Sydney Subbies 2016

[barbarian]

RK, I have said this before on the thread, but in reality it's a lot easier said than done.

We've tried hitting 3rds-4ths guys while they are in school (even had one of our players coaching the team), but it's really hard to get them to think about the next year. With HSC, Uni etc. looming, the last thing they care about is if/where they are playing footy.

Once they leave school, they are really hard to contact. We (KOBs) send letters, emails to all recent leavers, but that's really unlikely to generate players. Many of them want a year well away from the school (understandable), on gap years, Uni in the country etc.

Ultimately it's about finding one or two blokes, who can influence a group of mates. Three become four, five and six and then you're away. Those guys are like gold dust, but it's fickle.

So the short answer is the OB clubs try, and realise the potential talent base. But the reality is it's a lot harder than it seems.
.

 

[Pfitzy]

Ultimately it's about finding one or two blokes, who can influence a group of mates. Three become four, five and six and then you're away. Those guys are like gold dust, but it's fickle.
.

We have a similar issue with player bases, and a few Western Sydney clubs are the same, particularly with the Islander guys who are playing with family. It might simply be a case of only one of them has a car, or he has three brothers that also play, but they only want to play together.

 

[barbarian]

Yeah we had a Fijian bloke who came to us, and brought with him 6-8 guys each week. Good footy player, genuinely nice bloke.

We had these guys for two seasons, it was mainly great. But some weeks they wouldn't show without telling anyone, or go missing for weeks at a time. Then one day he said he was going to HAC to play with his brother.

Understandable, but was a bit frustrating in the end. Still a great bloke, but dealing with Islanders is a delicate art to say the least.......
.

 

[Heavyd]

Mu understanding is Newport have already indicated 3rd Div next year with subbies. I'd suggest they won't be alone.

Waverley to 1st Div
St. Pats to Div 2
BOBS and Newport to DIv 3 (or lower)
Two clubs will have to come up from Div 3 to make it an 8 team comp.

 

[Ozzie Bob]

Mu understanding is Newport have already indicated 3rd Div next year with subbies. I'd suggest they won't be alone.

Waverley to 1st Div
St. Pats to Div 2
BOBS and Newport to DIv 3 (or lower)
Two clubs will have to come up from Div 3 to make it an 8 team comp.

You would have to think it will be Beecroft and HAC!

 

[rugbyking2]

RK, I have said this before on the thread, but in reality it's a lot easier said than done.

We've tried hitting 3rds-4ths guys while they are in school (even had one of our players coaching the team), but it's really hard to get them to think about the next year. With HSC, Uni etc. looming, the last thing they care about is if/where they are playing footy.

Once they leave school, they are really hard to contact. We (KOBs) send letters, emails to all recent leavers, but that's really unlikely to generate players. Many of them want a year well away from the school (understandable), on gap years, Uni in the country etc.

Ultimately it's about finding one or two blokes, who can influence a group of mates. Three become four, five and six and then you're away. Those guys are like gold dust, but it's fickle.

So the short answer is the OB clubs try, and realise the potential talent base. But the reality is it's a lot harder than it seems.
.

Thanks for the update Barbarian, as a school leaver myself I see where you are coming from. Many blokes have trouble committing to something for one day let alone a 6 month season of Rugby. Shame to see the Old Boy clubs wither as they often have a great atmosphere and culture generated from their schooling days.

 

[Pfitzy]

Understandable, but was a bit frustrating in the end. Still a great bloke, but dealing with Islanders is a delicate art to say the least...
.

There are certain cultural things you learn, but it really helps if your club has a "elder" style person who they can look up to and give them that figure of guidance and respect.

 

[Pfitzy]

Judiciary decision likely tomorrow, as there was a lot for them to consider.

Initial reports are that they are appreciative of our honesty and, if not entirely sympathetic, at least understanding.

Not going to get my hopes up at this point, but it could have been a bloody nightmare.

 

[fkj]

You would have to think it will be Beecroft and HAC!

Maybe, really depends on who can get a colts team up, mind you for the sake of having competitive grade teams that may not really matter..

 

[Rugby Central]

Maybe, really depends on who can get a colts team up, mind you for the sake of having competitive grade teams that may not really matter.

That depends on the competitiveness of the Colts. As they're worth more than 3rd Grade for points, there's a lot to be said for a strong Colts side.

I believe Subbies thinking is that keep Colts as strong as possible rather than stack the higher grades and you might ensure the Club's longevity.

