Balmain/UTS swap

[carnthebats]

what are the chances of a straight swap next season of the dockers and the bats in premier division?

[shinerunner]

what are the chances of a straight swap next season of the dockers and the bats in premier division?

swap wat?? the competitions they are in ??? u cant just swap

[Pekay]

Its a league decision, and not one they'd take lightly, but i can't see a problem with it.
It was said at the original structure meeting that Wollongong would not be dropped from Premier Div, regardless of performance, and ideally that no team would be dropped, only promoted into that Division.
Personally, i'd like to see UTS's seniors given the chance, if not next year, the year after next, i'd reckon top 5. All they need is a decent ground, and money, which i'm sure they could rustle up with their massive old boys network.

[Norris Lurker]

Promotion & relegation from Premier Division was never going to be automatic.
When the divisional structure was brought in, Wollongong were given the assurance that even though they'd come last there were no plans to drop them - and rightly so. Even though they haven't won a lot of games in Premier Division, they're well run off the field, have a growing junior base in a region the AFL are keen to grow and always poll well in the Club of the Year points. And even though they were struggling on the field, they fielded three teams every week without forfeiting.

Balmain's a tricky one. In the 6 years I've been around Sydney footy, and for a while before that, they've never been anywhere near the finals and even though they're not far from the city they've struggled to attract players. Holding a Premier Division license is the trump card they've got; and to lose that would be devastating for them.
UTS, with their form in First Division, have raised a good case for promotion. It's going to be a tricky decision for the league.

[Hawknik]

Tough call dropping a Prem League side. I believe Balmain would have to be on board for them to make that call.
However, across the league below Prem League, expect the league to try and even out all Div's for 2010.

My picks:
Div 1 = St George down and Mac Uni & Power to go up from 2 to 1 - puts a bye in draw but can not see league dropping Nth Shore. Also can not see them leaving Sharks in Div 2 as will produce even wider gap than 2009 season with Mac Uni going up.

Div 2 = St George down from Div 1, UNSW/ES & Nor West up from Div 3 - were clear teams of the year even though Nor West dropped finals and UTS finished higher. Can't see ECE being dropped from 1 to 2, so another bye.

Div 3 & Div 4 become quite difficult. Could be any number of changes.

Div 3 = Campbelltown down from Div 2 and Syd Uni up.

Div 4 = Think will stay as is other than Syd Uni up, produces bye though. Gets pretty complicated with Holroyd unable to be relegated from Div 3 (after not winning a game) as already have a team in Div 4 and Syd Uni clearly option up from Div 4 to 3.

[Matty]

All this talk of swapping a Prem div team for a Div 1 team is a bit of a joke I think.

The worst three teams this year were:

Balmain who beat Penno, Nth shore and the Gong

Gong who beat Est coast, Ctown and drew with Wests

Stgeorge who beat Syd Uni, Nth shore and Ctown.

Although the top two did win a lot of games the competition this year was very even with any team including the bottom three being able to beat any other on their day. This was proven in the results.

I saw the bats play several times this season and yes they looked very good beating ordinary opposition (compared to prem Div) but would struggle considerably if they were put into Prem Div.

[tara]

All this talk of swapping a Prem div team for a Div 1 team is a bit of a joke I think. Agreed just add another side rather than see the demise of another

The worst three teams this year were:

Balmain who beat Penno, Nth shore and the Gong - Balmain have no depth at all - another year this this you would think they would be gone

Gong who beat Est coast, Ctown and drew with Wests - Plenty of depth - developing market and the only club flying the banner in that region.

Stgeorge who beat Syd Uni, Nth shore and Ctown. - Massive amount of depth - perhaps the strongest junior comp in Sydney to draw almost exclusively from - this year they were forced to rebuild after a large amount of departures - May not necessarily challenge again next year but if they continue along their current path wont be long.

Although the top two did win a lot of games the competition this year was very even with any team including the bottom three being able to beat any other on their day. This was proven in the results. And on their day North Melb beat St Kilda - you cant seriously suggest that they were within a bulls roar of the Saints though

I saw the bats play several times this season and yes they looked very good beating ordinary opposition (compared to prem Div) but would struggle considerably if they were put into Prem Div. Have heard for years that Div 1 would get smased by Prem Div Ressies - afterall we were miles off prem Divs class - this season has debunked that myth quite comprehensively - From what Ive seen of UTS Id expect them to be very competitive if admitted to Prem Div

[Matty]

Balmain who beat Penno, Nth shore and the Gong - Balmain have no depth at all - another year this this you would think they would be gone. Think they finished above a couple of teams last year but yes you wouldnt imagine they would be able to continue to finsh at the bottom and stay in Prem div. There lack of depth is exactly the reason. They have had no under 18s coming through for a few years now which is a big worry. They dont have anywhere near the breeding ground of teams like Stgeorge, Penno or the gong which is a huge disadvantage.

Gong who beat Est coast, Ctown and drew with Wests - Plenty of depth - developing market and the only club flying the banner in that region. Although they have been at the bottom of the table the last couple years the Gong should continue to be protected as there juiors and off field seem very good.

