SFNL Div 1 2021

Remove this Banner Ad

Nov 14, 2020
1,166
1,496
AFL Club
Carlton
I agree, but for me common sense prevails. You win flags or play off in one to go up a division? Not to sit in a lower division be content with that. Think about it from this angle, clubs will be forced into retaining players and add the required players to be competitive. It would instantly make you stronger because you have to go out and make it happen, 1 up 1 down allows clubs to be complacent

Mordialloc did it
Dingley did it
Bentleigh did it

why can’t clubs from division 2 also do it?
im always hearing how Springvale and these clubs are strong and would push some div 1 sides, why not grant them the opportunity.

Bentleigh spent a decade in the Ammo's trying to repay all of the debt they incurred in their previous foray in the SFL. They were playing in front of empty grounds unable to sell a beer except to a privileged few at the pre-game lunches and travelling to all parts of Melbourne to play games. Chris Sharp and others were being offered ridiculous amounts to play at other clubs, but stayed true which is a credit to them and probably why the club is still around along with Dimma and his committee's tireless efforts. Thankfully both the Senior & Junior Presidents sat down and agreed to work together and support the senior club. 3 years later every home game was like a carnival with Ozkick and families everywhere watching the seniors play. Junior curtain raisers, fantastic atmosphere and environment. It took Bentleigh 12 years to become overnight sensations, and they had to go via SFL Div 2, which at the time was pretty competitive.

This is why I have a lot of respect for Ammo clubs and the effort that they have to put in to get teams onto the field and try and keep teams together. Not easy keeping players when professional clubs start waving $$ under their noses, and you can't blame the players either. They have an incredible group of volunteers as do SFL clubs, and it is all of the betterment of the game. This is sometimes too quickly forgotten as everybody tries to outdo each other.
 
Aug 2, 2012
7,583
5,434
Melbourne
AFL Club
Gold Coast
Other Teams
Golden State Warriors
Its not just about paying big $ to players, its about creating an environment where sponsors want to be part of the club, where players want to stick around and then having a junior pipeline of players that feed into the senior team. These key elements create a sustainable culture for success.
Not that easy, I’d like to think our culture is pretty good.
 

ItsAllAboutMe

Norm Smith Medallist
Dec 22, 2006
9,545
11,314
AFL Club
Carlton
Other Teams
Tottenham Hotspur
The gap between Div 2 & Div 1 doesn't appear that great especially at the bottom end, would think teams like East Brighton & Springvale could compete against Highett, Oakleigh & Mordi.
 

Log in to remove this ad.

Sratsky

Senior List
Sep 7, 2011
153
128
AFL Club
St Kilda
2nd Division clubs will not agree to it. There is not enough depth in 2nd Division, and any club that gets promoted will have to recruit quickly and possibly spend money they do not have or just accept getting flogged in Div 1 is a learning curve. It undoes all of the hard work of previous seasons. Ego plays a huge role in all of this, and the people running the clubs have massive ego's.

the clubs with no depth won't be playing for promotion one would think......
 
Jul 16, 2019
95
50
AFL Club
Brisbane Lions
completely agreed, Springvale would most definitely beat a side like Highett, and I'm sure easts would do the same.

the other positive of this happening is some clubs make grand finals like Springy and are the best team through the home and away season. not going up a division can actually steer players away from these clubs (not in Springvale's case). If you can continue to rise through the grades retention of players is easy.

side note, another interesting Saturday. looks to be a more competitive round.

Cheltenham VS Bentleigh
City VS Districts
Dingley VS Panthers
Highett VS Mordialloc
St Pauls VS The Colts

Whats our thoughts this week?
 
Feb 2, 2001
391
329
Melbourne (Sainters)
AFL Club
St Kilda
The gap between Div 2 & Div 1 doesn't appear that great especially at the bottom end, would think teams like East Brighton & Springvale could compete against Highett, Oakleigh & Mordi.
This is the perennial problem, there is a big gap between the top 7-8 and the next 8. Highett has won div 2 flags every 7 years (04,11,18), spends 2 years in Div 1 and drops back. There is not much between the bottom 2 in div 1 and top 4 in div 2 (which you would expect), but the gap to the next level is massive. EB did beat Highett in a practice match, but Port would beat them by 15 goals. When Port came in they went through div 2 undefeated and took a few years to make div 1 finals and only this year really look to be top two. Chelsea Heights 2017 premiers and back down straight away. Oakleigh won in 2016, had one year in the Div 1 finals when they recruited hard but now back to strugglng and can't consistently compete with the big boys. Its a bit like the UK Premier league, only a few can win it (Dingley....) and then the bottom few play to stave off relegation.

COVID has made it worse. We (Highett) lost 2 reasonable players just before the start of the season to a Div 3 club - we can only presume it got too hard for them.
 
