Our mid-season SFNL Division 1 Team of the Year

This weekend marks the halfway point of the Southern league Division 1 season. From familiar faces to big improvers, we’ve picked our mid-season Team of the Year.

This weekend marks the midway point of the Southern Football Netball League Division 1 season.

Some old guns are turning back the clock while others are announcing themselves as superstars of the competition.

We’ve had a go at selecting a mid-season Team of the Year ... did we get it right?

FULL BACK

Cameron Blitsas, Cheltenham

An unassuming defender who has played some really important roles this year. Blitsas kept top forwards Trent Dennis-Lane and Brayden O’Toole goalless in two tests for the Rosellas this year.

Harrison Hunt, St Paul’s McKinnon

Hunt has picked up where he left off at the Kennel as one of the Southern league’s better interceptors. He is second in the competition for intercept marks, proving as difficult as ever to avoid going inside 50.

Andrew Godfrey, Dingley

Cool, calm and composed on the last line, Godfrey is one of the best smaller defenders in the comp. He hasn’t played since the interleague bye but he was one of the reasons the Southern league won that day.

Andrew Godfrey takes a contested mark. Picture: Valeriu Campan

HALF BACK

Sean Lai, Cheltenham

Lai has improved out of sight this season, accelerating from a talented youngster to a genuine problem for opposition coaches across half back. Such has been his form, he was promoted from the under-19 interleague side to the senior one last month.

Kristen Feehan, Dingley

If you ranked the best players in Division 1 of the Southern league right now, Feehan would be inside the top 10. He beats the competition’s best forwards and then punishes them in transition. The dynamic defender has 13 more intercept marks than the league’s next best.

Luke Tapscott, Chelsea Heights

Little more can be said about the season Luke Tapscott is having for Chelsea Heights. The ex-AFL Demon is remarkably averaging 37 disposals, nine rebound 50s, eight inside 50s and a goal for the Heights.

Luke Tapscott is in sublime touch.

CENTRE

Ollie Moran, Cheltenham

The VFL-listed Dolphin has rocketed into this side with a superb month of footy. Moran’s ball use and ability to hit the scoreboard has improved astronomically. He will be sure to be back in Frankston’s line-up at stages in the back end of 2024.

Jackson Peet, Dingley

The Dingley captain is thriving in a more attacking role to previous years, averaging 30 possessions and almost a goal a game. If it wasn’t for some stirring performances from teammates around him, Peet would be one of the smokeys for the league medal.

Lucas Walmsley, Dingley

Walmsley is back at his ball-winning best for the Dingoes this year, finding the footy – on average – 29 times a game. ‘Noodles’ is second in the competition for goal involvements this season, just one behind the leader.

Dingley star Jackson Peet. Picture: JAKE MARRINER/JAM-VISUALS

HALF FORWARD

Nicholas Stathopoulos, St Paul’s McKinnon

It was a toss-up between Stathopoulos and Bentleigh’s Castan Racunica for this position, but the Bulldog’s relentless pressure without the ball won out. Stathopoulos has kicked 15 goals from his eight games but – perhaps more importantly – is second in the competition for forward-50 tackles.

Brayden O’Toole, St Paul’s McKinnon

The versatile forward has kicked a goal in all but one of his matches this year for a return of 22. He sits third in the competition for goals, behind teammate Matthew Kreymborg and East Brighton’s Nick Corp. O’Toole’s battle with Kristen Feehan this weekend will be electric.

Daniel Helmore, Springvale Districts

Helmore was a star of the competition last year but has gone to another level this season. His five goals last week boosts his season total to 20 but his impact for Districts has been priceless.

Daniel Helmore celebrates a goal. Picture: Valeriu Campan

FULL FORWARD

Matthew Kreymborg, St Paul’s McKinnon

It’s hard to say a player of Kreymborg’s calibre is in career-best form but he would have to be close. He leads the competition for goals (29), marks and goal involvements. If it wasn’t for some wayward kicking (25 behinds) Kreymborg would have engraved his name on the league goal-kicking medal already.

Nick Corp, East Brighton

Corp has shown he’s still capable against top-line defenders this year, booting 25 goals from seven games. He’s clunked the most contested marks in the league and, because he has done it so close to goal, has converted tidily.

Trent Dennis-Lane, Dingley

The former AFL forward pips teammate Caleb Lewis in this side due to his ability to play a smaller role as well as a marking option. They have both kicked 22 goals but ‘TDL’ has done it in one less game. Include his five crucial goals in interleague, the 35-year-old is having a splendid season.

Nick Corp takes one of his comp-high contested grabs. Picture: Andrew Keech

FOLLOWERS

Jacob Edwards, Cheltenham

Edwards isn’t leading the competition for hitouts but he would be the first-choice ruck in every side. The former ‘Roo can hit to any point of the centre circle and is almost another midfielder when the ball hits the deck.

Jack Lonie, Cheltenham

Lonie is the short-priced favourite to win the league medal after making an impressive start to the season. The slippery left-footer is averaging 26 disposals as well as three goals and two direct goal assists per game this year.

Sean Downie, East Brighton

The East Brighton captain is taking charge of the Vampires’ midfield this season, averaging 25 disposals and a goal per game. He pieced together a sensational game against Cranbourne two rounds ago, gathering 40 disposals and kicking two goals.

Jack Lonie fires out a handball. Picture: Andrew Keech

INTERCHANGE

Mitch Cook, Dingley

Cook has relished in the absence of injured Dingo Lochie Benton this year, playing in similar roles to what Benton did in his best and fairest-winning 2023. The 19-year-old just has to be on a VFL list in 2025.

Kye Beveridge, St Paul’s McKinnon

Beveridge’s numbers are phenomenal. He averages 28 disposals, nine tackles and a scratch under a goal per game. If it wasn’t for a three-week stint on the sidelines, Beveridge would be running point in this midfield.

Justin Taylor, Port Melbourne Colts

Leading in pretty much every statistical category again in 2024, Taylor is following up his team-of-the-year 2023. He had 48 disposals in a big day against East Brighton earlier this season.

Alex Windhager, Dingley

Windhager strengthens the key-position stocks on the bench in this side. He is unlucky not to make the playing 18 but makes the 22 after leading the competition for one percenters.