SFNL Div 2 2025

[BillytheLid]

Whilst I agree with what u are saying , keep in mind that Mt Waverley blues who are a rock throw away in mtwaverley are thriving. 14 Jnr teams including girls and a strong u 19s.
Ashwood had a talented u16s last yr and then lost there best players to De La in the ammos. This hurts the club big time and u gotta ask why this keeps happening

I think blaming the demographic is a little lazy at times

It’s how u build your club that matters
Good on them for looking at options but gotta focus on stability of your club first don’t u?

I don’t disagree. Look at Ashburton juniors. An enormous club with 30 junior teams. Maybe I didn't articulate it correctly but I'm not solely blaming the demographic. My point is a that a combination of established clubs, being in a non-growth area (as opposed to a Cranbourne, Narre, Pakenham for example) plus an ageing/changing demographic conspire against a club wanting to establish and consolidate a junior program. The fact remains that so many clubs in that area (and plenty of other areas) have simply disappeared.

Talented, ambitious kids will want to play the best standard of football they can. VAFA 19s is an excellent competition, far superior to the SFNL version so that probably has a bit to do with it. Perhaps a good number of those kids went to DLS or other private schools also.

 

[2s Hack]

Whilst I agree with what u are saying , keep in mind that Mt Waverley blues who are a rock throw away in mtwaverley are thriving. 14 Jnr teams including girls and a strong u 19s.
Ashwood had a talented u16s last yr and then lost there best players to De La in the ammos. This hurts the club big time and u gotta ask why this keeps happening

I think blaming the demographic is a little lazy at times

It’s how u build your club that matters
Good on them for looking at options but gotta focus on stability of your club first don’t u?

100%

Ashwood have to look at themselves from a junior development program - not sure how aligned the senior club is with the juniors. BUT
-> Last season they had an U/16 that was entered into Div 4 that walked through grading & then got promoted to Div 3 & didn't lose a game in competition either

The year prior in 2023 the same age group in 2023 entered a U/15s Div 4 team & won their grading games by an average of 96 points.

What are they doing? Parents chasing a flag before leave for more serious footy for Oakleigh Chargers development squads?

If you are any good & under the Oakleigh Chargers eyes then they don't want you playing anything less than Div 2 for your U/18 years especially with the calibre of other junior clubs along that Gardiner's Creek belt

 

[cromball90]

Spot on above

I just look at EFL clubs now and if you don’t have your house in order, don’t have jnrs and money it just takes one big blow up / one big exodus and you’re stuffed. The writing is on the wall with this one

 

[cromball90]

I don’t disagree. Look at Ashburton juniors. An enormous club with 30 junior teams. Maybe I didn't articulate it correctly but I'm not solely blaming the demographic. My point is a that a combination of established clubs, being in a non-growth area (as opposed to a Cranbourne, Narre, Pakenham for example) plus an ageing/changing demographic conspire against a club wanting to establish and consolidate a junior program. The fact remains that so many clubs in that area (and plenty of other areas) have simply disappeared.

Talented, ambitious kids will want to play the best standard of football they can. VAFA 19s is an excellent competition, far superior to the SFNL version so that probably has a bit to do with it. Perhaps a good number of those kids went to DLS or other private schools also.

You’re spot on man

 

[Nepotism]

Comparing Ashwood to Mt Waverley, while they are close demoraphically, they are not close socially. A lot of the Ashwood kids are from De La and other colleges and by u16s they are under pressure to play school footy, and some drop out because they can only play one game a week. Then by u18-19, the VAFA college old boys' teams have got their hooks into them and that is the pathway they choose.

Mt Waverley blues have a lot of kids who go to Waverley secondary college and other secondary colleges in the area so their only way to get noticed is through the Mt Waverley blues system and once you have a pathway and tradition it is very hard to break it up, even at junior levels.

Also as stated by cromball and billy, the changing demographic of Indian and Chinese families in the area, who never will play AFL, makes the numbers even harder to attain. The junior club scene has become even more fragile.

 

[Gopies2025]

Has anyone watched St. John’s recently? Not sure what Div vafa they play theses day but what southern Div would they be competitive in?

 

[2s Hack]

Has anyone watched St. John’s recently? Not sure what Div vafa they play theses day but what southern Div would they be competitive in?

They play VAFA D2. They'd be offered Div 3. I couldn't see SFNL clubs in Div 2 making way for them

 

[BillytheLid]

Has anyone watched St. John’s recently? Not sure what Div vafa they play theses day but what southern Div would they be competitive in?

They are mid table in the 5th division of the ammos. In recent years they have drifted between being viable, almost going into recess and having thirds only. Runners up in 6th Div. of the VAFA last season. All Dandenong based clubs are doing it tough right now and scraping over the same very shallow playing pool. If going to the SFL I think they should look at merge, maybe with Doveton Eagles. Happy to be corrected but something tells me they started as the same entity back in the 70s but split off into different directions. Having 3 clubs based in a small suburb like Doveton is very challenging.

 

[Greg Tivendale]

Got 3 in your 1sts , 1 is getting at least 400 , can't you handle the facts

I am well aware of spend as the treasurer but you are acting like we are the only club out there trying to recruit some new players to the club?

 

[Greg Tivendale]

Not at all , it happens everywhere , was just stating that they have 3 of ours , can't be stopped , unless leave the vafa

They aren't "yours" anymore mate. Happy down at Dogland

 

[bedford]

I am well aware of spend as the treasurer but you are acting like we are the only club out there trying to recruit some new players to the club?

