HDFNL 2026

[sharpshooter98]

Lock Laharum in for top 3 next year. They are close to signing a couple more out of Melbourne.

Interesting,
what's everyone's thoughts on how many "traveling" players can you have before you disrupt the group? I understand that clearly, Laharum are clearly trying to win it this year and well done to them on what they have done out there. But at what cost to the possible playing group future. Not saying anything will happen, we are clearly seeing it in the Wimmera league and a majority of the time it not working, Dimboola been trying for a long time, essentially their last flag was with a local group (not essentially dim locals but locals to the area that could train together) SMT also been going down that path , exciting teams , but can't quite gain that extra 20% needed to win a GF, Warrak seem to be shipping in quite a few , Kaniva had a couple last year , that drastically changed their fortunes until the finals , just a discussion ???

 

[dazzler101]

Interesting,
what's everyone's thoughts on how many "traveling" players can you have before you disrupt the group? I understand that clearly, Laharum are clearly trying to win it this year and well done to them on what they have done out there. But at what cost to the possible playing group future. Not saying anything will happen, we are clearly seeing it in the Wimmera league and a majority of the time it not working, Dimboola been trying for a long time, essentially their last flag was with a local group (not essentially dim locals but locals to the area that could train together) SMT also been going down that path , exciting teams , but can't quite gain that extra 20% needed to win a GF, Warrak seem to be shipping in quite a few , Kaniva had a couple last year , that drastically changed their fortunes until the finals , just a discussion ???

Dimboola in a stronger league competing against juggernauts such as Ararat etc is different to an already top 4 side going for it by bringing in a couple of strong higher level recruits from Melbourne. Good on them being able to attract the quality from Melbourne. Maybe others should follow suit providing they aren't at the mercy of the player. wouldn't exactly state that Laharum bringing in what they have is an excessive amount from Melbourne that will disrupt a group. you may know more than me if affiliated with the club, but I say good on them, and as above others should maybe follow the blueprint and go hard at a couple from the big smoke to lure up.

 

[dazzler101]

Talking to a few older gentleman who have represented multiple district league clubs and they seem to think in 5 years time this league will be no more.
Hard to not agree with them in some what. Majority of the clubs are really struggling to recruit and create any real buzz within the competition.
I remember 15 odd years ago when the best of the district league would of pushed the best of the wimmera league in a game of the best of the best. Now I reckon the best of the district league would be lucky to score against the best of the Wimmera.

completely disagree, older players will always come across for the payday, there will be flexibility. It is tough to compete against the standard of wimmera, but wimmera is quite strong compared to other leagues round Vic as well.
the HDFL needs to spend the $$ to lure across, top players are quality, bottom players at most clubs are deadset awful.
the gap needs to close, but only way that happens is avg avg avg players get good money.

 

[ItsJustaGame]

completely disagree, older players will always come across for the payday, there will be flexibility. It is tough to compete against the standard of wimmera, but wimmera is quite strong compared to other leagues round Vic as well.
the HDFL needs to spend the $$ to lure across, top players are quality, bottom players at most clubs are deadset awful.
the gap needs to close, but only way that happens is avg avg avg players get good money.

I would not agree that the top players are quality. There are not many guns at all left running around the district league anymore. Maybe 1 for every dozen that are in the Wimmera.

 

[dazzler101]

I would not agree that the top players are quality. There are not many guns at all left running around the district league anymore. Maybe 1 for every dozen that are in the Wimmera.

sorry, let me rephrase, at the top clubs the top players are still fine.
bottom clubs are shocking. But we will see. Wimmera is clearly miles clear, especially with NT flying in and out plus williamson and co.
the gap is large, just like the gap between the 4 and the rest in HDFL is large.

