MWBL A Grade

[farnt]

I'm trying to figure out what could happen post Sunday with only Heathmont assured of a finals spot (and if they lose and North Balwyn win handsomely they could drop to second but highly unlikely).

North Balwyn are second but have lowest percentage of top six teams so if they lose to Greensborough and Research defeat Knox and and Watsonia win they don't make finals at all (Essendon or GMBC will go above them)!

Research win they stay in in third unless Essendon smash GMBC and get a percentage boost (unlikely). Research lose to Knox (unlikely), either Ess/GMBC will go above them and if Wats win then Research are out if they lose!

Essendon win over GMBC their percentage should keep them in finals unless Wats smash Ringwood (currently 7th). Ess lose and Research, or Watsonia win and they are out.

Watsonia win and they need either Essendon to defeat GMBC, or North Balwyn or Research to lose and they make finals. Wats lose they stay out.

GMBC need to win and they leapfrog Essendon, and they need Wats, Research and NB to lose to make finals.


14-Aug-2016 01:30 PM GMBC Essendon GMBC Diam
14-Aug-2016 01:30 PM Heathmont Forest Hill Heathmont Diam 1
14-Aug-2016 01:30 PM Knox Research Knox Diam 1
14-Aug-2016 01:30 PM North Balwyn Greensborough Nth Balwyn Diam 1
14-Aug-2016 01:30 PM Watsonia Ringwood Watsonia

1 Heathmont 17 11 4 2 108 78 581 24
2 North Balwyn 17 10 5 2 76 66 535 22
3 Research 17 10 6 1 127 90 585 21
4 Essendon 17 10 6 1 82 63 566 21
5 Watsonia 17 10 6 1 85 71 545 21
6 GMBC 17 10 7 0 127 83 605 20


Have I got this right???

[lonewolf75]

So whats your predictions for this week then???

[farnt]

NFI...probably:
Essendon to defeat GMBC
Heathmont defeat FHill
Research defeat Knox
NB defeat GB
Wats defeat Ringwood

Therefore finals: Heathmont, Research, NB and Essendon.

You?

[lonewolf75]

Same as you. Result have been interesting this year an on any given day anyone could get up.

Having said that, I think I agree with your assessment.

On a slight tangent, I was looking at the finals for this week. Interesting to see that Ringwoods A3 and A4 sides dont get to play their final at home

[farnt]

Yeah that was interesting lonewolf...

[farnt]

GMBC defeated Essendon, Watsonia defeated Ringwood and North Balwyn defeated Forest Hill so Essendon drop out of the top four. Therefore Heathmont, North Balwyn, Research and Watsonia top four.

I'm told the reason why Ringwood A3 and A4 were at Knox was due to the league being a few umpires short so needed the double header at Knox (only grounds with approved lights can host double headers). So does that mean Knox will split canteen profits with Ringwood ;-)

[perfeckt]

Aug 14, 2016 17:15:03 GMT 10 farnt said:

GMBC defeated Essendon, Watsonia defeated Ringwood and North Balwyn defeated Forest Hill so Essendon drop out of the top four. Therefore Heathmont, North Balwyn, Research and Watsonia top four.

I'm told the reason why Ringwood A3 and A4 were at Knox was due to the league being a few umpires short so needed the double header at Knox (only grounds with approved lights can host double headers). So does that mean Knox will split canteen profits with Ringwood ;-)

Heathmont were playing Forest Hill today and I've heard (un-officially) that Heathmont laid down a mercy rule win.

[farnt]

Sorry - North Balwyn defeated Greensborough.

[baseless]

This has been the most evenly contested MWBL A Grade for some time. All but 2 teams were in with a chance right up until the end. Some very good teams have missed out this year. And any team in the 4 could win it. It was interesting to find out that you now need 8 games to qualify for finals, with only an 18 game season. In summer you play 27 and need only 6 to qualify? With only 15 players allowed to be used in a game and now 8 games to qualify, it seems the admin are trying to find ways for people NOT to play.

[regg44]

Aug 15, 2016 16:16:25 GMT 10 baseless said:

This has been the most evenly contested MWBL A Grade for some time. All but 2 teams were in with a chance right up until the end. Some very good teams have missed out this year. And any team in the 4 could win it. It was interesting to find out that you now need 8 games to qualify for finals, with only an 18 game season. In summer you play 27 and need only 6 to qualify? With only 15 players allowed to be used in a game and now 8 games to qualify, it seems the admin are trying to find ways for people NOT to play.

8 games in an 18 game season, actually less in the lower grades where they finished a week earlier than 1sts and then throw in byes, is too many to have to play to qualify for finals. Equally 6 of 27 in summer is too few in my book.

A third of games played would seem more equitable.

I am not sure of the relevance of only being able to use 15 players has on this. If a club has consistently more than 15 in a team then maybe they need to enter another team. If it involves re-entry then that player has already met the qualification criteria on that day by way of having played in the early game.

But you are right, the season has been the most even for many years and any of the 4 sides could win it - should be a ripper of a finals series.

