Southern Football League

[Animus]

This weeks winners:

Cove over Christies
Valley over Towns
Bushpigs over Porties
Twisties over Huntfield Heights
Emus over Bombers
Shoes over Marion
Reynella over Lions
Aldinga draw Bye

Will the forecast of 12* and wet make some of the scores closer?

[shoe boy]

Christies over Cove 24 points
Valley over Townies 6 points
Flaggies over Cockeldivers 18 points
Twisties over Hackham 24 points
Emus and Brighton DRAW
Shoes over Marion 72 points
Reynella over Lions 60 points

[lion heart]

Late 1st quarter a Reynella player slides in knee first and takes out the Lions player breaking his leg. Now I am now not saying he meant any malice but the result is a broken leg and not even a free kick received.... and I though umpires were meant to protect the players. .

Player is still on the ground over half an hour later and half time has been called.

[lion heart]

Has now been an hour and 15 mins and player still down with ambos. Players warming up

[waterguy01]

Very slippery conditions at Reynella today. Pretty tough call to lay the blame on a player for sliding.
It might be an idea, to focus on all the punches thrown behind play and in close.

[shoe boy]

Has now been an hour and 15 mins and player still down with ambos. Players warming up

Was the game abandoned ?

[Animus]

They completed the game. With shortened quarters in the second half i believe.

[Off The Wall]

Is there not a ruling that if a play has been suspended for greater than 30 minutes, the match will be abandoned? Before half time being called a draw, and after half time the points going to the team leading at the time.

[Look Good In Leather]

Is there not a ruling that if a play has been suspended for greater than 30 minutes, the match will be abandoned? Before half time being called a draw, and after half time the points going to the team leading at the time.

No a rule was implemented to allow for the game to continue once opportunity allows to try to get a result. Most ambulance removals from the playing surface take longer than 30 mins.

[reppoh_eht]

Is there not a ruling that if a play has been suspended for greater than 30 minutes, the match will be abandoned? Before half time being called a draw, and after half time the points going to the team leading at the time.

No a rule was implemented to allow for the game to continue once opportunity allows to try to get a result. Most ambulance removals from the playing surface take longer than 30 mins.

2015 SFL Constitution still states the 30 minute rule... Was the new ruling at SFL or higher level?

[Courtney Fish]

I asked the same thing and was told they worked on a 5.00 finish and work back from there. The 2nd quarter was abandoned and shortened 3rd and 4th quarters. Reynella got 2 out of 3 quarters with the wind, lucky or the Lions would have ran over the top of them. Wishful thinking. Has anyone seen a sliding in free kick paid this year? Lonsdale have copped an ACL and now a badly broken leg from them this year with no free kicks paid. We can't afford to be losing players to illegal tactics.

[Down the Hill]

New ruling was agreed upon last year. A couple of club administrators put there heads together to find out a better way of trying to ensure a result is achieved particularly in A grade games. The Constitution should reflect this but it appears it hasn't been updated.

There was an A grade game between HV and OSBL a couple of years ago in which an ambulance was required about 5 minutes into the game. It took about 45 minutes to remove inured player from the ground so the game was called off under the 30 minute rule which was still about 1 hr 40 before an A grade game normally finishes.

So there had to be a better way to deal with this scenario especially for A grade games. I can't recall the finer details of the rule but Saturday was a fairer outcome than what was in place.

The claim of illegal tactics with sliding in is bit over the top. Pushing someone in the back or grabbing them around the neck is not a tactic, rather being careless or clumsy with the tackle which is a split second action no different to diving or sliding on a loose ball. Unfortunately if a players legs arrive at the same time then it can have nasty consequences even if a free kick is correctly awarded.

We have seen quite a few free kicks given in the AFL since the rule was introduced. The rule was brought in after Gary Rohan from the Swans had his leg broken. Lindsay Thomas copped 2 weeks for rough conduct which was a tribunal reaction to the severity of the injury but also with the benefit of 4 or 5 camera angles, slow motion etc.

Maybe a free kick should have been paid on Saturday but to suggest it was a "tactic" or deliberate is a bit harsh. I think I have seen one of these free kicks paid this season which from memory was a correct call from the ump, but I reckon that was the only dangerous slide I have seen all season.

[Courtney Fish]

I meant tactic as in sliding in to gain possession, not to inflict injury. And it was illegal. Is "arriving at the contest" better terminology?

[Dutchy]

Have Finals venues/days been announced?

