NOW to sometime later in the year (maybe) - Talk about anything

[Th3B1gD0g]

How was Norwood’s numbers? Did they play three games?

The first game was combined 19s and reserves, Norwood got flogged in that game. Second game was the senior hit out. Norwood looked very young/small and quick.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

As said not to get to fixated by practice match results but ESS Doutta Stars beating Doncaster by over 20 goals is a concern for them.

It’s like any practice match - any result is fine, as long as you don’t get flogged.

 

[MortlockWatcher]

And Doutta is one of your "missing the finals by a few games" sort of clubs in the EDFL so it's not a good sign for Doncaster.

 

[Nvent]

It’s like any practice match - any result is fine, as long as you don’t get flogged.

Practice match's go like this.

Team that lost = had 15 out
Team that won = had even more out

Observer = both teams no good.

 

[magpies2013]

Watched just over a half of the Rowville Edi Asp game and that was one prac match that was played at a high standard. Looks like the winner out of the Norwood Doncaster game will be the team to avoid relegation. They both look a fair way off the other Div 1 teams.

 

[Carn The Berries]

Going a bit OT here, but it does say 'talk about anything'...

I don't have any opinion on the points cap / backdating of points, but the bit about basing junior footy on school year is a great idea for junior footy, imo. I'm just p!ssed off they didn't have it back in my day.

Back in the 90s, school footy (at least where I was) was a total friggin mess. Due to timetabling we trained by year level (Year 9s had the oval last lesson Mon and Wed, Year 10s last lesson Tues and Thurs), but we played as U15, U16, etc. The birth date cut off (1 Jan, I think) cut each year level almost perfectly in half. The younger year 9s played in the U14s (?) with the older half of the year 8s, and the older year 9s played in a U15 (?) side with the younger half of the year 10s. The result was that we ended up playing with kids we barely knew and never trained with (and quite often didn't like - year 9s looked down on year 8s, etc.). I suppose the other teams had the same issue, but it didn't improve anyone's enjoyment of playing.

I suppose there could be some issues with varying ages in the same year level, but the number of kids who repeat grades or skip grades is very small, so I don't understand why school footy here didn't adopt this years ago.

I was in the EIS system and we actually had an even wider age gap. "Junior" team was Years 7,8 & 9. "Senior" team was Years 10,11 & 12. Was ok for the young guys who were already playing other junior footy, but a few of my mates in year 10 got a bit of shock coming up against blokes with beards

 

[Ligma]

If anyone knows any women looking to play senior footy div 1 ENFL, please pm me!

 

[random observer]

The reason year levels are combined is simple. At year 7 & 8 kids are really keen to play and the numbers are there. As you get into higher levels their interest drops off and there are less kids who want to play. So to get the numbers needed to fill a team, year levels are combined. This is reflected in the year and a half jump between U16 and U17.5 and the two year jump between U17.5 and U19.5 in the EFNL.

That's another change from yesteryear (i.e., my day). School sport was practically compulsory up to the end of Year 10 (you could get out of it, but it was a lot easier to just play). It was only in Years 11 & 12 that year levels were combined, as blokes were able to opt out at this level.

 

[coldpies123]

anyone else heard on the rumour mill forest hill have folded?
Interestingly they played a practice match on Saturday - must have had something go horribly wrong if true

 

[jumperfan]

anyone else heard on the rumour mill forest hill have folded?
Interestingly they played a practice match on Saturday - must have had something go horribly wrong if true

Facebook has a signing announced 2 hours ago - would think that they are still going if that's happening.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Highly doubt it. They’ve landed a few players from Nunawading and will also field a joint Under 19 team with them.

The EFNL already seems hellbent on bringing back Nunawading in 2026 but you’d think a merger would probably be best in terms of sustainability.

 

[Saltness]

Highly doubt it. They’ve landed a few players from Nunawading and will also field a joint Under 19 team with them.

The EFNL already seems hellbent on bringing back Nunawading in 2026 but you’d think a merger would probably be best in terms of sustainability.

