Southern league: Club-by-club preview of the 2022 Division 2 season

Ex-Melbourne player Luke Tapscott headlines an impressive list of recruits to Division 2 of the SFNL. Here is a guide to how the clubs shape up for 2022.

Luke Tapscott takes a kick for Melbourne in the AFL. He’s lining up for the Chelsea Heights Demons this year.

After two seasons killed off by Covid, Southern league Division 2 clubs return to the field on Saturday, hopeful a full year of football is ahead of them.

Doveton will make its SFNL debut, meeting Hampton Park, and Highett, down from the top grade, welcomes Heatherton.

Here’s a club-by-club look at the prospects of each of the nine teams.

Caulfield top-liner Jacob Buggy gets away a handball.

CAULFIELD

Coach: Chris O’Keeffe

Last year: 9-3

In: Dean Heta (Ovens and Murray FL), Lachie Tanner (Eastern FL), Chris Lewis (Tallangatta and Districts FL), Ryan McDonough (VAFA), Nick Schumann (West Gippsland FNL)

Out: Mitchell Potts, Fred Jenkins, Cameron Vincent, Jared Worsteling

Bottom line: The Bears were one of the sides that looked best equipped to challenge Springvale Districts for the premiership last season and they appear to have topped up with some good players. Dean Heta is a well-performed ruckman and key position player and should have a big impact in the SFNL. Ditto for hard-running, fit wingman Lachie Tanner, who had a stint with GWS in the NEAFL and then with Albion in the Western Region. Left-footer Ryan McDonough is a key forward with good hands and “cannon of a leg’’. And Nick Schumann, fit and energetic, has played a lot of senior football at Tooradin-Dalmore. The Bears lost Jared Worsteling and Fred Jenkins, both good performers last season. But with topliners Chris Smith (50 goals from 12 games), Jake Buggy and coach Chris O’Keefe and Adam Ballard and host of established senior players going on, Caulfield is set to give the premiership a nudge.

Aaron French laying a tackle for Clarence in Tasmania.

CHELSEA HEIGHTS

Coach: Josh Bull

Last year: 5-7

In: Luke Tapscott (Sorrento), Aaron French (Woodend Hesket), Nathan Herrington (Toora), Ryan Odell (Mornington), Nick Lee (Bonbeach), Shaun Chaseling (East Malvern), Lochlan Davies (Parkdale Vultures), Max Pretty (VAFA)

Out: Tim Brook, Luke Hayes

Bottom line: The recruit of the season for the Demons, landing former Melbourne player and Sorrento coach Luke Tapscott, coach Josh Bull’s next-door neighbour. The simplest thing to say is that he ought to dominate Division 2. The Heights have made other gains too. Former Tasmanian Aaron French, a midfielder with an immaculate kick, played some good Division 1 football for East Malvern; premiership player and former co-captain Nathan Herrington returns from a stint in country ranks; Mornington midfielder and forward Ryan Odell joins his brother Jesse at the Demons; and opportunist small forward Shaun Chaseling played every senior game at East Malvern last year. Then there are talls Lochlan Davies, a defender, and Max Pretty, a ruckman and forward. Add those names to the likes of Gary Carpenter, Jordan Peryman, Rob Macpherson and Nathan Robinson, and the Heights are entitled to be aiming high this season.

Michael Cardamone enjoying premiership success with Aquinas in 2019. He hopes to do the same at Doveton this year.

DOVETON

Coach: Michael Cardamone

Last year: 1-7 in AFL Outer East Premier

In: Michael Cardamone (The Basin), Dylan Chapman (ROC), Jake Ingaliso (ROC), Ash Brown (ROC), Lavier Qerim (Narre South saints), Trav Woodfield (Cora Lynn), Jacob Dyer (Carisbrook), Brodie Howie (Berwick Springs), Yianni Billias (Oakleigh District), George Billias (Oakleigh District), Harry Seymour (Oakleigh District), Harley Burmeister (Koondrook/Barham), Jack Muirhead (Longwarry Crows), Cameron Williamson (Hampton Park), Michael McLean (Hampton Park), Jarrod Thompson (Scoresby), Charlie O’Neil (Cairns City Lions), William Mauger (Narre North Foxes)

Out: Jake Mullen, Mark Seedsman, Jarrod Smith, Tristan Warkuss, Stuart Johnson, Dylan Savannah, Max Stevens, Michael Henry, Steve Henwood

