park footy enthusiast
Bob McCowan (2)
@WoodyWoodsman what happened to that Div 3 predictions post we were promised!
It asks you to reconsider the whole face of the competition, and whether the colts program should be based on strength of your colts as opposed to the division your grade sides put you in.
Taking resumesI hear the recruitment manager from 2016 would be interested if they do....
Play them on a Friday night league? Not sure the logistics of that though and you could only have max 2 games a night, need people to volunteer etcThere are a few clubs whose Colts are up and down, and might be thinking the same thing.
Would be hard to have them playing away from the rest of the club, so the compromise needs to be well thought out.
Play them on a Friday night league? Not sure the logistics of that though and you could only have max 2 games a night, need people to volunteer etc
They can mount a case to stay using Drummoyne as a precedent.
I think there will almost certainly be some frustrated clubs at the end of the season and they will be asking for the same treatment as Drummoyne. What's to say Petersham or Forest or St Pat's or Mosman haven't had an "off year" or meet the same extenuating circumstances as Drummoyne did at the end of 2022? In fairness, Drummoyne have proven Subbies decision to be the correct one as they would be a cut above Div 2. I have seen some comments on this thread about Div 1 clubs been "entitled" in relation to their standing in the Division and I totally agree. If you aren't performing on the field then you have to cop it on the chin.Precedent? This isn't a court of Law.
With COVID finally out of the way, it will be a case of returning to normal. A couple of options that I'd call "good" present themselves to get back to 8 clubs:
SCENARIO 1: One team gets shifted down, and while Lindfield would not be moved up in this scenario, the division would become stronger and they'd have someone to challenge them
SCENARIO 2: Two teams get moved down, Lindfield gets moved up. The standard of Div 2 rises and Lindfield get to see if they can take on the big boys.
One thing to keep in mind is that CC points only started counting from round 6. As an example, Mosman beat Petersham, St Pats and Blueys in Kentwell and then subsequently lost to them in the replays when CC points started counting.Colleagues appear to have 1 hand on the Div 1 Club Championship with a big day of results v Mosman.
More intriguing is the bottom end of the table. With ongoing uncertainty about Division structure and promotion/relegation in 2024, I think the bottom half of Division 1 will be doing all in their power to avoid the bottom 2 positions. My personal opinion is the 8th and 9th should be relegated as a non-negotiable to allow Lindfield up and bring back the conventional 8 team comp (I'm sick of byes and wet weather weekends!)
Opinion for another time but Subbies have really opened a Pandora's box by not relegating Drummoyne at the end of 2022 - it leaves the door ajar for clubs to have a sook at the end of the year if they finish last. They can mount a case to stay using Drummoyne as a precedent.
Mosman sit 9th at the moment (this is a surprise to me). With a few Colts forfeits mid year, they certainly haven't been at their typical best this year. They have a tough run home, hosting Drummoyne and Waverley on either side of Forest. With respect to Forest, I think that Mosman will have a big circle around that fixture to take home as many Club Championship points as possible. I think Mosman will be safe but there will need to be a bit of refresh in 2024.
Forest sit in 8th. They are away at Waverley and Drummoyne on either side of hosting Mosman. Forest's main strength appears to be Colts and whilst their lower grades have had some success in 2023 (as highlighted yesterday v Hunters Hill) but they will struggle against Waverley and Drummoyne. Forest will have their work cut out for them and the lack of results in 1s and 2s in 2023 will be their downfall. Forest are in the danger zone.
Petersham had a good day out v St Pat's but still sit in 7th. They host Colleagues in Round 12 (blue rinse imminent), then Hunters Hill and finally a road trip to Lapstone. I can't see many victories for the Shammies in the final 3 weeks and suspect they could end up 9th. Petersham too will be in the relegation zone with no genuine finals prospects.
Blue Mountains are in 6th but I think that is because of the bye more than anything else. Blueys will be fine and will be lifting a few cups on Grand Final day in 2023.
St Pat's are in 5th but with a bye in round 12 a I suspect they will slip down the ladder this coming weekend. They then host Drummoyne before a Round 14 trip to Boronia Park. St Pat's are riding the coattails of their Colts in 2023, who have been impressive. Their Burke Cup team has also chipped in and are an outside chance of finals football. With 1st Grade, 3rd Grade and 4th Grade all sitting 9th in their respective competitions, I feel they could be in the firing line if they don't pull their finger out in their last 2 games.
The only other comment I will make is that Waverley have forfetied Colts all year (save for 2 matches) and plainly don't meet the requirements of a Division 1 club. Petersham, Forest, St Pat's & Blue Mountains all haven't forfeited a game this year. I think this could be a point of contention at the business end.
Long story short, Petersham, Forest and St Pat's appear to be the clubs that could be returning to Division 2 in 2024. What do they all have in common - a misfiring Kentwell team!
One thing to keep in mind is that CC points only started counting from round 6. As an example, Mosman beat Petersham, St Pats and Blueys in Kentwell and then subsequently lost to them in the replays when CC points started counting.
Team | CC Points | Kentwell | Burke | Barbour | Whiddon | Judd |
Petersham | 496 | 7th | 8th | 6th | 7th | 8th |
Forest | 458 | 8th | 9th | 3rd | 6th | 5th |
Mosman | 398 | 6th | 7th | 8th | 3rd | 1st |
In recent memory, HH, Forest and Blueys (I am sure im missing some, Drummoyne?) have all been in Div 2, I'm sure the board will be happy enough to relegate underperforming clubs to get back to 8 club divs. Although I have enjoyed the extra byes, with Savers forfieting 2nd grade, this year has been shambles in Div 3.I think there will almost certainly be some frustrated clubs at the end of the season and they will be asking for the same treatment as Drummoyne. What's to say Petersham or Forest or St Pat's or Mosman haven't had an "off year" or meet the same extenuating circumstances as Drummoyne did at the end of 2022? In fairness, Drummoyne have proven Subbies decision to be the correct one as they would be a cut above Div 2. I have seen some comments on this thread about Div 1 clubs been "entitled" in relation to their standing in the Division and I totally agree. If you aren't performing on the field then you have to cop it on the chin.
Subbies board and management can't keep everyone happy and will need to make some tough and perhaps unpopular calls to get the Divisions right in 2024.
Having a strong team like Pats,
Kentwell | 9th (2-0-8) |
Burke | 5th (6-0-4) |
Whiddon | 9th (2-1-7) |
Judd | 9th (1-0-9) |
Barbour | 1st (10-0-0) |
What a dumb call Eastcoast are you planning on going back to 9 team comp in 2025? That’s what’s got us into this mess in the first place. It can’t all be about Div 1 at some point sides in the higher divisions and Subbies need to understand this.Keep Div 1 as it is. No teams really deserve to be demoted this year given the strength of the Div 1 competition. Having a strong team like Pats, Petersham or Forest in Div 2 wont raise the standard of Div 2. It will just mean there will be a clear 2-3 teams each year like it appears this year.
Bring Lindfield up and have a strong 10 team Div 1 competition with relegation from next year.
The rest of the Divisions probably need to be worked through anyway. You have half the teams not be able to field the required for the divisions, or blow out scores in games. No one wants to keep playing if they get dusted by 60+ each week.
Bring Lindfield up and have a strong 10 team Div 1 competition with relegation from next year.
Unpopular opinion but I am a fan of the byes and wet weather weeks in the season. In this age of low commitment from players it helps manage this if you aren’t playing week in week out. The only thing would be if you were going to shorten the comp by a month then get rid of them.
Though when you run into a bye, Wet weather week and forfeit I can see how this will Be tough on clubs.