NFNL Div 2 discussion 2024

[lennyhayes777]

Much recruiting news out of the cougars?

What about laurimar? Haven’t heard much from them at all. It’s a big jump up a division you would think recruiting is essential to be competitive
all beit south did very well but off the back of a good off season after winning it

 

[10571z]

What about laurimar? Haven’t heard much from them at all. It’s a big jump up a division you would think recruiting is essential to be competitive
all beit south did very well but off the back of a good off season after winning it

South also picked up

​

Dintinosanti 45 goals
Moorcroft 44 goals

And a hand full of regular senior players. Improved their list via recruitment.

 

[nosecondprize]

Haven’t heard much tbh

They are in trouble. Wouldnt be surprised if they miss finals and then are in Div 3 or move to the VAFA within a couple of years.

 

[10571z]

They are in trouble. Wouldnt be surprised if they miss finals and then are in Div 3 or move to the VAFA within a couple of years.

What would moving to the VAFA achieve besides having all of their paid players probably walk out?

 

[Denny Crane]

From HS

New Lower Plenty coach Travis Stephens discusses expectations for 2024​

New Lower Plenty coach Travis Stephens has heard the rumours but is confident his squad will “surprise a couple” next season.

Lower Plenty coach Travis Stephens has heard the whispers, no one rates the Bears.
Rumours that rivals were lining up to play the club in Round 1 and it’s in the gun for relegation are only fuelling the fire in pre-season.

Lower narrowly avoided the drop this year, winning two NFNL Division 2 games, to finish ninth.

It saw Phil Plunkett relieved of his coaching duties and Montmorency assistant Stephens brought in.

With another year of development for its young squad and the addition of some promising recruits, the first-time senior coach is bullish about what the Bears can achieve in 2024.

“Expectations, as me and (assistant) Chris Daw said, our aim is to make finals but it’s a step-by-step process with this group,” Stephens said.

“On paper I think our team is quite competitive, we’ll surprise a couple of sides.

“You hear the word around that they don’t really rate us and we’re happy to prove teams wrong.

“There’s a few sides, you put in the requests to the league for fixtures, who wanted to play us in Round 1 probably for an easy kill.

“It’s been going really well, we’ve had good numbers at training, that’s been the most impressive part from past years.

“It’s a young group, compared to what I’ve had in the past, but enthusiastic and looking to learn and bought into what we’re trying to implement.”

Depth will be critical to Lower’s aspirations of jumping up the ladder next season.

The return of key players from injury and the addition of Nick Uzelac and Lewis Tsourou have the Bears in a stronger position.

Jon Zapantis was limited to four games, Porter played just seven and Rory Alexander nine.

And Stephens is hopeful of adding a few more new and old faces to the mix.

“Injuries this year, obviously some players left, but we’ve been able to drag a couple of those kids back,” Stephens said.

“We’re still working on that area, there are still blokes umming and ahhing, so it’s still a work in progress.

“A lot of blokes are busy with work at this time of year and haven’t committed to anything yet, we’re still hopeful of getting a couple back and a couple of outside as well.

“I had a pretty close relationship with Nick (Uzelac) over three years, so he was one I head-hunted as such.

“It’s probably a senior opportunity for him, he was on the fringe a little bit in 2023, so it’s a chance to play regular senior footy and carve his own way rather than follow his brother.

“Nick is a Research junior so he comes as a one-pointer and having him jump on board has opened avenues to blokes that he played juniors with and we’ve had four come back.”

Uzelac played five senior games at Montmorency this season, kicking four goals, after a breakout 2022 which saw him play 17 matches and kick 25 goals.

Best-and-fairest top-three Jordan Sacco, Patrick Flynn and Josh Turner have all re-signed for 2024.

Meanwhile, Northcote Park premiership player Shaun Lorenzini has come on board as an assistant in another off-field boost.

 

[Aucklander]

New season thread.

 

[Rusted nuts]

Diamond Creek
Whittlesea
South Morang
St Mary’s
Thomastown

Panton Hill
Watsonia
Laurimar
Lower Plenty
Northcote Park

 

[10571z]

Diamond Creek
Whittlesea
South Morang
St Mary’s
Thomastown

Panton Hill
Watsonia
Laurimar
Lower Plenty
Northcote Park

NP genuinely could be relegated. Just lost Tadd back to epping as well.

 

[nosecondprize]

What would moving to the VAFA achieve besides having all of their paid players probably walk out?

They are struggling financially. Those players are going to walk anyway if they go down a division. They have absolutely no supporters.
They are located in a prime spot for VAFA.

 

[bulldogs1954]

We've just seen 2 clubs leave the VAFA because they were concerned staying would kill the club in the long run. It would be suicidal for any club to join the VAFA.

