2026 Adelaide Footy League - Division 6

[wristwatcher]

It’s an interesting discussion this one and I’m not sure anyone knows if pre Xmas training and inflated numbers correlates directly to success

Looking at Div 1 it’s all over the shop in 2026

Glenunga - didn’t start until mid Jan
PNU - have had as many as 50 on the track pre Xmas but are widely tipped for relegation
SPOC - had sessions with fewer than 20 but will be expected to play finals
SNorf - have had 40-50 most sessions

I have seen teams start in Jan and make GFs and I have seen teams start in November have 50 on the track and ultimately win nothing but a spoon

Gaza had 70 on the track last year In pre-season and got relegated

The only I can say with certainty is you’d rather have good numbers on the track and create the connection if you are going to have the pre Xmas sessions. I just don’t think it guarantees a thing

[LaughingKookaburra]

It’s an interesting discussion this one and I’m not sure anyone knows if pre Xmas training and inflated numbers correlates directly to success

Looking at Div 1 it’s all over the shop in 2026

Glenunga - didn’t start until mid Jan
PNU - have had as many as 50 on the track pre Xmas but are widely tipped for relegation
SPOC - had sessions with fewer than 20 but will be expected to play finals
SNorf - have had 40-50 most sessions

I have seen teams start in Jan and make GFs and I have seen teams start in November have 50 on the track and ultimately win nothing but a spoon

Gaza had 70 on the track last year In pre-season and got relegated

The only I can say with certainty is you’d rather have good numbers on the track and create the connection if you are going to have the pre Xmas sessions. I just don’t think it guarantees a thing

Starting earlier used to give some clubs a head start in the recruiting process. You’d quite often pick up extra b, c & d graders because blokes would hear from mates about numbers, early hopes ect and it gives you more weeks to get blokes to commit. Now the 3 player rule is firmly in place I’m not so sure there is much value in starting early - Especially this year given the later start.

[wristwatcher]

It’s an interesting discussion this one and I’m not sure anyone knows if pre Xmas training and inflated numbers correlates directly to success

Looking at Div 1 it’s all over the shop in 2026

Glenunga - didn’t start until mid Jan
PNU - have had as many as 50 on the track pre Xmas but are widely tipped for relegation
SPOC - had sessions with fewer than 20 but will be expected to play finals
SNorf - have had 40-50 most sessions

I have seen teams start in Jan and make GFs and I have seen teams start in November have 50 on the track and ultimately win nothing but a spoon

Gaza had 70 on the track last year In pre-season and got relegated

The only I can say with certainty is you’d rather have good numbers on the track and create the connection if you are going to have the pre Xmas sessions. I just don’t think it guarantees a thing

Starting earlier used to give some clubs a head start in the recruiting process. You’d quite often pick up extra b, c & d graders because blokes would hear from mates about numbers, early hopes ect and it gives you more weeks to get blokes to commit. Now the 3 player rule is firmly in place I’m not so sure there is much value in starting early - Especially this year given the later start.

Yep and now the contracts are actually binding the early start seems to have less impact. If they are signed, they are signed. No more Cupido's running around signing at 4 clubs. (Well there was one this year but not in the Adelaide FL)

[The Bedge]

Yep and now the contracts are actually binding the early start seems to have less impact. If they are signed, they are signed. No more Cupido's running around signing at 4 clubs. (Well there was one this year but not in the Adelaide FL)

BAHAHA .. you got jokes.

*edit - contracts are only binding once the player physically registers for the club... plenty of blokes still running around signing for multiple clubs - Mason Pitt + Terrel Rigney recent examples.

Funnier when blokes are getting sign on fees (not those two), and then jump ship and the club cant say anything coz sign ons are taboo.