[johne]

I really have to wonder over the thought process of those in charge sometimes. My 16 year old son played 5 games for Heathmont while living in Canberra. He caught buses during the school holidays traveling 10 hours each way to play games and spent 5 weeks at the Academy on the Gold coast and has now been knocked back on an appeal to play finals. If not for the Academy he would have registered the required 8 games. It’s no wonder those in charge are presiding over a dying game when decisions like this are made. We ought to be encouraging kids to play and making the effort my son did to get on the field for Heathmont not finding ways to keep them off the field. Needless to say I’m a very disappointed father and my son in an even more disappointed player. However Im not surprised another decision by the powers that be as been made that is not in the interest of the game.

Furthermore at this time no explanation has been made available to myself or Mitchell.

[farnt]

Johne there are a heap of examples where players for whatever reason haven't qualified or have got consideration, and they can't enter the game until the 4th innings. The match Conditions were available at the start of the season noting minimum six games to appeal why someone hasn't played eight. Players playing for Southern Mariners and away for five weeks, players playing for Australia and away for three weeks, injuries needing rest etc.

I understand the rule was brought in because of some clubs getting ABL players in for the final six games of the season just to play finals (with a six game qualification). Now we play only 17/18 games and you need to play eight.

You sons situation sounds harsh IMHO. Can't be changed now, so what do you propose would be a viable solution to put to the pennant committee next year. Six minimum and no appeals or eight minimum and five minimum with consideration submitted??? Personally I'm struggling with consideration being given but those who get consideration can't enter the game until the 4th innings!

[johne]

8 games for an 18 game season is too many to start with. 6 is a more suitable number.

I think each situation should be taken on its own merit. There needs to be a limit so that teams don't rort the system like a certain summer team use to when the old ABL was in place.

My sons situation is unique as is each case and a blanket rule does not work.

If a club is trying to get one by then its pretty easy to tell that. If we had of stuck Brad Harman in the line up for 1 out in 8 games and he qualified people would jump up and down and rightly so, but thats not what has happened here and circumstances deserved to be considered.

[coyote]

5 weeks at the academy.
That should count for something. You can't play club games if you're at the academy.
That's my thought. Bit harsh.

[larry42]

Aug 19, 2016 18:33:07 GMT 10 coyote said:

5 weeks at the academy.
That should count for something. You can't play club games if you're at the academy.
That's my thought. Bit harsh.

Harsh, and plain stupidity..

[johne]

Another young player was deemed unqualified to play by the league. This young man played 4 games but had a broken arm and then represented Australia at the JLWS that got so much attention and did our sport so proud, but none the less has been refused permission to play.

For some reason he is able to come in after the 4th inning. This raises even more questions as my son played 5 games but cant come in at all.

There has been no explanation offered from the league and they would have a hard time convincing me that stopping these two young men or anyone from playing finals is in the interest of the sport.

[farnt]

Yeah heard about that one too Johne and struggle to see the differences, but without reading both consideration letters (or sounding like I need to stick yup for the league), neither of us will have the full facts. Aaron Sayers played six MWBL games, played in Holland for Australia for 3 weeks but couldn't enter till the 4th either!

So Johne will you directly or via your club raise a request to the pennant committee to consider changing this role to a blanket six games qualifier and no consideration entered into? If not what would like to officially propose?

The league has received submissions to allow Under 17 Division One kids to wear metal cleats, and also to allow Under 15's to throw sliders/breaking balls.

[coyote]

Aug 25, 2016 14:07:17 GMT 10 johne said:

"There has been no explanation offered from the league and they would have a hard time convincing me that stopping these two young men or anyone from playing finals is in the interest of the sport."Fair bet Johne that any explanation isn't worth hearing.....it doesn't make sense - and having someone try to explain to you/anyone why it makes sense would be futile.

[coyote]

Aug 26, 2016 9:14:28 GMT 10 farnt said:

"Yeah heard about that one too Johne and struggle to see the differences, but without reading both consideration letters (or sounding like I need to stick yup for the league), neither of us will have the full facts. Aaron Sayers played six MWBL games, played in Holland for Australia for 3 weeks but couldn't enter till the 4th either!

So Johne will you directly or via your club raise a request to the pennant committee to consider changing this role to a blanket six games qualifier and no consideration entered into? If not what would like to officially propose?

The league has received submissions to allow Under 17 Division One kids to wear metal cleats, and also to allow Under 15's to throw sliders/breaking balls. "Surely some form of consideration needs to be reviewed for players who have been legitimately injured and/or have played at comps away from their home teams and/or been to the academy.....common sense, not so common these days

[redhotswinger69]

North Balwyn looking to join the DBA. After losing the MWBL grand final, they are taking their bat and ball and going else where

[farnt]

Dec 5, 2016 21:12:18 GMT 10 redhotswinger69 said:

North Balwyn looking to join the DBA. After losing the MWBL grand final, they are taking their bat and ball and going else where

Yeah righty-o...rumor mill starting early!