SFNL: South Mornington advances to grand final in both seniors and reserves

South Mornington has advanced through to the Southern league grand final. President Lachlan Bell-Towers tells us what sparked their rise from mid-tier to premiership favourites.

SFNL Division 4: South Mornington v Moorabbin Kangaroos. South Mornington player Travis French. Picture: Valeriu Campan

South Mornington president Lachlan Bell-Towers has attributed fresh voices to his club’s rapid rise this season.

The Tigers won the qualifying final in both the seniors and reserves on Saturday, meaning they are on the cusp of a historic double premiership.

Saturday’s wins over Moorabbin Kangaroos pushes the Tigers’ combined senior and reserve record to 33-1 in 2023.

The Tigers’ seniors bowed out in an elimination final last year and the reserves didn’t make the finals.

They then went in a different direction with its leadership and Bell-Towers believes it’s the catalyst for their imperious year to date.

“There’s been a few changes. We basically changed the whole committee, we decided to go with a bit of youth,” he said.

“In terms of the coaching we got Justin McCleary in as a first-time coach, he’s quite young, and from that it sparked bringing players in.

“Chris Baker, he’s obviously captained Mornington and that brought a few blokes that have played in the MPFNL and once you get a few that have played senior footy, it adds a bit more to your side, a bit more composure on game day.”

Travis French (L) and Anthony Giuliano. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Tigers coach Justin Mccleary. Picture: Valeriu Campan

South Mornington has one senior premiership — saluting back in 2012 — and have a number of reserves premierships, but have never won the double.

The Tigers came close in 2012 but the reserves kicked themselves out of it.

While Bell-Towers admits a pair of premierships would be “massive for the club”, he is aware of how the winners of last year have fared this season compared to the losers and has a plan in place for sustainable success.

“It would be huge in helping us grow and what we’re trying to do,” he said.

“It’s what we want and what we’re building for.

“We’ve consolidated our relationship with the juniors and building that.

“If you can get your juniors to come through, you’re going to have success for a long time – you can’t just constantly try and get blokes in.

“When you have a junior club you have a base that you can always work from.”

The Tigers will play either Moorabbin Kangaroos or Hampton in the seniors and the Roos or Dandenong in the reserves.

The grand final will be held at Heatherton’s Recreation Reserve Saturday, September 9.