Stgeorge who beat Syd Uni, Nth shore and Ctown. - Massive amount of depth - perhaps the strongest junior comp in Sydney to draw almost exclusively from - this year they were forced to rebuild after a large amount of departures - May not necessarily challenge again next year but if they continue along their current path wont be long. Stgeorge will always be there abouts due to their juniors being so strong. They were very poor this year and like all the bootom teams it was their depth that is lacking. Im sure they will be back challenging for a finals spot in a few years once they bring some more juniors up. They do seem to move players and coches on quite regularly though which is a worry.

Although the top two did win a lot of games the competition this year was very even with any team including the bottom three being able to beat any other on their day. This was proven in the results. And on their day North Melb beat St Kilda - you cant seriously suggest that they were within a bulls roar of the Saints though. Point taken. At this stage the Saints did not have much to play for though and would have been just going throught he motions.

I saw the bats play several times this season and yes they looked very good beating ordinary opposition (compared to prem Div) but would struggle considerably if they were put into Prem Div. Have heard for years that Div 1 would get smased by Prem Div Ressies - afterall we were miles off prem Divs class - this season has debunked that myth quite comprehensively - From what Ive seen of UTS Id expect them to be very competitive if admitted to Prem Div. Still not convinced at all. Its a shame they did not get promoted though as it would have been good for the competition and extended the season.

[Hawknik]

Its a shame they did not get promoted though as it would have been good for the competition and extended the season.[/COLOR][/QUOTE]

I didnt think it had been decided yet? Have UTS applied to go up to Prem Div?

[Jacks]

If Balmain were to be relegatedit would not be the first time. They did a stint in what was then the SFA when Baulkham Hills entered that competition. It was the competition between the two clubs at this level that led to Baulko's ultimate promotion and the reinstating of Balmain in the top competition.
To be dropped down a grade does not spell the death of a club, as has been proved by both Balmain, Norwest and Sydney Uni, in most cases it is actually what is required for the club to be successful and re-establish itself. Hopefully SWS can be another that goes down this path.
On the subject of UTS, I think that they would be more than competitive in the premier division if they can recruit as strongly again. Both them and Manly recruited well this year and that showed in their results. The standard at what was the old first division level has improved markedly over the last few years due to the work of these clubs and Syd Uni.
I still do however think that the 2002 ECE reserve grade side would have beaten them both, but I may be biased. What do you think Shearer?
(For all those about to melt their keyboards with their scathing replys attacking ECE, I am actually joking).

[shearer]

I still do however think that the 2002 ECE reserve grade side would have beaten them both, but I may be biased. What do you think Shearer?

Id have to say that the 2002 ECE & St George ressies team would beat them both as would the two teams that played in 2001 ressies gf, the undefeated Norths team who beat us in that GF were very good.

All 4 of those teams had some very very good players who have gone on to play footy at a high level. (e.g. Toddy Featherstone from our 2001 ressies team won the Grogan Medal in the Brisbane comp a few years ago.)

I still for the life of me cant work out how Abber won the grand final medal in 2002 when he didnt get a kick and MG had 30 touches on him from fullback.

[tara]

Jacks whether I like it or not SWS in no longer their name - Just like East Coast are no longer Baulko or Norwest are no longer Hawkesbury and so on and so on.

SWS was the name adopted after the merger of both Bankstown and Liverpool - it used to annoy the @@@@ out of me and others when opposition would refer to us as Liverpool given the amount of us that were ex Bankstown - for what its worth there are six of us ex Bankstown players left from the merger and no Liverpool players remain. Prior to being independant entities the clubs had previously been joined at the hip and were known as Southern Districts - perhaps we whould be called that?

Hopefully though we can continue to move forward since dropping back - but dont expect too much from us in the short term.

[Jacks]

Apologies Tara, hard to keep up with the changing face of Sydney footy from Port Macquarie. I do however remember running around against Liverpool at Rosedale oval as a young up and comer and getting smashed from pillar to post (legally) the comp in those days made you grow up quick with Liverpool, Balmain Sutherland and the likes going around.
Shearer you are pretty hard on Aber I sorry he did kick three important goals after the game had been one that were key. Ah the body gets older but the memories get better.

[tara]

Apologies Tara, hard to keep up with the changing face of Sydney footy from Port Macquarie. I do however remember running around against Liverpool at Rosedale oval as a young up and comer and getting smashed from pillar to post (legally) the comp in those days made you grow up quick with Liverpool, Balmain Sutherland and the likes going around.
Shearer you are pretty hard on Aber I sorry he did kick three important goals after the game had been one that were key. Ah the body gets older but the memories get better.

No worries - Also dont worry about being nice to Liverpool there was nothing legal about anything they did from memory - we hated them - funny thing was though right from the first night at training the differences were put aside - I remember the first night I showed up and like alot of other ex Bankstown we were pretty apprenhsive but were prepared to give it a shot and to be honest it worked pretty well.

[Jacks]

To get back on topic the rule of thumb in the past for promotion to Premier division has generally been a number of years of success on field and as importantly at an administrative level. Win a flag prove you can be consistently competitive and promotion follows. If UTS continue the way they are going with their on field results as a club and their massive player numbers I can't see promption being to far away.