D1 2016 discussion

[Mounzer11]

As a Hoer, we were happy with the win on the weekend and to get another 4 points in our first year up in D1 for some time. The Friars may not have had a good run recently, but some other performances were not horrible and at home are always a challenge - we were very happy to get the win.

We have been a bit inconsistent this year and when not on our game copped our right whack and been belted by far better teams on the day. We have used alot of players this year due to injuries and unavailability, but that would be no different to all the other teams I would imagine. I believe that if we can get close to our best team on the park and play with the right intensity, we could possibly match most teams in this grade and put in a competitive effort.

That said, I think we are a bit off the pace of the top teams and might have 'got' a couple at a good time - PEGS and OGGS will have better teams next time around and we have to improve alot to match OM's and Therry who smashed us. Add to that we have struggled against SMS and we are still only a smokey for finals action - IMO.

We have a very big game this week against OP's who we have struggled to get our game going against in recent times - including the GF last year in D2. If we get a win, then we take another big step to staying up in year one after promotion and that would be a big effort with 7 senior blokes not playing from last years GF team and losing 20 from the Reserves premiership team (work, retirement, travel) this year.

Hopefully, work commitments and injuries go our way and we get a few more back over the next couple of weeks and test our young team and put in a pretty competitive season.......but A LONG way to go!

Chump.

It amazes me how clubs have a great year, go up a grade and then players fall off - for various reasons.
As a club, you think you are well equipped to make a run for the higher grades only to lose the important players the year after who were the cornerstone of the build.
Happens way too often.

 

[VAFA Spectator]

It amazes me how clubs have a great year, go up a grade and then players fall off - for various reasons.
As a club, you think you are well equipped to make a run for the higher grades only to lose the important players the year after who were the cornerstone of the build.
Happens way too often.

Seems understandable. Some of the older guys feel it's time to retire after winning that elusive flag, if you are promoted as runners-up, they may feel that the next chance at a flag is too many years away and either head to another club with more immediate flag prospects or give it away a few years early. Most clubs that are promoted (speaking generally) do well just to play finals the following year even if they keep the same squad (with a few notable exceptions)

 

[Bigboy2]

The nature of ammos footy when players aren't getting paid, is some players will come and go each year. Work commitments, travel, clubs with cash attracting players. It's the clubs that have a quality u19 and strong feeder system from the school or juniors as well as a strong old boy network system that can overcome the changes and still see clubs remain strong.

 

[footyshorts]

Here we go! BIG games this week holy moly!! If the fair weather units lose to OGGS and they will slip maybe out of the 4!!

NOBS V FRIARS - harsh words by hedgehog slice saying they suck - a new game plan vs NOBS should see them still lose by 30.
OGGS V OMS - what a game this promises to be, 0 contested possessions recorded. OM's by 7 points.
HOES V PARADE - hoes to raise the bat and win by a ton.
PEGS V THERRY - oh yes please can't wait for this one. PEGS 13 points
PRAHRAN V SMS - toughie this one, can sms match it on large deck. I say no, prahran by 15.

 

[Bigboy2]

2 great games this week. If OGGS beat OMS winner of Therry v PEGS go to the top, loser could drop to 5 th. Huge game.

FRIARS to beat NOBS.
OGGS to beat OMS.
PEGS just over Therry.
SMS over Prahran

 

[Bob Billington]

2 great games this week. If OGGS beat OMS winner of Therry v PEGS go to the top, loser could drop to 5 th. Huge game.

FRIARS to beat NOBS.
OGGS to beat OMS.
PEGS just over Therry.
SMS over Prahran

yeah who cares about hoes and parade

 

[VAFA Spectator]

PRAHRAN [/B]V SMS - toughie this one, can sms match it on large deck. I say no, prahran by 15.

Interesting selection, 2 blues are the "form side" running hot on a 6 game loosing streak having managed but a draw against the winless OPs and a win over the struggling NOBs 7 weeks ago. Can't see them getting up

 

[Bigboy2]

Very impressed with Therry today. Had a few keys out, play hard contested footy. Great game today.

 

[clutchtime]

any intel to explain OM significant drop off? Lost the last 3 (albeit to other finals contenders) as well as just getting over the line against WF.

 

[VAFA Spectator]

any intel to explain OM significant drop off? Lost the last 3 (albeit to other finals contenders) as well as just getting over the line against WF.

