SFL Regional League (Round-Up)

[Kingpin]

The Mercury 31st March 2005 - SFL Regional League Club Roundup

Channel
Coach: Craig Roberts
Captain: Andrew Chilcott
Last Year: 5th
Gains: Craig Roberts, Mathew Haas, Jason Haas, Simon Lampkin, Peter Roberts, Robbie Karoustadis, Stuart Bowes, Damien Smith, Tim Sanita, Daniel Brokate, Cameron Jones, David Careless (all Kingborough), Craig Haremza (Hobart), Shawn Sartori (Hobart), Mark Percy (Friends), Gordon Shaw (Cygnet), Craig Cross (retirement).
Losses: Luke Swards (England), Ben Hilfenhaus (unavailable).

Should be the big improvers of the season after a massive recruiting drive, headed by a swag of Kingborough players, including veteran Tiger defender and now Saints playing-coach Craig Roberts.
Also picked up experienced Premier League players in Hobart's 2004 best and fairest winner Shawn Sartori and teammate Craig Haremza, plus triple Cygnet premiership player Gordon Shaw and former Carlton draftee Craig Cross out of retirement.

Claremont
Coach: Danny Barrow
Captain: To be confirmed
Last Year: 7th
Gains: Brendon Berechree (Smithton), Scott Bryan (Smithton), Cameron Neubacher (Launceston), Rob Lillico (Wynyard).
Losses: Dwayne Jacobson (University), Shaun Rowell (University), Damien Knott (University), Kim Carr (retired), Michael Cassidy (Lindisfarne).

One of the most successful Southern football clubs with a proud tradition and 19 senior and eight premierships, the off-season has gone haywire for the Magpies.
New coach Danny Barrow is the first to acknowledge this is going to be a tough year for the club, if they get a team at all.
Lack of numbers has hurt the club, but Barrow believes in short term pain for long term gain as he tries to redevelop the club's culture and structure with the board's support.

Cygnet
Coach: Anthony Cole.
Captain: Julien Direen
Last Year: 1st
Gains: Anthony Cole (retirement), Damien Clark (broken leg).
Losses: Gordon Shaw (Channel)

After claiming its three-peat last season, the Port have only been further strengthened by the takeover of Clarence premiership player Anthony Cole as playing-coach to replace Gary Williamson.
The coach will spend most of his time across half-back and trouble-shoot as required.
Cygnet can once again expect a swag of goals from Michael Darcy and opposing sides will be looking to restrict his opportunities.
Key players Matthew and Jeremy Brereton will miss the first half of the season, otherwise the Port will field a similar lineup.
The motivation for the Port could be the only issue standing in the way of four flags.

Dodges Ferry
Coach: Danny Ling
Captain: Jamie Curran
Last Year: 4th
Gains: Shaun Skelly (New Norfolk), Michael Vanek (Glenorchy), Sam Nettleford (retirement), Isaac Bennett (North Hobart), Brendon James (Lindisfarne), Gary Daza (Lindisfarne), Marty Pearce (year off through injury), Steven Coats (Swansea), Adrian Close (Swansea), Michael Gotowski.
Losses: Danny Noonan (Devils runner), Leigh Proud (Lindisfarne), Adam Dermoudy.

Building the club's depth has been the key to the pre-season, and new coach Danny Ling is confident the Sharks can now cover their injuries and stay competitive.
Ling believes improvement will come with the addition of two new key defenders in Shaun Skelly and Michael Vanek, but there is no doubt the loss of former Brisbane Bear, Clarence premiership player and William Leitch Medallist Danny Noonan will leave a massive hole.

Huonville
Coach: Michael McGregor
Captain: To be confirmed
Last Year: 6th
Gains: Michael McGregor (Hobart), Daniel Thorpe (Kermandie), Scott Dickson (Hobart).
Losses: Nathan Longman (Kingborough), Chris Joyce (Kingborough).

New playing-coach Michael McGregor has been just about everywhere and seen just about everything but he believes Cygnet is the perfect blueprint for country clubs, and is trying to instil the same philosophy at Huonville.
The emphasis will be on promoting a number of talented underage players rather than major recruiting from other clubs, as the locals will stay and build a dynasty similar to that of Cygnet's hold on the competition.
But McGregor said despite their age, these players are all ready for senior action.

