February 14th 2007 - Courtesy 'The Courier Newspaper'
|
HAHNDORF SC
The hosts and ultimately unlucky Division 2 relegation victims at the close of the regular season in 2006.
The Magpies have had a solid pre-season so far and are looking at a big year on and off the field in 2007.
With a number of regular First Team players still unavailable including the notable absences of Sam Bowman, Jon Lynn and Angus Hambrook, Coach Peter Cottle will undoubtedly be using the tournament to blood youngsters and give some valuable game time to players on the fringes of his First Team plans for 2007.
Tournament Prediction - 4th place |
|
|
|
THE COVE
Winners of the inaugural competition, the boys from down south will be keen to go back to back in 2007 so they can shout their healthy travelling support a night at the German Arms on the final night of the tournament again!
Paul Ellul’s boys are a good chance to go all the way too and will be particularly keen head into the regular season with one over fellow First Division championship hopefuls Stirling District.
Tournament Prediction - First Grade Runners Up |
|
|
|
STIRLING DISTRICT
With the Cove, undoubtedly the team to beat in this year’s competition and have been the yardstick in the First Division for a number of seasons now.
The Ace’s already had a formidable Reserve side and more solid recruiting from coaches Buckley and Hodgskin in the off-season means Stirling must surely start tournament favourites on depth alone this year.
Stirling’s entry into this year’s tournament brings with it the opportunity to stage the now somewhat infrequent derby clash versus Hahndorf - an event in itself even in a pre-season match and will no doubt draw a large crowd to Pine Avenue on the 17th of March.
Tournament Prediction - First Grade Champions |
|
|
|
FLINDERS UNI
A 1-1 draw with Hahndorf in the final game of the 2006 season saw Flinders only just miss out on elevation to the top flight for ‘07 so the boys will be keen to prove that they can cut the mustard against sides from the top grade.
New head coach Glenn Higgins (formerly of Southern Breakers SC) has brought half a dozen new players into the mix already and the Uni based side could be a real dark horse for the for the tournament main prize this year.
Tournament Prediction - 3rd place |
|
|
|
STRATHALBYN
Strathalbyn got off to a flyer in 2006 and while over the course of a very long season they were eventually wound in by a number of Clubs, it was evident that years of nurturing and promoting youngsters from their junior grades is beginning to pay dividends.
Expect another solid mid table performance from Strath in the regular season this year - but a well prepared Hahndorf playing at home should pip them for fourth place in the tournament amongst quality opposition.
Tournament Prediction - 5th place |
|
|
|
TORRENS VALLEY
The boys from Birdwood had an inconsistent year in 2006 - bogey side for some teams and whipping boys for others.
Only fielding a team in the First Grade competition should give them some added depth through the tournament, however a less than ideal pre-season build-up before the first game will likely see them ill prepared in the early rounds.
Tournament Prediction - 6th place |
|
|
|
ST PETERS
With sides competing in the Eastern Suburbs Challenge as well, selection night will be interesting at Saints’ training this preseason.
Last year the Club kicked off a hugely successful season (finishing First and Fourth Division Champions in the regular season) by taking out the inaugural GASCC Reserve Grade competition and finishing runners-up in the Eastern Suburbs competition.
Paired with Torrens Valley and fielding only one side in the GASCC Reserve Grade again this year, the well oiled Saints will be tough to beat. However with the Cove and Stirling both genuinely eyeing the Reserve title in this years First Division regular season - pre-season action is sure to be tough!
Tournament Prediction - Reserves 2nd place |
|
|
|
