Potential Comp Re-structures for 2009 and beyond

[Pekay]

The restructure can be seen on Southern Sharks website, but basically, it goes like this.

Premier Division stays as is, same 10 teams.

1st Division (Prem Res) consists of ten teams, being-

East Coast (2)
Sydney Uni (2)
Pennant Hills (2)
UNSW/ES (2)
St George (2)
North Shore (2)
Western Suburbs (2)
Wollongong (2)
UTS Bats (1)
Manly-Warringah (1)
(UTS & Manly promoted, Balmain & Campbelltown relegated)

2nd Division(formerly 1st Division Seniors)consists of nine teams, being-

Balmain (2)
Campbelltown (2)
Holroyd-Parramatta (1)
Southern Sharks (1)
Macquarie University (1)
Camden (1)
Penrith (1)
UTS (2)
Sydney University (3)
(UTS & Sydney Uni promoted, Nor-West Jets relegated)

3rd Division(formerly 1st Division Reserves)consists of nine teams, being-

Nor-West Jets (1)
Manly-Warringah (2)
Macquarie Uni (2)
Southern Sharks (2)
UNSW/ES (3)
UTS (3)
Moorebank Sports (1)
Pennant Hills (3)
Holroyd-Parramatta (2)

(Penrith Nor-West & Camden 2s relegated, Pennant Hills, UNSW/ES, Moorebank Sports, UTS Promoted)

4th Division(formerly 2nd Division)consists of 10 teams, being-

Nor-West Jets (2)
Camden (2)
Penrith (2)
Moorebank Sports (2)
Holroyd-Parramatta (3)
Macquarie Uni (3)
Manly-Warringah (3)
Sydney Uni (4)
UNSW/ES (4)
UTS (5)

The Jets reserves, despite finishing 6th out of 8, will be relegated to 4th Div, as laws stipulate that one club can't be represented twice in the same division.
From our point of view, it is the natural progression we were after, when we left 2nd Division at end of 2006. The gap back to 1st Division Seniors for our first pick team was obviously too great, as it would be if UTS & Manly were pushed straight to Premier Seniors. It will take a shiitin of work to make it smooth, logistically it presents a few problems, but overall, it is for the 'greater good' of Sydney Footy, Prem Snrs stays the same, it gives UTS/Manly a chance to spread their wings in a higher comp, after dominating 1st Div for the last few years, and other clubs to play in a standard better suited to their player roster.

Discuss....keeping in mind that it is a done deal, so there is no point saying'its the worst idea ever' or 'your lack of knowledge of football is alarming', coz obviously i had the same ideas as those that run the game in Sydney.

[Norris Lurker]

The effect of club resources being stretched by their teams in different divisions being at different grounds will be the test of whether this system works.
The way the divisions have come about, the clubs with the least resources will be the ones that are stretched most - but they are the clubs that have been pushing hardest for this. If they believe they'll be OK and able to handle it, then the other clubs don't have too much to worry about.

I think it's a good thing that there's no automatic promotion & relegation from Premier Division. A good club could find themselves devastated by being relegated from that division, while a newly-promoted club without adequate resources could find themselves out of their depth.
A club will now have to apply for promotion to Premier Division, which I think is a good system. I'd floated the idea of using Club of the Year points to create a threshold of immunity from relegation, but I think the league's idea is better than mine.
Using Wollongong as an example - a well-run club with a great facility in a strategically important area. Should they be automatically dropped down a level because of a bad year on the field? I don't think so.

We'll know for sure whether the new structure is successful after a couple of years of doing it. But I think it's worth a try.

[Dunger]

2nd Division(formerly 1st Division Seniors)consists of nine teams, being-

Balmain (2)
Campbelltown (2)
Holroyd-Parramatta (1)
Southern Sharks (1)
Macquarie University (1)
Camden (1)
Penrith (1)
UTS (2)
Sydney University (3)
(UTS & Sydney Uni promoted, Nor-West Jets relegated)

3rd Division(formerly 1st Division Reserves)consists of nine teams, being-

Nor-West Jets (1)
Manly-Warringah (2)
Macquarie Uni (2)
Southern Sharks (2)
UNSW/ES (3)
UTS (3)
Moorebank Sports (1)
Pennant Hills (3)
Holroyd-Parramatta (2)

(Penrith Nor-West & Camden 2s relegated, Pennant Hills, UNSW/ES, Moorebank Sports, UTS Promoted)

I don't think the restructure was the massive reshuffle everyone thought it would be in the higher grades. 2 teams up and 2 teams down being the maximum change in 2nd division. The Lower divisions have more changes but then there were more lop sided results as well.

