SFNL: The top performers in Division 2 for 2023
With the Division 2 home and away season run and done, we name our top performers from the year gone by.
Southern
Don't miss out on the headlines from Southern. Followed categories will be added to My News.
There was no shortage of sterling home and away performances in Division 2 of the Southern Football Netball League.
With the regular matches run and done, 2023 has come to an end for half of the competition.
From match-winning performances to regular role playing, here are the best performers of the Division 2 season:
Declan Brunell, Hampton Park
Hailing from Noble Park in the Eastern league last year, Brunell has had a standout year for the Redbacks so far. He’s kicked 30 goals and has been named in the best five times.
Tom Brown, Highett
Brown has had an immense influence on the Bulldogs’ season, kicking 34 goals in just 10 matches to date with multiples in all but two of those games.
Nathan Carver, Hampton Park
Carver has only played 11 matches but has had a profound impact in each of those games. His 28 goals have grossed from just nine matches.
Daniel Campisano, East Brighton
The East Brighton full back has been a force all season and is one of only three Vampires to have played every game.
Dylan Chapman, Doveton
Chapman is rightfully considered one of the better players in the competition and his 2023 showings have done no harm to that reputation. He has a huge role in the Doves’ next four weeks.
Patrick Chin, Caulfield Bears
The prized recruit from Emerald has delivered this season with 38 majors in 16 matches. Chin’s consistency has been terrific, kicking a goal in each of his appearances and multiple in 12.
Blake Cochrane, East Brighton
Cochrane has been listed in the Vampires’ best players the most of anyone this season, which speaks volumes of his internal value to the premiership favourites.
Nick Corp, East Brighton
The herculean forward has had an excellent season, netting 57 goals in 18 matches. He had a goalless fortnight to start July but has kicked 33 majors in six games since.
Brad Doyle, Keysborough
A consistent performer across each of his 17 matches this season. He finished 2023 strongly with a solid outing against Hampton Park on Saturday.
Sean Downie, East Brighton
When he wasn’t kicking goals, he was named in the best, recording either in all but two games this season. The former-Rosebud product will make the team of the year and will poll well in the league medal.
Brady Egan, East Brighton
Finished his superb season with an out-of-the-box goal spree on Saturday, booting 10 goals in a best afield display.
Tyrren Head, East Brighton
Head has missed since July but will be a welcome return come the pointy end of the season. The uber-talented defender was named among the Vampires’ best in five of 12 games.
Kyle Hendy, Hampton Park
A 30-goal home and away season that has included hauls of five and six (twice). Hendy showed his liveliness against contenders, kicking a goal in four of his five games against Murrumbeena, Doveton and Highett.
Shannon Henwood, Doveton
The Doves legend is having yet another marvellous season, featuring in coach Michael Cardamone’s best in 10 of his 17 starts.
Geoffrey Humphreys, Keysborough
Humphreys has played just 14 matches this season but has earned the praises of his coach eight times. Of those eight, he has been listed as best afield four times.
Tom Lamb, East Brighton
Not much can be added about Lamb, his sheer numbers speak for themselves. 65 majors across the season with eight matches of five or more. There was a period where he appeared destined for 100 goals but a team-first mindset held him 35 shy.
Cale Love-Linay, East Brighton
Comes will less frills than other Vampires but is integral in how their season has shaped.
Joel McConville, Skye
McConville was one of Skye’s best this season after a fast start where he collected seven mentions in the best in his first nine games.
Sam Michael, Murrumbeena
The tough yet smooth midfielder is putting up a solid performance each and every week. He averages 30 plus disposals and is in bright touch after being named in the best in both of his last two starts
Isaac Morrisby, East Malvern
Unlucky to not have taken out the league goal kicking award but will be a walk-up start to the team of the year. In fact, with his performances in wins, Morrisby will be a smokey to win the league medal.
Josh Murphy, Highett
Murphy shook off a slow start to the year to have an imperious middle period and a steady finish. He finishes the home and away season with 38 goals and enters the finals in neat form after a season-best of seven on Saturday.
Nathan Peterson, East Malvern
Peterson has been named in the best on 11 of a possible 16 occasions but it’s the opposition he has done it against that earns him a place on this list. Eight of his 11 noteworthy performances have come against top-five sides.
Aaron Pacey, Skye
The Bombers’ playing-coach receives less plaudits than he deserves. He makes this list for his leadership as much as his performances. Skye will likely push its case for finals next year, which is indicative of Pacey’s output.
Tom Rigby, Murrumbeena
A smooth-moving half-back flank that has pieced together a fantastic season. He hasn’t captured the attention of most but plays a big role in the Lions’ second-placed finish.
Ryan Semmel, East Brighton
The experienced midfielder has chimed in with a scattering of top performances across the course of the season. His two best days have come in the past month where he’s kicked four goals to go with a pile of possessions.
Thomas Shaw, Keysborough
Shaw has fought through injury to compile yet another terrific season. He was started at half back before Burras coach Chris Smith put him back where he hurts opposition sides the most – forward of centre.
James Shirley, Murrumbeena
The lockdown defender applies the clamps on his direct opponent every week. Beena coach Liam Wilson suspects he’s conceded less than five goals this season.
Tanner Stanton, Hampton Park
Stanton sits second in the league for the most occasions he has been named in the best with 14. He grabbed eight in a row to start the season and has started his streak again in the past three weeks.
Jordan Thomas, Skye
Thomas has contributed strongly to the Bombers’ past 10 weeks, being named among the best nine times.
Trent Thomas, Hampton Park
The clever forward is saluting to a sensational season with 36 goals from 17 outings. He has kicked at least one goal in 13 games this year and has been among the best in 10 separate instances.
Steve Toolongs, Murrumbeena
The Beena legend was in vintage touch this season with 37 goals from 15 games. He celebrated his 200th game earlier this season but will prefer to celebrate a premiership.
Cameron Williamson, Doveton
Williamson leads the Doves’ goal kicking charts with 33 and has hit the scoreboard in all but two games this season.
Stuart Wines, Black Rock
Wines has stood up in a difficult year for the Jets and is obviously a favourite of coach Ryan Handley as he featured in the best on all but one occasion.
‘Hard to not want a guy like that’: Triple league medallist SFNL bound
A building Southern league club has made an off-season statement with the signature of a three-time league medallist. Here are the details.
Locked in: Southern league power seals stream of recruits
A Southern league premiership side has wasted no time in gearing back up, securing five recruits including a 200cm ruckman straight out of the state league as well as a successful coach as an assistant.