Southern league: Michael Cardamone to coach Doveton in kick-off season

Doveton is out to kick off in the Southern league with a bang under new coach, Eastern league stalwart Michael Cardamone.

New Doveton senior coach Michael Cardamone isn’t trying to downplay the club’s ambition for its first season in the Southern league in 2022.

The Doves will start in Division 2.

And they want to play in the finals and be in premiership contention.

That’s in line with their aim to quickly establish themselves as a first division club.

“I’m not going to sugar-coat anything,’’ Cardamone, 35, was saying this morning.

“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.’’

Taking over from club great Daniel Charles, Cardamone will serve as a playing coach, entrusting Doveton director of football Marty Stillman to run the bench.

New Doveton coach Michael Cardamone (right) with director of football Marty Stillman.

Cardamone – the managing director of Icon Sports Melbourne – played under Stillman at Forest Hill, one of the five clubs he’s played for in Eastern.

He started at Blackburn in Division 1 and in the following years had stops at The Basin, Forest Hill, Croydon and Coldstream, as well as Aquinas in the VAFA.

Cardamone has kicked more than 600 goals and played almost 300 games of senior football.

Doveton is his second senior coaching position.

He was playing coach of Coldstream in 2017 and took it on a memorable ride, lifting it from a three-win 2016 to a preliminary final, the first time in 21 years it had seen in September. The reserves also made it through.

Family commitments prompted him to stand down after only one season.

He figured in the Aquinas flag in 2019 and this year returned to Eastern to serve as an assistant to Jussie Stanton at The Basin.

Cardamone said it would be exciting to lead the Doves into Southern.

He said it was the right move for the club in the long-term.

“Being part of that fresh start got me a little bit excited,’’ he said.

“I don’t know anyone. It’s a clean slate for the whole list.’’

Michael Cardamone when he was unveiled as coach of Coldstream.

Doveton was promoted to AFL Outer East Premier this year after winning the Division 1 premiership in 2019.

It was 1-7 when Covid killed off the season.

“I think they’ve got a really good young list,’’ Cardamone said.

“They won a flag in 2019. Obviously 2020 was a bit of a shambles for everyone in and then in 2021 they might have taken AFL Outer Premier lightly or they might have had injuries or didn’t recruit as well as they could do.

“But there’s a lot of talent at the club.’’

The Doves have already signed 59 players, 40 of whom have played senior football, and are working on up to 10 recruits.

Cardamone said successful clubs invariably had the senior and reserves teams challenging for the finals.

He said depth was vital.

“I was playing with my magnets before and I’ve got 40 names on my board for the ones side already and it’s only October 14,’’ he said.

The Doves said the coaching subcommittee was “unanimous that Michael was the candidate whose presentation exceeded all our prerequisites regarding club culture, match day tactics, community and club values, leadership, and player development’’.

“Michael is extremely enthusiastic to get to work and lead our club on its future journey, with an eye to the development of the young players on the clubs list and to provide the best football environment at the club to ensure all players can reach their maximum potential.’’

DOVETON 2021 SIGNINGS SO FAR

Anddrew McDonald

Chad McDonald

Sam Muirhead

Trent McMahon

Michael Cardamone

Austin Deneys

Josh Viney

Matthew Stapleton

Tyson Bellinger

Max Sheppard

Shannon Henwood

Matthew Merrilees (U19)

Harley Primrose

James Gascard

Matthew Jameson

Ricky Johnson

Andrew Parker

Dylan Bayley

Luke Daidone

Daniel Zajac

Brian Plapp

Kai Suparta (U19)

Jake Basa

Dylan Bowman

Riley Tyler

Mitchell Pierce

Sam Ellis

Jamie Tapner

Garry Brown

Matthew Parker

Caleb Dornan

Deekon Stapleton (U19)

Bei Nieinkel

Chris George

Patrick Henwood

Shaun Semmens

Lachlan Chisholm

Brodie McKenzie

Darryl Thomas

Sukhwinder Singh

Daniel Lake

Hayden Waters

Keanan Preece

Callum Hall

Hezekiah Nannup

Joziaih Nannup (U19)

Dominic Branca (U19)

Tyson Heard (U19)

Quinn Spencer (U19)

Trent Simpson (U19)

Tom Stevens (U19)

Harrasen Stapleton

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