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.

 

[Champ or Chump]

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.

We did. Same conversations last year and this - we were Div 4 ammo's and finished 6th last year. But we are building. Not sure it is equitable to give an advantage as we are talking to get elite players in.

Ressa have recruited guys who have all come together as mates from a higher level. Points are the only thing that are able to be managed externally.

So pretty simple - make it 46 every club and all clubs are happy. Why would Ressa have an issue with that?

The top players you have recruited are some of the best in the league - Chewy, Grabowski, Greenwood, Dyson, etc. So just make it work so other clubs are not disadvantaged. What you pay them is up to you.

 

[Too much fireball]

We did. Same conversations last year and this - we were Div 4 ammo's and finished 6th last year. But we are building. Not sure it is equitable to give an advantage as we are talking to get elite players in.

Ressa have recruited guys who have all come together as mates from higher level. Points are the only things that are able to be managed externally.

So pretty simple - make it 46 every club and all clubs are happy.

Why would Ressa have an issue with that? The top players you have recruited are some of the best in the league - Chewy, Grabowski, Greenwood, Dyson, etc. So just make it work so other clubs are not disadvantaged. What you pay them is up to you.

Chewy and Dyson.. although have had unbelievable careers.. and certainly have spent years in that category..
are not in the elite bracket that are going to dominate the competition anymore. They will definitely help the side in the wealth of knowledge department.

Chewy is near on 50 and Dyson is 40.

The other two. Absolutely. Guns

 

[Thunder1]

All the more reason for Resa to only play at 46 points.
If and it's a big if they play finals makes a joke of all other clubs who have been allocated 46 points to play with
I am.sure clubs like Kilmore and Kinglake find it difficult to recruit players to travel the extra distance, maybe they should ask for extra points
West haven't played senior finals in over 30 years, but continue to front up and have tried to recruit the correct way. I am sure they would love extra points as well
So it's great that Resa has recruited these players to the competition, but play within the points cap, damn even Heidelberg had to play players in their 2's as they had too many points, if it's good enough for the Division 1 premier it should be good enough for Resa

 

[Too much fireball]

All the more reason for Resa to only play at 46 points.
If and it's a big if they play finals makes a joke of all other clubs who have been allocated 46 points to play with
I am.sure clubs like Kilmore and Kinglake find it difficult to recruit players to travel the extra distance, maybe they should ask for extra points
West haven't played senior finals in over 30 years, but continue to front up and have tried to recruit the correct way. I am sure they would love extra points as well
So it's great that Resa has recruited these players to the competition, but play within the points cap, damn even Heidelberg had to play players in their 2's as they had too many points, if it's good enough for the Division 1 premier it should be good enough for Resa

People actually stop fronting up.. and clubs close their doors, that was very much where reservoir was heading.

The committee are volunteers, and also are not in anyway responsible for the club being on its knees as that has been done by people at the time who are now long gone.

Now we are talking finals etc etc .. season hasn’t started, coming off finishing last..
I don’t think making a hypothetical .. and then getting mad at the hypothetical is relevant to anything.

And good enough for the div 1 premier .. should be good enough for the worst side in the northern football league, doesn’t make any sense, The two clubs are literally polar opposites.

Reservoir also aren’t the only side playing with extra points. Lalor same boat. Heidelberg west same boat if they applied for them they would be allocated then based on sustained lack of success in recent times. You don’t need extra points if you aren’t recruiting anyways.

 

[Thunder1]

People actually stop fronting up.. and clubs close their doors, that was very much where reservoir was heading.

The committee are volunteers, and also are not in anyway responsible for the club being on its knees as that has been done by people at the time who are now long gone.

Now we are talking finals etc etc .. season hasn’t started, coming off finishing last..
I don’t think making a hypothetical .. and then getting mad at the hypothetical is relevant to anything.

And good enough for the div 1 premier .. should be good enough for the worst side in the northern football league, doesn’t make any sense, The two clubs are literally polar opposites.

Reservoir also aren’t the only side playing with extra points. Lalor same boat. Heidelberg west same boat if they applied for them they would be allocated then based on sustained lack of success in recent times. You don’t need extra points if you aren’t recruiting anyways.

Too much fireball West haven't played finals for over 30 years, have been smashed time and time again but have never whinged, just got on with trying to improve their club

Maybe that's something Resa should do instead of.trying to rort the system. Play at 46 points, the players you have recruited will.make the side better, if that means someone misses out due to points, then it's exactly.the same as 30 other clubs in the NFNL

Every club has volunteer committees, you make it sound like only Resa have volunteers, so make.it a level playing field, get better and improve, if that takes 2 years so be it

 

[Too much fireball]

Too much fireball West haven't played finals for over 30 years, have been smashed time and time again but have never whinged, just got on with trying to improve their club

Maybe that's something Resa should do instead of.trying to rort the system. Play at 46 points, the players you have recruited will.make the side better, if that means someone misses out due to points, then it's exactly.the same as 30 other clubs in the NFNL

Every club has volunteer committees, you make it sound like only Resa have volunteers, so make.it a level playing field, get better and improve, if that takes 2 years so be it

So you didn’t read the above.

Reservoir aren’t the only side allocated extra points.

It’s also not rorting the system. It’s being allocated more points due to terrible recent history.

Using extra points to recruit another player or two is exactly why they are allocated.

It’s only now an issue because of the belief that they might rapidly improve.

It’s ok, you’ll be ok, the club you support will be ok, and hopefully reservoir can become competitive. Same goes for lalor .. who are also allocated extra points.

I have absolutely nothing against West Heidelberg, however if your example is going to be along the lines of .. they aren’t going well and haven’t gone well in years and it looks like they will continue to not go well and good on them for just sucking it up and doing that.
It’s probably not a sustainable example.

