Injury crisis hits South Morang on eve of NFNL Division 1 season

South Morang captain Tye Hall’s season is potentially over, while Noah Cumberland went down seconds before the club’s final training session finished.

South Morang captain Tye Hall and coach Gary Hall lift the NFNL Division 2 premiership. Picture: Andrew Batsch

South Morang is facing an injury crisis.

The reigning NFNL Division 2 premier returns to the top-flight this season but is already without several key personnel.

Captain Tye Hall’s season could already be over after injuring his knee in a pre-season practice match.

Meanwhile, boom ex-AFL recruit Noah Cumberland injured his ankle in the final seconds of Thursday’s training session.

Tyrone Leonardis was went down in Saturday’s 41-point Round 1 loss to West Preston-Lakeside, while star defender Lachie Potter is weighing up his future.

South Morang captain Tye Hall kicks a goal. Picture: Andrew Batsch

Lions coach Gary Hall said it had been a tough start but the club would pull through.

“It hasn’t been a great start, injury wise, there’s a bit of a black cloud hanging over the club,” Hall said.

“We had seven out from the premiership team and add Noah on top of that and young Alex (Kirkopoulos) we picked up from North Heidelberg was suspended from last year.

“It is what it is, it’s probably better this time of the year and have a good crack at everyone in the second half of the year.”

Hall is yet to get an official diagnosis on his knee but Hall confirmed it wasn’t the same knee he had a reconstruction on in 2021.

It would be a bitter blow for the premiership captain on the eve of the season.

“We don’t know at the minute, we’re not too sure of the extent of it but any knee injury is a good one,” Hall said.

“We’re seeing the specialist that did his last one, this is his other knee.

Noah Cumberland at Richmond AFL training.

“That’s what they reckon happens, there’s more chance of you doing your good knee than the one that’s been fixed.”

Meanwhile, Cumberland missed the season opener after going down in the final seconds of Thursday night training.

“Thursday night, I had the whistle in my mouth to blow the end of training, and he rolled his ankle,’ Hall said.

“It would have been 10 seconds. It’s not too bad but it blew up.”

The former Richmond forward is expected to miss a couple of weeks with the club hopeful he will return for the Round 3 clash against Greensborough after the Easter break.

South Morang faces grand finalist Montmorency in Round 2.

The club is expecting to get gun forward Josh D’Intinosante back from VFL duties, while ruckman Nathan Stefanile and forward Josh Lansfield are also in line for a return.

Jesse John Christidis was named best afield for the Lions in the weekend’s loss, VFL-listed Davin Cameron, Northern Knights graduate Christian Mardini and Kobe Van Zwienen also stood tall.

Hall was also impressed with debutant Aaron Galilieos’ performance in the ruck against Roosters ace Matt Harman.

“It was encouraging, I was happy with the boys,” he said.

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“Big Azza in the ruck, his first hitout and he’s done really well.

“We were very impressed with him, obviously he hit the wall in the second half, but in the first he was all over (Harman).

“When you’re best three players are 19-20-year-olds it’s pretty good.

“We made a couple of bad turnovers at time but we’re not feeling out of depth that’s for sure.

“We just need to get a few of the troops back.”