Kermandie
Coach: Adam Henley
Captain: To be confirmed
Last Year: 3rd
Gains: Adam Henley, Mathew Bernes, Jamie Kaye, Andrew Fehlberg, Shane Fehlberg, Adam Ransley (all Glenorchy), Andrew Nash (Rosebery).
Losses: Daniel Thorpe (Huonville), David Reynolds (interstate), Alan Robinson (Lindisfarne).

After finishing third for the past two seasons, Kermandie has gone on a major recruiting drive, with new playing coach Adam Henley of Glenorchy bringing a flight of former Magpies with him.
Hotly tipped by other Regional League clubs to test Cygnet's hold on the premiership cup, its main strength will be in its on-ball brigade. With so many new players, it may take a few games to gel.

Lindisfarne
Coach: Jarrod Bennett
Captain: Nicholas Braslin
Last Year: 8th
Gains: Kane Menzie (University), Wayne Hogan (Swansea), Kane Mansell (Swansea), Shaun Goodsell (Oatlands), Michael Cassidy (Claremont), Andrew Fleming (North Hobart), John Fowle (North Hobart), Mark Rutherford (Glenorchy), Alan Robinson (Kermandie), Justin Myers (Oatlands), Leigh Proud (Dodges Ferry).
Losses: Chris Bone (army).

After years in the doldrums, Lindisfarne believes it has turned the corner.
Recruitment has been strong and numbers to pre-season training have been outstanding.
New playing coach Jarrod Bennett is not making any bold predictions for the season, but said it was the first step in the Blues' three-year plan. Will have plenty of firepower up forward, with Bennett, Shaun Goodsell, Leigh Proud and former Glenorchy forward Wayne Hogan.

Sorell
Coach: Anthony McConnon
Captain: Jonathan Brimfield
Last Year: 2nd
Gains: Allan Haw (Brighton - pending clearance), James Penwright (Lauderdale - pending clearance), Jeremy Smith (Richmond - pending clearance), Nathan Westbury (Lauderdale).
Losses: Justin Carr (retirement).

Last season's beaten grand finalist has worked to improve its weakness by recruiting a some quality midfielders -- pending clearances from a number of clubs.
On paper, yet another club that has seemed to improve, especially in depth, and looks set to test the Huon clubs in the finals.
The Eagles have also had a full pre-season, which they were denied after rushing into the Regional League after a years absence. Have also gained the services of former Devils squad goalsneak Allan Haw.

[Kingpin]

31st March 2005 - Major challenges to Cygnet's long reign
By Brett Stubbs.

Cygnet, invincible for so long in the Southern Regional League, has become the hunted this season.
After winning three flags in a row, the Port power machine has inspired other clubs to lift to its level, rather than Cygnet dropping back.
And -- on paper at least -- lift the other clubs have.
Channel and Kermandie have gone on major recruiting drives, bringing in a host of Premier League players from Kingborough and Glenorchy respectively.
Both clubs have brought in a plethora of Premier League players and their impact on their respective sides will have a direct bearing on their teams' seasons.
Channel has some real experience with new playing coach Craig Roberts, running defender Simon Lampkin, Hobart best and fairest winner Shawn Sartori and Craig Haremza all having spent last year at the top local level, while Gordon Shaw and Craig Cross, well into the twilights of their careers, can still occasionally dazzle.
Kermandie, third last year, will be watched with interest.
It has gained Adam Henley from Glenorchy as coach and he has brought with him Mathew Bernes, Jamie Kay, Andrew Fehleberg, Shane Fehleberg and Adam Ransley from KGV.
Even lowly Lindisfarne appears set for a bright future when it was clouded in darkness for so long.
Lindisfarne has a total of 41 new players on the books, many set to walk straight in and lift the senior team.
There is real excitement at Anzac Park, and the arrival of former Glenorchy and Swansea forward-ruckman Wayne Hogan -- perhaps best known for his tongue antics on The Footy Show -- could see another cult hero to match Cygnet's Michael "Pud'' Darcy and Sorell's Sam Bowering.
Dodges Ferry has merely tweaked its playing list to amend some weaknesses and also has talented youngsters, with 17-year-olds Justin Howell and Jesse O'Neal being the first Sharks players to make the Tassie Mariners squad.
Youth is also thought to be the key at Huonville, where for a number of seasons, the Lions' underage success has failed to translate to senior prosperity.
New coach Michael McGregor is keen to link the two and will promote a number of the young locals to build an era of finals and flags, just as Huon rival Cygnet has done.
After just one season in the Regional League, Sorell announced its arrival with a grand final spot, only to fall on Cygnet's sword like so many before it.
It too has not been overly active in the recruiting stages but, like Dodges, has targeted specific areas.
The Eagles' onball brigade will be considerably lifted by the arrival of James Penwright and Justin Westbury, who are both familiar with coach Anthony McConnon's style having played under him at Lauderdale.
Claremont's season could be long and arduous -- and may not even lift off at all.
But this year is seen as the first in a rebuilding process of attitude and discipline, as the once strong Southern Amateurs club tries to eventually relive those glory days.
This just leaves Cygnet and the biggest questions of all.
Is it still the power of the previous three years?
Are the hunger and passion there after so many flags?
Certainly the talent is still on tap and might even be increased by the inclusion of playing coach Anthony Cole and star centreman Damien Dillon's first full pre-season following a knee reconstruction in 2003.
But any weakness seen in its opponents will be jumped upon, with the likes of Dodges Ferry, Sorell, Channel and bitter arch-rival Kermandie ready to inflict three seasons of revenge on the men in teal, black and white.