Ressa and Lalor were at the point of nearly not being in the comp.

It’s better for everyone if they are competitive.
Ease up with the “trying to rort the system’

Really good people there, rolling up their sleeves and trying to make the place fun and exciting and a good footy club to be at.

I think a bit on here has probably gone a little far.

 

[YMEYU]

I doubt Chewy, Edwards make it pass the mid season trade deadline, clubs will come for them, offer more and they will leave. It's what they do all the time.

 

[oldtimer]

So you didn’t read the above.

Reservoir aren’t the only side allocated extra points.

It’s also not rorting the system. It’s being allocated more points due to terrible recent history.

Using extra points to recruit another player or two is exactly why they are allocated.

It’s only now an issue because of the belief that they might rapidly improve.

It’s ok, you’ll be ok, the club you support will be ok, and hopefully reservoir can become competitive. Same goes for lalor .. who are also allocated extra points.

I have absolutely nothing against West Heidelberg, however if your example is going to be along the lines of .. they aren’t going well and haven’t gone well in years and it looks like they will continue to not go well and good on them for just sucking it up and doing that.
It’s probably not a sustainable example.

Ressa and Lalor were at the point of nearly not being in the comp.

It’s better for everyone if they are competitive.
Ease up with the “trying to rort the system’

Really good people there, rolling up their sleeves and trying to make the place fun and exciting and a good footy club to be at.

I think a bit on here has probably gone a little far.

You folded after winning a flag in 2015 by paying too much. This has de ja vu all over it. It is not sustainable

 

[Champ or Chump]

So you didn’t read the above.

Reservoir aren’t the only side allocated extra points.

It’s also not rorting the system. It’s being allocated more points due to terrible recent history.

Using extra points to recruit another player or two is exactly why they are allocated.

It’s only now an issue because of the belief that they might rapidly improve.

It’s ok, you’ll be ok, the club you support will be ok, and hopefully reservoir can become competitive. Same goes for lalor .. who are also allocated extra points.

I have absolutely nothing against West Heidelberg, however if your example is going to be along the lines of .. they aren’t going well and haven’t gone well in years and it looks like they will continue to not go well and good on them for just sucking it up and doing that.
It’s probably not a sustainable example.

Ressa and Lalor were at the point of nearly not being in the comp.

It’s better for everyone if they are competitive.
Ease up with the “trying to rort the system’

Really good people there, rolling up their sleeves and trying to make the place fun and exciting and a good footy club to be at.

I think a bit on here has probably gone a little far.

I'd suggest the issue is that Ressa have mostly gone and got a group of older mates rather than try and lay foundations for sustained competitive success. As such other clubs are quite rightly concerned about the way the advantage of extra points has been utilised. That's all.

I personally am not having a crack at the committee, those players, coaches, etc. I just don't think they need the advantage they gain via extra points with that list and last years significant improvement. Make all clubs on 46 and see how everyone goes.

 

[kelvinator15]

People actually stop fronting up.. and clubs close their doors, that was very much where reservoir was heading.

The committee are volunteers, and also are not in anyway responsible for the club being on its knees as that has been done by people at the time who are now long gone.

Now we are talking finals etc etc .. season hasn’t started, coming off finishing last..
I don’t think making a hypothetical .. and then getting mad at the hypothetical is relevant to anything.

And good enough for the div 1 premier .. should be good enough for the worst side in the northern football league, doesn’t make any sense, The two clubs are literally polar opposites.

Reservoir also aren’t the only side playing with extra points. Lalor same boat. Heidelberg west same boat if they applied for them they would be allocated then based on sustained lack of success in recent times. You don’t need extra points if you aren’t recruiting anyways.

I'm lead to believe that West did apply for points the last two years after losing numerous one point players and had recruits ready to go, but needed the extra points, but were knocked back both years meaning they missed out on recruits. They apparently were told by the league that they need to stop recruiting div one reserve players and focus on div 2 reserves players. If this is true, the league needs to have a good hard look at themselves.

 

[Bont the Lord]

The league is full of morons it wouldn’t shock me.

They’ve won a more recent flag than every club bar Laurimar in the division and now being gifted extra points after recruiting 3 ex AFL players and a number of other senior players.

Make it make sense.

Greenwood, Edwards, who is the 3rd?

 

[10571z]

Greenwood, Edwards, who is the 3rd?

Dyson

 

[Rusted nuts]

So you didn’t read the above.

Reservoir aren’t the only side allocated extra points.

It’s also not rorting the system. It’s being allocated more points due to terrible recent history.

Using extra points to recruit another player or two is exactly why they are allocated.

It’s only now an issue because of the belief that they might rapidly improve.

It’s ok, you’ll be ok, the club you support will be ok, and hopefully reservoir can become competitive. Same goes for lalor .. who are also allocated extra points.

I have absolutely nothing against West Heidelberg, however if your example is going to be along the lines of .. they aren’t going well and haven’t gone well in years and it looks like they will continue to not go well and good on them for just sucking it up and doing that.
It’s probably not a sustainable example.

Ressa and Lalor were at the point of nearly not being in the comp.

It’s better for everyone if they are competitive.
Ease up with the “trying to rort the system’

Really good people there, rolling up their sleeves and trying to make the place fun and exciting and a good footy club to be at.

I think a bit on here has probably gone a little far.

You are absolutely spinning nonsense as a defensive argument.

Reservoir shouldn’t have been allocated additional points. This league is operated by clowns and cowboys which is an “opinion” shared by many presidents and committees which i took away from many conversations at last years presentation. Reservoir have benefitted unfairly significantly in an already compromised division, I don’t care how you wish to spin it.

 

[Bont the Lord]

Dyson

As in Ricky?