[Mr Beefy]

It’s an interesting discussion this one and I’m not sure anyone knows if pre Xmas training and inflated numbers correlates directly to success

Looking at Div 1 it’s all over the shop in 2026

Glenunga - didn’t start until mid Jan
PNU - have had as many as 50 on the track pre Xmas but are widely tipped for relegation
SPOC - had sessions with fewer than 20 but will be expected to play finals
SNorf - have had 40-50 most sessions

I have seen teams start in Jan and make GFs and I have seen teams start in November have 50 on the track and ultimately win nothing but a spoon

Gaza had 70 on the track last year In pre-season and got relegated

The only I can say with certainty is you’d rather have good numbers on the track and create the connection if you are going to have the pre Xmas sessions. I just don’t think it guarantees a thing

Starting earlier used to give some clubs a head start in the recruiting process. You’d quite often pick up extra b, c & d graders because blokes would hear from mates about numbers, early hopes ect and it gives you more weeks to get blokes to commit. Now the 3 player rule is firmly in place I’m not so sure there is much value in starting early - Especially this year given the later start.

Yep and now the contracts are actually binding the early start seems to have less impact. If they are signed, they are signed. No more Cupido's running around signing at 4 clubs. (Well there was one this year but not in the Adelaide FL)

It seems Mason Pitt's stay at Para Hills was short-lived

[scottroo]

Contracts are binding the minute they are signed.

Was changed this year

[beef]

Contracts are binding the minute they are signed.

Was changed this year

Binding or not, do you want a bloke at the footy club who doesn't want to be there?

[The Bedge]

Binding or not, do you want a bloke at the footy club who doesn't want to be there?

Nope.. but on the flipside, be nice to show players they cant just **** clubs around for their own selfish needs and wants.

[LaughingKookaburra]

Binding or not, do you want a bloke at the footy club who doesn't want to be there?

Nope.. but on the flipside, be nice to show players they cant just **** clubs around for their own selfish needs and wants.

It’s not my idea so I can’t take credit for it, however I like the concept that you can transfer to 3 (maybe 4 max) clubs during your senior career. As soon as you transfer to any club after that you automatically become a 5 point player in Senior footy for life without any yearly deductions depending on how many games you play - This also goes for blokes that previously played at your club and previously carried lower or zero points. This puts accountability on blokes hunting cash and pissing on clubs every year and gives the clubs back some fair and reasonable control. This also doesn’t affect reserve grade(s) as they obviously don’t use the points system.

[Dutchy]

I can see the merit but what about those who move regionally for work and therefore play at different clubs in different regions?

[The Bedge]

How many would move 5 times?

This guy is a prime example why LKs idea has merit:

https://www.playhq.com/public/profile/1 ... statistics

2026 - Smithfield
2025 - Eastern Park
2024 - Eastern Park
2023 - Ingle Farm
2022 - BSR
2021 - Brahma Lodge
2020 - Houghton
2019 - Para Hills
2018 - Smithfield
2017 - Orroroo
2016 - Trinity OS

[LaughingKookaburra]

I can see the merit but what about those who move regionally for work and therefore play at different clubs in different regions?

Clearly you’d have a structured appeals process. This isn’t designed for those people. It might not be for some leagues which use FIFO ect.

It’s a base model, however you get the idea.

[Dutchy]

agree, maybe if they actually live in/near the town they play for they are exempt?

[wristwatcher]

Yep and now the contracts are actually binding the early start seems to have less impact. If they are signed, they are signed. No more Cupido's running around signing at 4 clubs. (Well there was one this year but not in the Adelaide FL)

BAHAHA .. you got jokes.

*edit - contracts are only binding once the player physically registers for the club... plenty of blokes still running around signing for multiple clubs - Mason Pitt + Terrel Rigney recent examples.

Funnier when blokes are getting sign on fees (not those two), and then jump ship and the club cant say anything coz sign ons are taboo.

I was literally sitting next to your delegate at the meeting when this new rule was made very clear to all and sundry. The signature now means something.

There is very much a bloke getting sign on's and looking for more but word has spread to not touch him in our league. He has indeed burnt one of the clubs that paid him one in another league and moved on. It will get real messy.