[Kingpin]

1st April 2005 - Changes to Grounds
A number of changes have been ratified for games this weekend and next weekend.
Huonville Lions will NO LONGER be using the Heron St entrance to the ground. We will know be using the Wilmot Rd entrance.
Directions: Coming from Hobart
Go into the middle of town, turn right at the roundabout into Wilmot Rd, entrance next to Huonville Primary School.

Please note that due to the Kingston Beach Oval being unsuitable for games on April the 9th/10th due to maintenance work the following changes will apply to that weekends games;

* Premier League Round 1 (9th April) Kingborough v Glenorchy - now Glenorchy v Kingborough transferred to KGV Oval
* Premier League Round 8 (28th May) Glenorchy v Kingborough - now Kingborough v Glenorchy transferred to Kingston Beach Oval

AFLST Youth League - U/17, U/15, U/14 & U/13
Round 1 (10th April) Kingborough v Glenorchy - All games transferred to KGV Oval.

[Kingpin]

http://www.southernfootball.com.au/images/AFLSouthernTasmania_small.jpg

2005 AFL Southern Tasmanian Regional League - Round 1 (April 2nd)
Cygnet - Sorell (at Cygnet Recreation Ground)
Dodges Ferry - Kermandie (at Shark Park)
Huonville Lions - Channel (at Huonville Oval)
Lindisfarne - Claremont (at Anzac Park)

[Barge]

Anyone keen to have a go at guessing the eventual placings?

I'll give it a whirl: Kermandie to thwart Cygnet's bid for a `Foursome' by beating the Port in the Big One, then will come Sorell, Channel, Dodges Ferry. Missing the finals will be Lindisfarne, Huonville and unfortunately Claremont will be lucky to win a game.

Put simply if Kermandie don't win it this year with all the money they are no doubt spending they'll never win one and no one will ever beat Cygnet!

One thing sure to go in Cygnet's favour: they are all from Cygnet (except Cole obviously) whereas at Kermandie it's a case of `spot the local!' There will undeniably be more togetherness, at least at season's commencement, at Cygnet than `down the road'!

Thoughts Boys?

[WCL]

Kermandie
Cygnet
Dodges Ferry
Huonville
Channel

Sorrel
Lindisfarne
Claremont

Huonville is the Dark horse.

[Kingpin]

Cygnet
Kermandie
Channel
Sorell
Huonville
_________
Dodges Ferry
Lindisfarne
Claremont

[Barge]

Whilst they do have Jerk McGregor as Tigers calls him (lol), apart from Nick Fooks and 1 or 2 other stalwarts, they are a very, very young side.

If come August they finish ahead of Dodges as Tigers is predicting, and Channel and Sorell as WCL is saying, I will never comment on local football again.

[WCL]

Fair enough Barge, it's just my opinion that their all conquering colts side will provide quite a few good young players for the seniors which should get them into the finals.

[Barge]

You raise a valid point WCL, they have had an awesome colts side the last couple of years, off the top of my head would have been flat out losing 4 games over the last two years!

Saying they'll make the finals in the seniors puts alot of pressure on these kids, most of whom wouldn't have played in the 1.45pm game before! She's a different kettle of fish up there!

These kids will be good senior players, don't get me wrong, but it takes time. Should these kids stick around I reckon the Regional League clubs could well hate Huonville like they hate Cygnet now for dominating the comp.

