2024 Zone League 1

[FlatScreen]

The thing I want to know about is, what happens to the club that gets demoted from NL1 to ZL1.... Do they have to throw away their entire junior system? All that work for a JDL license etc just gone? Seems to crazy to be real! What's the end game? That all the clubs will be playing for A-League license's?

[anfield]

Currently as it stands Zone League offers players 22 games plus finals. All Age offers 14 games plus finals. 8 games difference, which is huge.

A few comments about moving thirds into all age simply isn't the answer. Players would probably move to other clubs to get more football, which isn't great of you want to build loyal clubs.

I have thought the structure is wrong and it's been proven this year with some big shorelines in each of the Zone divisions.

It should be in my opinion.
NPL 12 teams (debatable it should be 10)
NL1 10 teams
ZPL ( Yes that's what it should be still called) 10 teams
ZL1 10 Teams
ZL2 and ZL3 Split the difference for what works. This year ZL2 should have 8 teams, Zl3 6 teams.

Importantly
I think the competition didn't need to go to 12 teams, In ZPL Suns, Dudley etc have only got stronger. Yet there is only so many players of a certain stand to go around, so the player talent has been diluted. Weaker teams are finding it too hard to attract players, less teams will increase the standard.

[Zonal Marking]

You've obviously never been part of a club that utilises the opportunity to create a longstanding culture of 50 players. That's why it's common to see the same clubs at the top end of the table, because they cherish it.

There's a reason why the Zone Leagues are the most enjoyable competitions in our region. Players feel part of a club which has been taken away from the top 2 divisions being forced to be more professional. Take a look back to how strong clubs were in the old NBN league when you had a proper reserve grade and then under 18's side within one club. That's the last time we saw players regularly spending most of their careers at one club.

How does it benefit football in our region if you strip back clubs again? You have 20 clubs (ZL1 and ZL2) who will have their squads trimmed from approx 50 players to 30-35 players. So that translates to 300-400 players removed from these comps. Where do they go? Some stop playing, some have a flutter in O35's, some may play AA if they can be bothered. At least within the Zone Leagues most clubs have proper structure around actually training, better facilities, being part of a senior competition with chances to progress through the grades and a chance to for 17/18 year olds to have their first taste of senior football for those not up to the top 2 divisions.
We should be trying to focus a bit more on the community based football rather than what Football Australia is trying to do with NPL around the country. It doesn't suit everyone. Yes, third grade can take a toll on clubs when you have a bad injury ravaged season, we have all been there. But I would think anyone that supports the game of football in our region can see that the pros most certainly outweigh the cons.
Stripping clubs back to two grades from NPL down to ZL3 isn't the answer.

Well said lofty. Some of the ignorance posted recently is incredible.

[Zonal Marking]

Furthermore are there any clubs who actually do want to cut down to just the two grades?

Minmi & Westlakes maybe but outside of that everyone else seems to be operating quite well in terms of maintaining squad numbers. Of course there might be the odd week or two where it?s a struggle and naturally thirds take the biggest hit.

[jessepinkman]

i wonder if there could be some sort of combined third grade comp where matchdays with two clubs who both have third grades (who are in the same first grade comp) are pioritised to be scheduled together.

the issue is that its not a professional comp and lads are paying to play. Whichever grade is the 'lowest' is going to have this problem - people dont want to pay to be an unused sub in ressies when everyone's fit so it's going to have the same issues. Ive been part of a club that had an AA/O35s when we were in a firsts and ressies only comp - the AA boys didnt want to play 'up' because those that were never getting a call up from thirds felt like they were being abandoned by their best players on the 2 or 3 weeks a year they were actually required for ressies. Its a whole different comp - it does drive disconnect regardless of what the suits say and the players in it want to win it, but dont feel connected to ressies. When a player goes up in thirds to play ressies in a connected comp, it doesn't feel like theyre going off to help someone 'else'.

Its as simple as this for me - you sign up for thirds knowing that you're going to have some forfeits. In the UK for sunday league, if you have a forfeit opponent, they jump online in a registry and find out someone else in the same scenario and they play a friendly since refs and fields are allocated. Thats what we should do here - across the grades and AAs there would be teams who have had a forfeit who would love a chance for a kickaround. Give them a chance to do that.

Either that or you charge 3rds less rego with the knowledge that some of their games will be pulled. Maybe washouts for thirds after a certain amount are just 0-0 draws as well to justify the lower rego. Maybe thirds get a refund at the end of the year for missed games under this method. Most blokes are there for the friendships anyway and dont want to play on a wednesday night - but I agree with Lofty, for those saying scrap thirds, you simply havent been part of a club with a good culture. One where the young fellas get to be blooded in mens football, one where NL1/NPL kids who miss out on 18s and reserves can stay at the club, one where your best mates who need the stability and contact with mates can have an easy way to get it. Thats how you build solid clubs that dont rely on parents and paid staff like some NPL and NL1 clubs do.

Just find a way to make thirds work. Most thirds players would be realistic if you told them their comp isnt the most important thing in the world and would accept washout draws and forfeit friendlies etc. However on a classic Saturday or Sunday game day, those blokes are an important part of what makes things tick - and to tell them to come along and be loyal anyway whilst simultaneously not being loyal to them by scrapping the thing they enjoy doing and telling them to deal with it (but please still help) is a seriously dumb decision.

[The Postman]

Friday Night 3rd Grade is the solution for me.

It gets the old boys/young kids a game and still apart of the ZL squad, frees up their weekend if they don?t stand by for ressies/volunteer on Saturday.

