NFNL Div 3 discussion 2023
- Thread starter NorthernBastard
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Kilmore have done pretty well bringing in players this off season. Will improve you’d suspect.
I think it's been in the 50+ range OandO, which far exceeds the first night of pre-season in recent years that's for sure.
- Oct 3, 2017
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Stars will need to keep there very best players on the park. Depth slides dramatically.
- Nov 2, 2006
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Mappa looks like 'our' move north has provided our clubs with some new opportunities.
. We currently have 72 players suggesting they are available - should be around 31 players in July
Chump
Mappa looks like 'our' move north has provided our clubs with some new opportunities.
We currently have 72 players suggesting they are available - should be around 31 players in July
Chump
I’ve just read the article about recruits in Div 3 so far mate, and looks to be some decent quality across the board there. Can our humble little clubs claim some credit for the added interest in Div3
Les429
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- Jul 24, 2017
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If that makes you feel good. But d3 is not what it use to be 7 or 8 yrs ago. The top 5 or 6 in d3 would be competitive and match it with d2 teams 3 down to 10. Players are seeing this and clubs are. There are some d2 teams that need to get their skates on otherwise there will a range of d3 teams pushing up and pushing them out.
I’ve just read the article about recruits in Div 3 so far mate, and looks to be some decent quality across the board there. Can our humble little clubs claim some credit for the added interest in Div3
- Nov 2, 2006
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It may have been tongue in cheek from Mappa.
Without doubt the most competitive and talented D3 in many, many years by all reports. If you make finals, let alone win it, you will have had a reasonable year..... and clubs still talking to many new recruits as we speak.
Chump
Classic “it was better in those days”
I think you are fantasizing over days gone by saying how much better it use to be.
Les429
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Actually what I'm saying is, it's better now, more competitive now than it was 7 or 8 yrs ago.
Brainy Tim
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Kick long and start a fight days!
barrelsomers
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- Jul 11, 2017
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It is without a doubt much more competitive than it used to be. A lot of teams would go up and get close to coming back down or get relegated. Banyule, Watsonia, St Mary's, Sth Morang have all gone up and been competitive/played finals at least. Banyule even exceeding and headed to Div1
- Jul 18, 2017
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Little bit of a history check of the last 11 Div 3 premiers:
2011 - South morang relegated 2013
2012 - Mernda relegated 2015
2013 - Panton Hill relegated 2017
2014 - Thomastown (still in div 2) 4th 2018, 4th 2019, 3rd 2021, 4th 2022
2015 - Reservoir (went into recess after winning the flag)
2016 - Watsonia (still in division 2) top 5 2023
2017 - Banyule (division 1) top 3 2018, top 2019 (lost gf), top 2021, flag 2022 in div 2, avoided relegation div 1 2023
2018 - St Marys (still in division 2) finished top 3 2023
2019 - Panton Hill (still in division 2)
2021 - No promotion
2022 - South Morang (still in division 2) have finished top 5 2023
2023 - Laurimar (???)
**Epping also vountarlly promoted in 2018 and won 6 games in their first year in Div 2.
Aside from Reservoir who went into recess, no div 3 premier has come back down since Panton Hill were relegated in 2017 after winning the 2013 flag. Maybe the gap between the top teams in div 3 and the lower teams in div 2 isnt as high as people think. Much smaller of a gap compared to the Div 2 to Div 1 jump.
2011 - South morang relegated 2013
2012 - Mernda relegated 2015
2013 - Panton Hill relegated 2017
2014 - Thomastown (still in div 2) 4th 2018, 4th 2019, 3rd 2021, 4th 2022
2015 - Reservoir (went into recess after winning the flag)
2016 - Watsonia (still in division 2) top 5 2023
2017 - Banyule (division 1) top 3 2018, top 2019 (lost gf), top 2021, flag 2022 in div 2, avoided relegation div 1 2023
2018 - St Marys (still in division 2) finished top 3 2023
2019 - Panton Hill (still in division 2)
2021 - No promotion
2022 - South Morang (still in division 2) have finished top 5 2023
2023 - Laurimar (???)
**Epping also vountarlly promoted in 2018 and won 6 games in their first year in Div 2.
Aside from Reservoir who went into recess, no div 3 premier has come back down since Panton Hill were relegated in 2017 after winning the 2013 flag. Maybe the gap between the top teams in div 3 and the lower teams in div 2 isnt as high as people think. Much smaller of a gap compared to the Div 2 to Div 1 jump.
Intresting stuff. There is some god average sides in D2 atm, the gap isn’t big at all.
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What’s the record of the team relegated from div 2 in there first year back in div 3?
- Jul 18, 2017
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Relegation end of 2011 - Mernda, Flag 2012, Relegated again 2015
Relegation end of 2012 - Thomastown, 3rd in 2013 Flag 2014 (2 years in Div 3)
Relegation end of 2013 - South Morang, promoted 2022 (9 years in div 3)
Relegation end of 2014 - Epping, went upto Div 2 after 3 years voluntarily
Relegation end of 2015 - Mernda, still in div 3 8 years later
Relegation end of 2016 - Lalor, still in division 3 7 years later
Relegation end of 2017 - Panton Hill, played in 2 consecutive division 3 grand finals after relegation
Relegation end of 2018 - No relegation (Watsonia finished last)
Relegation end of 2019 - No relegation (Epping finished last) eventually back in division 3
Relegation end of 2021 - No relegation (Fitzroy Stars finished last) eventually back in division 3
Relegation end of 2022 - Fitzroy Stars (3rd last in div 3)
Relegation end of 2023 - Epping (???)
