2011- Promotion & relegation

[ShortHalfHead]

This is the comment that grabbed me the most and it hasn't drawn any feedback. SHH, tell us what you know about this. I didn't even realise Penno was looking elsewhere, although I do know they weren't happy with not being allowed to build coaches boxes and a commentary box on top of the clubrooms a couple of years ago.

Hope I didn't speak out of school and can't confirm that it was a done deal. But the whispers were strong.
Penrith might be stuck at Greygums for a while yet with no real alternatives available at present. However, it's looking very good at present that the surface will be compeltely re-done and new turf laid in the off season that is probably the most important issue to overcome.
And Norris, agree 100% with your thinking. Campbelltown need to rebuild and should try and get a team in CC next year. I don't think Balmain are going to try real hard to field an 18's team from their statement earlier this year. Even if they did, bailing out mid-comp twice in the last three years doesn't do their chances of fielding a team in PC any good. Hopefully, Penrith will be elevated. Only 9 of this years 28 man squad are going to seniors and the feedback from the junior clubs and their 16's players intentions has been more than good.

[Doped Youth]

St George looked at Hurstville Oval a couple of years ago, but nothing came of it. Even if they took the bike track out, it would probably still be too small. But as Pekay said, the surfaces on the cricket grounds are often better.

To my understanding there are talks of this move again

[ShortHalfHead]

To my understanding there are talks of this move again

My understanding is that a refurb of Olds is on the cards

[DLH]

Imagine Penriff being allowed to play on Howell Oval (maybe now Stu has a bit of political clout?)

Mate, this has been on the agenda for more than a decade, but given that the local grade cricket club are dead against the idea I don't know that it will ever happen. They use the line that the land for Howell Oval was "bequethed" for the purposes of cricket, so nothing else can be played there, and they have always had the support of Council on this.

What I don't quite get is that they have just received $3 million in Federal funding to build a new pavillion, but the facility will still only be used for 6 months of the year. What ever happened to maximising the return on government expenditure??

Our plan has always been only to play our home matches there, with Greygums to still be used for training so as to minimise traffic on the surface, which was the reason why the local cricket association lobbied to have us kicked off Dukes Oval 5-6 years ago.

Looks like we're stuck at Greygums for the forseeable future, and although some spending on the surface would be welcome, the fact remains that the ground is in a flood zone and is out the back of nowhere.

[floppinab]

Just read through this thread and was wondering if anyone had heard anymore about the AFL's grand plans for an East Coast semi-prof. league (or north/south leagues) as a prime vehicle to house the 4 AFL clubs 2nd grade teams + anything around 6 to 8 local clubs out of the QAFL, SFL and ACTAFL.

Most things I've read has anything upward of 4 teams from the ACTAFL and 2 from the SFL going into this league for 2011.

Thoughts and noises.........

[beameup]

Just read through this thread and was wondering if anyone had heard anymore about the AFL's grand plans for an East Coast semi-prof. league (or north/south leagues) as a prime vehicle to house the 4 AFL clubs 2nd grade teams + anything around 6 to 8 local clubs out of the QAFL, SFL and ACTAFL.

Most things I've read has anything upward of 4 teams from the ACTAFL and 2 from the SFL going into this league for 2011.

Thoughts and noises.........

I have heard that it is definitely a goer. But I have also heard two versions. One is a 10-12 team comp which will enble them to manage long trips. 4 x AFL ressies teams, 4 x Act teams, 1 NT, 1Nth QLD plus Sydney or Brisbane. The other is a north and south split with about 8 in each including more Syd and Bris and Wagga. I figure when it happens it happens

[BOOMERHARVES]

Played both East Coast and Moorebank twice this year. Can assure you that MS are head and heals above East Coast. If they think MS should stay in Div 3, then ECE should be dropped to Div 4. UTS and MS are the teams to beat in Div 3 and with UTS unable to go up, leave it between Penrith and MS to fight out promotion. But unless the league go with a new division (5), it would have to also promote Mac Uni so they are unable to have two sides in the one comp again. I really think there is a case for the two top/bottom teams for promotion/relegation, but that might raise the ire of some clubs.

18's is another story. Bit hard to promote/relegate teams on a transient player base. If clubs only could tell the truth as to where they are at in terms of numbers, sooner rather than later, it would make things a lot easier for all

Premier Div - Having played both Divisions - I think the premier Div will stay as is... Even the lowly Balmain would beat UTS comfotably!!! The premier Div is much much stronger than the Div 1

Div 1 - I believe Wollongong should drop down to Div 2 to allow the Southern Power to move up. Wests and UNSW/ES both have more potential than Wollongong.

Div 2 - I havnt seen enough of Div 2 to talk teams up, but i have heard and from looking at results that the Power are streaks ahead of most teams. The move of UTS, MANLY and Macquarie to Div 1 in the last few years has proved the right move as i think Southern Power to Div 1 will prove. Im not sure abouth the bottom end of the table in Div 2 but from what i have seen from Moorebank Sports they are definately not worthy of a promotion.. They have been unable to beat the ECE 3rd grade side!!! Players out maybe yes but to not even be able to beat a 3rd string Eagles mob just doesnt cut it... In saying that i think that ECE's full strength 3rd grade side would win the Div 3 comp hands down... It's a pity they cant get there best team on the park consistantly...

Div 4 - Salem and his mob must definately move up to Div 3 !!!! 100 goals in 12 games is not bad... Even in Div 4!!