Bottom line: It’s the first season in the Southern league for Doveton, a proud and successful club that was a mainstay of the old South West Gippsland league. Its transfer from the AFL Outer East, where it battled last year, brings a resumption of rivalries with Keysborough, Hampton Park and Chelsea Heights. The Doves go into a new competition with a new playing coach in Michael Cardamone, a decorated player in the Eastern league. Soon after his appointment he declared the Doves were out to hit the ground running. “I’m not going to sugar-coat anything,’’ he said. “I’m there to get success. Dropping back a standard or two from AFL Outer East Premier, there’s no doubt I’m looking at playing finals and once you’re in finals you’re there to win it, aren’t you? Our goal as a club is to be a premier side in Southern and hopefully this is a 12-month transition in second division. We’ll do everything possible to get to the top flight.’’ Of the recruits, football manager Marty Stillman ticked off 10 as being in Doveton’s best 22. One shrewd Southern watcher who took in a Doveton practice match declared the Doves to be in good order. He expects them to take a lot of beating.

The seasoned Daniel Campisano (right), playing here for Dingley, is a now a Vampire.

EAST BRIGHTON

Coach: Andrew Kahofer

Last year: 9-3

In: Tom Backman (MPNFL), Daniel Campisano (Hampton), Darcy Chelliw (Ovens and Murray FL), Jake Lever (VAFA), Alex Dalbosco (Ovens and King FL), Declan Joyce-Lawford (Ovens and Murray FL), Oliver Willett (Essendon District FL), Jack Ryan (Essendon District FL), Max Stevens (Ovens and King FL), Wayland Wales (Ovens and Murray FL), Alexander Dalbosco (Ovens and King FL), Harry Allan (Ovens and Murray FL)

Out: Ryan Stringer, Shaun James, Clint Johnston, Liam Reidy

Bottom line: The Vampires jumped out of the ground last year, impressing with their free-flowing style and ability to score quickly and from multiple sources. They’ve added some good types, including experienced pair Dan Campisano and Tom Backman, midfielder Jake Lever from Oakleigh Krushers and key position player Harry Allan from Wangaratta Magpies. Keep an eye on Wayland Wales, a speedy onballer and forward from Myrtleford. Then there’s skilled midfielder Darcy Chellew, from Myrtleford. Essendon Premier Cricket First XI player Oliver Willett is also at Hurlingham Park. The Vampires will feel the departures of captain Shaun James and goalkicker Clint Johnston. But overall they’ve improved their depth, they’ve further refined their style and they should keep making progress under canny coach Andrew Kahofer.

Ryan Hillard at Berwick.

HAMPTON PARK

Coach: Nathan Wilson

Last year: 8-4

In: Trent Thomas (Berwick), Jye King (East Keilor), Ryan Hillard (Garfield), Trent Downe (Narre Warren), Jesse Naylor (Narre Warren), Cam Bowman (Doveton)

Out: Russell Gabriel, Taylor Rainey, Zac Hogton

Bottom line: Promoted after the 2019 Division 3 premiership, the Redbacks handled the rise to Division 2 last year, winning two-thirds of their games despite being clipped by injuries. Big-name signing Russ Gabriel played only five games, which lessens the impact of his return to Pines. The Redbacks have picked up a top-liner in Berwick forward Trent Thomas, who was on the books at Sandringham in the VFL, and Garfield onballer Ryan Hillard is expected to be held up as one of the division’s best on-ballers. The Berwick premiership player will make a delayed start to the season after injuring a knee in a practice match. Jye King, a leading player at East Keilor, is a top addition as a ruckman and key forward. Importantly for Hampton Park, it’s had an influx of young players from AFL Outer East, headed by Trent Downe and Jesse Naylor. The Redbacks look more than good enough to push into the top four.

Matt Shorey coaching Hampton Park. Picture: Chris Eastman

HEATHERTON

Coach: Matt Shorey

Last year: 2-10

In: Nick Murray (Nilma Darnum), Adam Moro (Bonbeach), Cam Dalton (Keysborough), Josh Clark-Henry (Hampton Hammers), Andrew Watson (Hallam)

Out: Dan Gormley, Grant Masterson, Sam Merryweather

Bottom line: A new coach for the Tunners in former Hampton Park star and senior coach Matt Shorey, who is coming off a four-year stop at Nilma Darnum in the Ellinbank and District league. He had previously steered Kooweerup to a grand final. Shorey brought with him Nilma Darnum captain Nick Murray, an experienced leader who will line up at centre half back. And Shorey has fingers crossed he’ll also pick up a seasoned player who enjoyed premiership success at Dingley. Shorey regards 2022 as a year of consolidation for Heatherton. “I’m not going to say anything about finals. We all go for finals. No matter what we say, we all want to play finals,’’ he said. “This team is in a bit of building stage. We want to see what we’ve got. The first five rounds are going to be a good gauge. We’re probably playing the top five sides. Looking forward to the challenge.’’

