SFNL: Chris Horton-Milne on his love for two clubs, curbing aggression, as he chases a fifth flag

He’s won four premierships, two league medals and been best-on-ground in two grand finals, but Chris Horton-Milne once had “a lot of growing up to do”.

Chris Horton-Milne. Picture: AAP/ Chris Eastman.

Champion local footballer Chris Horton-Milne has two loves.

One is Dingley, the other is Noble Park.

Including junior football, Horton-Milne is now in his third stint with the Dingoes, and he’s had two at Noble Park.

“Always bouncing between the two, couldn’t keep me away from either club for too long,” Horton-Milne joked.

The smooth-moving midfielder is Dingley born and bred, but his grandfather Ron followed the Bulls ever since moving to the Noble Park area about half a century ago.

“My grandpa always followed Noble Park … he really wanted me to go across and play there,” Horton-Milne said.

“It’s quite good footy … so I thought ‘why not?’, it’s a great club, great people. I ended up loving it.

“I always thought I would end up back at Dingley, they’re similar clubs in some ways, great people around the club.”

It’s why - on top of having played in premierships with both clubs - Horton-Milne was so chuffed to have brought up a senior ton of games played for both clubs.

He’s now up to 101 senior games and counting at Dingley, where it all began, while he’s played 103 for Noble Park.

Horton-Milne played in three Dingley flags across 2016, 2017 and 2019 – with the triumphs bookended by Meneilly Medal-winning performances – as well as Noble Park’s famous 2022 premiership in the Eastern league.

Chris Horton Milne in action for Noble Park. Picture: Stuart Milligan

He said the 2022 triumph with the Bulls was the only time he had seen Ron shed a tear, adding: “It meant a bit to him”.

Dingley coach Zach Horsley is in his first year working with Horton-Milne, and spoke glowingly of the high-calibre talent which bolstered a list hoping to go one better than last season’s heartbreaking grand final defeat.

“As a player, he came in and just drove standards from the minute he walked in the door,” Horsley said.

“If someone wasn’t doing what they needed to do he pulled them into line, he’s really taken on a leadership role and added to that depth of leaders that we had, he isn’t afraid to call it how he sees it in a positive way, he just makes sure everyone’s toeing the right line, he voices up in review and he’s always got some good feedback to relay.

“In terms of that he’s really good … he’s been a significant re-addition to the club this season, and he’s certainly added not only on-field but off-field.”

Chris Horton-Milne in his earlier Dingley days. Picture: Mark Dadswell.

While he’s grown into a respected leader, former Dingley mentor Shane Morwood – who was at the helm across all the Dingoes flags Horton-Milne played in – recalled a budding talent with “a lot of growing up to do”.

“I had a bit to do with him in juniors … very fiery, hothead, tempered and would react wrongly on the field,” Morwood said.

“His development as a person is probably the highlight for me, he’s addressed those issues and manages them much better and as a reflection of that his football improved as well.

“He was willing to take advice, guidance and his game has just got better and better as he’s got older. It’s a credit to him for what he’s achieved.

“It’s not easy to change … you’ve got to have the will to change and he had the will to change.

“As a result, he really was a dominant player in the competition at SFNL level.”

Former Dingley coach Shane Morwood.

Horton-Milne himself said he was “pretty red-hot” in his early days.

“Very young, very small, not a very mature body, I was a lot smaller than the other players,” he said of his first steps into senior football with the Bulls.

“I tried to compensate that with my aggression at the footy.

“I didn’t have much control over my aggression … I learned to curb that aggression into playing much better football, even off the field it helped me a lot.

“I’ve always been a solid trainer and put in the effort but I can get sidetracked with some things, you learn to focus your energy on what’s important.”

Morwood noted that the dual Meneilly Medalist as best-on-ground in a Southern league Division 1 decider was an “elite” finals performer.

Given Horton-Milne also has two Ellis Medals as the SFNL Division 1 best and fairest to his name, he’s certainly in rare air.

Chris Horton-Milne. Picture: Valeriu Campan

“His home and away performances were really good, but his finals performances have been elite every year,” Morwood said.

“He’s been an amazing player, he’s hard but tough, he’s fair, he’s got great speed, great endurance, his foot skills improved.

“He became not just an in and under player but also an outside player as well, he combined both as part of his development which made him a more dangerous player.

“He’s hitting the scoreboard often and just rounded off his game.

“It gave him the ability to go back to Noble Park in ‘22 and play senior footy. He wasn’t getting an opportunity when he was there and his development at Dingley allowed him to be part of the senior team and one of their key players.

“He’s a great kid … he’s developed as a person which is the thing I’m proud of him for.”

‘Bouncing between’ Dingley and Noble Park may have been constant for Horton-Milne, but each switch has often been followed by premiership glory.

His first year back at Dingley in 2016 resulted in a flag, as did his return to Noble Park in 2022.

Now back at the Dingoes again this season, they are 12-1 and two games clear atop the Southern league ladder heading into the final month of the season.

“Hopefully we can pinch another one,” Horton-Milne said.