South Morang turnaround culminates with long-awaited premiership

From troubled times in 2017, Northern club South Morang has shown the way in how to build from the ground up and win a premiership.

South Morang's Liam Jolly celebrates a goal. Picture: Nathan McNeill

Northern Football League club South Morang has become the poster child for how to rebuild from the ground up.

From dark days in 2017 when the NFNL removed the club’s board to drought-breaking premiership glory this season, it’s been a patient, dedicated road to redemption for the Lions.

The club faced severe consequences following a brawl between players and supporters after the 2017 NFL Division 3 grand final defeat to Banyule.

The league stepped in and appointed an administrator, a host of players departed and salary cap restrictions were placed on the club due to debt.

However, South Morang has remained competitive on the field thanks to a deep well of junior talent and is now considerably stronger off it with a stable committee.

President Chris Donnelly was appointed in 2017 and along with the likes of Brad Faulkner, Jim Chetcuti, and coach Gary Hall has led the recovery.

“I’d been at the club for almost 10 years and I saw the NFL send something out which spelled bad news for the club and they wanted people to step up,” he said.

“I was approached by life member and games record holder Jim Chectcuti and he suggested I could do a role.

“Lo and behold I got interviewed by a QC and they said we’ll pop you in as senior president and I had Brad Faulkner come on and support me as vice-president.

“A key player was Gary Hall and we ended up with good, solid club people as coaches and on committees and as volunteers

“Gary had the same philosophy, which was we’ve got a lot of talented juniors, let’s grow it instead of bringing in outside recruits and take away opportunities.

“The first year we had 10 or 11 under-19s in the ones and in 2019 three of those played in the grand final and the under-19s won the grand final.

“We’ve been able to implement what we wanted to do and that doesn’t always go down well with everybody, some people are reluctant to change and don’t understand what you’re trying to do.

Alex Colaidis celebrates a goal for South Morang. Picture: Hamish Blair

“After a long struggle it’s starting to bear fruit now.”

South Morang’s Division 3 grand final victory over Laurimar breaks an 11-year drought and ends several years of heartbreak.

The Lions have made a preliminary final every season since being relegated in 2013, losing two grand finals, and looked on track when the 2021 season was cancelled.

The triumph was only the club’s second senior flag and first since 2011.

It also won the reserve grade premiership for a third time and follows a historic maiden under-19s premiership in 2019.

Five players from that 2019 win featured in the 2022 senior team.

The Lions’ grand final team played with the minimum 22 player points of a possible 46, highlighting the strength of the club’s junior pathway.

Donnelly said it was an achievement the entire club could be proud of.

“Look, it was more of a gorilla than a monkey (off the back),” he said.

“There were so many challenges during that period of time, whether it be our own doing or a consequence of our own doing.

“The philosophy and loyalty we’ve been able to develop, the boys are there for the right reasons, it’s not money, it’s because they love the place and their mates and the coaching staff.

“Obviously we’ve got talented juniors, so it was crucial we get our of Division 3 because no doubt there would be clubs circling.

“Gary’s got a tremendous ability to not inhibit players and allow them to play their game and use their flair. It’s been really good to watch.”

While still rough around the edges, as evidenced by two players missing the premiership through suspension, has largely repaired its reputation.

A critical factor in the club’s rise has been family connections.

Across the senior club there are 10 sets of brothers playing together, a bond which has kept the playing group tight throughout.

Hall’s two sons Tye and Kain are key members of the senior team, while there are also Brown, Hewsen, Pell, Ceravolo, Failla, Jolly, Hutton and Harvey, Lansfield, Arnold-Treweek and Kalpakis brothers.

“It’s so satisfying that we’ve now got a good family club and it’s all homegrown kids,” Donnelly said.

“Nathan Stefanile we did recruit but he lives in South Morang and knows a lot of the boys. He’s the only player that’s not a one-pointer now.”

“We uncovered four or five players this year from our ranks and I’m confident we’ll find that, if not more, again next year.”

South Morang coach Gary Hall with sons Tye and Kain. Picture: Ben Higgins

With a premiership-winning list and strong off-field foundations, South Morang can now look forward to promotion to Division 2.

The Lions will be hoping to establish themselves at the next level and believe the step up can help lure homegrown talent back to Mill Park Lakes.

Importantly, the club has now paid off its debt and has a full salary cap at its disposal.

However, Donnelly said that won’t change the club’s list-building philosophy, a lesson hard-learned.

“This year we were on a full salary cap and there’s not an issue at all with finances at the club,” he said.

“We’re in as strong a position as we’ve been in for maybe 10 years and we’re perfectly set up off the field to go into Division 2, even with the extra $20,000 in salary cap.

“We’re always open and looking for recruits and we’ve got a few players in mind, players that have played for the club previously and gone to a higher level.

“In due course we’ll engage some of those people but I’m very confident we’ve got the talent at the club to take us further anyway.

“We’re very particular about who we let in because if you get a bad personality, a bad apple ruins the bunch as they say, so it is a balancing act.”

Importantly, Hall has been locked in for 2023, his sixth season in charge after taking over mid-way through 2017.

Donnelly also hopes to remain at the helm and will stand for re-election at the club’s AGM.

The long-time president paid tribute to the people behind the scenes that played key roles in the club success.

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He said under-19s coach Rodd Loughry helped transition young players into the senior team and reserve grade coach Duane Russell had been invaluable since coming on board.

Former committee members Wayne Hoare and Denise Iacopino and current staff like Mark Muscat, Mary Pargas and Celeste Tsatsalmas had played key roles in helping turn the club’s fortunes around.

He also thanked major sponsors the Commercial Hotel, Archiclad, Wollert Rise, Petcover and FunFields for sticking with the club.

“I want to thank our sponsors, without sponsors like them, who put confidence in people running the club and put their hands in the pocket, we couldn’t operate,” Donnelly said.