank if they came back to Div 2 would smash the competition at senior level. Gap between Div 1 and 2 has widened considerably since Echunga proved their was little between them 10 years ago.

[wazzal77]

I can see a reinvigorated country comp with Ironbank and Bridgewater back in there, and maybe with Echunga it would be a pretty competitive and even comp.

Agree Div 1 standard has increased, with Hahndorf setting the bar for the past several seasons those clubs with the means are numbers are wanting to be at their level too. Will be an interesting off season. A new HFL president on the cards as well?

[batmanbegins]

Surely the league isn't keen to go back to a 9 team Div 1 comp?

No surprise the merger isn't going to formally proceed.

Why does it matter if it's 9 teams? A bye probably isn't a bad thing with this generation. 16 games is still plenty.

Not a big shock. Ironbank will probably have an issue with Juniors considering the 16s are mainly bridgey and don't know how many 18s stay down again. Be preferable if the Juniors could stay together probably.

Yeah agree, always thought 9 teams was the best number for a country league, and that the Hills should aim for 2 x 9 team divisions. 16 games, draw is even so play each other twice H & A have a bye, still keep the final 5. Unlike comps with less teams where they play each other 3 times a year, which can get a bit monotonous over a number of years.

While it's hard than cricket teams folding adn re-emerging, hopefully if Bridgewater can keep some pulse with their juniors they can work on senior numbers and re-establish themselves in Div 2

Would be good to see Bridgey re-emerge in Div 2 in all capacities. Div 2 now has Junior and Senior colt comps and the division would be easier option reinstating seniors. Lot of ex Bridgey blokes at Maccy but unsure if they would go back.

Ironbank if they came back to Div 2 would smash the competition at senior level. Gap between Div 1 and 2 has widened considerably since Echunga proved their was little between them 10 years ago.

IB came 4th last year in Div 2 with a much better side then they have this year. Would be 3rd, well behind Gums and meadows and there B grade side would be middle of the pack as thats also much weaker then last year.

Personally think div 1 has dropped in standard last few years at the bottom end. IB and echunga are the worst Div 1 sides in a while.

[FlyingHigh]

Surely the league isn't keen to go back to a 9 team Div 1 comp?

No surprise the merger isn't going to formally proceed.

Why does it matter if it's 9 teams? A bye probably isn't a bad thing with this generation. 16 games is still plenty.

Not a big shock. Ironbank will probably have an issue with Juniors considering the 16s are mainly bridgey and don't know how many 18s stay down again. Be preferable if the Juniors could stay together probably.

Yeah agree, always thought 9 teams was the best number for a country league, and that the Hills should aim for 2 x 9 team divisions. 16 games, draw is even so play each other twice H & A have a bye, still keep the final 5. Unlike comps with less teams where they play each other 3 times a year, which can get a bit monotonous over a number of years.

While it's hard than cricket teams folding adn re-emerging, hopefully if Bridgewater can keep some pulse with their juniors they can work on senior numbers and re-establish themselves in Div 2

Depends when you get the bye. If you get it either side of the long weekend it sucks. A couple of years ago we played 2 games in 5 weeks because of public holidays & having a bye & both the games were away.

Yeah I know it can through up some of these situation around June or early on depending when Easter is. Ideally though, you'd only get this happen once every few years if it was part of the consideration when doing the programme. And is it really all that bad having a couple weeks of in June in the Hills?

[FlyingHigh]

Surely the league isn't keen to go back to a 9 team Div 1 comp?

No surprise the merger isn't going to formally proceed.

Why does it matter if it's 9 teams? A bye probably isn't a bad thing with this generation. 16 games is still plenty.

Not a big shock. Ironbank will probably have an issue with Juniors considering the 16s are mainly bridgey and don't know how many 18s stay down again. Be preferable if the Juniors could stay together probably.

Yeah agree, always thought 9 teams was the best number for a country league, and that the Hills should aim for 2 x 9 team divisions. 16 games, draw is even so play each other twice H & A have a bye, still keep the final 5. Unlike comps with less teams where they play each other 3 times a year, which can get a bit monotonous over a number of years.

While it's hard than cricket teams folding adn re-emerging, hopefully if Bridgewater can keep some pulse with their juniors they can work on senior numbers and re-establish themselves in Div 2

Would be good to see Bridgey re-emerge in Div 2 in all capacities. Div 2 now has Junior and Senior colt comps and the division would be easier option reinstating seniors. Lot of ex Bridgey blokes at Maccy but unsure if they would go back.

Ironbank if they came back to Div 2 would smash the competition at senior level. Gap between Div 1 and 2 has widened considerably since Echunga proved their was little between them 10 years ago.

Yeah would be good to see to help with the rebuilding of the Div 2 Colts which I imagine a lot of people have put in a lot of hard work to re-estbalish.

As Batman said, IB weren't that crash hot and their current situation is a little different to the traditional Div 1 sides having some down years. I think IB's position on the ladder reinforces both our points - the top half of Div 1 seems a lot stronger now, and IB aren't really competitive with that, in terms of being able to win a few games or taking it up to too many teams in the second half of the year.

[Dutchy]

Little bit interesting there has been zero chat about the Hahndorf player getting 10 games for a behind the back hit on a Lofty player. Got 3 games and then HFL upped it to 10? Anyone have any idea as to why it was upped from 3 to 10? Thats a huge penalty!

Heard that this got reversed back to 3 games, is this true?

[Toto]

Seems the top 2 are a bit ahead of the next 2 or 3 and they’re miles ahead of the next 5. Mount Barker won’t be down there for long with the size of their catchment area and infrastructure. Blackwood usually don’t spend much time outside the 5 either. Lobey are in strife IMO. Kids haven’t been great for a while and don’t have a lot to draw on…. Echunga im big trouble, have never had a good junior program and will find it hard to recruit enough to be seriously competitive. I have heard the “we are small town excuse” a lot from the Mount Barker South club, but are 5km from the biggest town in the hills and you just don’t tap in to it enough… Need to employ a gun Junior director to build a pathway IMO rather than spending big on recruits that stay 1-2 years like they have done in the past. Uraidla is no bigger than Echunga and they have been a strong family club for as long as I can remember!

Yep have heard Roberts ban reduced back to 3. And the president is gone (most are happy about that from all reports.) HFL seriously needs ro lol
Internally about its structure and who they have pulling strings. Forever and a day it’s been the old boys club and run horribly considering it’s the biggest league in SA. Should take notes from the Barossa which I believe is the best run comp in the state.

[Toto]

Couple surprising results. Lofty lost to Lobey…. Lost 4 of their last 5 and not the form you want heading into the pointy end. Think they’ll lose the double chance to Uraidla now.

Ironbank nearly pinched Mount Barker! 6 goal 25 is that right????
Onkas nearly upset the Dorf train.
Hourigan with another big bag of 9 to go to 96!

[Barkeroo]

Yep 6.25 is true at Ironbank today. Pretty average conditions oval was either in good condition or complete slush depending on where you are are on it.

[Toto]

Yeah wow! And the twos went down comfortably? One of the more turbulent years on field for you guys in my memory. With Brucey being let go a few weeks before round 1, injuries, departures etc. Lots of work I’m sure being done already for next year? Assuming Lackenby will be given another chance after steadying the ship?

I’ve watched the Hahndorf and Blackwood games online this morning and both their ovals weren’t much better… Hopefully the HFL makes some sensible decisions on where finals are played. Just play them on the best ovals.