NFNL div 3 2025

[Champ or Chump]

Now we are finally making sense on Bigfooty

Way above my pay grade as a washed up, social club member and beer drinking supporter .... but I'll pass on the request to the current committee and see what they think. Unlikely

 

[10571z]

It is not false that reserve players are similar at all levels.
They don’t get paid or get paid minimum. $50 I think is pretty common at D1 level for reserve guys.

Most … most clubs and there is always a few exceptions, struggle to fill a full reserve list come the middle of the year. And the guys playing purely for the love.. are very similar across all levels.

The players that have all been mentioned are those guys in that sweet spot I was talking about that would be attractive for a D3 club. Right age, in and out of the seniors and would have a big impact at D3.

Like I mentioned, very hard to attract those guys to the bottom dweller if they have no previous tie to the club.

Easier if you are in the mix, even easier if that person has a good link to the club somehow.

Reservoir have also targeted these players and have added depth to the list if you look through the careers of some of the guys transferring from templestowe, Bundoora and Eltham.

Reserve player aren’t similar at all levels… Heidelberg would be Kilmores reserves by 200 points.

D1 reserves are far far stronger.

 

[Too much fireball]

Reserve player aren’t similar at all levels… Heidelberg would be Kilmores reserves by 200 points.

D1 reserves are far far stronger.

Because the fringe players who are likely on a contract and are in and out of the ones are at a far higher level.

Those players are hard to attract to a d3 club finishing bottom.

Bonafide reserve players .. are similar at all levels.

 

[Champ or Chump]

Because the fringe players who are likely on a contract and are in and out of the ones are at a far higher level.

Those players are hard to attract to a d3 club finishing bottom.

Bonafide reserve players .. are similar at all levels.

Hard to attract - agreed. But Ivanhoe (Div 4) and Parade (Div 5) did in their first year of coming into the comp on less points and no experience in a semi professional comp.

I think we can all agree that a few older players to be more competitive is one thing, but when it starts to look like you are exploiting the assistance then other clubs are going to notice and not be happy about it.

 

[bertybeetle]

Because the fringe players who are likely on a contract and are in and out of the ones are at a far higher level.

Those players are hard to attract to a d3 club finishing bottom.

Bonafide reserve players .. are similar at all levels.

Correct but in Reservoirs case if they are throwing around $1000 a game on 1 player you are telling me if they even offer $300-$350 a game for quality guys in the twos not getting a look in wouldnt work? 3 for the price of one and might build a new culture around them especially if they are in the 20-25 age bracket.

 

[illumineer]

Curious question. How did Heidelberg West turn it around to be more competitive? They couldnt get off the bottom for a much longer period than Reservoir.

 

[Too much fireball]

Hard to attract - agreed. But Ivanhoe (Div 4) and Parade (Div 5) did in their first year of coming into the comp on less points and no experience in a semi professional comp.

I think we can all agree that a few older players to be more competitive is one thing, but when it starts to look like you are exploiting the assistance then other clubs are going to notice and not be happy about it.

The assistance is 1 extra player to put in context.

It was obviously helps. However it’s not exploiting anything. It’s using that assistance to recruit an extra player that hopefully increases on field performance.

Still gotta put a side out each week that fits within the points.
Reservoir have gone hard and recruited who is available to them, in a perfect scenario, 10 top line div1 fringe players jump on board long term and they sail into the sunset with sustained success.

It’s just not realistic.

Like any club, 100 conversations with 100 different players may result in 5-10 recruits if you get extremely lucky and get people at the right time for them to make a move, and you take the ones that are available and don’t hold out for the maybe type answers.

If the club doesn’t become competitive in the short term it simply won’t be a club in the long term.

Like you said above, a few extra older experienced players is great … but hey .. don’t get too good. Don’t recruit too hard… just stay in your lane Rezza.

I’m looking forward to the preseason chat in 2026. When everyone is even with points and hopefully there are no scheduled gimme games in the comp.

We might get dizzy from these circles Chump

To be clear, I don’t think handouts should be given Willy nilly, just on a case by case basis factoring in more then what’s discussed on here.. can be beneficial to the comp to help eliminate the 200-250 point floggings that became the norm.

I also don’t think reservoir are committing first degree murder as is the vibe going on here.

But it’s better that they are being talked about in this light, then the alternative of if we are going to see them open the doors again and field a side.

 

[Too much fireball]

Correct but in Reservoirs case if they are throwing around $1000 a game on 1 player you are telling me if they even offer $300-$350 a game for quality guys in the twos not getting a look in wouldnt work? 3 for the price of one and might build a new culture around them especially if they are in the 20-25 age bracket.

This is the point I’m making.

Your intentions here are great.. but it’s not realistic.

Conversation goes like this:

Hey mate .. reservoir here, been looking at your stats and you are finishing in the best most weeks at (insert club)
But you aren’t getting a senior game.
Want to come to reservoir for more opportunities.. there’s $300-$350 in it for you.
players response : No thanks, unless it’s 600-700 I’m not interested in coming to Reservoir.

That’s just reality unfortunately.
That player who isn’t getting a look in that would be a good addition at 2-300.. isn’t going to come onboard.
And that same player who isn’t getting a look in, isn’t gonna be of good enough calibre to go drop 6-700 on and expect them to elevate your on field performance to any great level.
Their experience also isn’t there, because they are a ressies player as discussed. So you end up paying top dollar, to attract that guy, who doesn’t have the CV, the experience, the ability to warrant taking that big of a chunk.

So yes, targeting those players and getting them in the door at 2-300 would be great.

Ask any bottom sides recruiting team how that conversation goes.

 

[Too much fireball]

Gee wiz I’ve well and truly exceeded my word limit on here.

Hopefully the convo has pivoted a bit next time I check back in and we talk about some other clubs.

 

[baggersforflaggers]

Reserve player aren’t similar at all levels… Heidelberg would be Kilmores reserves by 200 points.

D1 reserves are far far stronger.

400!!

 

[10571z]

The assistance is 1 extra player to put in context.

It was obviously helps. However it’s not exploiting anything. It’s using that assistance to recruit an extra player that hopefully increases on field performance.

Still gotta put a side out each week that fits within the points.
Reservoir have gone hard and recruited who is available to them, in a perfect scenario, 10 top line div1 fringe players jump on board long term and they sail into the sunset with sustained success.

It’s just not realistic.

Like any club, 100 conversations with 100 different players may result in 5-10 recruits if you get extremely lucky and get people at the right time for them to make a move, and you take the ones that are available and don’t hold out for the maybe type answers.

If the club doesn’t become competitive in the short term it simply won’t be a club in the long term.

Like you said above, a few extra older experienced players is great … but hey .. don’t get too good. Don’t recruit too hard… just stay in your lane Rezza.

I’m looking forward to the preseason chat in 2026. When everyone is even with points and hopefully there are no scheduled gimme games in the comp.

We might get dizzy from these circles Chump

To be clear, I don’t think handouts should be given Willy nilly, just on a case by case basis factoring in more then what’s discussed on here.. can be beneficial to the comp to help eliminate the 200-250 point floggings that became the norm.

I also don’t think reservoir are committing first degree murder as is the vibe going on here.

But it’s better that they are being talked about in this light, then the alternative of if we are going to see them open the doors again and field a side.

The 200-250 floggins are gone. Reservoir had ample points to recruit this year. They were competitive a number of games in 2024. Hence the backlash.

End of the day if you win games with more points then what's fair about it? No one is saying "don't be good" but be good within the parameters every other club follows.