Southern Football League

[Down&Out]

Also saw Townies V Goody Saints game. Goodwood clearly better- a lot of edwardstown boys look very frustrated. Interesting rumour regarding Townies joining SFL?? Would be made harder if they lose Golding- may be contemplating a return to the SANFL???

[Hasbeen]

a mate has just told me that christies smashed hackham 59-27 to 2-1, honestly the hawks need to pull the pin the saints arent even one of the top 8 sides for christ sake

Thats a big score with their leading goalkickers from last year out Wisey suspended and Reevesy out through lack of interest.

[Hills]

lack of interest?

Whats going on down there?

[Hasbeen]

I heard he has pulled the pin on this year.

[Hills]

i spoke to the big man the other week and he also told me that.

I thought he was just pissed off about having a bad game or something?

Can any confirm from Critties that he has quit?

[Swooper16]

And anyone that thinks that a SFL side would beat a DIV 1 side are only pulling themselves and their clubs egos. From what i saw today even townies would beat all the SFL sides and they are sitting last. Morphett Vale wouldnt win many games up their if any. And Goodie Saints full tilt would run rings around Morphett Vale they have guns all around the field no week links at all just shows that trial results count for nothing.

You say that Edwardstown would easily account for Morphies as they have no weak links. Could you just advise us what you perceive as Morphies weakness then? After 3 Premierships on the trot and both senior grades currently undefeated I can only think of complacency.

[heater31]

And anyone that thinks that a SFL side would beat a DIV 1 side are only pulling themselves and their clubs egos. From what i saw today even townies would beat all the SFL sides and they are sitting last. Morphett Vale wouldnt win many games up their if any. And Goodie Saints full tilt would run rings around Morphett Vale they have guns all around the field no week links at all just shows that trial results count for nothing.

You say that Edwardstown would easily account for Morphies as they have no weak links. Could you just advise us what you perceive as Morphies weakness then? After 3 Premierships on the trot and both senior grades currently undefeated I can only think of complacency.

read it more closely......................Goodwood Saints have no weak links majority of the div1 and 2 clubs are also feeder clubs for the SANFL excess players

[Swooper16]

And anyone that thinks that a SFL side would beat a DIV 1 side are only pulling themselves and their clubs egos. From what i saw today even townies would beat all the SFL sides and they are sitting last. Morphett Vale wouldnt win many games up their if any. And Goodie Saints full tilt would run rings around Morphett Vale they have guns all around the field no week links at all just shows that trial results count for nothing.

You say that Edwardstown would easily account for Morphies as they have no weak links. Could you just advise us what you perceive as Morphies weakness then? After 3 Premierships on the trot and both senior grades currently undefeated I can only think of complacency.

read it more closely......................Goodwood Saints have no weak links majority of the div1 and 2 clubs are also feeder clubs for the SANFL excess players

My bad. But still I think saying that a side such as M/Vale would not win a game in A1 is off the mark. Not that I think Morphies would win an A1 flag and more then likely not play in finals I still think that as a club they would hold their own in A1. Its obviously something that we’ll never know and is very open to debate. I just think the some of the SFL’s stronger teams reputations are brought down a notch because we have to play in a league where there are teams that are nowhere near up to scratch.

Also I’m sure if M/Vale or any other SFL club did ever play A1’s something would be organised with South so that any excess players would play their footy there.

[heater31]

no probs, It is always going to be a question of ifs until we can compare the teams equally

[Tight_Lines]

Your a joke Tight_Lines, stop bagging the SFL!

M.Vale would give alot of teams a run if not beat them, i dont see how these D1 teams could be that much better than the top 2 or so teams in the SFL.

Would love to see M.Vale and the D1 Premiers face off after the season, but obviously not going to happen. Even if Emus lost it wouldnt be by that much and it wouldn't be a flogging like you seem to think so.

Righto mate i never bagged the SFL if you had read earlier people seemed to think that SFL sides would beat A1 sides. There footy isnt that far off of SANFL league or at least reserves maybe you should go and watch both SFL and A1 then comment i never commented until i saw what level it was like and it was very impressive. Get your head around your clubs ego!

[Numbers]

Tight lines

You talk about A1 as being a step below SANFL reserves and you are correct, it is a step below. Not the same. If these players were at that standard they would be playing there.

Goodie saints have: Webb (ex South, not a huge force in since 1960), Demasi (Same), Mills (Same), Illman (ex West, arrived after the lost GF)

I'm not saying these guys can't play but we are not talking about Magarey Medal winners.

Also there have been players that have gone from other leagues as only mid tier players in the original league and are now playing rep footy for A1's

I do agree that A1 is the best comp outside SANFL but there are also teams in other leagues that could hold their own in A1.

I think that someone needs to get there head around reality.

[The Dutchman]

Tight lines has opened a can of worms on this one...