Nunawading running a go fund me to raise money

 

[eflreceiver]

Forest Hill looks more likely to continue more than Nunawading making a return.

 

[CliffMcTainshaw]

In a few years when Davy Lane is developed, Vermont juniors will be playing there. Half the current distance they are now from Forest Hill. Closer to EB as well. Competition for junior players will ramp up considerably.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

In a few years when Davy Lane is developed, Vermont juniors will be playing there. Half the current distance they are now from Forest Hill. Closer to EB as well. Competition for junior players will ramp up considerably.

Interesting given it is closer to Forest Hill Reserve and, of course, located in the suburb of Forest Hill.

I would think from a FH point of view, the point of view to the league and council would be fairly simple - we need the new facility in Forest Hill to launch juniors. Vermont juniors already have a ground.

The alternative is FH will pretty obviously be folding in coming years. So what does the league want?

 

[good thing]

Interesting given it is closer to Forest Hill Reserve and, of course, located in the suburb of Forest Hill.

I would think from a FH point of view, the point of view to the league and council would be fairly simple - we need the new facility in Forest Hill to launch juniors. Vermont juniors already have a ground.

The alternative is FH will pretty obviously be folding in coming years. So what does the league want?

So its the leagues fault that Forest Hill have no juniors? Pretty sure last time I looked at Forest Hill's junior program it was non existent largely due to the clubs incompetence. Woeful Committee decisions no-one willing to have a crack as it all got too hard and general laziness is not the leagues fault. Would you like the league to wipe their lazy arse's as well. Cant help a club if they wont/cant help themselves.

Hardworking junior clubs like EB Mitcham and Vermont would be more deserving of another ground than FH.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

So its the leagues fault that Forest Hill have no juniors? Pretty sure last time I looked at Forest Hill's junior program it was non existent largely due to the clubs incompetence. Woeful Committee decisions no-one willing to have a crack as it all got too hard and general laziness is not the leagues fault. Would you like the league to wipe their lazy arse's as well. Cant help a club if they wont/cant help themselves.

Hardworking junior clubs like EB Mitcham and Vermont would be more deserving of another ground than FH.

No it’s not the league’s fault.

But the question for the league is simple - do they want a senior club at Forest Hill?

Because without a source of players, they won’t have one.

It’s the same with Nunawading. Talk of them coming back in 2027, raising money, which are all good things. But where are the players going to come from? Without that, it’s all moot.

 

[MortlockWatcher]

I think some people will end up being surprised to see how the league looks in 10 years time in terms of which current clubs won't be around.

The two Covid affected seasons caused a lot of trouble for grassroots sport in general and there is still an ongoing impact on grassroots football due to that and the cost of living crisis as a number of people choose between working on Saturdays or playing football.

By the end of the decade, I would not be surprised if we saw Doncaster and Forest Hill fall over and Nunawading go from recess to disbandment. Those areas have too many clubs (given the local age and ethnic demographic) and some of those clubs will be vulnerable if they don't have a solid junior base or alignment to work from.

Due to these factors, clubs throughout the league's catchment area will struggle to survive if they have a number of clubs close to each other and they are not able to perform on field and are losing players to "bigger" clubs or clubs in higher divisions.

My guess is that as many as half a dozen clubs will be surviving on a year by year basis by 2029 if they hadn't merged or fallen over already.

As a side note, I am stunned to see Eley Park (VAFA) still going given where they are located geographically compared to EFNL clubs. I would think that they have been in a worse predicament that Nunawading for a longer period of time but somehow they soldier on and cop their whacks each week.

 

[adock]

I think some people will end up being surprised to see how the league looks in 10 years time in terms of which current clubs won't be around.

By the end of the decade, I would not be surprised if we saw Doncaster and Forest Hill fall over and Nunawading go from recess to disbandment. Those two areas have too many clubs (given the local age and ethnic demographic) and some of those clubs will be vulnerable if they don't have a solid junior base or alignment to work from.

