Sydney Subbies 2025

[Odyssey_Park the 2nd]

Div 3 and 4 seem to be a bit of a basket case now. Small comps, teams not filling their requirements.

Strange to have a Thriving Div 1, then a bit of a mess all the way down before Div 5 and 6.

Overs/Unders for Forfeitts and No Shows this year?

Depends on whether clubs go into the year not running a team. But would think at least over 20 forfeits.

 

[Pfitzy]

Therein lies the issue, it works on an assumption that players, coaches and volunteers will just move to another club, even in a dual registration approach. That approach got tried with colts a few years back and never stuck.

As we've seen with many subbies clubs who have either fallen over, or had way too many players, the spare players don't generally go somewhere else to get a game, they just stop.

I will once again contrast this to RL - they have a set squad size, and once they hit that, you need to either play next team down at that club, or, if that isn't an option, play elsewhere.

In this, the difference is cultural - no better, no worse. They simply have different aims.

 

[Champagne Rugby]

A very friendly div 3 travel schedule.

- Beecroft
- Hornsby
- Barker
- Knox
- Hills
- Lane cove.

 

[parkfootyenthusiast2]

A very friendly div 3 travel schedule.

- Beecroft
- Hornsby
- Barker
- Knox
- Hills
- Lane cove.

I'd imagine that also had something to do with Valley and Raptors withdrawing, tough when you've got to be the team that travels 1.5 hours (depending on time and traffic) every second week while the other teams are travelling 10 minutes down the road - especially when you're up until midnight Friday trying to fill the team sheet.

 

[parkfootyenthusiast2]

With the way the divisions have been drawn up with lots of movement I guess we are going to get the answers to those long posed questions in these forums. How would clubs match up across the divisions?

Can Irish’s pack match up with the likes of Uni and Pats or can they control the talent in Briars backs?

How do Hills a Div 2 club for the last 10-15 years go against a club like Knox or Hornsby. Is there a gap in skill in the middle divisions?

What’s the strength of the top end of Division 6? After dominating there division for the last few years how does Merrylands match up against Burraneer or the Sea Lice.

Having played against all those sides over the past 5 or so years (Uni, Pats, Irish) I see Irish's forwards being on par with just about anybody in Div 2, though I do think they'll get minced by Briars in the backs. Mind you, Merrylands was electric 9-15 last year and they kept them at bay through smart, tactical footy. I think momentum is a funny thing in rugby, fresh of two Cups and a successful womens season, Irish probably had the numbers for 3s last year and couldnt use them. Recruit an extra 25 or so off the back off all that success and all of a sudden you've got 4 viable grade teams. I don't seem them struggling all too much in Div 2 this year (outside of their obvious struggles in putting together a colts side)

Hills appear to be a very quality outfit at the top end, I think a Clark Cup is well within reach for them.

Merrylands taking the biccies in Div 6 if they retain their guys from last year imo, though depends where Harbour lands, maybe their fairytale as a footy club is finally at an end?

The landscape is a bit of a shambles right now but I don't at all blame the administration for that. I'd imagine plenty of changes all the way up until kick off week 1, and then it all lands where it lands as it does every year, and we go again.

 

[parkfootyenthusiast2]

Talk that Div 3 is now destined to be 6 clubs only - Western Raptors and Hawkesbury Valley not having the requisite 2 x Grades + Colts. Barker may only field 1st Grade, could a Div 1 club like Mosman save the day and backfill Barker’s 2nd Grade with their 6th Grade? A 4 team finals series is somewhat mickey mouse - especially if 2nd Grade only has 5 clubs overall. Like Div 2, no real advantage for finishing top 2 on the ladder, with only a knockout two week finals series. Watch this space

On this, how do we feel about a finals structure where only the top 3 make it in a 6 team comp. 1 plays 2, loser plays 3 the next week to meet the winner of 1 and 2 in the grand final?

Prevents a team with likely more losses than wins rolling into the finals and still provides an overall benefit to 1 and 2 for their reg season play. I guess it depends if you think a rested 3 seed is better than a battered 1/2 seed in the second week. In theory you could also have 1 straight into the Grand Final with 2v3 playing to meet them there?

 

[Pfitzy]

I'd imagine that also had something to do with Valley and Raptors withdrawing, tough when you've got to be the team that travels 1.5 hours (depending on time and traffic) every second week while the other teams are travelling 10 minutes down the road - especially when you're up until midnight Friday trying to fill the team sheet.

Clubs out this way have done that for years

Valley last year had anywhere from Holroyd to Coogee!

The thing that gets most eastern clubs is the speed change from old suburbs to new suburbs; we have people turn up at 12:30PM for a 2PM kickoff some days, because they think the traffic out our way is as slow as back home. Once you're on the motorway it is very rapid to get from Ryde to Renegades

 

[CrashBandicoot2]

A very friendly div 3 travel schedule.

- Beecroft
- Hornsby
- Barker
- Knox
- Hills
- Lane cove.