[Ken Oath]

i think that ECE's full strength 3rd grade side would win the Div 3 comp hands down... It's a pity they cant get there best team on the park consistantly...

That could be said for every team/club regardless of 1's 2's or 3's. The ladder never lies. I'm sure Balmain's 2's who got belted on the weekend by 200+ are thinking they'd win Div 2 comp hands down IF their 1st grade was full strength bla bla bla... well they're not.
Moorebank are in 1st spot for a reason. I still think they'd be way out of their depth in Div 2.

Agreed on the other points though.

[BOOMERHARVES]

That could be said for every team/club regardless of 1's 2's or 3's. The ladder never lies. I'm sure Balmain's 2's who got belted on the weekend by 200+ are thinking they'd win Div 2 comp hands down IF their 1st grade was full strength bla bla bla... well they're not.
Moorebank are in 1st spot for a reason. I still think they'd be way out of their depth in Div 2.

Agreed on the other points though.

Its a worry anyway that Balmains 2s are getting flogged against Div 2 side seeing they provide players for Premier Div.. There lack of depth is a massive worry. With the ECE 3s its not a matter of the 1st and 2nd grade sides its a matter of availabilities and whether blokes rock up or not... I think Penrith and UTS in Div 3 are as good as Moorebank without question..

[Roscoe]

Moorebank are in 1st place in Div 3 for the reason that they are currently the best team in that comp

I was criticised for saying that they would be my tip for the div 3 premiership at seasons start

OK there is still along way to go - time will tell. Disagree that they would be out of their depth in Div 2 in 2011

I have watched div 2 all year and reckon they would be Ok, they are making steady progress.

Auburn must go up into div 3, they are far too strong for div 4

In the 18's Pemriff would benefit from a step up to the premier division - its not their fault

they are too strong. Campbelltown must go down to challenge cup and Balmain must try and develop

a foundation instead of throwing big $$$ to ex AFL players

[DLH]

Obviously the outcome of the finals series will decide who is worthy of promotion, but I'm reminded of the old argument about the gulf between the old SFL and SFA and the fact that the SFA seniors would be no match for the SFL reserves.....have a look at Div 1.

Pekay would be best placed to talk about whether Moorebank could compete in Div 2, but given that his club didn't make the GF in Div 3 and are now in the four in the higher grade, I think that's a pretty good indicator.

Certainly for the good of our club going forward, Penrith would love to be involved at Div 2 and Premier Cup level next year, but ultimately you've got to earn that right on the paddock.

[Mug Punter]

Obviously the outcome of the finals series will decide who is worthy of promotion, but I'm reminded of the old argument about the gulf between the old SFL and SFA and the fact that the SFA seniors would be no match for the SFL reserves.....have a look at Div 1.

Indeed, the current Div 1 format illustrates clearly that the gulf is not that big. The strength of the old SFA fluctuated over the years but the stronger clubs of that era (The Manly sides of the late 90s and the Mac Uni sides of the early noughties) would have been very competitive with the bottom couple of SFL clubs. Unfortunately clubs used to bottom out and stagnate in the old SFA as big fish in a small pond.

The current structure really allows the old SFA clubs to develop and in time I think you will see that the SFL clubs will merely make up the numbers in that comp with Sutherland and Holroyd Parramatta stepping up and making up the top 5 on a regular basis.

It's not plausible at the moment but promotion and relegation clearly works best on a club basis rather than a team basis. IF we could get to an 8 division comp SFL Premier plus Div 1 - 7 then a four division with automatic promotion relegation (2 up 2 down) as with the VAFA and Sydney subbies rugby would be ideal.

[BOOMERHARVES]

Moorebank are in 1st place in Div 3 for the reason that they are currently the best team in that comp

I was criticised for saying that they would be my tip for the div 3 premiership at seasons start

OK there is still along way to go - time will tell. Disagree that they would be out of their depth in Div 2 in 2011

I have watched div 2 all year and reckon they would be Ok, they are making steady progress.

Auburn must go up into div 3, they are far too strong for div 4

In the 18's Pemriff would benefit from a step up to the premier division - its not their fault

they are too strong. Campbelltown must go down to challenge cup and Balmain must try and develop

a foundation instead of throwing big $$$ to ex AFL players

Yes Moorebank are ontop for a reason but thats not to say theyre good enough to move up to Div 2. I disagree also that they would stuggle in Div 2 !! I believe they would be around the middle of the ladder if they were to move up!! Is there a club/team in Div 2 that can be relegated to make room for Moorebank?? Finals will tell us how good Moorebank actually are... I think they will make the GF but win it?????

As for Penrith in the Challenge cup i think it would be great to see them move up but i think they will struggle big time to compete with the ECE's, Nth Shores, St geroges and Pennos in the Premier 18s..

[Roscoe]

Penrith 18's were very competitive against Saints in a game at Harrington Park recently

They would be far better than Campbelltown (at least they would get a team on the park weekly)

I reckon they would do well against Wollongong, Wests,UNSW/EASTS and Riverview

It is no benefit to their players or the rest of the competition if they stay in challenge cup 18's in 2011

[tara]

Boomer if your basing what you have seen of us in the two games against ECE then your not really in any position to make any judgement as to what we are like, especially if your basing it upon the last performance. As for making and winning GFs thats too far in the future for me to worry about and given some teams ability to have players materialise from nowhere come finals predicting a premier is anyones guess. We have 5 games left before finals and there is a lot that can happen between now and then so I would rather worry about the home and away first.