Several new coaches set to play a major role in the Southern league

The Southern footy league will have a fresh set of eyes over it this season with 16 of the 36 clubs taking on new coaches. Here‘s our analysis of the season ahead.

Tyler Lewis

@tmlew_

4 min read

March 30, 2023 - 4:25PM

Bayside Leader

Southern

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A fresh set of eyes will gaze over the men’s competition of the Southern footy league this season with a steady flow of coaching appointments made over the course of the off-season.

Of the 36 clubs across all four divisions, 16 will have new coaches in 2023.

A quarter of the new appointments have come from Division 1, with Zach Horsley (Dingley), Kristian Bardsley (Bentleigh), Josh Caddy (Port Melbourne Colts) and Nathan Robinson (Chelsea Heights) all leading their respective clubs for the first time.

Caddy, a two-time premiership player with Richmond, will embark on his coaching debut when he takes the helm at Port Melbourne Colts.

And while he knows what it takes to succeed at the top-level, Caddy, 30, will only bring a fragment of what he learned from the AFL system to the Colts.

“Blokes play local footy to just have a good time,” he said.

“You don’t have the time to train and coach things too heavily, you have to keep it simple, the game plan I played with at Richmond – although it changed year to year and evolved – it was based on effort and pressure but also having a good time.

“Blokes work all week, go to uni, they play footy to have a release from life, so I think the main thing I want to be known for as a coach is that blokes actually enjoy coming to training and are having a good time.

“That’s something I am really trying to bring to the club because from my experiences, that’s when blokes play their best.”

Josh Caddy will be hoping to raise more silverware this year when he makes his coaching debut. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Zach Horsley, meanwhile, will tackle the challenge of finding the perfect balance with his exciting Dingley outfit.

Although his side holds an arsenal capable of blistering attack, Horsley is hoping to implement and element of control to the Dingoes’ ball-movement.

“I think Dingley’s problem, in my opinion, last year was that they were a bit out of control and played too fast, I am a little bit different, I am more of a ball in hand sort of coach,” he said.

“You need your assets of speed once you have play on your terms but securing that first possession and getting control is really important.

“Once we find the field opening up, that’s when we can use those young players and that speed.”

In Division 2, East Brighton has appointed the experienced local footy coach Nick Jewell and with him has come an astonishing nine top-line recruits.

After being unveiled as the Vampires’ new coach in October, Jewell immediately went to work on improving the list at his disposal.

“We sort of tried to bolster each line and add some experience in each,” he said.

“I saw a couple of games against Doveton and perhaps Chelsea Heights, and the thing I noticed was a lack of experience out on the ground.

“We have added Tyrren Head and Liam Harris across half back.

“Tyrren Head is a four-time premiership and Team of the Year player; he is a super talented half-back flanker and Sean Downie and Ryan Semmel are A-grade midfielders.

“To be able to spread that across the three lines… add Brady Egan who won a premiership last year with Tooradin kicking 40 goals, Tom Lamb and Nick Corp, with Kai Love-Linay who made the Team of the Year (last year), it gives us really strong targets up there.”

Nick Jewell has a habit of coaching successful sides. Picture: Chris Eastman

While Jewell’s side storm into the Division 2 season as premiership favourites, the Vampires will have to contend with runner-up Doveton, which has been boosted by the addition of former Australian Test quick James Pattinson.

The seven new coaches across Division 3 and 4 will have the reward and simultaneous concern around the new competition structure that was implemented at the end of last season.

Instead of the premier and wooden spoon being promoted and relegated like in Division 1 and 2, Division’s 3 and 4 will be moving the bottom and top two sides from each flight at seasons end.

Meaning Frankston Dolphins, which flew through season 2022 but fell short in the grand final, will still be promoted for making it to the decider.

In the Women’s competition, there will be an urge to repossess dominance for Casey Thunder.

After dropping just four games across both Division 1 and 2 collectively, the Thunder were unable to fill the trophy cabinet at the pointy end of the year, losing both grand finals.

Defeats to Endeavour Hills (Division 1) and Black Rock (Division 2) will undoubtedly be driving the Thunder once the women’s season commences.

Fixtures and team lists for the two women’s divisions are yet to be confirmed.

Former Australian quick James pattinson will be coming out of full forward for Doveton this year. (Photo by JEREMY NG / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE --

Lucas ‘Noodles’ Walmsley will be eyeing off a third Southern league medal. Picture: Valeriu Campan

COMPETING CLUBS

Division 1: Bentleigh, Chelsea Heights, Cheltenham, Cranbourne, Dingley, Mordialloc, Port Melbourne Colts, St Kilda City, Springvale Districts, St Paul’s McKinnon

Division 2: Black Rock, Caulfield Bears, Doveton Doves, East Brighton, East Malvern, Hampton Park, Highett, Keysborough, Murrumbeena, Skye

Division 3: Ashwood, Carrum Patterson Lakes, Clayton, Endeavour Hills, Frankston Dolphins, Heatherton, Lyndhurst, Narre South Saints

Division 4: Cerebus, Dandenong, Doveton, Hampton, Lyndale, Moorabbin Kangaroos, South Mornington, South Yarra

Women: Bentleigh, Black Rock, Casey Thunder, Clayton, East Brighton, Endeavour Hills, Frankston Dolphins, Keysborough, Lyndale, Lyndhurst, Murrumbeena, Narre South Saints, Skye, South Yarra, St Paul’s McKinnon.