Season in review: South Morang push for promotion after dominant season
SEASON REVIEW: South Morang were the dominant team in NFL Division 3 this season before COVID denied it a premiership shot.
Northern
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South Morang is eyeing promotion to Division 2 if the Northern Football League opens requests.
The Lions were dominant in Division 3 this season, winning their first 10 games and claiming the minor premiership ahead of main rival Laurimar.
A NFL board meeting was held on Monday night to discuss possible promotions despite no finals being played with a decision expected as early as this week.
If clubs are allowed to lodge a petition, South Morang could mount a strong case after several near-misses in recent years.
The Lions finished top in 2015 before losing the preliminary final, finished top again in 2017 but lost the grand final to Banyule, made a preliminary final in 2018 and lost the grand final to Panton Hill in 2019.
Coach Gary Hall said it would be a kick in the guts if the club had to stay in Division 3 after such a successful year.
“We’re just waiting on the verdict, otherwise it’s a waste of a year,” he said.
“It will be a kick in the guts if we have to stay down, losing one game between seniors and reserves, the club was in a really strong position.
“It’s more having to front up against the same sides, the boys are ready for the next challenge.
“The boys are a year bigger and stronger, a lot of them have played 50-60 games now so they’re really starting to come into their peak.”
South Morang only dropped one game this season, going down to Laurimar by 18 points in what would be the second last game of the season.
Hall said the Lions were bolstered by their 2019 under-19s premiership team, with a number of young guns stepping up to senior football full-time.
The likes of Mitch Kalpakis and Nathan Bell were already senior players while Kain Hall, Luke Cullen and Noah Dalmau stepped up to play every game.
Matt Trim produced arguably his best season of football and was sitting equal third in the Coaches’ MVP voting before it was taken behind closed doors with teammate Tye Hall fourth.
Hall’s return from a knee reconstruction was critical as he bossed the midfield.
Even if South Morang hopes are dashed Hall believes the club will stick together and go again in 2022.
“I would think so, they’re all good mates and play for each other anyway,” he said.
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“In this day and age with the cap the way it is, there’s not really anywhere you can go, if you’re not playing AFL you might as well be playing with mates is the way I look at.
“A lot of those (under-19s) boys came back mentally and physically stronger, that was a major factor in making the side stronger.
“Trimmy is one of the older boys, he’s Mr Consistent anyway but this was his best season of football for a couple of years.
“He was running around injury free, he usually plays on a wing but we threw him into the midfield and he was playing some great football.”
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