TIME WILL TELL!

Tigers 1945 may be able to tell us as I don't know, Is McGregor the kind of coach, if things aren't going according to plan, that would give these kids a taste of the `hot gospelling' so to speak?

[Kingpin]

Tigers 1945 may be able to tell us as I don't know, Is McGregor the kind of coach, if things aren't going according to plan, that would give these kids a taste of the `hot gospelling' so to speak?

Ahhh yes ;) Goes right off in fact.
Thing I didn't like about Jock is his disrespect of opposition teams, and individual players, he undervalues them too often and that tends to leap up and bite him on the arse later.
I remember at Bellerive against Clarence in 2003, Hobart had the Roos absolutely on the ropes at halftime, Hobart has won only about 4 times there since the 1970's (the last in 1990).
McGregor has gone in at half-time dissing out Clarence, thier players, what a front runner Cooney was etc.
That little speel came back to bit him, Cooney came out and single handedly dominated the third quarter, within the first ten minutes, Hobart's 32 point lead had evaporated as the Roos kicked 6 or 7 in the first 15 minutes.

The Roos ended up winning by 7-points in the end, a very bitter loss.

[Kingpin]

Quarter Time
Cygnet 2.4.16 - Sorell 2.1.13
Huonville Lions 3.3.21 - Channel 3.1.19
Lindisfarne 4.7.31 - Claremont 2.0.12
Dodges Ferry 2.4.16 - Kermandie 1.1.7

[Kingpin]

SFL - Half Time:
Cygnet 7.10.52 - Sorell 2.5.17
Dodges Ferry 9.9.63 - Kermandie 7.1.43
Huonville Lions 8.9.57 - Channel 4.2.26
Lindisfarne 14.6.90 - Claremont 4.1.25

NTFL - Half Time:
Launceston 6.10.46 - South Launceston 3.5.23
Devonport 12.13.85 - Penguin 3.4.22
Wynyard 10.5.65 - Smithton 6.5.41
Ulverstone 10.5.65 - East Devonport 3.4.22

VFL - Half Time:
Springvale 8.12.60 - TFC Devils 7.5.47

[Kingpin]

See the other thread for all SFL, NTFL, NTFA and other final scores as they become available Here (http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=161674)

[WCL]

Thanks for the updates. How about those mighty Huonville Lions. also good to see Launceston Blues doing well.

[Barge]

Dunno if this belongs on this thread (I'm sure if it doesn't you'll soon let me know!) but I just had a gander at the SFL Website stupidly thinking they might have details of today's games on there (You idiot, Barge!) and the first few `SFL Headlines' on there are about the St Kilda/Freo game, The Devils (What's new there) and a bloody ODFA preview ! ? !

I think if they want to broadcast these stories then Tigers 1945's mates (Morrison, Wade, etc etc) should just create an `AFL Tasmania' website!

[Kingpin]

Dunno if this belongs on this thread (I'm sure if it doesn't you'll soon let me know!) but I just had a gander at the SFL Website stupidly thinking they might have details of today's games on there (You idiot, Barge!) and the first few `SFL Headlines' on there are about the St Kilda/Freo game, The Devils (What's new there) and a bloody ODFA preview ! ? !

I think if they want to broadcast these stories then Tigers 1945's mates (Morrison, Wade, etc etc) should just create an `AFL Tasmania' website!

Yes, I had the same thoughts about this as you (and The Doctor 73 on the aflst site), I actually emailed the webmaster of the SFL Website asking the following:

Letter to the SFL Website.

To: webmaster@southernfootball.com.au
Subject: Devils propoganda on the SFL Website.

Being the AFLST/SFL website, how come there are nine (9) out of the fifteen news articles on the front page relating to the Tasmanian Devils playing in the VICTORIAN Football League?
Surely, Devils news belongs on either the Devils own website or an AFL Tasmania website (if they'd update the current one) and SFL news should be placed on the SFL website?

Just curious.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am still to receive a reply at this stage.
I actually had a look at the Devils Website Here (http://www.devilsfc.com) and it is a dog's breakfast. It looks like it may have been abandoned, which leads me to believe that Messrs Wade, Morrison & Co are colaberating to put all the info on the SFL's site.
The AFL Tasmania site located Here (http://www.footballtas.com.au/) has hardly been updated in two years, so articles that should be appearing there are turning up on the SFL site.
They know which was the more popular site, and are attempting to flood it with there own news IMHO.