SAAFL Div 5 & Div 5R (2011)

[The Ash Man]

or 6

Watch out LM, he's a predator...he lures you with alcohol and next thing you know you're doing the hard yards

Shocking news for the Smiffys but I guess goes to show how the $ (or lack of) is ruining our "amateur" system.

Would be especially disappointing for the likes of yourself, Kelly and others that have put so much hard work into the place.

[S Demon]

Very sad news LM, but I hope for your sake and the clubs sake that you do fight it out and come back stronger. Even if that means one or two years in C1 before rebuilding. The club must hold on to that possibility..?

For what it's worth, it was always good to catch up with you for a beer and you were easily the best umpire going around in the reserves competition!!

[Boosh]

Not good news at all LM
And it has been a pleasure to give you crap while you are "umpiring"
Is it possible to put one team on the park in a C Grade to keep the club going?

Possibly, most of the playing group will go, they'll only cop heaps for playing in a C Grade comp. most of the boys want to stick together but that will be impracticle given the points system and zones etc.

Very sad news when any football club goes under.

How long has the club been around mate?

If you could get 1 team up and running there could be a way out of it. My first ever season of senior footy in Div 5 West Croydon played St Pauls in the GF and both went up to Div 4 and not long later were both down to one side in Div 9 or 10. St Pauls are now Mawson lakes and seen tgo be on the up and West Croydon are back in Div 5.
Times have changed but it is still possible/

[Pag]

Don't give up the ghost LM, with all the new developments and re-generation of your area (Playford Waters, Blakes Crossing), over time more and more people (and kids) will move into the area and want a game of footy. It might just be one step back to take a few steps forward later on.

Good luck with it all mate.

[Lightning McQueen]

Not good news at all LM
And it has been a pleasure to give you crap while you are "umpiring"
Is it possible to put one team on the park in a C Grade to keep the club going?

Possibly, most of the playing group will go, they'll only cop heaps for playing in a C Grade comp. most of the boys want to stick together but that will be impracticle given the points system and zones etc.

Very sad news when any football club goes under.

How long has the club been around mate?

If you could get 1 team up and running there could be a way out of it. My first ever season of senior footy in Div 5 West Croydon played St Pauls in the GF and both went up to Div 4 and not long later were both down to one side in Div 9 or 10. St Pauls are now Mawson lakes and seen tgo be on the up and West Croydon are back in Div 5.
Times have changed but it is still possible/

This was going to be our centenary year.

[Lightning McQueen]

Don't give up the ghost LM, with all the new developments and re-generation of your area (Playford Waters, Blakes Crossing), over time more and more people (and kids) will move into the area and want a game of footy. It might just be one step back to take a few steps forward later on.

Good luck with it all mate.

Cheers Pag, yeah there's definetely plenty of urban development going on close by, could be an opportunity to canvas new faces and come back with a renewed attitude and personel.

[Lightning McQueen]

Very sad news LM, but I hope for your sake and the clubs sake that you do fight it out and come back stronger. Even if that means one or two years in C1 before rebuilding. The club must hold on to that possibility..?

For what it's worth, it was always good to catch up with you for a beer and you were easily the best umpire going around in the reserves competition!!

Thanks S, I've always enjoyed your company and appreciate the efforts you put in at demonland. Could be better to close the door on seniors for a year and comeback more structured and set a new image. It takes years to build a good club image and one stuff up to lose it altogether.

[Lightning McQueen]

The saddest part is that we have probably the strongest and most pro-active sports and social committee this year for a fair while, it's unfortunate for them to have thiws to contend with straight up.

[Lightning McQueen]

Thanks for the kind words Riddler, Jabber, FC, valleys, Ash and zed, signing off now, might jump on later, I'm enjoying some much needed time off work.

[carey]

Have Heard that Barber from Smosh to Lockleys move has failed as smosh does not want to lose such a quality player

Nobody wants to lose quality players schimma, so what has happened for the move to have failed?

maybe has not paid subs or along those lines. maybe failed a drug test

Transfer Ref. No.: 361563
Member name: Shaun Barber
To Club: Lockleys
To Association: South Australian Amateur Football League (SAAFL)
Source (From) Club: SMOSH West Lakes
Source (From) Association: South Australian Amateur Football League (SAAFL)


The above Transfer has been finalised.

why all the who haa over sean barber? doubt he'd even play A grade at lockleys.....

