Devonport Strikers will meet South Hobart at Valley Road at 4pm next Saturday in the farcical NPL Final-Four end-of-season series.
The Strikers beat Kingborough Lions United 2-1 at Valley Road on Saturday through a last-minute penalty converted by Roberto Fernandez Garrido.
I have no idea if it was a penalty as there was no live-stream of the game. Apparently, the camera was not working.
But, there is footage of the actual penalty, converted in ‘Panenka style’ by the confident Spaniard.
How is it that there was footage of the penalty but not of the foul that led to the penalty? Strange indeed.
The excellent Brody Denehey had given Devonport the lead in the 32nd minute, while Kingborough’s player-coach, Alfred Hess, netted the equaliser in the 65th minute. A case of Hess again leading by example.
He wasn’t, however, able to prevent his side losing for the first time after a run of eight wins.
He certainly has courage, however, and is willing to make the hard calls.
Who else would have had the guts to take off defender Greg Downes and striker Noah Mies, both in the 61st minute with the side 1-0 down? It may have been because of injury, but I doubt it given they both went off at the same time.
He brought on two youngsters, Eli Wright and Alexander Brown, so it speaks more of his confidence in his young players and his eye to the future.
So, Devonport are in the so-called grand final. They can win a trophy if they win, but reports suggest there is no prize money.
So, what’s it all, for other than to cloud the issue of the league champion?
Fortunately, Devonport won the first-past-the-post championship, so will South Hobart be known as ‘the champions’ of they win the grand final?
It’s all so unnecessary as in football just about everywhere in the world it’s the team at the top of the standings at the end of the roster games that wins the league and is the champion.
There’s nothing really to be gained by winning this grand final, is there?
If South Hobart win - and well they might as they are the only team to have beaten Devonport at Valley Road this season - what does it actually mean?
Zilch, I reckon.
Surely, it would have been preferable to have a 28-game league season in which every team plays every other team, twice at home and twice away.
There are reports that Garrido may seek fresh pastures interstate next year.
His performances for Devonport over the past two seasons must surely had attracted interest from interstate. Time will tell.
South Hobart won the other semi-final 2-0 against Glenorchy Knights at South Hobart Oval at the bizarre time of 10am on Saturday morning.
Jaden Fidra put South Hobart in front in the 17th minute, following good work by Tobias Herweynen and Bradley Lakoseljac.
Lakoseljac made it 2-0 in the 72nd minute after an unfortunate ricochet off Knights’ Adam Gorrie out the ball into his path.
Knights had some good chances, but their finishing was off target.
Jackson Gardner was the busier of the two keepers and he denied South Hobart on at least three occasions.
South Hobart’s Nick O’Connell did what he had to do and did exceptionally well to save a Nick Mearns free-kick.
South Hobart might have had a penalty in the second half, but Mr Plomaritis waved play on.
Canadian import Iskander Van Doorne played possibly his last game for South Hobart as his visa reportedly runs out on Tuesday.
24 comments:
Seems daft calling it finals, but a dumb naming convention doesn't really cloud things, Devonport are the Champions of 2023 and this is just another trophy to play for.
A tacked on and meaningless one that really isn't required, but I don't think anyone is seriously claiming this would make South Hobart the Champions are they? The Clubs and FT don't seem to be promoting it as such anyway. Probably should've just called it the League Cup like they used to.
Walter the game in this state is farcical. Some of the people we have (working)at FT are very good at talking the talk .
They have many people bluffed with their ability with words.
Followers of the game are sick and tired of the talk and would like you see some improvement through
ability and actions. The game is in a very awkward position at the moment. If promotion of the competition is not
a priority then the game is in real danger of dropping down the ladder further of sports available to the next generation.
FT keep doing back flips year after year in respect to structure of the game. For example the reserves comp should be a youth league , then it shouldn’t . Now it should be again. First past the post is the winner, now we need a finals series . Now we don’t.
You do not see this chopping and change in any other sport.
My tip is that next year there will be change to this again.
Time for a change ? Change who we have in charge of our game.
Maybe the new CEO has some idea for the good of the game.
I'm hearing clubs fund their own transport for the finals series and are therefore out of pocket - for what benefit?
This is how Tassie football would get back to a better quality & watchable comp.
Ditch state league. Go back to southern & northern comps.
Promotion & relegation.
Southern Premier League
Northern Premier League
Looser of those two comps goes down.
Southern Div 1
Northern Div 1
Winner of these two comps go up.
This year as a player was shocking. What senior player wants to travel with the 21s 7 hours before they have to play their game?
Leaving at 7 in the morning to travel to Devonport/Hobart…
Makes no sense.
Keep laka cup as is & continue to have it state wide.
Finals series is rubbish. If you would do it you’d include more teams.
There needs to be more cups to be won after great players. Just like the Laka cup there needs to be a meaning behind it after a great Tasmanian player.
The average age of the comp these days is probably 25 or younger. It’s become a pretty soft league & having it back to northern & southern comps you’d probably see a few players come back around the 30 age group who can still play & would bring back some great games with tackles/plays/goals etc..
Bigger comps 10-12 clubs with more to play for. Makes sense.
Play each other home & away none of the play each other 3 times.
Prize money for trophies won through the year. It’s not like they don’t have it sitting there…
Jack , some of your comments make a lot of sense.
Your comments regarding travelling with the 21s is pretty selfish in my opinion.
Many of you guys receive pretty good payment these days , albeit many not worth it in many cases, however that is another issue.
