Southern Football League club Marion is winless, with an average losing margin of almost 200 points
ONE of the worst-performing football teams in SA is undertaking an urgent mid-season review in a desperate bid to change its onfield fortunes.
ONE of the worst-performed football teams in SA is undertaking a mid-season review to try to turn around its onfield fortunes.
The struggling Marion Rams are bottom of the Southern Football League with a 0-11 record and an average losing margin of 198.1.
Six of Marion’s defeats have been by at least 200 points, while just one of its losses has been by fewer than 100.
Only Nangwarry, a country club in the Mid South Eastern Football League, has a worse record among SA A-grade teams this season – winless with an average losing margin of 223.1 points.
President Jack McCallum said the Rams, whose last victory was in August 2015, were not up to the level of most of their rivals and the club was undergoing a thorough review.
“It’s pretty obvious and open that we haven’t actually won a game,” McCallum said.
“But in terms of our culture, our players, our group, our committee, our volunteers, everybody’s positive.
“I’m backing this review, the people involved in it and the right answers to come out of it.”
The Rams opened their campaign with a 207-point thrashing away to Christies Beach.
Since then Marion’s losses have been by 219, 282, 56, 125, 195, 184, 286, 221, 215 and 189 points.
The club’s B grade is also winless and has an average losing margin of 144.2 points.
“We all feel that whilst the scoreboard doesn’t show it, we’re a strong, united unit ... and that feeling hasn’t been around the club for some time,” McCallum said.
“Even with those results, it’s really pleasing to see that.”
Rumours have circulated that Marion could leave the SFL for the amateurs at the end of the season.
McCallum said “where we fit into the scheme of things” was one aspect of the review but his “gut feeling” was the Rams would remain in the league.
He said the club hoped to decide its fate by the end of August.
“At this stage, I don’t see us being anywhere else but we’ve got to do this review and see where it lands,” he said.
“What’s going to drive it (the decision) in the end is what our membership want to do.”
Marion’s situation comes three years after fellow SFL club Aldinga opened the 2014 season with consecutive losses totalling 457 points.
The Sharks’ average losing margin that year had been 166 points before Hawthorn great Shane Crawford led them to victory in a one-off appearance for the team.
SFL president Craig Warman was confident Marion could turn the corner but said it would take time.
“We all know their plight and we’ve had various clubs that have been through that process,” Warman said.
“If you look at the work that’s been done at Aldinga, they’re now starting to improve.
“We all know football’s cyclic and they (Marion) have been on a downward spiral for a while, simply because of the lack of junior numbers going through.
“They’ve now started to rebuild that junior program ... and are getting structures so it’s a building process.”
MARION IN 2017
Round one: bye
Round two: 4.4 (28) lost to Christies Beach 37.13 (235)
Round three: 4.4 (28) lost to Happy Valley 37.25 (247)
Round four: 3.1 (19) lost to Reynella 47.19 (301)
Round five: 6.8 (44) lost to Aldinga 24.25 (169)
Round six: 3.7 (25) lost to Cove 33.22 (220)
Round seven: 2.3 (15) lost to Noarlunga 29.25 (199)
Round eight: 4.2 (26) lost to Morphett Vale 47.30 (312)
Round nine: 3.3 (21) lost to Flagstaff Hill 37.20 (242)
Round 10: 2.9 (21) lost to Port Noarlunga 37.14 (236)
Round 11: 5.6 (36) lost to Cove 34.21 (225)