Ref_Ted
Ward Prentice (10)
Can attest that to Drummoyne Oval!.
Ankle deep mud. Scrums were even better on the pitch!
Sydney Subbies 2024
- Thread starter Lindommer
- Start date
Ankle deep mud. Scrums were even better on the pitch!
Can you share the crowd behaviour report pls Heavyd?
hopefully better than the language shared by fitzy on this forum - did his red bandana blow off yesterday? Seems to be in a bad mood
Prodigy
Ron Walden (29)
Well done. Haven’t heard that one before
Pfitzy
Nathan Sharpe (72)
hopefully better than the language shared by fitzy on this forum - did his red bandana blow off yesterday? Seems to be in a bad mood
You're talking nonsense, as usual.
As we reach the middle of the season, my tolerance level for the feckless keyboard warrior suffers a significant dropoff.
Given the contribution that a lot of us put into Subbies, it is irritating in the extreme to see lazy, ill-informed armchair "experts" fire lazy, ill-informed shots from the comfort of their own idiocy. It is even worse when coming from someone within a club seeking to stir the pot.
Maybe it's the colder weather. Maybe I'm just getting grumpy in my old age.
In either case, people like you need to actually pitch in and help rather than just de-gloving yourself to the sound of your own voice.,
Heavyd
Arch Winning (36)
Think we might see some mid week catch up games this week. Either get the game out of the way or force a forfeit. UNSW 2nd grade have two games to catch up on and with the long range weather dicey all these clubs waiting for the next wet weather in 7 weeks might find they have another between now and then.
Pfitzy
Nathan Sharpe (72)
Kings and Wakehurst took the option of double points for their next fixture. Might be the only way for some clubs.
Chatswood have Canterbury (R7) and Redfield (R4) to catch up on in Div 4. Both were home games, and playing away is a challenge at the best of times.
Prodigy
Ron Walden (29)
We are looking at dates currently. Hoping to sort it in the next 10 days
footy_footy
Ward Prentice (10)
Pretty much at the halfway point in the season. The results are interesting and the performance of clubs mixed. Division 1 is the only Division with a full draw but there are two clubs, Forest and Lindfield, that are competing but unlikely to have much success at the business end of the year. Both have 1 grade in the top 4 (3rd Grade and 4th Grade respectively). Lindfield's 2023 season was incredible but this year highlights the gap between Div 1 and Div 2. Forest have been solid since moving up but haven't had much success outside Colts and their 1st Grade haven't played finals since 2019 (which was in Div 2).
You look at the better Clubs in Div 2 at this point in the season, Newport and St Pat's then Petersham to a lesser extent. None of these Clubs would be any more competitive than Forest or Lindfield and would also be having a tough time. You then have the big divide in Div 2 with the likes of Beecroft, Epping and Hills unable to field all grades.
The chat is often increasing Div 1 to 10 teams but halfway through the year it's obvious that won't work because the quality divide in the Division would be too big and then there are the issues about the season going too long. There is a fairly obvious distinction at the top end of Subbies. Colleagues, Waverley, Mosman, Hunters Hill, Drummoyne and Blue Mountains are a clear cut above (they are also the Cubs that every week field 5-6 grades and Colts - Lindfield have had 5s to start the year but forfeited over the past weekend v Blueys). Forest and Lindfield have had their moments against the bigger clubs (as did Petersham and St Pat's in previous years) but they haven't been able to keep up week in week out. If it stays 8 clubs it will be a revolving door at the bottom.
So here is an idea - a 6 Club Division. A 6 Club competition works well in the ACT John I Dent Cup and in the Newcastle-Hunter Premier Comp. 15 rounds, play each other 3 times on an alternating home and away schedule year on year. If the extra round is a problem then make it a 2 week final series instead of the 3 weeks major/minor/prelim setup (1 v 4 and 2 v 3 into a GF).