I tend to agree and i think this will push deeper east in the next few years into the Knox/Maroondah areas. A family relative who lives in the heart of Knox has seen 6 houses sell in his street in the last 18 months. They have all sold to Chinese or Indian families with young children. Great people but none have any interest in AFL.

I think the scary thing now is the majority of clubs are so dependent on 2-3 people that its unsustainable. I doubt we will see the slow painful death of clubs like we have seen with Nunawading. Once you lose a couple of vital pillars from a club its going to be over very fast.

 

[MortlockWatcher]

I tend to agree and i think this will push deeper east in the next few years into the Knox/Maroondah areas. A family relative who lives in the heart of Knox has seen 6 houses sell in his street in the last 18 months. They have all sold to Chinese or Indian families with young children. Great people but none have any interest in AFL.

Same scenario in Perth. Indians and Chinese are hoovering up the properties on the market at an inflated price to the extent that young people just won't be able to buy in most areas, causing some junior clubs to die off.

The way things are rapidly changing, it would not be an insane statement to make that cricket could be a 12-month option inside the next 20 years in some areas through sheer weight of the number of participants wanting to play. The end result will be the loss of an number of grounds to cricket because of the downturn in participation for football.

 

[CliffMcTainshaw]

Interesting given it is closer to Forest Hill Reserve and, of course, located in the suburb of Forest Hill.

I would think from a FH point of view, the point of view to the league and council would be fairly simple - we need the new facility in Forest Hill to launch juniors. Vermont juniors already have a ground.

The alternative is FH will pretty obviously be folding in coming years. So what does the league want?

I believe that Vermont are in the box seat. If you have a look at the council meeting using the link below you will see that Vermont Cricket Club (at 6:18) and the Vermont Football Club (at 12:15) presented their reasons why they need the ground.
Nothing from either the Forest Hiil Cricket or Footy Clubs, maybe it reflects the current administration of the Vermont and Forest Hill Clubs.
The discussion on Davy Lane Project lasts for over an hour and a half. (35:27 - 2:09)
Vermont Football and Cricket Clubs, Vermont Sth Cricket Club have been endorsed as future advocacy partners. EFNL totally, blissfully out of the picture.
I can't see how Vermont Cricket Club's use of the ground is a good idea for Whitehorse residents, now that they have moved to the Ringwood & District Cricket Association and only play one other Whitehorse Club once every season.

https://webcast.whitehorse.vic.gov.au/archive/video24-1216.php#placeholder

If you are interested you can also hear about the soil pollution at the EB ground (order of business 10.5) and Cr Barkers vote on the issue (expenditure $278K). Then go back and see his attitude to the work to be done at Springfield Park, (order of business 10.4) where his kids have played (expenditure $1.43M).

 

[Bunk Moreland]

I think some people will end up being surprised to see how the league looks in 10 years time in terms of which current clubs won't be around.

The two Covid affected seasons caused a lot of trouble for grassroots sport in general and there is still an ongoing impact on grassroots football due to that and the cost of living crisis as a number of people choose between working on Saturdays or playing football.

By the end of the decade, I would not be surprised if we saw Doncaster and Forest Hill fall over and Nunawading go from recess to disbandment. Those areas have too many clubs (given the local age and ethnic demographic) and some of those clubs will be vulnerable if they don't have a solid junior base or alignment to work from.

Due to these factors, clubs throughout the league's catchment area will struggle to survive if they have a number of clubs close to each other and they are not able to perform on field and are losing players to "bigger" clubs or clubs in higher divisions.

My guess is that as many as half a dozen clubs will be surviving on a year by year basis by 2029 if they hadn't merged or fallen over already.

As a side note, I am stunned to see Eley Park (VAFA) still going given where they are located geographically compared to EFNL clubs. I would think that they have been in a worse predicament that Nunawading for a longer period of time but somehow they soldier on and cop their whacks each week.

Apart from clubs decreasing, I think we will see the game itself start to change a bit.

The disbanding of the AFL and VFL reserves has pushed a lot of "professionalism" in terms of commitment downwards to local level.