Don't you read ffs

 

[bedford]

They aren't "yours" anymore mate. Happy down at Dogland

I should've said from , but once again you didn't read that's why you needed this post
Hope you get audited like all DIV1 clubs should be

 

[cromball90]

Has anyone watched St. John’s recently? Not sure what Div vafa they play theses day but what southern Div would they be competitive in?

If approved it’ll be straight into the bottom Div of SFL

 

[Mr north man]

Not often he's on the money

Plus remember also whether a club comes into Southern,Eastern,Northern or any other competition besides the VAFA you can sell grog to keep the punters happy which brings $$$$ into your club.

 

[Nepotism]

It's an unfortunate part of life everywhere that those with money will try and buy those with no money.

But teams that cultivate youngsters for 7 or 8 years only to see them move to another club that doesn't have their heart just for coin have every right to feel like they have been taken for a ride.

When you see someone, you have known since they were 10. Who you used to give footy cards to them when they were young and spent a lot of time investing in their love of footy and actually helped teach them how to learn to kick at Auskick and basically saw them grow up, leave the club and go and play for your neighbours just because that Club can pay money and you can't..

Well, it sucks!

 

[Big buzz]

Has anyone watched St. John’s recently? Not sure what Div vafa they play theses day but what southern Div would they be competitive in?

Div 4 or 3 but i think they would be one not match the top sides at all in Div 3 most of the keysy players there were fringe players or 2s players playing in St. John’s 1st nick beer would be the best one from keysy this year and I’m sure he is getting paid something to play there because he wouldn’t play for free when he was at the eagles a few years ago even though he had mates there

 

[Big buzz]

They are mid table in the 5th division of the ammos. In recent years they have drifted between being viable, almost going into recess and having thirds only. Runners up in 6th Div. of the VAFA last season. All Dandenong based clubs are doing it tough right now and scraping over the same very shallow playing pool. If going to the SFL I think they should look at merge, maybe with Doveton Eagles. Happy to be corrected but something tells me they started as the same entity back in the 70s but split off into different directions. Having 3 clubs based in a small suburb like Doveton is very challenging.

Yes you are spot on they started of as St. John’s then changed to Doveton amateurs then Doveton eagles but while they were called Doveton amateurs a few people started St. John’s again there’s was really no connection with people from both clubs when St. John’s started up again

 

[MortlockWatcher]

Yes you are spot on they started of as St. John’s then changed to Doveton amateurs then Doveton eagles but while they were called Doveton amateurs a few people started St. John’s again there’s was really no connection with people from both clubs when St. John’s started up again

I've lived outside Victoria for the last 20 years or so, so Doveton SJOC became St John's OC.
Doveton Eagles are an off-shoot of Doveton SJOC.
Gotcha. Thanks for that.

 

[Gopies2025]

Div 4 or 3 but i think they would be one not match the top sides at all in Div 3 most of the keysy players there were fringe players or 2s players playing in St. John’s 1st nick beer would be the best one from keysy this year and I’m sure he is getting paid something to play there because he wouldn’t play for free when he was at the eagles a few years ago even though he had mates there

I’m mates with alot of the St. John’s players who won a flag prob 15 years ago they weren’t bad back then and there were 6-7 that I know of who were 100% getting paid, haven’t watched them for at least 10 years though, most of the eagles team from a few years ago were getting paid with drug money then the president started stealing it!

 

[Pendles1991]

St Johns would need to sadly need to start in div 4, because they wouldn't be able to afford much financially in regards to player payments. So this would be a good starting for them. They may be better in terms of on field talent in div 4, but to set there feet this would be there best bet

 

[Big buzz]

I’m mates with alot of the St. John’s players who won a flag prob 15 years ago they weren’t bad back then and there were 6-7 that I know of who were 100% getting paid, haven’t watched them for at least 10 years though, most of the eagles team from a few years ago were getting paid with drug money then the president started stealing it!

pretty spot on m8 There was a sponsor that may have helped out paying a few players I would rather call it and you are spot on about the president doing that he also took money from a fund raiser for injured players that could not work and used it to pay players to pay players it was a disgrace what he did

 

[cromball90]

St Johns would need to sadly need to start in div 4, because they wouldn't be able to afford much financially in regards to player payments. So this would be a good starting for them. They may be better in terms of on field talent in div 4, but to set there feet this would be there best bet

They are paying players now man lol

 

[Gopies2025]

pretty spot on m8 There was a sponsor that may have helped out paying a few players I would rather call it and you are spot on about the president doing that he also took money from a fund raiser for injured players that could not work and used it to pay players to pay players it was a disgrace what he did

Yep that sponsor forked out a fair bit of cash for that grand final win and I’m pretty sure he might of played? President also enjoyed a free overseas holiday aswell I heard don’t know how he didn’t get a good bashing for what he did,

 

[Pendles1991]

Yep that sponsor forked out a fair bit of cash for that grand final win and I’m pretty sure he might of played? President also enjoyed a free overseas holiday aswell I heard don’t know how he didn’t get a good bashing for what he did,

Which president and which flag?

 

[Big buzz]

Which president and which flag?

The last flag they won when they beat springy it was all because of him how the club ended up in the position they are in now and Gopies is spot on every thing he is saying he ended up paying a few players the money owed to them from his own pocket eventually after several had told him what was going to happen to him if he didn’t pay up