[carey]

real sad news L/M knowing you personally for a very long time and seeing how much you've put in to your club it really is a sad moment mate i wish you all the best in your adventures as an umpire or where ever the road takes you mate. hopefully catch up for a beer or 12 real soon mate

[Lance's brother]

The saddest part is that we have probably the strongest and most pro-active sports and social committee this year for a fair while, it's unfortunate for them to have thiws to contend with straight up.

Sad news. Good luck Lightning.

[Phantom Gossiper]

Very sad news LM lost for words to be honest!

Unfortunately your right though, how can small clubs compete with the $$ being thrown around by bigger clubs and players who lack any sort of loyalty and chase the coin? I fear Smiffys wont be the last club that suffers from this

Then again though, what measures can be taken to avoid it? None i don't think.

Sad day for Smithfield and SAAFL in general..

[Robran]

OK, here's the scoop, it's not official yet I don't think but Smithfield is highly unlikely to be in div 5. It is disappointing to see what length's some clubs go to in their attempts to lure players, especially from a sinking ship. We've had some of the following scenario's:
Players being told by other clubs it's all good to go there because they have been officially told that we are folding.
Clubs gettind sh!tty with players not making a decision yet to see if Smithfield are going to be around.
Former players giving numbers to clubs of other players to try luring them out there.

Obviously the days have gone for playing for your local and where you grew up, the SAAFL and other leagues has become somewhat of a "big business", money talks and bidding wars have been rife.

In saying that, I'd like to say well done to Carey Payne who has had Smithfield's existence in his best interests before having a crack at any of our players, he has liaised with me to get updates on how we are travelling and not in a selfish way.

It's been a blast on here over the past few season's, I've got to meet some wonderful club people and gained a lot of insight into how other clubs operate.

I guess I wont be on this thread much longer and I wish all other clubs the best of luck for this season and beyond.

Always good chatting to the likes of zedman, Executive Member, Dark Knight, Ash Man, S Demon, Jabber, Mr Beefy, Demon Juke, sprinter and the list goes on, it takes many different kinds to make up a club and an association and I've been wrapt that I've had the experience through this site over the years.

I apologise for anyone that I haven't mentioned, there's been too many.

Regards
LM

its a vey sad day for footy when this stuff happens and being from the northern suburbs it really hurts over the time smithfield have produced some wonderful players at the club hicks,dickie, moss,newman vandongen, rundles and some wonderful club people bloody good people that always played the game hard but would always shake your hand and invite u in for a beer.i would also like to say well done to colin rundle who is a very passionate person and loves his footy club with so much passion. i hope the club can turn it around in the future.

[Jabber]

Nobody wants to lose quality players schimma, so what has happened for the move to have failed?

maybe has not paid subs or along those lines. maybe failed a drug test

Transfer Ref. No.: 361563
Member name: Shaun Barber
To Club: Lockleys
To Association: South Australian Amateur Football League (SAAFL)
Source (From) Club: SMOSH West Lakes
Source (From) Association: South Australian Amateur Football League (SAAFL)


The above Transfer has been finalised.

why all the who haa over sean barber? doubt he'd even play A grade at lockleys.....

Unless he's a relation to Tony I'm not interested

[unknown source]

Salisbury West have recruited well, a good mix of experience to blend in with the youngsters.
A good clean out is what that club needed, i hope it holds them in good stead for the year.

Top 3 is my prediction.

a clean list??? u mustn't know half there list then

[One Eyed]

Hard to find a good Barber

[DKL]

With Smithfield gone what are the ramifications in regards to which teams will come up and fill the void in each grade?

[Footy Chick]

With Smithfield gone what are the ramifications in regards to which teams will come up and fill the void in each grade?

No one is forced to go up. If no-one sticks their hand up I believe we can have a 9 team comp.

[Iron Fist]

Boosh

In past years when a club leaves or refuses to go up the side that finished second to bottom is given first shot to come back up, in this case North Haven.

What do you think the club will do if offered the chance to have a crack at div 5 again?
What do you think they should do?

I ask this cause in the past we have seen it work and fail, Unley got this shot in div 4 when edwardstown left, they played finals last season and now look like one of the favourites. While on the other hand Kilburn did it and it seems to have crippled the club. They slipped down a few divs.
Id be curious to see what havens do if given the oppurtunity. Especially as I recall you saying you havent picked up a hell of alot of new players and think you would struggle in div 5 again!