D3 D3 Section 2008

[nikko teen58]

tell u the truth, i have no idea, but i think the teams coming up from d4 will do better than most think, and some of the relegated teams will suprise also.. I honestly think d3 may be shocked to see on of the promoted teams make finals, but im pretty sure at least 1 of them will, the standard in d4 lifted alot, so the difference shouldnt be too great, so they will catch a couple of teams sleeping at the wheel..

 

[Pisani18]

With playing a few years in d3 i still think st johns will be a tough team to beat may finish top, then elstenwick,williamstown,then out of uhsob and latrobe. back to d4 will be monash and swinburne

 

[just a kid]

With playing a few years in d3 i still think st johns will be a tough team to beat may finish top, then elstenwick,williamstown,then out of uhsob and latrobe. back to d4 will be monash and swinburne

Monash and Swinburne could easily get relegated if they continue their slide. Sometimes they put together a decent reserves side but really need to look at their long term futures and possible establish better links with junior clubs or the Universities! Regrouping in D4 might be a blessing by year's end.

 

[Pisani18]

I agree, being from vu and in the 05, 06 year having bout 3 uni students in the side and winning 1 game for 06 and dropping down. Then re-grouping in 07 with a great coaching staff that had strong links with the uni which then brought together 2 side's that were mainly students and having a very good year on and off the feild.

 

[chicken31]

having seen both the promoted teams play last year could easily see at least one of them in the finals with both capable to suprise the others uni were never rated higly last year but look were thewy finished the drumming was st marys and eltham so who knows definatly wont be seen in D4 next season

 

[Pisani18]

having seen both the promoted teams play last year could easily see at least one of them in the finals with both capable to suprise the others uni were never rated higly last year but look were thewy finished the drumming was st marys and eltham so who knows definatly wont be seen in D4 next season

At least we wont be seeing st marys for a while i got sick of beating them it became annoying.

 

[chicken31]

At least we wont be seeing st marys for a while i got sick of beating them it became annoying.

yes their perfect season wasnt quite so perfect but no need to talk about them they are gone now to focus on the new season hopefuully all starts on time unlike last year

 

[bigwaz]

Eltham and UHSVU were also good sides off the field. Good for a beer and a laugh. Its a pity we cant play them again this year...

How do West Brunny and Kew rate in the off-field department?

 

[nikko teen58]

i think d3 this year may be quite segregated, more than likely a big difference in the bootom half of the ladder from top, the teams down the bottom will most likely get smashed, and i dont think it will be that much of a race 2 the finals, maybe between a top 5, but the rest wont be too close i dont think.. i personally liked stmarys, the whole "stmarys bites the dust" song in the club rooms after the first time we played em was gold.. gonna miss not having em round to shatter thir hopes and dreams..

 

[nikko teen58]

Eltham and UHSVU were also good sides off the field. Good for a beer and a laugh. Its a pity we cant play them again this year...

How do West Brunny and Kew rate in the off-field department?

Kew, they were very similar 2 marys big waz, full of themselves.. didnt like them personally, they were dirty on the field too, just scumbags, the runner punched 1 of our players, couldnt believe it..

As for west brunnie, i dont really know, i only ever played em when we had about 15players on the field, but they didnt seem that bad. They might be ok. their ground was ok too. Similar to yours waz.

 

[Pisani18]

Kew, they were very similar 2 marys big waz, full of themselves.. didnt like them personally, they were dirty on the field too, just scumbags, the runner punched 1 of our players, couldnt believe it..

As for west brunnie, i dont really know, i only ever played em when we had about 15players on the field, but they didnt seem that bad. They might be ok. their ground was ok too. Similar to yours waz.

You are right about kew... They wont try and win the seniors they will just want to win 14 reserves grand finals in a row.