Something like this:
Div 1 - 5 Grades & Colts - Waverley, Colleagues, Hunters Hill, Blue Mountains, Mosman and Drummoyne
Div 2 - 4 Grades & Colts - Lindfield, Forest, Newport, St Pat's, Petersham and UNSW
Div 3 - 2-3 Grades & Colts - Briars, Knox, Hills, Beecroft, Hawkesbury Valley and Epping
Div 4 - 2 Grades - Sydney Harbour, Merrylands, Sydney Irish, Sydney Harlequins, Lane Cove Old Ignatians and Old Barker
The structure in Div 3 and 4 is tricky and would probably need to be discussed with the likely clubs early in the new year to see how they're tracking. I also appreciate that some of the clubs listed aren't quite there yet (i.e. Epping and Hills with Colts and Knox with 3 Grades etc). Div 5 & 6 also is a tricky one and would likely follow the current structure.
At face value, these Divisions seem super competitive and have similar size clubs and similar quality clubs playing against each other regularly.
You look at the better Clubs in Div 2 at this point in the season, Newport and St Pat's then Petersham to a lesser extent. None of these Clubs would be any more competitive than Forest or Lindfield and would also be having a tough time. You then have the big divide in Div 2 with the likes of Beecroft, Epping and Hills unable to field all grades.
The chat is often increasing Div 1 to 10 teams but halfway through the year it's obvious that won't work because the quality divide in the Division would be too big and then there are the issues about the season going too long. There is a fairly obvious distinction at the top end of Subbies. Colleagues, Waverley, Mosman, Hunters Hill, Drummoyne and Blue Mountains are a clear cut above (they are also the Cubs that every week field 5-6 grades and Colts - Lindfield have had 5s to start the year but forfeited over the past weekend v Blueys). Forest and Lindfield have had their moments against the bigger clubs (as did Petersham and St Pat's in previous years) but they haven't been able to keep up week in week out. If it stays 8 clubs it will be a revolving door at the bottom.
So here is an idea - a 6 Club Division. A 6 Club competition works well in the ACT John I Dent Cup and in the Newcastle-Hunter Premier Comp. 15 rounds, play each other 3 times on an alternating home and away schedule year on year. If the extra round is a problem then make it a 2 week final series instead of the 3 weeks major/minor/prelim setup (1 v 4 and 2 v 3 into a GF).
Something like this:
Div 1 - 5 Grades & Colts - Waverley, Colleagues, Hunters Hill, Blue Mountains, Mosman and Drummoyne
Div 2 - 4 Grades & Colts - Lindfield, Forest, Newport, St Pat's, Petersham and UNSW
Div 3 - 2-3 Grades & Colts - Briars, Knox, Hills, Beecroft, Hawkesbury Valley and Epping
Div 4 - 2 Grades - Sydney Harbour, Merrylands, Sydney Irish, Sydney Harlequins, Lane Cove Old Ignatians and Old Barker
The structure in Div 3 and 4 is tricky and would probably need to be discussed with the likely clubs early in the new year to see how they're tracking. I also appreciate that some of the clubs listed aren't quite there yet (i.e. Epping and Hills with Colts and Knox with 3 Grades etc). Div 5 & 6 also is a tricky one and would likely follow the current structure.
At face value, these Divisions seem super competitive and have similar size clubs and similar quality clubs playing against each other regularly.
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CrashBandicoot
Bob McCowan (2)
UNSW may have had to forfeit considering a few 1’s players were knocking around in 3’s for the week.
wisemaan
Sydney Middleton (9)
At the midpoint of the season, the landscape of the competitions is intriguing, with clubs experiencing a mixed bag of results. Division 1 stands out as the only division with a complete draw, yet two clubs, Forest and Lindfield, seem unlikely to make significant strides toward success as the season progresses. Despite Forest's solid performance since their promotion, their lack of success beyond Colts and their first-grade team's absence from finals since 2019 underscore the challenges they face. Similarly, Lindfield, whose remarkable 2023 season is in stark contrast to their struggles this year, highlights the gap between Division 1 and Division 2.
In Division 2, clubs like Newport and St. Pat's are showing promise, albeit with struggles of their own. However, a clear divide emerges within Division 2, with clubs like Beecroft, Epping, and Hills struggling to field all their grades, indicating structural issues within the division.
The conversation often revolves around expanding Division 1 to ten teams, but the evident quality gap within the division suggests this may not be feasible. Additionally, concerns about extending the season further complicate matters. A potential solution could be a six-club division model, similar to successful setups seen elsewhere.