Luke Barnhoorn has joined Highett.

HIGHETT

Coach: Brad Berry

Last year: 1-11 in Division 1

In: Will Barron (VAFA), Blake Renfrey (AFL Outer East), Alex Maylor (AFL Outer East), Mitch Marnell (Northern FNL), Bailey Retzlaff (AFL Outer East), Luke Barnhoorn (Mordialloc), Michael Barnhoorn (Mordialloc), Jacob Cooper (North Gippsland FNL), Michael Hargood (St Paul’s East Bentleigh)

Out: Dylan Atkins

Bottom line: coach Brad Berry is regarding 2022 as a chance for the Bulldogs to put in place the blocks for long-term success, tapping into young talent. “It’s not a re-set. It’s a fantastic opportunity to set the club up as a Division 1 powerhouse, looking at the benchmark like a Dingley or a Cheltenham … get the junior program in place, get our Under 19s up and going,’’ he said. Highett has made a number of fine signings, most notably midfielder Will Barron, a former St Kevin’s APS captain, from St Bede’s Mentone Tigers. He’s cousins with the Barnhoorn brothers, former Sandringham Zebra Luke and Mordialloc premiership player Michael, who will bring leadership to a young list. The newcomers will blend in with familiar SFNL names such as Sam Jackson, Mitch Hoare and Jacob Duscher and last year’s cracking country recruit, Will Bodman. Daniel Booth, Highett since Auskick, is the new president and leads a 17-person committee. Berry meanwhile should lead the Bulldogs to great success this year.

KEYSBOROUGH

Coach: Chris Smith

Last year: 9-3

In: Matt Shaw (Mornington Peninsula Nepean FL), Jimmy Herbert (Mornington Peninsula Nepean FL), Mark Di Blasio (Mornington Peninsula Nepean FL), Mitchell Jenkins (AFL Outer East), Matthew Jenkins (AFL Outer East), Max Little (Lyndale), Nick Beer (Eastern FNL), Ethan Bakes (South Metro JFL), Cooper Balic (VAFA)

Out: Simon Marchese, Dion Elefantis, Cameron Dalton, Adam Machnikowski

Bottom line: Keysborough has been in top rungs of the Division 2 ladder for a while and has recruited well enough to suggest it can see in late September. Midfielder Nick Beer – who was a star with Doveton Eagles and finished fourth in Mulgrave’s best and fairest last year – has joined his brother Matt at Cheltenham Rd and the experienced Matt Shaw, from Seaford, adds another dimension to the forward line. Parkdale Vultures signing Cooper Balic will do his stuff out of defence. The fit Jimmy Herbert can play as a tall defender and on a wing, and Mark Di Blasio as a high half forward. It was a blow for Keysy to farewell two of their best young players in Simon Marchese and Dion Elefantis, but there’s still a lot of quality at Keysy. Think young Mitch Barry, old Ryan Goodes (sorry “Bomber!’’), veteran sharpshooter Matt Carnelly, Geoff Humphreys, Mick Downie, Tom Anderton and Tim Werner. And Chris Smith is a young coach on the rise.

Skye coach Luke Martin.

SKYE

Coach: Luke Martin

Last year: 5-7

In: Jordan Thomas (Tyabb), Dan Laversha (Gembrook), Ash Planner (Tyabb), Aidan Peile (Somerville), Matt Harrison (Somerville)

Out: Tom Heuston, Jake Dunkley, Keenan Hatch, James Holland-Burch

Bottom line: The Bombers are striving to take that next step and play finals after a competitive 2021. They’ve picked up two good midfielders in Jordan Thomas and Dan Laversha, a premiership player and best and fairest with Gembrook. But they haven’t landed the key forward they were after. The hunt goes on. “We’re still working on a couple. We’re not done yet,’’ coach Luke Martin said. Brett Dawson has returned and will be handy in a forward 50 that will also feature skipper James Bateman and Ben Evans. Young Jason Ward is one to watch. “He’s really come along in leaps and bounds … he’s definitely our best young player right here, right now,’’ Martin said. He’s also expecting good things from the long-kicking Jacob Booker. Best and fairest and 2021 team-of-the-year player Jason McConville will be at the heart of every Skye performance. He’s a star of the league.

ROUND 1

Caulfield vs Keysborough

Doveton vs Hampton Park

Highett vs Heatherton

Skye vs East Brighton

Chelsea Heights bye