I think west brunswick is a better team i dont think they will stay long in d4, but there better blokes than nrth brunswick.

but nrth is the same as kew they will just wana win ressies grand finals there a long way of a seniors 1

 

[Rooster1979]

For What its worth here's my ratings of this years teams:

Williamstown CYMS: Any team who wins 6 games the previous year and gets relegated is both unlucky deserves to be one of the top picks. Similar to OW last will have a big home ground advantage in the wind. Beat St. John's ywice last year including Rd 18 away in a potentially relegation saving match (didn't turn out that way) so have better form than JOC's
Jumper Rating: 5.3 - Blue & Yellow Strip, the most popular colours in the VAFA for good reason, the look good together. Cartoons however do not belong on jumpers
Prediction: 16 Wins - Premiers

Elsternwick: Was knocking on the door of the finals last year after a terrible run with injuries mid season. While injuries seems to be the perpetual excuse down at Oval 2, they showed that they were good enough to mix it with OW early and smashed teams in the run home when they had players back
Jumper Rating: 7.6 - Good Traditional Strip just lacks any imagination whatsoever.
Prediction: 14 Wins - 2nd

St John's: Spent 2 years in D2 after beating Werribee in the 2005 Grand Final to gain promotion. Like Willie won 6 games last year but lost the D2 relegation raffle. They were a strong D3 club for many years but were probably unlucky to not spend longer in D2 after a series finals chokes and meeting clubs on the rise (Fitzroy Reds, Rupertswood, Werribee) blocking their ascension. Went ok in D2 in 06 avoiding relegation and dropped off a bit last year so may well be on the way back down after retirements etc. but after winning six matches last year, I believe they will be good enough to make the 4 comfortably.
Jumper Rating: 6.1 - May have a jumper clash with Eltham, will be interesting to see if they revive the white big V jumpers again as seen in the 05 grand final against Werribee.
Prediction: 13 Wins - 3rd

La Trobe Uni: Made the 4 last year in this grade after demotion the previous year. Spent a long time in D2 and field a Club XVIII side & an U19 side (I think). Any club who is putting 70-100 players on the park each week is bound to have a few good players and just as importantly reasonable depth. Combining this with the biggest home ground advantage in D3 I believe they will scrape into September (or late August) action.
Jumper Rating: 8.1 - Good Simple colours and style.
Prediction: 12 Wins - 4th

Monash Gryphons: Monash have been struggling for a while but in the last 9 games last year they: Lost to Old Westbourne by 12, Defeated Ivanhoe by 12 Away, Lost to Hawthorn by 2, Lost to La Trobe by 1. I know it's wins that count but add a couple of good players and they will be more than competitive especially at home on the postage stamp Mk2. Early wins are vital for Monash with their young list and with some luck could win 9-11 games.
Jumper Rating: 4.7 - One of the few jumpers to actually improve when moving from old woolen style to the new style. A new club so hard to see why you would select Maroon as your colour when there are so many better ones out there
Prediction: 11 Wins - 5th

Hawthorn: Were very good for the most of last year after promotion from D4 and beat the unbeatable OW before self combusting late in the season. Finals failure could go both ways, spurring them onto the ultimate success, or as I'm predicting (and hoping for) a significant fall. Other clubs will be better prepared this year and know who the Hawks better players are so they will be under more pressure week in week out. Will remain competitive in D3, with luck could be knocking on the door of the 4, without it could be battling relegation. I'm going somewhere in the middle.
Jumper Rating: 1.4 - One Word - Brown
Prediction: 9 Wins - 6th

Powerhouse: Recruited well last year after promotion from D4 and finished mid table. Edwards is their key. Without him they struggle to kick enough goals to win games. They were often beaten last year by teams below them when he didn't play, and from the rumours on this site he's only 50/50 to play with the Pirhannas. Without him, I think they will be facing a very long year but at the moment I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt.
Jumper Rating: 6.1 - Dark colours prevents any jumper clashes which is a positive but I'm sure given their time over, a different design would be selected.
Prediciton: 8 Wins - 7th

Eltham OC: I know there's been some talk about how the standard in D4 has risen, but lets not forget that the 2 sides relegated from D3 in 06, UHS-VU & St. Mary's were in the top 3 last year in D4. Despite suggested good recruiting, this indicates that there is indeed a significant gap. While Eltham lost the Grand Final last year, I think they'll out perform UHS-VU for two reasons - close affiliation with a school will bring in a few talented yougsters and they're better home ground advantage, if they get 1-2 extra wins against middle of the road teams that will be enough to remain in D3 next year.
Jumper Rating: 7.6 - Good Traditional Strip & Colours
Prediciton: 7 Wins - 8th