I still think too much emphasis is placed on 1st Grade rather than the Club as a whole. It's park footy. By rewarding the allocation of club resources to just one team, it will skew a culture to take desperate measures and/or ignore the Club's base.

Make their points worth more but when one grade can carry an entire Club over the line it's not healthy.

 

[Pfitzy]

That depends on the competitiveness of the Colts. As they're worth more than 3rd Grade for points, there's a lot to be said for a strong Colts side.

I believe Subbies thinking is that keep Colts as strong as possible rather than stack the higher grades and you might ensure the Club's longevity.

Exactly what I was thinking when I read about the proposed structure.

One of the big issues is giving talented younger blokes something to aspire to, when they find their way blocked in the higher grades by older, more mature heads.

 

[Seagull Butler]

How about educating the players, coached, managers and sideline spectators on the code of conduct, and how to behave in a civil manner towards the match officials?

Agree - and I'll say that at Hunters (like most other clubs I would assume) we have been trying very hard to promote this - although some sidleine spectators are hard to control for clubs as they may have no exisiting ties to the club.

Where tputting the blame back on the crowd falls down is where the captain, who is meant to be able to liase with the ref, when raising a valid point on a rule that is not open to interpretation like ruck hands is, is told to go away or simply not listened to.

This is a rule that we drilled into our captains - after Barker did this in the first round of the season, and the fact that this happened should've meant that subbies referrees were made aware of the rules as well.

 

[SubbiesVeteran]

Interesting Weekend coming up in Lower Grades for Div 2

With 1st Grade Finals Teams locked in 2s, 3s and Colts is going to be an interesting battle for the 3rd and 4th Spots in each

2nd Grade- HH, UNSW & Mountains all in contention with HH playing UNSW this weekend, One would suspect there may be few Higher grade players coming down and playing in these fixtures to push these finals positions
Tipping HH to hold onto their 4th Spot

3rd Grade- Unbelievably tight comp this one. All Clubs from 3rd to 8th are still all mathematical chances of making it into the top 4 with Only Hills & Waverely Guaranteed that they cannot be knocked out of finals contention
Tip would be HH 3rd & not sure on the final spot but think Mountains may sneak in

Colts- Hills & Newport have locked their finals spots in, its now a battle for the remaining 2 spots. Waverley seem likely to hold their spot with Forest and UNSW Battling it out for the remaining spot. BOBs though are still mathematically a chance but need to win by Massive Cricket Scores against teams above them to sneak in

Forest will need to knock off Minor Premier Hills this weekend if they want to keep their hopes alive and then it may be a battle for the final spot the following week when they take on UNSW

TIP- UNSW to be the final team in Colts finals set up

With Wet Weather around clubs will be raying grounds are open to use so that they are not doubling up next weekend or playing mid week especially with the importance of some of these games

 

[Nath]

Does anyone know what the cut off date is for make up games?

It's the last round of the comp, and we have a chance of leapfrogging Roseville into 2nd, but they have a make up game to play, which was again delayed due to weather this week.

Do they have to be done by the weekend, or do they have a couple of days to make it up?

 

[Pfitzy]

Does anyone know what the cut off date is for make up games?

It's the last round of the comp, and we have a chance of leapfrogging Roseville into 2nd, but they have a make up game to play, which was again delayed due to weather this week.

Do they have to be done by the weekend, or do they have a couple of days to make it up?

Unless you can organise a mid week, I think you split the points UNLESS the whole round was washed out?

 

[Pfitzy]

Judiciary decision likely tomorrow, as there was a lot for them to consider.

Initial reports are that they are appreciative of our honesty and, if not entirely sympathetic, at least understanding.

Not going to get my hopes up at this point, but it could have been a bloody nightmare.

Or, based on the outcome, we could just be pretty much fucked for the year

 

[Nath]

Unless you can organise a mid week, I think you split the points UNLESS the whole round was washed out?

The midweek was scheduled for this week, but got rained out again.

Looks like subbies have awarded full points to Roseville, disappointing, our shot at 2nd is gone.

Dukes must've agreed to lay down and accept a forfeit.

 

[Pfitzy]

Bummer

 

[Footyhead#2]

Word is a few clubs may be looking to merge into a 'GPS Old Boys' club next year.

Just a rumour I've heard, not sure how serious discussions have been.

This is just one big rumour that was started by Kings Old Boys. If they want to change their name to GPS Old Boys that is their decision but I don't see how it will make them a better club.

 

[Footyhead#2]

I hope it takes off. It is a sad decline for Iggies and KoBs but we need new innovative solutions for the declining player base.

It seems Redfield Old Boys are also on the decline?