 

[sharpshooter98]

Dimboola in a stronger league competing against juggernauts such as Ararat etc is different to an already top 4 side going for it by bringing in a couple of strong higher level recruits from Melbourne. Good on them being able to attract the quality from Melbourne. Maybe others should follow suit providing they aren't at the mercy of the player. wouldn't exactly state that Laharum bringing in what they have is an excessive amount from Melbourne that will disrupt a group. you may know more than me if affiliated with the club, but I say good on them, and as above others should maybe follow the blueprint and go hard at a couple from the big smoke to lure up.

Na not having a go at Laharum, just a general question in relation to the other teams, and when 2-3 becomes 6-8 does it become too many or is this now going to be the normal

 

[dazzler101]

Na not having a go at Laharum, just a general question in relation to the other teams, and when 2-3 becomes 6-8 does it become too many or is this now going to be the normal

Na mate not saying you are, im not Laharum anyway so dont care if u do ha! just saying they are active and wish a coupe other clubs would be to strengthen the comp, thats all.
players from down in Melb are there for the taking, just need to get in the door with the $ and opportunity.

I think especially out here in the countryside, all clubs that want to compete at the pointy end need to go into the biggest pool of talented players available which is melbourne.
not enough talented locals around to carry any club out this far to a flag or any consistent success.

 

[Gonearethe80s!]

I would not agree that the top players are quality. There are not many guns at all left running around the district league anymore. Maybe 1 for every dozen that are in the Wimmera.

I think you would just about see Warrack who finished 2nd bottom in Wimmera ( competitive as though) beat Harrow. Ararat vs Kalkee would be 450pts. Two league's so far apart

 

[RooBoy2012]

Interesting,
what's everyone's thoughts on how many "traveling" players can you have before you disrupt the group? I understand that clearly, Laharum are clearly trying to win it this year and well done to them on what they have done out there. But at what cost to the possible playing group future. Not saying anything will happen, we are clearly seeing it in the Wimmera league and a majority of the time it not working, Dimboola been trying for a long time, essentially their last flag was with a local group (not essentially dim locals but locals to the area that could train together) SMT also been going down that path , exciting teams , but can't quite gain that extra 20% needed to win a GF, Warrak seem to be shipping in quite a few , Kaniva had a couple last year , that drastically changed their fortunes until the finals , just a discussion ???

Interesting take a someone has had on the leagues clubs has been “ if it doesn’t have a Pub or Post Office they shouldn’t have a club”….. not that black and white I understand but it would make sense if the leagues merged into one or District leauge disbanded. The wimmera leauge will only allow so many extra clubs in. It’s heading that way in the next 3-5 years. Area can’t sustain two leauges and the clubs with out schooling and communities ect just pool from the ones that do

 

[dazzler101]

I think you would just about see Warrack who finished 2nd bottom in Wimmera ( competitive as though) beat Harrow. Ararat vs Kalkee would be 450pts. Two league's so far apart

Top 2 in HDFNL, would be bottom 2 in Wimmera of course, but Wimmera is strong.
If it was divided into A grade B grade but under the one banner would that even help?
Would provide a decent umbrella. It would be a country metro style comp which is rare out this way.
Could provide competitive balance and stability.

 

[ItsJustaGame]

I think you would just about see Warrack who finished 2nd bottom in Wimmera ( competitive as though) beat Harrow. Ararat vs Kalkee would be 450pts. Two league's so far apart

Warrack would beat harrow comfortably. The game is won in the midfield and Warracks is miles better. The harrow supporters would think Sam Hanna is the second coming of Gary Ablett.

 

[Shitkicker]

Interesting take a someone has had on the leagues clubs has been “ if it doesn’t have a Pub or Post Office they shouldn’t have a club”….. not that black and white I understand but it would make sense if the leagues merged into one or District leauge disbanded. The wimmera leauge will only allow so many extra clubs in. It’s heading that way in the next 3-5 years. Area can’t sustain two leauges and the clubs with out schooling and communities ect just pool from the ones that do

Not sure having a “post office” is in any way relevant.

With that logic struggling clubs like Kaniva, Thunder, Rupanyup, Warrack continue whilst thriving clubs like Laharum, Kalkee, pimp and NQ need to be absorbed by the “post office” clubs?