The best years of the State League in years go by was reserves and seniors travelled up together and supported each other for the day.If this is such a big impost , then don't play
but also , don't come back to play just because a club has made you such a good offer that you jump at it.
Your comment regarding age of the league and it being "soft " is spot on however.
Big assumption around payments
The only club that ever offered me any money was Olympia, every other club I’ve asked if I can join & payment has been negotiated after that. Only ever wanted to play with the best in the south then money has come second.
I’ve played in the relegation days & also in the victory league/npl & as a player it’s been the southern relegation comp that has stood out the most as a player & im sure as a spectator as well.
South comp
North Comp
It makes me smile to see a 'name' instead of 'Anon' on this comments blog. Well done Jack.
I agree with just about all you have had the guts to post. I think others who don't have the 'balls' to post their names should re-think.
P.S. Jack, Pity your not still playing for Lions !.
Oh Jack 2.44pm please…….!
Reallly?????????
We won’t get personal with comments so we will leave it there.
And Ray Carrol…… it’s a blog site that’s what happens.
I agree with most of Jacks comments
We need to bring back a north and south and finish the year with a final series between the two to claim state title
I’d structure it with 6 sthn npl teams current 4 and top 2 from champ
6 npl 1 teams and 6 npl 2 teams in the sth
With promotion and relegation across all clubs
Automatic for top and bottom then playoff between second top and second bottom
An underpinning 18/20 comp for at least npl teams
North would need to be different as not as many clubs
Imagine
Sth
Kingbourgh
Zebras
Knights
Eagles
Sthn
Taroona
Uni
Metro
Beach
Utd
Olympia
Pheniix
Sthn
Barny
Dosa
Brighton
Nelson
Thoughts ??
Anon 1.58.
No assumption at all. You obviously have not been involved at that level or had any money offered to you.
Wake up.
You did assume and the man you assumed of set you straight.
Until teams start withdrawing from the NPL its going nowhere. Probably a mistake adding a third Launceston team but backwards steps such as going backward to regional leagues will set the game back in this state massively.
That said I do think there should be pro/rel to help encourage those champ clubs have something to build towards and strive for.
Also FT should do more to support clubs in smaller areas. Look at the success that South East have had. Should help Huonville, New Norfolk, Brighton and Cygnet do the same.
I think everyone is forgetting that we in Tasmania are part of the ‘National NPL grid’ and if we were to abandon the NPL and go back to regional football we would be isolated and would not be able to compete in the Australia Cup nor in the NPL interstate series (if it is ever resurrected).
Anon 1.41 Sep 21.
If you only knew .I doubt very much that I have been set straight.
What is the difference between approaching a club indicating that you wish to play for them
(and then agree on a $$$ amount ) and talking to a club about playing for them and asking for a level of $$$$ up front first ? Aren't you still playing for $$$$ and getting paid ?
Please spare us the bullshit .
Anon 3:21pm
The difference is that asking a club if I could play there indicates money isn’t a priority.
It comes second.
Olympia came & said we will give you $300 a game to come & play. Clubs will approach a player with a figure to entice them. That’s what Olympia did & clubs do.
When I played at south I got to play with players like Brown, Ludford, Devecci, etc etc so it was about the quality & being coached by a quality coach.
Playing at Kingborough was again because I was able to play with players I had or wanted to form a relationship with.
I went to knights because I didn’t want to play against the quality players they have, I wanted to be a part of that, that’s why I asked to play there.
When I was at south I received some free boots & a one time payment of $1000 that was for 3 years I was there. I still bet it’s the same system, no way are players taking weekly payments. Vicky couldn’t part with money like that haha
Plus the payments don’t come from the club they come from the sponsors.
Kingborough pay but it’s not a lot. I actually was giving half my pay to Danielle K one year because I think it’s unfair they were receiving nothing. So again, not money focussed.
This year I was getting $250 a game but all players differ.
That was only for league games cup matches aren’t paid for. But you have to play to get paid.
I feel knights are really the best club I’ve seen that try to help everyone & be fair across the board.
Plus we aren’t really paid to play, everyone would play for free, it more covers the trainings etc.
I think it’s great that there is money in it here, I have friends who get triple what we get playing on the mainland so it’s good there is something.
There is money getting thrown around at every club with out a doubt but they all have different systems that’s for sure.
BuT sOuTh DoNt PaY pLaYeRs
Let JT cook! Big respect putting your name to these comments. However, I don't think a lot of people understand the politics behind the decision making. Unfortunately, it's not as simple as going 'Yep cool, this is the new structure we are going to use!'. As mentioned above - alignment with Football Aus etc. required.
JT 3.21 pm.
Your quote ......
"The difference is that asking a club if I could play there indicates money isn’t a priority.
It comes second".
Correct however money is still a consideration and an issue.
Please cut the garbage and leave the discussion there.
You have sh..t in your own nest.
Why is money an issue at all? Is it because you never were paid or something?
Jealous that there are players getting paid perhaps?
Why is money an issue?
Anon 11.10
Why is someone getting paid a problem?
Anon 1.26pm .
Money is not an issue. That is not my point .
My original point was that if you are prepared to accept money , then having to sacrifice a few bus trips up north with the U21 team , then really you cannot complain.
That was my point and nothing more . It is selfish to accept money and then complain about having to travel up north early because of the U21.
JT began trying to justify why and how he was paid ,how much and by who etc etc .
I was not and am not concerned or interested in that .
My comment was purely about the selfish attitude.
It's actually quite simple Jack, you just get the ' personal driver ' clause inserted into your contract.
Best of luck, Joe Punter.
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