Aside from Panton Hill, no other team has found it easy to bounce straight back up and it has become quite hard to even make finals post relegation. Mernda has struuggled to make finals continuously before this year, Lalor have hardly won a game and stars didnt find it as easy as they probably thought they would. The gap in the early 2010s looks to have been much bigger, teams being relegated back then bounced back up quicker and those being promoted came back down as quickly as they went up.
A HS article has a list of ins (pending clearances of course).
The ones linked to Lalor were:
LALOR
Seb Pretty: A part of Wallan’s under-19s this season, playing 10 games, including the Magpies’ preliminary final. A strong body and good size for a young player, he’s the type of recruit that the Bloods need to build around moving forward. Can play anywhere on the ground.
Nathan Stamkovski: Arrives from North Heidelberg, where he played 12 reserve grade matches this season. Adds experience and skill to a Bloods team in need of both. Will have his work cut out in defence in 2024.
Ethan Hope: Made his senior debut as a 17-year-old under Lance Whitnall at Craigieburn. Played 14 games and kicked five goals for EDFL Division 2 outfit Hadfield this season. Lalor hopes to utilise his run-and-carry and accurate kick across half-back and through the midfield.
Nick Caldone: Played under Lance Whitnall at Craigieburn before having time out of the game. Returned to the field with Maribyrnong Park this season, playing 12 games for the Lions’ Thirds. Will look to step back up to senior football at Sydney Crescent in 2024 and at age 24, still has plenty of development.
Sam Rexhepi: A massive recruiting coup for Lalor, regaining the services of the former club captain. Even in Lalor’s down years, Rexhepi was a goal machine, kicking 25 goals, winning the club best-and-fairest and making the Team of the Year in 2021 and 39 majors in 2019.
Hayden Hunt: Reigning North Heidelberg reserve grade best-and-fairest winner will be a key inclusion in the Bloods’ midfield.
Heath & Ashley Patton: Heath teams back up with his former Craigieburn coach Lance Whitnall, crossing from Maribyrnong Park (EDFL). The tall utility will be joined by his even taller brother Ashley who can fill a key position role at either end of the ground.
I'd have thought they would need to be adding a significant number of senior players rather than a cluster of twos, threes and Under 19 players to make any progress this year.
BTW is the definition of 'goal machine' someone who averages 1.5 goals a game? Bit light on for my liking to get that tag.
The ones linked to Lalor were:
LALOR
Seb Pretty: A part of Wallan’s under-19s this season, playing 10 games, including the Magpies’ preliminary final. A strong body and good size for a young player, he’s the type of recruit that the Bloods need to build around moving forward. Can play anywhere on the ground.
Nathan Stamkovski: Arrives from North Heidelberg, where he played 12 reserve grade matches this season. Adds experience and skill to a Bloods team in need of both. Will have his work cut out in defence in 2024.
Ethan Hope: Made his senior debut as a 17-year-old under Lance Whitnall at Craigieburn. Played 14 games and kicked five goals for EDFL Division 2 outfit Hadfield this season. Lalor hopes to utilise his run-and-carry and accurate kick across half-back and through the midfield.
Nick Caldone: Played under Lance Whitnall at Craigieburn before having time out of the game. Returned to the field with Maribyrnong Park this season, playing 12 games for the Lions’ Thirds. Will look to step back up to senior football at Sydney Crescent in 2024 and at age 24, still has plenty of development.
Sam Rexhepi: A massive recruiting coup for Lalor, regaining the services of the former club captain. Even in Lalor’s down years, Rexhepi was a goal machine, kicking 25 goals, winning the club best-and-fairest and making the Team of the Year in 2021 and 39 majors in 2019.
Hayden Hunt: Reigning North Heidelberg reserve grade best-and-fairest winner will be a key inclusion in the Bloods’ midfield.
Heath & Ashley Patton: Heath teams back up with his former Craigieburn coach Lance Whitnall, crossing from Maribyrnong Park (EDFL). The tall utility will be joined by his even taller brother Ashley who can fill a key position role at either end of the ground.
I'd have thought they would need to be adding a significant number of senior players rather than a cluster of twos, threes and Under 19 players to make any progress this year.
BTW is the definition of 'goal machine' someone who averages 1.5 goals a game? Bit light on for my liking to get that tag.
I mean it’s a start but when you look at the quality even Fitzroy and Kilmore have brought in compared to it it’s a long long road back.
- Aug 24, 2008
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Need quantity before quality. Quality is obviously always but Quantity is necessary. They cannot see byes this year. That is a start getting the numbers.
on and off
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Nice insight mate
- Nov 2, 2006
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Is Coulson confirmed to be returning to West H or just training there? Some decent ruckmen running around for Div 3 next year.
Chump
Chump
I dare say would have been announced if confirmed. Is he even training there?
Heard a whisper Eddie Betts will play a couple of games for the stars.
