A look at every Division 1 club leading into the 2023 Southern league season
The bounce of the ball to start the 2023 SFNL Division 1 season is only days away. Here’s a club-by-club guide to the year ahead.
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The first siren on the Southern Football Netball League Division 1 season is just days away and anticipation continues to grow.
A grand final rematch between Cranbourne and Cheltenham kick starts the season on Good Friday, while the remaining eight sides look on for a further eight days.
Here is how all 10 Division 1 clubs shape up.
BENTLEIGH
Last year: Ninth
Coach: Kristian Bardsley
In: Luke Di Ciero, Andrew Walker, Matt Colak, Dimitri Fasoulis, Alex Lvovskiy, Marek Lvovskiy, Brendan Reynolds.
Out: Joseph Colaciello, Hudson Thomas, Matt Vorbach, Nick Wynne, Tom Wynne, Bailey Thomas, Dan O’Loughlin.
Snapshot: While Bentleigh escaped relegation by three wins last year, there is positivity coming out of Arthur Street for the way in which new coach Kristian Bardsley has the group developing. The Demons are very much a watch-this-space side with the youth showing so much promise in the under-19 competition last season. The progress will come quickly, it’s just a matter of when and if that is quick enough to avoid another season fighting for a place in Division 1.
CHELSEA HEIGHTS
Last year: Division 2 premiers
Coach: Nathan Robinson
In: Sean McDermott, Tim Brook, Matthew Wilson, Riley Worsteling
Out: Ryan Odell, Daniel Hogan, Nathan Herrington, Ryan Carrison, Will Park
Snapshot: Chelsea Heights enters Division 1 with bold expectations of competing with the heavy-hitters almost instantaneously. Premiership coach Josh Bull has stepped down and has handed the reins to Nathan Robinson. The Demons’ midfield certainly has the firepower to contend with that of Division 1, it’s just a question of whether the core group has the hunger to climb an even bigger mountain after accomplishing so much in Division 2.
CHELTENHAM
Last year: Runner-up
Coach: Des Ryan
In: Luke Verma, Nick Waterstone, Luke Healy, Ben Ryan
Out: Daniel Harrison, Jack Davis, Matt Lovejoy
Snapshot: The Rosellas have filled the gap in which they lacked last year while retaining majority of its core senior list. Des Ryan’s men have a difficult draw to start off the season with reigning premiers Cranbourne before hosting Dingley, but they’ll go in confident in both outings. As it stands, Cheltenham is the team to beat.
CRANBOURNE
Last year: Premiers
Coach: Steve O’Brien
In: Dillan Bass, Andrew Green
Out: Ryan Davey, Marc Holt, Jake Carosella, Luca Bellinvia, Curtis Barker, Adrian Russo
Snapshot: While the Eagles’ list of outs outweigh the list of players coming in, coach Steve O’Brien is confident the handful of players who missed the grand final due to injury will be like new recruits in 2023. A forward six without Marc Holt will look unique for Cranbourne, but the Eagles are adamant the heavy rotation of players down there will keep opposition coaches guessing.
DINGLEY
Last year: Elimination finalist
Coach: Zach Horsley
In: Tom Morecroft, Brad Cunningham, Luke Simmonds, Remmi Wood, Luke Frith
Out: Danny Ades, Dan Farmer, Justin Van Unen, Tim McGenniss
Snapshot: Dingley enters 2023 as the most enigmatic outfit of Division 1. The Dingoes have made personnel changes with a new coach and a number of list changes, leaving the mystery of where this typically auspicious club will finish. Former AFL Magpie and Saint Nathan Freeman is an enormous watch for this team after having a terrific pre-season.
MORDIALLOC
Last year: Eighth
Coach: Brendon Moore
In: Corey Barden, Mitch Brown, Darcy Brown, Toby Plant, Jack Sullivan, Ethan Wright
Out: Timothy Kovess, Ben Stephenson
Snapshot: Hitting the scoreboard will be on the agenda for Mordialloc this season after recording the second lowest score per game last season (57). However the addition of Brown brothers – Darcy and Mitch – will correct that issue immediately. Mitch booted 44 goals for Casey last year including four hauls of five or more. He is expected to play further up the ground this season to really expose opposition centre half backs.
PORT MELBOURNE COLTS
Last year: Seventh
Coach: Josh Caddy
In: Josh Caddy, Billie Smedts, Zak McGubbin, Dean Giles, Eren Soylemez, Mack Burdett, Nixsyn Wade
Out: Jake Anderson, Jarrah Brownhill, Sebastian Duffy, Paul Scanlon, Jake Penman
Snapshot: Caddy’s ‘make footy fun again’ approach appears to be working splendidly as the Colts are overwhelmed with numbers on the track. The additions of Caddy, Smedts, McGubbin and Giles really solidify the spine after a disappointing season last year. The pressure and defensive application will be a key indicator of where the Colts sit after conceding at least 500 more points than any of the sides that sat above them last year.
SPRINGVALE DISTRICTS
Last year: Sixth
Coach: Kris Thompson
In: Matt Wetering, Dylan Quirk, Daniel Helmore
Out: Mark Griffiths, Matthew Soutter-Smith,
Snapshot: Kris Thompson’s men will be a solid improver in 2023 after a strong recruiting spree over the pre-season. The Demons were beaten regularly in the middle of the ground but are hopeful that with the additions of Quirk and Helmore, that issue will be amended. The return of Matt Wetering adds a ferocity to the Districts’ forward line that will be hard to match.
ST KILDA CITY
Last year: Preliminary finalist
Coach: Richard Houston
In: Louis Holmes, Mark McGill, Taylor Meyer
Out: Brendan Fevola (retired), Jesse Watkins, Matthew Wilson
Snapshot: The Saints exceeded expectations in 2022 by booming into a preliminary final from fifth position, and as a result, coach Richard Houston’s expectation is to now go one further. They’ll be without AFL great Brendan Fevola but Aaron Edwards is excelling with what appears to be sole ownership of the forward arc.
ST PAUL’S MCKINNON
Last year: Semi-finalist
Coach: Jason Heffernan
In: Majok Aneet, Jordan Vamiker
Out: Brody Lawford, Dino Karamoshos, Alex Spencer, Liam Sumner
Snapshot: A straight-sets exit seems to have ignited a spark in the Dogs that is extremely ominous. Jason Heffernan’s men were ravaged by injuries last year and their depth was really tested but, but this season is showing glimpses of a different narrative with the Dogs having 50 players on the track most nights. If 30 to pick from resulted in third last year, St Paul’s McKinnon will be a super side this season. Chris Rousakis, a former Sandy Dragon who was invited to the National Draft Combine, will be a player to watch this season.
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