Have a look at the playing list over the past few weeks. They have a number of Sandy Dragons listed players, most of whom played the first few rounds. How many have been called up to Sandy recently? I don't know the answer but I suggest it would have had some impact. It may be a case of unlucky timing for those who played them early on in the season.

 

[footyshorts]

any intel to explain OM significant drop off? Lost the last 3 (albeit to other finals contenders) as well as just getting over the line against WF.

weather

 

[HedgeFund]

weather

Ticker?

 

[footyshorts]

Ticker?

WHACK!

 

[Chump or Champ]

Halfway mark of the season ............

Flag:
OGGS

Final Four:
Oggs
Pegs
Therry
OM's

B&F: Burbury OGGS
Goal Kicker: J Bannister

D2 next year:
OP's
NOBS

Chump.

 

[Privateye]

Halfway mark of the season ............

Flag:
OGGS

Final Four:
Oggs
Pegs
Therry
OM's

B&F: Burbury OGGS
Goal Kicker: J Bannister

D2 next year:
OP's
NOBS

Chump.

Chump, you talkin about the ressies? Old Geelong.

 

[AM]

Chump, you talkin about the ressies? Old Geelong.

I wouldn’t be writing OGGS ones off. This is a very even comp.

 

[VAFA Spectator]

I wouldn’t be writing OGGS ones off. This is a very even comp.

Observations from the sidelines:

• The top 6 are very close and on their day any of them can beat any of the other 5, results so far have proven that.
• If I were to back one of them to miss, it would be Ivanhoe, just on the basis of some bigger losses to some of those above them on the ladder. The feeling is they are dependant on too few to get the job done. (Not on their own there)
• OM seem to be in this category, have had too many losses in a row for that to go unnoticed.
• The prediction of OGGS for the flag is a big call, if they lose next week to SMS at Ferndale, they may have to beat both OMs and PEGS in the last 2 rounds just to make finals.
• Chump leaving SMS out of the top 4 is pretty surprising, given they lost to OMs away when they were at the peak of their powers and OGGS away, haven't dropped a game since.
• Friars are probably safe from relegation once again as there are 3 teams that they are much better than, but must be getting sick of just keeping their heads above water. They have good young talent, hopefully they can keep them and bring them along.
• PEGS are probably headed back up to Premier footy in 2017.
• Therry are probably too reliant on Bannisters to get back up.
• The relegation and promotion system has provided Div 1 with a really tight contest this year that all should be pretty happy with.

 

[clutchtime]

Agree with Chump OG are the team to beat, they have the most consistent scoring ability within the top 5 (sorry for excluding Ivanhoe). Against other top 5 opponents OG have kicked 57.55, OM - 50.48, Therry - 46.43, SMS 43.44, Pegs 43.3.

 

[Chump or Champ]

Observations from the sidelines:

• The top 6 are very close and on their day any of them can beat any of the other 5, results so far have proven that.
• If I were to back one of them to miss, it would be Ivanhoe, just on the basis of some bigger losses to some of those above them on the ladder. The feeling is they are dependant on too few to get the job done. (Not on their own there)
• OM seem to be in this category, have had too many losses in a row for that to go unnoticed.
• The prediction of OGGS for the flag is a big call, if they lose next week to SMS at Ferndale, they may have to beat both OMs and PEGS in the last 2 rounds just to make finals.
• Chump leaving SMS out of the top 4 is pretty surprising, given they lost to OMs away when they were at the peak of their powers and OGGS away, haven't dropped a game since.
• Friars are probably safe from relegation once again as there are 3 teams that they are much better than, but must be getting sick of just keeping their heads above water. They have good young talent, hopefully they can keep them and bring them along.
• PEGS are probably headed back up to Premier footy in 2017.
• Therry are probably too reliant on Bannisters to get back up.
• The relegation and promotion system has provided Div 1 with a really tight contest this year that all should be pretty happy with.

Sorry AM, but 5 did not go into 4 and I had to leave someone out (other than ourselves). It really is a blanket over the top 6 and anything could happen ......

OM's don't get the guys back from Sandy
Eggelstone (jaw) Rowe (shoulder) Bannisters (?) are massive for Therry and if they drop a couple - then SMS or Hoes could jump in.
OGGS building nicely and have good points for and against - and only a game off top - yet 4th AM.
Hoes could do anything if we get our best team together - again, that is a problem for everyone (as above) or if Coach Harris continues to deliver string half time speeches LOL
SMS a very good team, but I thought we played really poorly that day and were only 3 points down at 3/4 ....that said SMS smashed us big time in the last.

