Season 2016 - early days

[justabaraker]

You people have gone quiet on me, so I'm having to rattle the cage myself to get some footy talk going.....

Hugh Priest appointed coach of Balmain. We haven't seen much of him but he won the Div 1 Brownlow so he can play a bit. He picked up the pieces after the shambles that was Balmain 2015 and looked to be having a bit of go. Seemed to be a likely leader at the club.
Kevin Meade awarded life membership. He has been around Sydney footy since Frank K was a boy and kind of stuck with Balmain through the "Purple era". A good servant of the club I would have thought.
I saw Simon Kelly at one of the finals - he was around Balmain when Frank K was a boy too and used to run a damned good radio show for our comp on Saturday mornings. i think he faded away because he didn't like "purple".

If they could hold onto what's left of the club, get Simon Kelly back, if the new coach worked out, if they could rid themselves of some of the trash of recent years, if Luffy could keep those ageing hammies singing sweetly, then they might be on the right track to returning to success.

[Pekay]

Gosford mens team back to Black Diamond.

[felix]

SWANS v COLLINGWOOD in first game of 2016 on Easter Saturday, March 26 at ANZ Stadium.
Should be good start to season for fans of both clubs.
Sydney AFL competition should start the following week.
I hope they dont go and stuff up by starting the week before Easter and then have a week off

[Norris Lurker]

I would think the weekend after (Sat 2nd April) would be about right.

[saviour01]

Someone told me the other day it was weekend after easter.

Bryce Addison took out st georges b+f. Would have been handy to have around finals time. Blake Guthries younger brother Jack took out the ressies one.

[Norris Lurker]

I've got a crazy idea. This comes from me, not from the league or any club; and maybe it's rubbish. But here goes......

With the AFL taking a week off before their finals; this gives our league a great opportunity to fill the void and market ourselves. Nothing like a Grand Final day.
Would it be viable to play our Grand Finals that weekend. Call in a few favours from the Giants & the Swans publicity-wise and become the only footy place to be.

To play our Grand Finals that weekend would mean starting the week before Easter & only having one wet weather round. And probably playing Divs 2-4 & the women on Saturday; and then Prems, Div 1 & Under 19s on the Sunday of the same weekend.
And the early start to the season could be tricky for ground availability for any venue that hosts cricket finals.

From a promotional viewpoint, I can see an opportunity here.
Or maybe it's just another silly hair-brained thought bubble from me. Wouldn't be the first time.....

[Coastal Boy]

I think its a bizarre move by the AFL to have a bye after round 23 before the finals. I think it will suck the momentum out of the finals having a week off just before. Then what happens if teams start resting players for 2 weeks leading into the finals. Do we have 2 byes? I wouldn't be surprised if it's a one year wonder.

A September 3rd/4th GF being 2 weeks earlier on this year would be the biggest hurdle. I guess the question is whether the promotional benefits are apparent.
I would also pose the question of how are crowd numbers at BISP for the finals and GF particularly compared to somewhere like Henson. Henson would be a lot closer to most clubs in the Sydney league. The SydneyAFL were not too bothered shifting this years GF away from BISP despite it having the best playing arena and amenities.

[Pekay]

Why isn't Showgrounds being considered for finals? It's not used for cricket, the Show is months away, just lies dormant for months while the Giants aren't playing.

[ShortHalfHead]

Why isn't Showgrounds being considered for finals? It's not used for cricket, the Show is months away, just lies dormant for months while the Giants aren't playing.

I've heard the rent is $12k a day. The juniors use it for their GF's and it's a great venue. I believe that the part of the Giants sponsorship includes Spotless for a cash value.

I'm sure the Giants would be very affable to letting Sydney AFL use it, on the condition only that the GF was the Women's, Auburn V Manly.

It's a good case, Norris. I'm sure that there would be a few suffering AFL cold turkey with nothing on the box and venture out to watch some local footy.

Personally, it won't bother me having an AFL free weekend before the finals as my season would have ended the week before, being a Carlton supporter.

[Mug Punter]

I think its a bizarre move by the AFL to have a bye after round 23 before the finals. I think it will suck the momentum out of the finals having a week off just before. Then what happens if teams start resting players for 2 weeks leading into the finals. Do we have 2 byes? I wouldn't be surprised if it's a one year wonder.

A September 3rd/4th GF being 2 weeks earlier on this year would be the biggest hurdle. I guess the question is whether the promotional benefits are apparent.
I would also pose the question of how are crowd numbers at BISP for the finals and GF particularly compared to somewhere like Henson. Henson would be a lot closer to most clubs in the Sydney league. The SydneyAFL were not too bothered shifting this years GF away from BISP despite it having the best playing arena and amenities.

I like it actually as it gives all ckluibs in the finals a chance to freshen up their players and get some over some niggles and it will once and for all stop clubs tanking the last round - I can't see coaches resting players for two weeks as you suggest because they will lose way too much match fitness.

And I totally like the idea of using that weekend to hold amd market the local competition. The Swans and Giants should attend and make it a fan's day as well. The Showground would be ideal

[ShortHalfHead]

The Swans and Giants should attend and make it a fan's day as well. The Showground would be ideal

They will both be on their end of season trips.

[Coastal Boy]

I would think the SydneyAFL has a commitment to playing at Blacktown if it is available albeit an unwritten one. Sure the AFL threw in some coin to build it, but the local council would not be thrilled if the big games were unnecessarily moved elsewhere. The SydneyAFL even run part of their organisation from the BISP. I think the locality is a little too far west for most AFL supporters in Sydney but now that its there I support its usage.

[Mug Punter]

They will both be on their end of season trips.

Really?

[andreww1]

Well done to Camden Cats for taking on the challenge of getting up an U19s team for next season. It is good to see them trying to grow the game out west.

[Nuttsy]

Well done to Camden Cats for taking on the challenge of getting up an U19s team for next season. It is good to see them trying to grow the game out west.

Yes its great to see the South West's junior numbers growing again to the point where both Camden and C'town will be having 19's in 2016. It was the first year in many(around 10 at least) that there was multiple Under 17's with C'town Swans, Camden and South West Tigers all fielding teams in 2015. I think they may struggle to compete in Div1 but good luck to them.