"I watched the Edwardstown VS Goodward Saints game today and being that these 2 sides were at opposite sides of the tables Goodies would destroy all sides in the SFL but i still think that townies showed enough to say that they would still beat all the sides in the SFL as well. I doubt that Morphett Vale would beat Towns and they are sitting last in Div 1 if they jumped over and kept players they would be hard for anyone to beat."

Maybe we should ask all the ex Morphett Vale players that are currently playing for Edwardstown what their thoughts are???

[Swooper16]

On a more positive note for the SFL the match between Porties and M/Vale on Saturday was a cracker. Tough close game played in a very good spirit. Also with Porties 97 premiership reunion going on there was a much larger crowd then usual at the game so there was a really good atmosphere as well. Unfortunately the umpires were probably not up to the standard of the match but that wouldn’t come as a surprise to most I wouldn’t have thought.

If Porties keep that team for the rest of the season then they could be a real danger side come finals. Probably just lacking depth outside their top 15 to be a genuine contender.

[Legend killer]

Also was at the porties/emus game and it was a cracker i think there was a goal in it at the start of time on
in the last quarter,porties done well after havin a two man bench from 1/2 way through the 1st quarter,it is true reeves from christies hanged up boots for rest of year

[croc11]

Was a good game between Morphett Vale and Porties - tight and tough. Also had a look on friday night at Valley vs Flaggies under lights - also a really good contest - MV and HV both kicked away in the last few minutes to make scores blow out somewhat. Flaggies much improved effort.

To the twot about SAAFL Div 1 - we all know that this DIv is the best comp outside of SANFL, but from a non MVale person, they would more than compete in this Div at the current time - its just jealousy because the Div 1 comp is losing its rivalry with kilburn now gone, Uni about to go down and the college sides from the past not being able to compete on a regular footing.

To the SFL, Hills and GSFL - at least we can't lose this aspect of real rivalry and apart from Hackham, at least the comp is starting to bridge the gap albeit slowly. Patience is the key word - for the SAAFL lovers - been there done that - give me the SFl any day.

[The Dutchman]

Thanks Croc11...always nice to hear from somebody with an informed opinion and not people that speculate...

One thing the SFL does have is true club rivalry...something which is disappearing in SAAFL...

[Jayne]

Tight lines

You talk about A1 as being a step below SANFL reserves and you are correct, it is a step below. Not the same. If these players were at that standard they would be playing there.

Goodie saints have: Webb (ex South, not a huge force in since 1960), Demasi (Same), Mills (Same), Illman (ex West, arrived after the lost GF)

I'm not saying these guys can't play but we are not talking about Magarey Medal winners.

Also there have been players that have gone from other leagues as only mid tier players in the original league and are now playing rep footy for A1's

I do agree that A1 is the best comp outside SANFL but there are also teams in other leagues that could hold their own in A1.

I think that someone needs to get there head around reality.

TL from talking to a host of current A1 players last night I found that it is their belief [Demasi, Webb, Illman, Earl, Golding, Johnson, Stagg] that the better games of A1 comfortably matches SANFL reserves for intensity and speed. The comment was made that maybe not 10+ years ago but currently SANFL 2's may aswell be an U/21's comp given the lack of older players going around at that level. These guys have all played both recently so I think they are well qualified to give an assessment.

You are right no Magarey Medals but you don't play 100+ league games if you are no good or not committed. The group I mentioned above + Mills share around 800 SANFL games of experience between them + Golding's 10 aprx AFL games...

I strongly doubt that any team in the state [less SANFL & AFL of course] would break into or even get close to the A1 top 5...
However we will never know as we can't measure it!!!!!!

[The Dutchman]

Just a thought...who would admit that the league they played in years ago is better these days?

I know the blokes Jayne metioned are good blokes, but not even they would admit that the league they used to play in is stronger now.

I dont think anyone mentioned breaking into the top 5, only that Morphett Vale would be more than competitive in A1s...

But as you say "we will never know"...

[Jayne]

Just a thought...who would admit that the league they played in years ago is better these days?

I know the blokes Jayne metioned are good blokes, but not even they would admit that the league they used to play in is stronger now.

I dont think anyone mentioned breaking into the top 5, only that Morphett Vale would be more than competitive in A1s...

But as you say "we will never know"...

Agreed, the point I was making was that the gap has closed between A1 & SANFL 2's cos the SANFL 2's is a lesser comp now than in the mid and late 90's, so on the contrary the SANFL was stronger back then; so all the ex-panther boys + Goldy can relax!!!!

[Tight_Lines]

Far out people need to relax im stating my opinion and as I do play against these sides in the A's it looked a far better standard from what I have played against currently you can take it or leave it at that I'll keep it at that.

BUT people do need to realise that Morphett Vale are only one side of Hundreds to Thousands of sides across the state. They are the super power of the SFL and would no doubt be a force in near by Leagues (GSFL, Hills) But there are always going to be better sides then them people need to except that fact and realise it. The Amatuar League and Reserves may not be at the level it use to be but is our league at a great state at the moment either? They are a small ripple in a large pond reputations and egos need to be put a side here no one will ever know and you cant judge this by results or premierships.