Under this proposed structure, Division 1 would feature the top six clubs, ensuring competitive matches and reducing the likelihood of a revolving door at the bottom. Meanwhile, Division 2 and beyond would be restructured accordingly, with a focus on maintaining competitiveness and addressing challenges faced by clubs at different levels.
While this proposal requires further discussion and collaboration with clubs, it offers a promising framework for enhancing competitiveness and sustainability across all divisions.
Yours in sporting reason, A sane observer
-wisemaan
Pfitzy
Nathan Sharpe (72)
First I'd like to say I'm always a fan of new ideas. None of the issues we're seeing are particularly new, but perhaps the increase in magnitude is the thing. We need to figure out how to address this.
My feedback in terms of playing 3 rounds, having done it in the past: it is extremely difficult if you're struggling near the bottom of the table and you have to travel to a powerhouse club twice. If you're coming up against them in the last round of the season, you might as well forfeit because some players aren't going to bother.
As an example going back a few years: some clubs in Div 2 were going to drop to Div 3 if Hunters Hill and St Pats were not promoted. That's how we ended up with a big Div 1, a frankenstein Div 2/3 and then a gap to the rest.
If the Division is competitive it probably removes a bunch of these issues.
Pfitzy
Nathan Sharpe (72)
Perhaps another way of looking at it is to organise divisions and draws later.
Typically Divs 1 & 2 want to get their draw as early as possible so they can plan. Rugby Xplorer doesn't typically open until February so all the planning in the world might come undone once your player numbers coalesce.
Hate to say it, but maybe we need to collect fees via the app to get the guys who are serious, and have clubs determine their numbers off that. It would certainly take a load off the administrative side of things and let clubs know where they stand.
Tough sell tho. Conventional wisdom states that if you charged guys up front, there wouldn't be a comp
Typically Divs 1 & 2 want to get their draw as early as possible so they can plan. Rugby Xplorer doesn't typically open until February so all the planning in the world might come undone once your player numbers coalesce.
Hate to say it, but maybe we need to collect fees via the app to get the guys who are serious, and have clubs determine their numbers off that. It would certainly take a load off the administrative side of things and let clubs know where they stand.
Tough sell tho. Conventional wisdom states that if you charged guys up front, there wouldn't be a comp
Heavyd
Arch Winning (36)
ChatGPT
Heavyd
Arch Winning (36)
Big early for a late season stack?
parkfootyenthusiast2
Herbert Moran (7)
Results:
Merrylands 43 def Knox 7: The roadtrip proved much tougher than Knox was up for, Merrylands looked exceedingly big, fast and skilled and might just win it all this year in Div 3. Knox Colts remain undefeated, so maybe there's brigher times ahead...
Sydney Irish 21 def. Hawkesbury Valley 7: Not a bad crack from the Valley lads against an undefeated Irish outfit at home in their favoured wet conditions. Irish arent spectactular but they keep winning against everyone so there's definitely something to that.
Sydney Quinns 55 def. LCOI 12: Things go from bad to worse for the joint venture, worrying signs for the rest of their season and beyond. Much needed big win from the Quinns gives them some breathing room going into the second half of the season, they control their own destiny in holding off Knox and Valley.
Sydney Harbour 29 def. Old Barker 22: Another bonus point for the BOBs lads as they showed some fight in this one at Home. Maybe Harbour's time as the bullies of the lower divisions is slowly coming to an end..
4/4, decent on two of the margin tips, didnt see Knox and LCOI bleeding that much...
A clear top 4 emerging in Div 3 with Merrylands, Irish, Harbour and Quinns at the halfway point, Knox and Valley the other two would get shake things up if they string some wins together, though its a big ask. BOBs and LCOI playing for pride at this point.
Time for a week off, feet up, beers cracked, enjoy yourself fellow park footy enthusiasts.
Pfitzy
Nathan Sharpe (72)
3 from 3 with 1 pending.
Eastcoast
Bill Watson (15)
3/3 as well on the tips. Might as well give me the 100% for Waverley as well. Early crows are never wrong.......
Give and go
Frank Row (1)
Strong tipping EC all though I’d say these games a fairly pickable at this stage of the year. Margins weren’t too far off besides your HH. What happened there ?