SFA comp 2006

[Rafters]

How is this comp looking this year?

Tara - how much will SWS improve by? How many players do ye have signed up or going to training? Website looks good - keep up the good work

Have Mac Uni done much recruiting aside from a few Goannas? Will Wookie make a difference to them?

Pekay - are ye definitely playing in Div 2 or are there other negotiations happening at the moment?

I suppose that we can assume that UTS & Syd Uni will be up there again.

Manly's website seems fairly active - always a good sign when a club is going well admin-wise

Any significant losses to other leagues or retirements? I see that Hayden Reid is trying his luck again in SFL, err sorry SPL.

DLH - Penrith seemed signifiantly better than a few years ago - how much improvement is expected by the boys this year after playing finals footy last year? Is making the top two the goal?

[wheels27]

As I think tara has mentioned, we at SWS are looking better than at this stage last year, but as always this early in the season it's hard to gauge.

Yesterday afternoon I saw the rain coming and thought 'here we go no-one will turn up' but we had probably our best turn out of the year so far. .
Don't know if you saw on the website but we had Cherry Mescia from Wests Tigers come down and it was a great session.
At least we can't really go backwards from 2005, that was a difficult year to say the least

Sounds like a tough one on the cards for the Goannas again....

This is where I start to get that throbbing headache thinking about the decisions over the last few years to allow SFL clubs to field 2nd div. sides.
You know as well as us that a guy who might not be getting a run at that level, but of course can still play, would've maybe looked to a SFA club, but why would he if his own club can now give him an option. This was the backbone of our comp, guys with experience at a higher level to supplement the rest of the list.

[tara]

Rafters as wheels has mentioned things are on the improve but its a long way back to where we want to be. Ten years ago we had blokes fighting to get on the bench in ressies and thats where we need to be to see some measure of success again.

The biggest thing this year is there seems to a really good spirit amongst the blokes. Last night with Cherry the boys were run ragged but enjoyed it none the less. The turn out number wise was also really pleasing but we need at least another 15 each session before I believe we can be in a position to play competitive footy against all sides.

Wheels mentioned Frank and to be honest the job he has been doing is fantastic. He got Moorebank Sports on as a sponsor something tried previously but without success, he has Cherry giving up his time voluntarily every few weeks to help us out and has given the club a lift in general.

I honestly cant see anyone coming within cooee of the two Unis though. Until we see a return to 100+ on our books we wont be able to compete on an even footing with them.

One thing I am sure of is that we will slowly continue to grow the club with the boys we have on and off the field now. The people have the clubs interest at heart and im sure that I can speak for both myself and Wheels in saying that we have enjoyed our footy with the club and are only to happy to give some time back to it so that we survive and hopefully prosper in the longer term.

[DLH]

Rafters,

I think the stated goal this year is to make the finals again and hopefully win one. I'm sure like everyone we'd like to make the top two but I think realistically if we can make the four we'd be happy given the Uni's and Manly will be hard to beat.

We seem to have retained most of our senior guys from last year and it looks like we've added three or four guys from other Sydney clubs and interstate who should add to our ones side. We had an ordinary result last weekend against Gosford, however, we only took up 28 guys for a six "quarter" match, and lost a couple early to minor injuries.

You might have noted from our website that the club have decided to go with a different look from this year with new colours which more closely reflect the Penrith area (basically the same as the Rugby League team, there's no getting away from it unfortunately!). Kudos to the guys on the Board who have managed these changes plus the Dukes/Greygums issue, as well as the usual stuff that committees do.

It looks like the Greater Western Power U/18's have also come into the fold as the Penrith Rams which is good news.

All in all things are going OK. As you guys know the hardest thing is getting numbers to training etc. etc. Getting sponsors (especially out west) is extremely difficult as usual, no change there. The guys are trying hard though, I think they have a couple of options that they are still hopeful of.

[Coastal Boy]

I admit I dont know a lot about the situation, but I question the situation where Easts combine with UNSW and then within a few short years pull out of first division. The net effect is just the loss of an entire team from a competition. IMO the league should never allow this scenario to ever happen again.

[tara]

Originally posted by Coastal Boy
I admit I dont know a lot about the situation, but I question the situation where Easts combine with UNSW and then within a few short years pull out of first division. The net effect is just the loss of an entire team from a competition. IMO the league should never allow this scenario to ever happen again.

I still cannot fathom why they are allowed 2 teams in Div 2, surely if they have the numbers to field 2 sides then they should be told to play D1 or nothing at all. Thirds were originally instigated to provide an avenue for those clubs with excess players an aveune to retain blokes and give them a game.

[wheels27]

Originally posted by tara
I still cannot fathom why they are allowed 2 teams in Div 2, surely if they have the numbers to field 2 sides then they should be told to play D1 or nothing at all. Thirds were originally instigated to provide an avenue for those clubs with excess players an aveune to retain blokes and give them a game.

Particularly for SFA clubs i.e. at the time the lower level of sydney footy. Now you can have teams straddling three comps to the detriment of all.

[Rafters]

So Humphrey - have you made up your mind yet about whether you are playing SFA or SFL this year?

[humphrey bear]

Originally posted by Rafters
So Humphrey - have you made up your mind yet about whether you are playing SFA or SFL this year?

I will definately be helping to defend the flag in the SFL.

[katie-scarlett]

I think the kookas have training on tuesday so i might see if i can be bothered to go peek after my tute tomorrow..