Last edited:
Feb 2, 2001
391
329
Melbourne (Sainters)
AFL Club
St Kilda
This is the perennial problem, there is a big gap between the top 7-8 and the next 8. Highett has won div 2 flags every 7 years (04,11,18), spends 2 years in Div 1 and drops back. There is not much between the bottom 2 in div 1 and top 4 in div 2 (which you would expect), but the gap to the next level is massive. EB did beat Highett in a practice match, but Port would beat them by 15 goals. When Port came in they went through div 2 undefeated and took a few years to make div 1 finals and only this year really look to be top two. Chelsea Heights 2017 premiers and back down straight away. Oakleigh won in 2016, had one year in the Div 1 finals when they recruited hard but now back to strugglng and can't consistently compete with the big boys. Its a bit like the UK Premier league, only a few can win it (Dingley....) and then the bottom few play to stave off relegation.
Additionally, the last Div2 premier to win a Div 1 premiership since was Dingley (2008), before that StKCity (2005)
 

Billyhunt69

Debutant
Jun 14, 2017
96
72
AFL Club
Geelong
Additionally, the last Div2 premier to win a Div 1 premiership since was Dingley (2008), before that StKCity (2005)
Mordy won the div 2 flag in 2014. played of in the 2015 div 1 grand final.
Oakleigh districts won the 2015 div 2. flag played the pre lim in 2016 in div 1 the ground can be made up
 
Feb 2, 2001
391
329
Melbourne (Sainters)
AFL Club
St Kilda
Mordy won the div 2 flag in 2014. played of in the 2015 div 1 grand final.
Oakleigh districts won the 2015 div 2. flag played the pre lim in 2016 in div 1 the ground can be made up
So they get a year, money runs out as its not sustainable and they are both now in relegation zone. In normal circumstances OD should be in Div 2 (Doveton implosion, which is another case of a Div 2 premier who wouldnt have lasted)
 
Aug 2, 2012
7,583
5,434
Melbourne
AFL Club
Gold Coast
Other Teams
Golden State Warriors
So they get a year, money runs out as its not sustainable and they are both now in relegation zone. In normal circumstances OD should be in Div 2 (Doveton implosion, which is another case of a Div 2 premier who wouldnt have lasted)
Money hasn’t run out, just difficult to get players
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)

Sep 22, 2011
40,582
87,832
Your girlfriend's dreams
AFL Club
Essendon
Not a fan of 2 up and 2 down personally. It robs runners-up the chance of winning a flag. Flags are huge in local footy as they tie people to the club in some form for years and decades to come. Also it makes it harder for promoted clubs to stay up, that first year up can be tough as you find your way. 1 and 1 for me.
 
Nov 14, 2020
1,166
1,496
AFL Club
Carlton
Not a fan of 2 up and 2 down personally. It robs runners-up the chance of winning a flag. Flags are huge in local footy as they tie people to the club in some form for years and decades to come. Also it makes it harder for promoted clubs to stay up, that first year up can be tough as you find your way. 1 and 1 for me.
It works brilliantly in the Ammo's as it keeps interest in the competition to see which clubs stay up. They accept it and move on without making excuses.
 
Jul 16, 2019
95
50
AFL Club
Brisbane Lions
Speaking to a couple of clubs after the weekend wash-up

news out of port colts is Jase Perkins has torn his hamstring and out for 3-5 weeks

Mykelti Lefau from city dislocated 2 fingers and has been instructed there is significant damage 4-6 weeks

Easts pushed Dingley, did Ed Sim play? I didn't see him on the team sheet might have been the difference if he didn't lace em up

Mordialloc got their first win for the season coming from behind against the dogs.

having seen the first 3 weeks, it's obvious port and Cheltenham seem to be the ones to beat anyone else think they can be pushed?

Oakleigh and Highett are the 2 fighting for relegation who will stay up based on what we have seen the first 3 weeks
 

Yabblettt

Debutant
Apr 8, 2021
77
46
AFL Club
Geelong
Speaking to a couple of clubs after the weekend wash-up

news out of port colts is Jase Perkins has torn his hamstring and out for 3-5 weeks

Mykelti Lefau from city dislocated 2 fingers and has been instructed there is significant damage 4-6 weeks

Easts pushed Dingley, did Ed Sim play? I didn't see him on the team sheet might have been the difference if he didn't lace em up

Mordialloc got their first win for the season coming from behind against the dogs.

having seen the first 3 weeks, it's obvious port and Cheltenham seem to be the ones to beat anyone else think they can be pushed?

Oakleigh and Highett are the 2 fighting for relegation who will stay up based on what we have seen the first 3 weeks

Don’t get too far ahead . Cheltenham have played no one of significance in the competition and 2019 proved they can crack . Maybe just a good front running side ???

Port colts strong across the ground and should account for Chelt this week on the small ground

Dingley are Dingley and will be there abouts. They know how to play finals footy .





Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com
 

ItsAllAboutMe

Norm Smith Medallist
Dec 22, 2006
9,545
11,314
AFL Club
Carlton
Other Teams
Tottenham Hotspur
Things starting to heat up with Colts v Chelt and East Malvern v St Kilda City.. huge games that could start to shape who will play finals this year..
 

Turbos mail

Norm Smith Medallist
Jan 15, 2015
8,343
5,633
AFL Club
Collingwood
Just read that Luke McGuane at Port Colts now. Makes them stronger. Apparently signed prior to covid but then wasn’t going to play now has changed his mind and his back at the colts.
 
Jul 16, 2019
95
50
AFL Club
Brisbane Lions
another in for the colts, the system for finding players jobs is working a treat. Makes things a lot easier to recruit. I’m not sure McGuane is getting a job though,
I’ve been told he has a few Successful Barbour shops.
 

Remove this Banner Ad

Back