[Down the Hill]

The SFL is finalising the Saturday comps finals fixture next Monday night. The big issue is the proposal to play the 2 v 3 final on the first Saturday as a night game at Port Noarlunga commencing at 6pm. Obviously all the earlier games at that venue will be shifted back. I think its a great progressive idea which will also assist players, officials, support staff, parents and supporters of clubs who have teams at both Saturday venues to manage their day easier. Clubs have been asked to provide their thoughts on the proposal which will assist with Monday's decision. Regardless of night game or not, I have a feeling the fixture will be:

5/9 - 1 v 4 at Marion and 2 v 3 at PN
6/9 - 5 v 8 at CB or N and 6 v 7 at CB or N
12/9 - Loser 1 v 4 vs Winner 5 v 8 at Ald or N
13/9 - Loser 2 v 3 vs Winner 6 v 7 at Ald or N
19/9 - Winner 1 v 4 vs Winner 13/9 at CB or PN
20/9 - Winner 2 v 3 vs Winner 12/9 at CB or PN
26/9 - GF at SAFC

[Dutchy]

Not a bad idea, pity there are not more night games in the comp overall.

[Zelezny Chucks]

The SFL is finalising the Saturday comps finals fixture next Monday night. The big issue is the proposal to play the 2 v 3 final on the first Saturday as a night game at Port Noarlunga commencing at 6pm. Obviously all the earlier games at that venue will be shifted back. I think its a great progressive idea which will also assist players, officials, support staff, parents and supporters of clubs who have teams at both Saturday venues to manage their day easier. Clubs have been asked to provide their thoughts on the proposal which will assist with Monday's decision. Regardless of night game or not, I have a feeling the fixture will be:

5/9 - 1 v 4 at Marion and 2 v 3 at PN
6/9 - 5 v 8 at CB or N and 6 v 7 at CB or N
12/9 - Loser 1 v 4 vs Winner 5 v 8 at Ald or N
13/9 - Loser 2 v 3 vs Winner 6 v 7 at Ald or N
19/9 - Winner 1 v 4 vs Winner 13/9 at CB or PN
20/9 - Winner 2 v 3 vs Winner 12/9 at CB or PN
26/9 - GF at SAFC

Or see their A grade playing at the same time as their B grade. I doubt you would find many players that would be keen to play a night game in this situation.

[Down the Hill]

Think about it ZC. Two scenarios if your A & B grade both finish top 4.

If they are at different venues on the first Saturday you have your B grade playing from 12.50 to 2.30 and A grade from 2.30 to 5.00 at the other venue so whether it's your A or B that finish 1 or 4 and vice versa 2 or 3 then it's a pain in the arse and no way that anyone involved with the A grade can see any of the B grade. Some keen supporters may watch the first half and then head off but not much fun if you miss the end of the game.

But in the Port Noarlunga proposal which has already been declared as the 2 v 3 venue, night game or no night game. If your B grade play at PN they play from 4.20 to 6.00 and the A grade play 2.30 to 5.00. Really not much different scenario but in reverse but a keen supporter, coaches and players can still dash to the B grade to see the end of the game or at least see the A grade game and watch 2 teams that you could play later in finals.

But the best scenario is having the B grade play at the other venue at 12.50 to 2.30 and your A grade playing 6.00 to 8.30 at PN. Everyone including all players benefit in this situation.

And the junior scenario is even better and we all have plenty of families with children in more than one junior grade so this makes their first Saturday of finals a lot easier with the exception of U18 at 11.10 at one venue and U14 at 11.45 at PN. All other scenarios for juniors at the 2 grounds means parents and siblings can see both games in full.

Better still, have all your top 4 teams finish 1 and 4 or 2 and 3 and you play at the same venue.

Time for the SFL and clubs to think outside the square. You guys are happy to play 2 Sunday games per season which is probably not popular with everyone at your club so what's wrong with a Saturday night final.

[Look Good In Leather]

what's wrong with a Saturday night final.

Lost revenue as a result of reduced post-match functions back at club?

[Down the Hill]

Still stuck in 1994 like your last flag LGIL, and what would you know about a week 1 Saturday A grade final to be able to assess numbers back at the club. Sunday finals are worse for reducing the post match activity back at the club and some clubs cop 2 of those for their A grade during the finals. There would have been a time that all SFL finals were played on a Saturday just like the SANFL did pre 74 or 75 so that would gave been a radical change when it happened.

With players, parents and supporters abandoning any other possible plans for that night, numbers back at club and possibly staying until close could even make it a bigger night. And what about the clubs who play in the B grade late game. If one or both aren't in the next game, that could help boost the numbers back at the club that night. Remember the loser of any final played that day still plays the next week so it's not as though anyone will be looking for a season over bender. People should stop searching for the negative and give it a go.

We are only talking 2 clubs being affected and when I say affected that could be just as much a positive than a negative.