SFNL: South Yarra coach George Koumantatakis talks 2023 season

Newly appointed South Yarra coach George Koumantatakis has a simple yet proven method in place to improve the club. Here’s how.

It’s a fresh start for South Yarra and its newly appointed coach George Koumantatakis.

After being relegated from the Southern league’s Division 3 last season, the Lions coach is comfortable with where the club is at heading into 2023.

The experienced coach – who cut his teeth in the Victorian Amatuer Football Association – has brought over recruits Aaron Pearson, Julian Belfrage, Ben Murphy and Justin Parillo, as well as a simple yet effective mantra.

“I think it was a bit of a ground zero moment, there was an inward look of where things were done well and where they haven’t been as strong as they could’ve been,” Koumantatakis said.

“I think the Covid period really hit this club harshly and, that reset button… that complete bottom out, has occurred.

“It gave them the opportunity to say: ‘well this is where we’re realistically at’.

“They probably lacked some structures to have the team performing and at the end of the day, they probably didn’t have the squad to compete in Division 3 and that was shown through the results.”

Part of Koumantatakis’ role has been installing belief back into a group that had a tempestuous 2022.

A task he believes is on the improve, driven by the opportunity to “stabilise” results.

“As I have had a chance to meet players and communicate with them directly, I think they’ve been able to understand that it is different to what it was like last year,” he said.

“That word of mouth positivity spreads like wildfire and when people are enjoying something or seeing something meaningful, they want to be a part of it.

“When I addressed the group last week, I mentioned that although being in Division 4 is not where the club wants to be, it does present a unique opportunity to try and stabilise a few things,

“(Being in Division 4) gives us the chance to win a few more games and qualify for finals, which is our first objective, and we will see what happens from there.”

George Koumantatakis signing on as South Yarra coach. Picture: Facebook

With a style based around fitness, pressure and discipline, onlookers can expect a different South Yarra outfit this winter under Koumantatakis.

“I think the ability to run out games is really important,” he said.

“We will be making sure that it’s one of the ticked boxes, our ability to remain in the contest regardless of score line and finish games strongly is paramount – that will be the biggest improvement.

“Our tackling pressure, defence goes a long way to setting up victory, so we will make sure we have really good defensive plans in place.

“We will also be really disciplined, so there won’t be any excuse for the umpires to penalise 50 metre penalties.

“We have some good things set in place at the moment about what is acceptable on and off the field when things aren’t going your way, they’re a few things that will be noticeable changes.”