Swinburne Uni: Have struggled to recruit recently with the nature of the subjects studied at the local University of Technology. Seem to be an ageing side after winning a D3 premiership back in 03. Many of those players are retiring or moving on now and the pigs are having trouble replacing them. While they alway give a showing at home, they won't win many away on bigger grounds with fitter younger opponents.
Jumper Rating: 4 - Cartoon's are not from football jumpers
Prediciton: 5 Wins - 9th

UHS-VU: Were the laughing stock of D3 in 06 along with St.Mary's, were relegated and won a flag in D4. Until proven otherwise, I'm going to go with "There's a big gap between D3 & D4". Unless they have 15-18 new starting players from their 06 side, they will really struggle. Little or no home ground advantage means they will struggle to win more than 2 or 3 games.
Jumper Rating: 2 - Brown is ordinary
Prediction: 1 Win - 10th

 

[nikko teen58]

i agree with most of the table there, but i just dont see how u can rate eltham higher than uhsob by 5 wins, when uhs beat eltham (away) and in both finals they played.. u would have to think going down to d4, 1's taking the flag and 2's runners up would actually suggest exactly the amount of recruitment u mentioned? i guess we will have 2 see if they are any good..

 

[Pisani18]

i agree with most of the table there, but i just dont see how u can rate eltham higher than uhsob by 5 wins, when uhs beat eltham (away) and in both finals they played.. u would have to think going down to d4, 1's taking the flag and 2's runners up would actually suggest exactly the amount of recruitment u mentioned? i guess we will have 2 see if they are any good..

Also i would say that there links with vic uni would be alot stronger that the ones eltham has with there collage.

And playing in d3 in 05 and 06 then to go down to d4 there is not much of a change at all, maybe in some of the lower teams but your making it out that we are playing in the english premier league coming up from the championship.

 

[Rooster1979]

Also i would say that there links with vic uni would be alot stronger that the ones eltham has with there collage.

And playing in d3 in 05 and 06 then to go down to d4 there is not much of a change at all, maybe in some of the lower teams but your making it out that we are playing in the english premier league coming up from the championship.

Eltham plays at Eltham College, I'd think every student there knows that the Turtles are there. That gives them at least a 50/50 shot at picking up players. I'd bet Eltham have more old boys in there team than UHS-VU, Swinburne & Monash have combined. La Trobe is different as it's an on campus side.

I'm not suggesting the gap between D3 & D4 can't be crossed, Elsternwick & Hawthorn have done it the last 2 years, along with clubs on the rise like Rupe & Weribee earlier, but I can't see either team doing it this year for the following reasons: Elsternwick and Hawthorn are both 'D3 Clubs', they had poor years, went down, regrouped and came back up. Rupertswood, Weribee & OW were all clubs on the rise in phenomenal growth areas and will settle most likely in the middle grades. D3 should watch out for St Francis Xavier next year!

In recent history, UHS & Eltham have both been 'D4 Clubs'. UHS has struggled every time it's entered D3, Eltham has never made it to D3 before??? One of the big differences in D3 is there aren't the rubbish teams down the bottom of the ladder giving easy wins every second week, you need to turn up to play every week, which I know sounds obvious, but a big change from D4. I rate Elthams home ground advantage as better as most players in D3 wouldn't have experienced it before, it's very big, cold and very different to most sides home ground. Six extra wins for Eltham over UHS.... maybe banking on a few premiership retirements as well.....

Good Luck to both the promoted teams, hope you prove me wrong.

I'd be interested to hear anyone else's predictions

 

[crazybear]

Kew, they were very similar 2 marys big waz, full of themselves.. didnt like them personally, they were dirty on the field too, just scumbags, the runner punched 1 of our players, couldnt believe it..

As for west brunnie, i dont really know, i only ever played em when we had about 15players on the field, but they didnt seem that bad. They might be ok. their ground was ok too. Similar to yours waz.

Your a dead set stroker. What game was this alleged incident in? Dirty???? 1 report for the year and charge was attempting to strike. Just join up today nikko?

 

[Over The Post]

I wouldn't rate UHS as badly as some, nor pump up the tyres of the Turtlemobile. I only saw one D4 match last year and it was the GF - Eltham need to play more than the first three quarters. They absolutely died in the last quarter at Vermont.