What matters is culture and access to juniors. The clubs with a strong culture and numbers are the clubs that will last.

 

[RooBoy2012]

Not sure having a “post office” is in any way relevant.

With that logic struggling clubs like Kaniva, Thunder, Rupanyup, Warrack continue whilst thriving clubs like Laharum, Kalkee, pimp and NQ need to be absorbed by the “post office” clubs?

What matters is culture and access to juniors. The clubs with a strong culture and numbers are the clubs that will last.

No one actually cares about pubs or post offices that was never the point it was the talking point to the argument. The real issue is population and junior pathways. Culture is great, but culture doesn’t magically produce kids. You need families and schools in your catchment or you’re relying on draining juniors from towns that actually have them. The clubs you listed Kaniva, Thunder, Rup, Warrack all have culture I’msure, but none have the population to feed their own programs, which is why they rely so heavily on pulling from the communities that do. That’s the whole problem. And let’s be honest if we merged into one league tomorrow, clubs like Kalkee, Pimpinio and N/Q wouldn’t survive competitively in a Wimmera League standard. Then you’d really see how far ‘culture’ gets you when you’re up against clubs built on actual population bases. The clubs with real communities behind them are carrying the load for everyone else, while the outlying clubs keep two leagues on life support.The model is broken and it only works for the clubs without a junior base who are propped up by the ones that do. That’s what needs to change.

 

[Shitkicker]

No one actually cares about pubs or post offices that was never the point it was the talking point to the argument. The real issue is population and junior pathways. Culture is great, but culture doesn’t magically produce kids. You need families and schools in your catchment or you’re relying on draining juniors from towns that actually have them. The clubs you listed Kaniva, Thunder, Rup, Warrack all have culture I’msure, but none have the population to feed their own programs, which is why they rely so heavily on pulling from the communities that do. That’s the whole problem. And let’s be honest if we merged into one league tomorrow, clubs like Kalkee, Pimpinio and N/Q wouldn’t survive competitively in a Wimmera League standard. Then you’d really see how far ‘culture’ gets you when you’re up against clubs built on actual population bases. The clubs with real communities behind them are carrying the load for everyone else, while the outlying clubs keep two leagues on life support.The model is broken and it only works for the clubs without a junior base who are propped up by the ones that do. That’s what needs to change.

Wasn’t suggesting that Kaniva, Rup, Warrack or Thunder have poor cultures, for them it’s clearly access to numbers.
Laharum, pimp, nq and Kalkee are all close enough to Horsham that numbers are achievable if their culture is attractive enough for people to go there.
If the leagues merge which is inevitable, the district league clubs would struggle to be competitive only for a start, things would even out soon enough.

 

[Shitkicker]

Based on clubs current strength, something like this could work. Don’t shoot me for some suggested mergers, just spit-balling, I’m not across each clubs politics etc. also not saying this should happen overnight.

12 team comp:
Horsham demons
Horsham saints
Ararat
Stawell- one club. Swifts merge with warriors or follow up on Navarre.
MM/ Rup
Thunder/ Dimmy
Nhill/ KLU
Laharum/ TL
HB/ EA
Nati/ NQ
Pimp
Kalkee/ Warrack

 

[RooBoy2012]

Based on clubs current strength, something like this could work. Don’t shoot me for some suggested mergers, just spit-balling, I’m not across each clubs politics etc. also not saying this should happen overnight.

12 team comp:
Horsham demons
Horsham saints
Ararat
Stawell- one club. Swifts merge with warriors or follow up on Navarre.
MM/ Rup
Thunder/ Dimmy
Nhill/ KLU
Laharum/ TL
HB/ EA
Nati/ NQ
Pimp
Kalkee/ Warrack

I agree with your thinking here mate but it is the right direction the leauge will go.