Hoping it is travel friendly to entice people to play at these clubs - Otherwise half of them are just going for 1's and Colts. Wont be too many happy lower grades sticking around if they are only playing half the year.

 

[CrashBandicoot2]

Having played against all those sides over the past 5 or so years (Uni, Pats, Irish) I see Irish's forwards being on par with just about anybody in Div 2, though I do think they'll get minced by Briars in the backs. Mind you, Merrylands was electric 9-15 last year and they kept them at bay through smart, tactical footy.

I have also had the ability to play both Merrylands and Briars backs in the last few years. Merrylands backs were good but had regular mistakes and defensive slips throughout the full 80. Briars were very sharp and never really allowed any of that.

Will be great to see Irish as a different dynamic in that comp. Looking forward to a few Saturdays coming up

 

[The Ghost of Bernie]

A very friendly div 3 travel schedule.

- Beecroft
- Hornsby
- Barker
- Knox
- Hills
- Lane cove.

Devastating that Hawkesbury Valley has dropped to Division 5. Bus trip last year was the highlight of the year. Just had my banjo tuned too, nah just joking, was already in tune....
But seriously folks, disappointed from.a playing prospective with the Western Raptors as was looking forward to the challenge. I actually played against them in their very first game too.

 

[The Wombat]

Hoping it is travel friendly to entice people to play at these clubs - Otherwise half of them are just going for 1's and Colts. Wont be too many happy lower grades sticking around if they are only playing half the year.

I predict beecroft will field 2nd grade for less than half the games

 

[HogansHeros]

I predict beecroft will field 2nd grade for less than half the games

Pretty early in the season to be struggling for numbers!

 

[Odyssey_Park the 2nd]

Devastating that Hawkesbury Valley has dropped to Division 5. Bus trip last year was the highlight of the year. Just had my banjo tuned too, nah just joking, was already in tune....
But seriously folks, disappointed from.a playing prospective with the Western Raptors as was looking forward to the challenge. I actually played against them in their very first game too.

Would be interested in your thoughts Bernie given your growth in numbers this year. What the club/you thinks about the fact that 1/3 of the clubs in the division don’t potentially have a 2nd Grade?
Obviously good for the colts to have a stable competition but what about your lower grade guys?

 

[Pfitzy]

Strange to have a Thriving Div 1, then a bit of a mess all the way down before Div 5 and 6.

Keep in mind that several of the Div 2 clubs are doing alright as well.

It comes down to critical mass.

However, what the Colts issue shows is that we're not aligned in terms of our ability to keep people in the game.... a topic I've only covered 2 or 3 hundred times

And even then: some clubs are up to their ears in Colts. Some years it doesn't happen even for strong clubs.

It isn't just about the effort - we don't have good connectivity between our various Unions and schools comps to help keep people in the game.

If we're not prepared to change that, expect further erosion

 

[The Ghost of Bernie]

Would be interested in your thoughts Bernie given your growth in numbers this year. What the club/you thinks about the fact that 1/3 of the clubs in the division don’t potentially have a 2nd Grade?
Obviously good for the colts to have a stable competition but what about your lower grade guys?

As far as I'm aware, at this stage, most of the lower grade players (which I fall/stumble into) aren't aware of the situation and if they were, I don't think it's of concern at the moment as we can only control what we do.
Until we get the draw and into the competition there's not much point to pontificating as to what might be happening.
I believe that for this weekend the club is trying to find a Halligans side to fill in for Barker 2's for the threesome we have having the Knox.

 

[CrashBandicoot2]

As far as I'm aware, at this stage, most of the lower grade players (which I fall/stumble into) aren't aware of the situation and if they were, I don't think it's of concern at the moment as we can only control what we do.
Until we get the draw and into the competition there's not much point to pontificating as to what might be happening.
I believe that for this weekend the club is trying to find a Halligans side to fill in for Barker 2's for the threesome we have having the Knox.

Pontificating isnt a word thats suitable for a forum like this

 

[footy_footy]

Fair few trials scheduled tomorrow and of course a deluge of rain awaits! After the difficulties most clubs had last year to keep fields open and strained relationships with Council, hard to see many matches proceeding, if the rain does eventuate as forecast.

 

[Odyssey_Park the 2nd]

Fair few trials scheduled tomorrow and of course a deluge of rain awaits! After the difficulties most clubs had last year to keep fields open and strained relationships with Council, hard to see many matches proceeding, if the rain does eventuate as forecast.

Given the issues last year. Clubs would be crazy to push ahead with trials and leave the grounds in the state some ended up last year. Still can’t believe the day that Forrest and Lindfield managed to get 5 games on. Better to preserve the grounds for the long term benefit through out the season.

 

[The ultimate ressie]

Given the issues last year. Clubs would be crazy to push ahead with trials and leave the grounds in the state some ended up last year. Still can’t believe the day that Forrest and Lindfield managed to get 5 games on. Better to preserve the grounds for the long term benefit through out the season.

I vote to hold all washed out trials at the pub
Boat race trials

 

[Pfitzy]

As someone who has a loooooong season of Saturdays ahead, I concur with the above.