Will this see some players move clubs so they play the same level of footy if their club/team was promoted or relegated?

One thing I did notice and don't understand is how did Sydney Uni get promoted over Pennant Hills when they've won what was 2nd Division back to back?

It's good to see the Sydney AFL doing something to progress footy in Sydney.

Who is the experienced AFL Sydney follower that Mr Burkinshaw refers to on the memorandum!??

[tara]

I don't think the restructure was the massive reshuffle everyone thought it would be in the higher grades. 2 teams up and 2 teams down being the maximum change in 2nd division. The Lower divisions have more changes but then there were more lop sided results as well.

Will this see some players move clubs so they play the same level of footy if their club/team was promoted or relegated?

One thing I did notice and don't understand is how did Sydney Uni get promoted over Pennant Hills when they've won what was 2nd Division back to back?

It's good to see the Sydney AFL doing something to progress footy in Sydney.

Who is the experienced AFL Sydney follower that Mr Burkinshaw refers to on the memorandum!??

It was up to the clubs to nominate what division that wished to play in.

This is yet to be 100% finalised yet though.

[Pace To Burn]

It was up to the clubs to nominate what division that wished to play in.

This is yet to be 100% finalised yet though.

Yes they did nominate and after that they came up with those divisions, he then says that it will be confirmed once they have the team nominations. In other words they are the divisions unless some of the clubs who have 2/3 or
4 sides(Yourselves/The Unis/penno) dont put the amount of teams in that they expect, but the gradings will follow that line.

[tara]

Yes they did nominate and after that they came up with those divisions, he then says that it will be confirmed once they have the team nominations. In other words they are the divisions unless some of the clubs who have 2/3 or
4 sides(Yourselves/The Unis/penno) dont put the amount of teams in that they expect, but the gradings will follow that line.

Pace I understand that mate but from what Ive been told there is still a month or so before its all to be taken as gospel.

I think its a good thing the direction the are heading because to do nothing and bury their heads in the sand wont improve the current situation with inequalities from east to west. Hopefully it works well.

[Pace To Burn]

Pace I understand that mate but from what Ive been told there is still a month or so before its all to be taken as gospel.

I think its a good thing the direction the are heading because to do nothing and bury their heads in the sand wont improve the current situation with inequalities from east to west. Hopefully it works well.

I reckon the only disadvantage is for clubs having to have more support staff, mainly trainers/medical, otherwise it can only promote more competitive footy at all levels and guys staying involved playing instead of either 1 changing clubs to be more competitive or 2 giving it away halfway through the season cause their sick of getting flogged.

[tara]

I reckon the only disadvantage is for clubs having to have more support staff, mainly trainers/medical, otherwise it can only promote more competitive footy at all levels and guys staying involved playing instead of either 1 changing clubs to be more competitive or 2 giving it away halfway through the season cause their sick of getting flogged.

More importantly it enables the blokes to have a bit of fun and bond and hopefully improve. I know speaking with Steamboat he was in a no win situation becuase how can you coach a team to improve when they are dispirited and have given up the ghost with regards to training.

[water boy]

does this mean that footy will be played saturday and sundays for clubs that might have 3 teams playing at different grounds on the same weekend?

[tara]

Unlikely.

[water boy]

there will be plenty of forfeits in the lower divisons then

[tara]

Why? Alot of the clubs that previsouly had teams in Prem and 2nd or 1st Div and second were playing at different venues already. From what I understand 75% of the games will be as per norm and only 25% will be affected. We had to travel apart probably only 6 times this year and where possible we put an appearance into our under 18's games anyway. If you start utilising both days on the weekend it means that the same blokes are performing the same duties each day and I dont imaging their marriages etc will last to long explaining that at home.

[Pekay]

It will work if clubs want to make it work...we finished last in Div 1 and we are willing to pay the money for two physios, two umpires, boundaries, goals, administrators....
If you want to play footy at the level, you will make it happen...i cant wait.

[Pace To Burn]

Done deal. They have posted on the website a request for volunteers for premier and divs 1-4.

[Pekay]

Called it early!