It's going to be a great second half to the year me thinks!

Chump.

 

[AM]

Sorry AM, but 5 did not go into 4 and I had to leave someone out (other than ourselves). It really is a blanket over the top 6 and anything could happen ......

OM's don't get the guys back from Sandy
Eggelstone (jaw) Rowe (shoulder) Bannisters (?) are massive for Therry and if they drop a couple - then SMS or Hoes could jump in.
OGGS building nicely and have good points for and against - and only a game off top - yet 4th AM.
Hoes could do anything if we get our best team together - again, that is a problem for everyone (as above) or if Coach Harris continues to deliver string half time speeches LOL
SMS a very good team, but I thought we played really poorly that day and were only 3 points down at 3/4 ....that said SMS smashed us big time in the last.

It's going to be a great second half to the year me thinks!

Chump.

No apologies needed Chump. All grist for the forum mill. The advent of one gun player can make a huge difference at VAFA D1 and George is a gun with a capital 'G'.

 

[Bigboy2]

Agree with Chump OG are the team to beat, they have the most consistent scoring ability within the top 5 (sorry for excluding Ivanhoe). Against other top 5 opponents OG have kicked 57.55, OM - 50.48, Therry - 46.43, SMS 43.44, Pegs 43.3.

Aren't flags won on the back of defence?
PEGS have conceded the least amount of points.
You can make what you want out of stats

 

[VAFA Spectator]

Aren't flags won on the back of defence?
PEGS have conceded the least amount of points.
You can make what you want out of stats

Flags are not necessarily won on defence. Call me old fashioned, but they are won by scoring more than the opposition, regardless of how you do it, it's all about getting the win. OGGS may well have the most potent attack on current form, but if they can't beat SMS at Ferndale next week, (which no one has managed as yet), then I still contend that they will have to do some pretty heavy lifting in the last 2 weeks to make finals.
PEGS are the team to beat in my books and I stand by my contention that their time in Div 1 will be short lived.

 

[Bob Billington]

I see a lot of similarities between SMS and the Hawks this year. Very consistently notching up wins without thumping teams like the others in the top 4. Our percentages are very similar. Next weeks game against OGGS is the biggest all year for both sides. OGGS are travelling better into the match and have had the wood over SMS in past matches, but if SMS can grab the win on their home turf which they are more than capable of, that two game buffer over OGGS could prove really really telling come seasons end, as VAFA Spectator pointed out.

Given how even the top four are, finishing top 2 is going to be massive for the sides that make it. There's going to be a really stiff team that won't make finals whilst a rival side on near level terms gets promoted. Great to see such a fine line for once!

 

[Bigboy2]

I see a lot of similarities between SMS and the Hawks this year. Very consistently notching up wins without thumping teams like the others in the top 4. Our percentages are very similar. Next weeks game against OGGS is the biggest all year for both sides. OGGS are travelling better into the match and have had the wood over SMS in past matches, but if SMS can grab the win on their home turf which they are more than capable of, that two game buffer over OGGS could prove really really telling come seasons end, as VAFA Spectator pointed out.

Given how even the top four are, finishing top 2 is going to be massive for the sides that make it. There's going to be a really stiff team that won't make finals whilst a rival side on near level terms gets promoted. Great to see such a fine line for once!

Massive game this week between SM and OGGS. Home ground helps SM, such a tight small ground and real home ground advantage. Seems OGGS are at full strength. Few other top 4-6 teams have a few out. Therry were depleted the other week, I am very impressed with them, they will be there come back end. They play most top teams at home the second half of the year.
Do SM have many to come back?
Burberry playing state game, would think he may have emotional and physical let down after state game?Helps SM next game.
PEGS v Ivanhoe is a big one. Ivanhoe won easily rd 1, playing good footy. This will be a ripper of a game. Ivanhoe win they are in contention.

 

[Bob Billington]

Massive game this week between SM and OGGS. Home ground helps SM, such a tight small ground and real home ground advantage. Seems OGGS are at full strength. Few other top 4-6 teams have a few out. Therry were depleted the other week, I am very impressed with them, they will be there come back end. They play most top teams at home the second half of the year.
Do SM have many to come back?
Burberry playing state game, would think he may have emotional and physical let down after state game?Helps SM next game.
PEGS v Ivanhoe is a big one. Ivanhoe won easily rd 1, playing good footy. This will be a ripper of a game. Ivanhoe win they are in contention.

Can't see anything other than a PEGS win in this one, regardless of Rd 1