Where do you stand ?

[TeeS]

Just going on results up to this point of the year in both divisions.
Thornton and Alex have opened up a slight gap on the next tier of clubs, its fair to expect that 1 or both of these teams will contest the 2008 GF.
In 1st Division, my club (Olinda) is certainly in trouble at this point as we were last year where we eventually finished last.
So my question (aimed in particular to Northern Divide clubs) is this !

Do you intend on coming into 1st Division in 2009 should you be the premier in Division 2 in 2008 ?

Last year, Thornton (I'm lead to believe) informed the Yarra Valley board that they could not expect to compete financially in 1st division and risked losing numbers of players should they accept the invitation to move up.

Has anything changed with this club this year to make it more of a chance of accepting promotion ?
Has there been any directive from the Yarra Valley stating that the Division 2 premier 0f 2008 MUST go into Division 1 next year ?
I've been lead to believe that Alex would financially cope with the move, unsure of the others. Kinglake are in the mix, Yea probably can't win it at this point, Yarra Glen, Belly and Emerald have been in 1st Division and I would expect them to step up if they won the right.

Of course this is all hypothetical, I don't know many boys from the Northern Divide clubs, I'm interested in your points of view and opinions.

I'm also interested in the fact that the clubs such as Thornton, Alex, Yea and Kinglake might just prefer to stay put where they are as they have rivalries etc that possibly go way back to when Adam was a boy.
That in itself has an element that cannot be under-estimated.

Cheers

Tim Scott

 

[auskickrules]

I always thought if you won the lower division grannie you went up to the next division, however you had to field a 3rds, 2nds and 1st side and your ground and facilities had to be up to scratch. Obviously this is wrong as it didn't happen last year. I have never seen the div 2 teams play so i am wondering if the winner of the grannie would beat many teams in div 1. To look over the past few years both Warby and Olinda have been down to div 2, dominated, won, then come back to div 1 and had their arses kicked sideways. I don't know the solution but it does seem like their are certain teams that struggle to take the step into div 1 footy and others that will never have to worry about going down there.

 

[Got a bad knee]

Good piont ts. It is time for a 2 div team to put there hand up and say they want to come up( why not try your luck) make no bones about it 1st divsion is a jump ,but if you do not play the best , how eles do you know how good you can be?

 

[in2restedonlooker]

I'm led to believe that if Thornton were to win this year they would have to go up. And I've also heard that maybe in 2009 that it will be brought in if you win you have to go up. I was at the Alex game on Saturday and they are paying a fair few players whether they can continue to pay these guys and get some more to be competitive in divvy 1 remains to be seen if they happen to win it. I would say they were the 2 most likely to be winning this year. I also reckon any sides down this way would jump at the chance to go up should they get the oppurtunity. So my final thought is that if Olinda finish on the bottom theres a very strong possibility they would go down.

 

[rosy3]

If Thornton win this year's flag they have to go up to Divvy 1. They'll have to be able to recruit some very good players and hopefully hang on to the core of their team now to be competitive. It's a big ask and it would really change the dynamics of the club.

Interesting to hear of players being paid at Alex. The team as a whole was told that no players would be paid, including travel money, this year but everyone in the team would get $40 for a win. Some of them are sold on that but I'd be surprised if Neil stayed for $0 after he was close to leaving. I also know a seconds player who the club offered match payments equal to what he was offered in Melb ($200-250) for him to stay. Amazing when he isn't even really a firsts prospect. Not an issue now cos he's injured.

 

[in2restedonlooker]

Interesting to hear of players being paid at Alex. The team as a whole was told that no players would be paid, including travel money, this year but everyone in the team would get $40 for a win. Some of them are sold on that but I'd be surprised if Neil stayed for $0 after he was close to leaving. I also know a seconds player who the club offered match payments equal to what he was offered in Melb ($200-250) for him to stay. Amazing when he isn't even really a firsts prospect. Not an issue now cos he's injured.

My mail says that N Oakley is on $300 + a game plus a fair few of last years side also are now payed. They had to fork out money because their coach refused to sign until key players signed which they weren't going to until the money came. They have also picked up 4 or 5 players from Melbourne who have no link to the club. I don't think they are going up there to play for fun.

Back to the real issue I definitely agree that it would be extremely difficult for any side going up to divvy1. The hardest part is staying off the bottom for the first couple of years so you can try to build a competitive side and not just going up and being relegated the next year at clubs like Alex and Thornton that would be the major concern.

 

[YGTHUNDER]

I'm led to believe that if Thornton were to win this year they would have to go up. And I've also heard that maybe in 2009 that it will be brought in if you win you have to go up. I was at the Alex game on Saturday and they are paying a fair few players whether they can continue to pay these guys and get some more to be competitive in divvy 1 remains to be seen if they happen to win it. I would say they were the 2 most likely to be winning this year. I also reckon any sides down this way would jump at the chance to go up should they get the oppurtunity. So my final thought is that if Olinda finish on the bottom theres a very strong possibility they would go down.

This year if you win 2nd DIV you go to 1ST DIV unless you can prove to the league directors that it would absolutly have a catastrophic impact on the club. Other clubs can then apply to take the vacant spot...l dont see the league going back to a bye situation so if Thornton were to win it again l believe they would be expected to go. Facilities and the ability to have an U/18s wouldnt be a pre-requasite as some DIV 1 clubs do not have 3rds and their facilities would be infirior to some 2nd DIV clubs. Going to 1st Div is no doubt a big jump for most not only in $$$ terms and finding those 5 extra quality players required but also in voulanteer numbers needed to run and commit to a quality required to be succesfull both on and off the field.

 

[Upwey Fan]

Nothings changed from last year yet-the league are looking at it and I'm told will present a proposal to the next Presidents meeting in a few weeks.Lets see what transpires.

 

[TeeS]

Its been a few months since this thread commenced. Does anyone have any news on further developments on this issue ???

 

[in2restedonlooker]

Its been a few months since this thread commenced. Does anyone have any news on further developments on this issue ???

A bit of discussion has happened on the Relegation vs Promotion thread and there definitely seems to be divided opinions. The northen clubs would be happy with where they are but the fact is all clubs knew upon entry that this league was a relegation/promotion league. Off field is a massive challenge in terms of finances and organisation and on field as well improvements would be needed to stay competitive. I'm interested in the other side as well. Being from Olinda what would the ramifications be on your club if they were relegated? Would all players stay or would they look to stay in Divvy 1? It's a very interesting topic and with an even finals series coming up the winner is far from decided but my feeling is that the winner should and will take up the option to be promoted.