SFNL: What to expect from Matt Davis’ Narre South Saints in 2025

Narre South Saints has a new coach and he will look to a premiership side for inspiration when his young Saints tackle Division 4 of the Southern league in 2025.

Narre South Saints. Picture: FACEBOOK

Southern league Division 4 sides can expect dash and duress from Matt Davis’ Narre South Saints next year.

Davis, who is currently the Saints’ under-19s coach, aims to bring glistening run and overwhelming pressure when he steps into the senior job next year.

“The style I like is a bit like the 2016 Bulldogs: lots of handball, lots of pressure, I just like that run and carry and intense pressure,” Davis said.

“I find if you can get a plan they (the players) can actually see, they take it on board — you’ve got to be fit to do it and that’s why pre-season will be so important.”

While the group he is taking over is unlikely to win a game in 2023, his under-19s are finals bound and will all be bona fide senior players next year.

Davis is rapt to be the club’s next senior coach, saying the “ground zero” starting point will allow the youth to shine.

“I am very excited for the pure fact that we’ve got a really good group of young guys coming up,” he said.

“We’ve got about 27 under-19s that will be coming up and then have an under-17s that will fill our under-19s.

“We’re excited to be in a lower division because we’re starting from ground zero again, to me it’s really exciting.”

Matt Davis.

Davis knows a young and quick group will be challenged in the contest in Division 4 but he is eager to put the Saints through a gruelling pre-season to prepare them.

“Pre-season will be lots of weights and fitness programs,” he said.

“We know we’re a fairly fast side so I think that will help us with some of the slower sides I have seen in Div 4, so fitness is how I will prepare us.

“Last year we had six or seven guys play senior games but this year we decided to develop them together (in under-19s).

“It’s probably the best thing we’ve done because for instance my young bloke played 26 games across 19s and seniors last year.

“This year we made a conscious decision to build the side, build the enthusiasm and now they’re all coming up.”

Narre South Saints run out for its match against Black Rock this year. Picture: FACEBOOK

Davis’ energy and enthusiasm about the Saints in 2025 is obvious in his message.

He says it stems from the next wave of talent being ready to take the club forward.

“I know we have a good group of core senior players that are really developing our younger players coming up – I just see that we’ve got a mix of talent there,” he said.

“We had a practice match last night at training and to see the senior guys helping the under-19s was exciting.

“I am excited about it, that’s for sure.”