How will Narre Warren stack up in the improved SFNL in 2025?

Narre Warren and Cheltenham have collectively won 108 of their past 116 matches. So how will they fare against each other in the Southern league in 2025?

How will Narre Warren fare as a Southern league club in 2025?

Narre Warren coach Steven Kidd had three takeaways from his side’s practice match against Cheltenham in March.

The Magpies snuck home when the powerhouses met on the eve of the season in what Kidd said was “an extremely tough game”.

The Rosellas and Magpies, who have collectively won 108 of their past 116 matches, will meet again next year after Narre Warren left the Outer East to join the Southern league.

Cheltenham has competed in the past four Southern league grand finals while Narre Warren has played in 12 deciders across 18 years for a return of nine flags.

So how will the two fare against each other in 2025?

Kidd left the March match thinking the Magpies were “evenly matched” with the Rosellas but jotted down three notes to remember for next year.

“We got over the line just in the last quarter but I think we wanted to win that game more than they did, being a practice run for them and at home for us,” Kidd said.

“I anticipate that we’re pretty evenly matched against that team but having said that they had a few missing as well.

“The speed of ball movement was fast and I think the depth of player down to number 22 was a big change as well.

“I think we found in the Outer East that our depth was a strength on other teams, down to our last five, but with Cheltenham we didn’t see that at all.

“I think the depth and speed of ball movement was something that really impressed us.”

Narre Warren lifted the 2024 Outer East premiership cup. Picture: Valeriu Campan

The third note from Kidd was the impact of Cheltenham star Jack Lonie.

Lonie had his way with every Southern league side this year and was pivotal in the Rosellas’ two-point triumph over Dingley.

The ex-AFL Saint pieced together a half of footy unfamiliar to Kidd’s Pies and it’s stuck with the now premiership coach.

“I was scratching my head at half time of that game going ‘how are we going to stop this bloke?’” Kidd recalled with a laugh.

“We’ll think of a few ways to do it but he’s going to be one that’s really tough to stop with his running capability and that left foot of his.

“His first half against us was something we hadn’t seen before.”

Narre Warren coach Steven Kidd. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Challenging Cheltenham for the Southern league premiership this year was Dingley, St Paul’s McKinnon, Springvale Districts and Cranbourne.

Kidd expects the Magpies to be put to the test every week in Southern and says they are itching for it after a hugely successful run in the Outer East.

“Week in, week out, there’s going to be tougher games which is what we wanted,” he said.

“How we’ll actually stack up against the top sides, we feel like the comp is getting stronger by the year so we’re as unknown as anyone, which is exciting.

“The depth of the teams coming through, there’s four divisions, we expect Murrumbeena to be really competitive.

“I had a bit of a look at their (Murrumbeena) list and I think they’re more competitive than the sides that come up in the Outer East.

“I think the evenness of the competition, we’re back playing a bit more suburban footy as well, we were sort of stuck playing between suburban and country.

“To be in suburban footy and with the amount of teams and divisions, it’s certainly a lot more exciting for us.”

Two of Narre’s flags in the past 11 years came against Cranbourne (2013 and 2014) but the Magpies and Eagles haven’t met since 2021.

Kidd says Narre is excited to restore its rivalry with the Eagles and thinks they would be a perfect replacement for Pakenham in the annual opening round under lights.

“We’ve had such a big rivalry with them (Cranbourne) over the years,” he said.

“We’ve obviously lost Berwick and Beaconsfield but to be back against Cranbourne is huge for us, hopefully the crowds come back and that rivalry will resume.

“Even sides like Dingley, we played them up until 2006 and we’ve got Doveton and Hampton Park in the second division as well.

“As the coach I will leave that one (round 1) up to the club, I am not sure what they’re thinking, but at home against Cranbourne under lights would be a massive start.”

Narre Warren vs. Cranbourne: A rivalry resumed. Picture: Stuart Milligan

Narre Warren won the reserves flag and were a surprising exit from the under-19s premiership race after an undefeated season.

With that in mind, Kidd said the Magpies would look to “build within” instead of recruit heavily ahead of 2025.

“The main goal was to retain, we’ve done that, we’re in talks with some guys but nothing has come of that yet,” he said.

“We’re looking to build within, we probably got a premiership earlier than we expected this year but we’re still looking to build on the young side.

“We’re looking to build on what we’ve got, there might be one or two inclusions but we’re hoping for no losses and a couple of kids coming through.”

League-medal winner Jake Richardson will not be one of the Magpies’ inclusions next year.

The star forward missed 2024 working overseas and will remain abroad next year.