 

[Pisani18]

Eltham plays at Eltham College, I'd think every student there knows that the Turtles are there. That gives them at least a 50/50 shot at picking up players. I'd bet Eltham have more old boys in there team than UHS-VU, Swinburne & Monash have combined. La Trobe is different as it's an on campus side.

I'm not suggesting the gap between D3 & D4 can't be crossed, Elsternwick & Hawthorn have done it the last 2 years, along with clubs on the rise like Rupe & Weribee earlier, but I can't see either team doing it this year for the following reasons: Elsternwick and Hawthorn are both 'D3 Clubs', they had poor years, went down, regrouped and came back up. Rupertswood, Weribee & OW were all clubs on the rise in phenomenal growth areas and will settle most likely in the middle grades. D3 should watch out for St Francis Xavier next year!

In recent history, UHS & Eltham have both been 'D4 Clubs'. UHS has struggled every time it's entered D3, Eltham has never made it to D3 before??? One of the big differences in D3 is there aren't the rubbish teams down the bottom of the ladder giving easy wins every second week, you need to turn up to play every week, which I know sounds obvious, but a big change from D4. I rate Elthams home ground advantage as better as most players in D3 wouldn't have experienced it before, it's very big, cold and very different to most sides home ground. Six extra wins for Eltham over UHS.... maybe banking on a few premiership retirements as well.....

Good Luck to both the promoted teams, hope you prove me wrong.

I'd be interested to hear anyone else's predictions

Fair point it will be interesting to see how we fair this year.

 

[golden31]

it seems that the two sides who are coming up to d3 faired well in both grades so should go ok. They seem to both have 30-40 blokes who could play senior footy at any time, as shown by the closeness in the 2's grand final as well as the strong contests throughout the season. are there any noticeable players to step up in 08, or will the success depend on maintaining the majority of the 22 who played in the 1's granny

 

[Pisani18]

it seems that the two sides who are coming up to d3 faired well in both grades so should go ok. They seem to both have 30-40 blokes who could play senior footy at any time, as shown by the closeness in the 2's grand final as well as the strong contests throughout the season. are there any noticeable players to step up in 08, or will the success depend on maintaining the majority of the 22 who played in the 1's granny

Played in the 2s grand final last year and i would say that eltham were better than any 2s team we playerd in d3 the year before, apart from old westborne and kew. But i think if we can keep our team 2gether and get a few more uni guys down we should be ok.
But i would still say the fav for this year will be st johns.

 

[golden31]

you mentioned that you played the 2's final. any players from either side ready to step up

 

[Pisani18]

you mentioned that you played the 2's final. any players from either side ready to step up

Yeah there a a few second year players in the 2s ready to step up, also had alot of younger blokes 18-19 yewar olds that missed out on the gf who have been back training and will be pushing for spots in 1st and 2s. Looking at eltham they would be about the same.

 

[golden31]

rooster, im not sure why you are rating Eltham and UHS to finish in 8th and 10th respectively. Surely the wheels arnt going to fall of what was a successful campaign for both sides in 07.. Eltham lost 3 times and uni only the once.. I'd be looking at your mid range d3 sides of 07 to be finishing at the bottom, the likes of Monash, Swinny and Powerhouse, they will rely heavily on the retention of key position players in 08 otherwise they will struggle.
The two teams that come up from d4 both finished the year off well and id be saying that either or both could make up the top 4..

 

[nikko teen58]

Your a dead set stroker. What game was this alleged incident in? Dirty???? 1 report for the year and charge was attempting to strike. Just join up today nikko?

Well the game was actually in2006, where 1 of our 40 year old players came 2 make up numbers, so we could play, 17 blokes and no bench, good ol kew wanted 2 act tough so they tried 2 get him in a scuffle when the runner came out, (looking like he was going 2 break it up) but instead decides 2 lay the cheap 1 in.. cheap, and spinless it was, if not for the starch in his shirt he wouldnt be standing upright. Well perhaps this year in D4 they might win a ressies gf, good luck to ya's.. and yes, i am a stroker.. he yuk, yoo got a purty mouth..

 

[Pisani18]

Would like to know how other team's are going at the moment with numbers at training now and before xmas any news.