Horsham demons
Horsham saints
Ararat ( could even take the option to go Ballarat way)
Stawell- one club with Swifts
MM/ Rup
Nhill/ Dimmy
Kaniva - kntfl direction.
HB/ EA - Go towards Hamilton Leauge
Nati/ NQ
Pimp/ Kalkee
SMT/Warrack
Laharum/Taylors lake or remove completely

Based on that 10 team comp. be healthy for numbers and viable for region ect.

 

[SnPshaker]

Issue is (and I know we are on BigFooty and not BigNetball so shoot me down) these are football netball clubs not just one or the other. Mergers/tier competitions don't just rely on Football as much as we may think it does.

It's one of the main reasons CHFL never went into a tier competition as some of the weaker football sides had incredibly strong netball sides and they didn't want to be separated and vice versa with strong football and weak netball, they didn't want football in group one and netball in group two and it wasn't an option to have them both in one group.

I haven't followed HDNL I'll admit so not sure what numbers are like across the board but with 4 senior grades I'd say it seems "healthy". Theres a lot of people who miss out on a game of netball with limited teams all of sudden, younger ones moving on as they can't get a game, then families gone from clubs, juniors dwindle and then we are back into this position all over again.

It's not just as easy as merge everyone together and have at it. If it was I am sure it would have already been done.

 

[RooBoy2012]

Issue is (and I know we are on BigFooty and not BigNetball so shoot me down) these are football netball clubs not just one or the other. Mergers/tier competitions don't just rely on Football as much as we may think it does.

It's one of the main reasons CHFL never went into a tier competition as some of the weaker football sides had incredibly strong netball sides and they didn't want to be separated and vice versa with strong football and weak netball, they didn't want football in group one and netball in group two and it wasn't an option to have them both in one group.

I haven't followed HDNL I'll admit so not sure what numbers are like across the board but with 4 senior grades I'd say it seems "healthy". Theres a lot of people who miss out on a game of netball with limited teams all of sudden, younger ones moving on as they can't get a game, then families gone from clubs, juniors dwindle and then we are back into this position all over again.

It's not just as easy as merge everyone together and have at it. If it was I am sure it would have already been done.

Netball depth doesn’t change the reality we’re talking about here population. Yes they’re football & netball clubs, but that doesn’t magically create more kids in a catchment area. A club with no town, no school and no community growth can have strong netball for a period, but it’s still relying on families and juniors from elsewhere to stay afloat. That’s exactly the problem. HDNL looks ‘healthy’ on paper because it spreads already thin talent across too many clubs and take a look at the clubs already joining Junior programs with each other... It’s the illusion of depth, not real sustainability. And the reason mergers or league restructuring haven’t happened isn’t because they’re bad ideas it’s because the same clubs who rely on outside juniors would lose the most by moving into a single, stronger competition. Strong netball doesn’t fix a shrinking junior pipeline, and it doesn’t stop football numbers collapsing. We can’t run two leagues forever just to protect the clubs whose survival depends on draining juniors from the towns that actually have kids. the same balance of argument can throw in the Minineria leauge the stawell & ararat Populations contend with.

 

[chimp2022]

It would be interesting if anyone could come with a list of A graders from each side along with potential A graders ..
If you look at the Wimmera league forum on here you’ll see someone has done so. I haven’t watched enough HDFL the last two years to really have a better understanding of each side.

 

[ItsJustaGame]

Natimuk sign kntfl interleague ruckman who also played the SA country footy championships. A very good get.

 

[dazzler101]

It would be interesting if anyone could come with a list of A graders from each side along with potential A graders ..
If you look at the Wimmera league forum on here you’ll see someone has done so. I haven’t watched enough HDFL the last two years to really have a better understanding of each side.

I can only provide this on the sides that i have watched more than once.

Harrow:
Pete Staude
Will Burbury
E Appleton
S Close
probs a few others have missed

Laharum:
Shan Argall
Dan Easson
Toddy Heynen
Chase Whelan
are we including recruits for this?

Pimpinio
Matt rosier
Adam westly
brock Hamerston
Nick Groves
Jason westley

probs missed a few for a Monday morning but they would be my picks.