SFNL: Lyndhurst endured an agonising final end to 2023 but remains confident in its future

Lyndhurst president Steven Bryan remains optimistic about the club’s future plan despite a heart-breaking end to the season. See why.

Southern league Division 4 footy grand final: Frankston Dolphins v Lyndhurst. Lyndhurst players celebrate their win. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Despite the agonising final result, Lyndhurst president Steven Bryan remains confident his club will reach its five-year strategic plan.

The Lightning drew with Ashwood, 8.12 (60) apiece, on Saturday afternoon.

A win would have pushed the Lightning above the Magpies on percentage and into the Southern league Division 3 finals.

The Lightning led by as many as five goals during the match but were edged out with the penultimate kick of the day.

Bryan remains buoyant on the club’s trajectory, largely due its steady competitiveness this season in spite of 14 post-premiership departures last year.

“I think we learned a lot from the season, moving up from Division 4, we blooded a lot of kids this year which I think is really good for a strong future,” he said.

“On the weekend we had six under-19 kids play, our biggest learning was that we had a good, solid under-19s in place that helped fill the void.

“He (coach Jae Williams) basically said that it wasn’t the result we were after, definitely not after being five goals up, but we have to use the learning and the pain from this year and turn it into energy for next year.”

Lyndhurst lost 14 from its premiership side in the off-season. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Bryan explained the details of Lyndhurst’s five-year plan and how its off-season moves in 2023 will shape its success.

“We want to play in Div 2 inside five years, so we have to get into that position now,” he said.

“The fifth year of the plan is that we are playing off in a granny in Div 3, which means we are pretty much in Div 2 at that stage.

“I think the draw really sums up our year, they (Ashwood) finish fourth, we finish fifth with one game between us.

“Our plan was to move into Div 3 and be competitive club, not go up and then come back down.

“So a little bit of work in the off season around some coaching staff and recruitment and we’re right on track for where we want to be at that point.”

This season was the Lightning’s first season with a Thirds side and is booming with junior and netball grades.