 

[MortlockWatcher]

Unless NP adds 'Old Boys' to its name it will be a move fraught with danger. They would start in Division 3 in the amateurs and spend their days traipsing all over the suburbs to exotic locations like Elsternwick, Dandenong and Albert Park - not a great lure for prospective recruits from the northern suburbs.

 

[10571z]

They are struggling financially. Those players are going to walk anyway if they go down a division. They have absolutely no supporters.
They are located in a prime spot for VAFA.

I just don’t agree. You’re talking about traditional VAFA clubs with strong junior or school pathways. Something NP has neither of. I doubt they’ll suddenly become appealing due to joining that VAFA.

They were a very well off club with pokies but seem to have failed to adapt. Needed to build junior pathways with nearby clubs… Preston Bullants for example started their own senior club, would that have happened if NP approached them for a formal MOU? (Maybe they did just thinking out loud)

 

[NorthernBastard]

NP joining VAFA would be simply the final nail in the coffin

 

[nosecondprize]

NP joining VAFA would be simply the final nail in the coffin

It's been spoken about down there. So must have some merit in it. I agree I don't know what the positives are. Unless they affiliate with a school.
Is there a Norhcote team in the VAFA?

 

[Ryan17]

It's been spoken about down there. So must have some merit in it. I agree I don't know what the positives are. Unless they affiliate with a school.
Is there a Norhcote team in the VAFA?

no. closest teams would be parkside, fitzroy and north brunswick

 

[EBERT THE KING]

No club is actively pursuing a move to the VAFA in their current situation. Clubs leaving all over the place. Too many divisions, too much travel. Archaic rules across the board.

A grade ammos is elite, the rest is rubbish.

 

[Gold Standard]

It's been spoken about down there. So must have some merit in it. I agree I don't know what the positives are. Unless they affiliate with a school.
Is there a Norhcote team in the VAFA?

Lol, you blokes get sillier every week, great laugh. Missed finals last year by a game, lost 4 of their games after being in front during the last quarter but ran out of legs due to injuries. Have picked up more than they’ve lost, have a new coach and new energy. Are more financial than any other club in the division, best ground and new facilities on the way. Should stop drinking and bashing your wives and get your heads out of your asses whilst you’re at it.

 

[SlamDunk]

Lol, you blokes get sillier every week, great laugh. Missed finals last year by a game, lost 4 of their games after being in front during the last quarter but ran out of legs due to injuries. Have picked up more than they’ve lost, have a new coach and new energy. Are more financial than any other club in the division, best ground and new facilities on the way. Should stop drinking and bashing your wives and get your heads out of your asses whilst you’re at it.

No one that’s been posted as ‘signed on’ has actually signed on
Be lucky if you’re even in D3 by 2025.

Off to sleep next to my wife now, you can go bash yours xx

 

[Gold Standard]

No one that’s been posted as ‘signed on’ has actually signed on
Be lucky if you’re even in D3 by 2025.

Off to sleep next to my wife now, you can go bash yours

No one that’s been posted as ‘signed on’ has actually signed on
Be lucky if you’re even in D3 by 2025.

Off to sleep next to my wife now, you can go bash yours xx

Just stick to the facts, rebute anything I’ve stated about the club if you can.
Don’t just peddle your misery, of course we’ve dropped from where we were. Happens to clubs, we’ll play finals this year. Look forward to facing your club if you even have one.

 

[barrelsomers]

Lol, you blokes get sillier every week, great laugh. Missed finals last year by a game, lost 4 of their games after being in front during the last quarter but ran out of legs due to injuries. Have picked up more than they’ve lost, have a new coach and new energy. Are more financial than any other club in the division, best ground and new facilities on the way. Should stop drinking and bashing your wives and get your heads out of your asses whilst you’re at it.

You're kidding yourself if you think BLO is the best ground. Average at best. The moronic lefty council pushed back the ground/facilities works again so you'll be waiting a while for these new facilities lol

 

[Stinga]

No club is actively pursuing a move to the VAFA in their current situation. Clubs leaving all over the place. Too many divisions, too much travel. Archaic rules across the board.

A grade ammos is elite, the rest is rubbish.

The premier divisions (A-C) are where the quality is, it drops off badly from there. The top end of B grade would compete well in Northern Div 1.

The lower divisions are poor and the travel factor makes it a difficult prospect to build rivalries and attract players

 

[10571z]

Just stick to the facts, rebute anything I’ve stated about the club if you can.
Don’t just peddle your misery, of course we’ve dropped from where we were. Happens to clubs, we’ll play finals this year. Look forward to facing your club if you even have one.

Who has NP signed? Looks like the epping blokes they got are gone. Only 1 official announcement.

 

[lennyhayes777]

NP may be okay. I’ve heard a greensborough reunion is looking likely there with some big name signings nearly done

 

[Top deck]

NP may be okay. I’ve heard a greensborough reunion is looking likely there with some big name signings nearly done

Can you shed some light?

 

[Denny Crane]