I think it would improve the standard, I know plenty of people who went to Friday nights because playing Saturday became impossible due to work/family.

[Jardelsimage]

You've obviously never been part of a club that utilises the opportunity to create a longstanding culture of 50 players. That's why it's common to see the same clubs at the top end of the table, because they cherish it.

There's a reason why the Zone Leagues are the most enjoyable competitions in our region. Players feel part of a club which has been taken away from the top 2 divisions being forced to be more professional. Take a look back to how strong clubs were in the old NBN league when you had a proper reserve grade and then under 18's side within one club. That's the last time we saw players regularly spending most of their careers at one club.

How does it benefit football in our region if you strip back clubs again? You have 20 clubs (ZL1 and ZL2) who will have their squads trimmed from approx 50 players to 30-35 players. So that translates to 300-400 players removed from these comps. Where do they go? Some stop playing, some have a flutter in O35's, some may play AA if they can be bothered. At least within the Zone Leagues most clubs have proper structure around actually training, better facilities, being part of a senior competition with chances to progress through the grades and a chance to for 17/18 year olds to have their first taste of senior football for those not up to the top 2 divisions.
We should be trying to focus a bit more on the community based football rather than what Football Australia is trying to do with NPL around the country. It doesn't suit everyone. Yes, third grade can take a toll on clubs when you have a bad injury ravaged season, we have all been there. But I would think anyone that supports the game of football in our region can see that the pros most certainly outweigh the cons.
Stripping clubs back to two grades from NPL down to ZL3 isn't the answer.

At the 1st ZL meeting this year, 80% voted to keep 3rds where they are, not sure why this new discussion, on what one person has heard, has once risen again.

To me it's a no brainer, 3rds stay.

Posty, sorry but couldn't think of anything worse than playing Friday night or any night actually, week in week out.

It does work for some and some actually love it, but not for me, it was started because there were to many Sat AA sides.

[Premy]

Friday Night 3rd Grade is the solution for me.

It gets the old boys/young kids a game and still apart of the ZL squad, frees up their weekend if they don?t stand by for ressies/volunteer on Saturday.

I think it would improve the standard, I know plenty of people who went to Friday nights because playing Saturday became impossible due to work/family.

Friday night doesn't work for everyone.
Last thing I want to do on a Friday night is put the boots on.

[magician]

Others opinions are ignorance? Cant give an opinion with insulting others? Bit immature ay, might need to grow up.
So theres only one way & everyone is a jerk etc etc. Standard Newy sentiment, usual IQ of 3.
I understand the mentality on here.
BTW 3rds is unnecessary.

But you?re right hey. Dopey

[Alton]

This content all points towards no one wanting to be promoted so they don?t lose thirds and the overall culture of the club

[2ndclasscitizen]

Funny how there's a lot of talk about club loyalty and culture but as per that letter from Dudley that said loyalty and culture seems very one way from the playerbase. i.e. we get what we want otherwise we're gone.

[Jardelsimage]

One person? ok you must be more important than everyone else.
Maybe you should concentrate on trying to maintain a decent footy club that actually has juniors rather than just taking their ground.
Cant play fri nights? Thanks tough guy. Time to quit champ.

Trying to maintain a decent footy club, hard somedays.
Important me, no far from it, but this discussion started again started from one person's comment again and ends up in the same place as last time, people getting offended because someone has a different view.

Set the record straight, we never took their ground they ****ed themselves up and folded...

dont play anymore anyway, but not playing Fridays nothing to do with toughness, rather be having a beer after a working week and relaxing for the weekend games.

Always happy to discuss over an ale or 2...

cheers all have a good weekend.

[biscuits]

Back to the games

Uni v Olympic 2-5
Mayfield v Cardiff 3-3
Minmi v Azzurri 1-3
Swansea v Suns 0-5
Kotara v Westlakes 3-1
Dudley v Warners Bay 3-1

[MurderOnZidanesFloor]

[QUOTE=biscuits;274695]Back to the games

Uni 3-1 Olympic
Mayfield 1-4 Cardiff
Minmi 2-2 Azzurri
Swansea 0-6 Suns
Kotara 5-1 Westlakes
Dudley 2-0 Warners Bay

[Jardelsimage]

Mayfield V Cardiff
3rds 0-1
reg 0-3
1st 0-3

[Wandering]

Minmi VS Azzurri
3rds Minmi Forfeit
Ressies 1-2
Firsts 2-3

[Swanky]

Are the Suns throwing off to avoid promotion so they can keep 3 Grades?

[Zonal Marking]

Are the Suns throwing off to avoid promotion so they can keep 3 Grades?

Im not for one second suggesting Suns did throw it however I thought this could become a problem. Do Dudley want to go up? Are Newcastle Olympic even allowed to go up?

Such a simple solution. Make promotion between the zone leagues and NPL optional. This ensures no clubs are limited from being ambitious but also allows others to remain where they are and compete within their needs.

[Guthorina]

looks like the suns team must?ve read all of the predictions of them winning by 4 or 5 goals to nil against us today because they simply didn?t turn up!

The swans dominated the first half, copping two unlucky goals before the break.

The dressing room was extremely relaxed at half time though as we knew we were the better team and the second half proved it. 2-0 is the most dangerous score line in football after all.

I?d like to say the referees were excellent today. Kudos to them.

Key lesson here for the Suns is never take your opponent for granted, especially in this comp?

Cheers,
Gutho

[MCG_1997]

Suns has been successful for a few years with their current coaching staff. By promoting to NewFM, the coaches must have certain licences, which they don't have. Nothing to do with their coaching abilities but forced to have those badges. It could be another challenge they face