Playing any local footy at the moment is a major commitment. All day Saturday, training twice a week, pre-season training all year round.

A huge difference you notice with other sports is how many recreational options they have. Soccer has indoor and 5-a-side which are hugely popular. Cricket has indoor. Netball and basketball have endless recreational comps where you just grab a group and enter. All of these sports are happening every night of the week and consist of little more than a game and a couple of drinks afterwards.

Footy has never done that and I think we will see a move toward it. People have mentioned the time and cost thing, and they're very right - there are people who are squeezed out of the sport who would be happy to just have a kick for an hour or so each week and that's it. No training. No pre-season. But they're engaged in the game and a club somehow.

Some leagues already do a version of it with Thirds, Open and Clubbies comps. If local leagues are smart then they'll look to get on board with something like this, perhaps a Friday night comp.

If clubs can't survive in the traditional sense then there's a chance they could head this way. Just the changing of the times.

 

[Bowlers Name]

I can't see how Vermont Cricket Club's use of the ground is a good idea for Whitehorse residents, now that they have moved to the Ringwood & District Cricket Association and only play one other Whitehorse Club once every season.

The way the winds are blowing, it wouldn't be a shock if the BHRDCA folded in the next 10-20 years with clubs dispersing to the RDCA, ECA and the other nearby associations. There's already a lot of talk that Blackburn and Mitcham want to follow Vermont and Heatherdale across at the next opportunity, and the junior competitions are already basically merged as is.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

I believe that Vermont are in the box seat. If you have a look at the council meeting using the link below you will see that Vermont Cricket Club (at 6:18) and the Vermont Football Club (at 12:15) presented their reasons why they need the ground.
Nothing from either the Forest Hiil Cricket or Footy Clubs, maybe it reflects the current administration of the Vermont and Forest Hill Clubs.
The discussion on Davy Lane Project lasts for over an hour and a half. (35:27 - 2:09)
Vermont Football and Cricket Clubs, Vermont Sth Cricket Club have been endorsed as future advocacy partners. EFNL totally, blissfully out of the picture.
I can't see how Vermont Cricket Club's use of the ground is a good idea for Whitehorse residents, now that they have moved to the Ringwood & District Cricket Association and only play one other Whitehorse Club once every season.

https://webcast.whitehorse.vic.gov.au/archive/video24-1216.php#placeholder

If you are interested you can also hear about the soil pollution at the EB ground (order of business 10.5) and Cr Barkers vote on the issue (expenditure $278K). Then go back and see his attitude to the work to be done at Springfield Park, (order of business 10.4) where his kids have played (expenditure $1.43M).

It’s interesting that the league is not involved here as they are now getting into this stuff. Apparently they have employed Heath Black as club manager. He’s a mate of the CEO so doubt it was a thorough search for the best person, but will see how he goes, he might be very good at it.

I saw he is involved in Nunawading’s planning process to bring back men’s footy. Again, the key issue is players.

Any club without a junior pipeline is in trouble.

So the EFL need to decide what they want. If they continue the status quo and don’t intervene in things, clubs will fall over. They already have. Are they okay with that? If they are, fair enough. But they can kiss goodbye to their mythical 50 clubs promised land.

 

[CliffMcTainshaw]

The way the winds are blowing, it wouldn't be a shock if the BHRDCA folded in the next 10-20 years with clubs dispersing to the RDCA, ECA and the other nearby associations. There's already a lot of talk that Blackburn and Mitcham want to follow Vermont and Heatherdale across at the next opportunity, and the junior competitions are already basically merged as is.

Can't see it happening with the current committee, as it is it's the oldest cricket association in Victoria. The VCA has already tried to split the Metro region into 4 groups. East, West, South and North. There would be thousands of teams in each division, lots of travelling. You could be at Richmond one week, at home and then Berwick or Packenham the next week. BHRDCA and other Associations have resisted the move, so too has Sub District. The VCA have little influence on Metropolitan comps, simply because they invest bugger all in local cricket.