Southern league: Julian Belfrage appointed senior coach of South Yarra

The Lions’ captain will have far greater responsibility in the 2022 season in the Southern league.

Julian Belfrage playing for South Yarra in the 2019 Division 4 grand final.

South Yarra’s captain is also its new senior coach.

The Lions have appointed Julian “Sauce’’ Belfrage to take over from Brenton Lockhart, who stood down because of his work demands.

Belfrage is a former Big V basketballer and has taken great strides as a player since joining South Yarra almost a decade ago.

In 2019 the ruckman played in the club’s Division 4 premiership, shared the league medal and was runner-up in the best and fairest.

This year, his first as skipper, he was in the Division 3 team of the year.

Julian Belfrage (right) in a ruck contest.

The Lions were 2-9 when Covid forced the season to be called off.

Belfrage said his coaching would emphasise “getting lots out of training by simulating game situations … being pushed to reach a higher level at every opportunity … lots of actionable feedback for the less developed players’’.

“Coming from a basketball background – where we did a lot of intense competitive game situation simulation at training – tempers would flare, you’d see sparks, coming from that desire to win. Testing limits. Expect a bit more of that,’’ he said.

Rich and Andy Mather join Frankston Dolphins

The Frankstonhave nabbed not one Mathers, but two.

A couple of weeks after locking in Rich Mathers, 30, as their new senior coach, the Dolphins have secured his brother Andy, 28, in a recruiting move that surprised their opponents in Division 4 of Southern.

Andy Mathers has played with much distinction at higher levels of football and can be expected to dominate the competition.

And the best part of it is that the Mathers were Frankston Dolphins juniors and are returning to Overport Park as one-point players.

Such a scenario was behind the club’s formation as a senior entity three years ago.

“That emotional connection was so important for me and Andy,’’ Rich Mathers said this afternoon.

“We spent eight, nine, 10 years of our childhood at the footy club and for them to be able to establish a senior footy side in 2018 … we went to the presentation nights back then and wanted to see how it was going to be put together, and we’ve kept an eye on it in the last four years … and to now have the opportunity to return in an official capacity is exciting.’’

He said it would be a priority for the Dolphins to regain other former juniors playing senior football at other clubs.

Andy Mathers was the senior best and fairest at MPNFL club Karingal in 2018 and was runner-up in 2019.

He also captained the Bulls.

Mathers will serve as the assistant coach to his brother.

“Andy is a hard running inside mid (who) can go forward and score, and with a wealth of finals experience and a strong desire to achieve the ultimate success in football, will provide fantastic leadership for our young group of players both on and off the field as we look to the future,’’ the Dolphins said.

“We welcome Andy and his family back to the Pod in what is a sensational signing for the club and can’t wait to see him back in a Dolphins jumper.’’

Rich Mathers played senior football at Old Haileybury, Mt Waverley and Karingal, and this year served as a playing assistant coach at Thorpedale in the Mid Gippsland league.

In 11 matches he was named in the best seven times.

He’ll be a playing coach for the Dolphins.

“Rich is an experienced leader who is passionate about the Frankston Dolphins FNC and what we are building at the club, and impressed the selection panel with his attributes and what he brings to the club and the senior coaching role,’’ the club said.

The Dolphins sought a transfer to the MPNFL, starting in 2023, but their application was rejected and they are staying in Southern.

Liam Wilson appointed senior coach of Murrumbeena

Liam Wilson could be given a 10 out of 10 for his start in coaching.

The former St Paul’s champion steered Dingley’s reserves team this year and it won all 10 of its games and finished with a percentage of 602.97.

In other words, it was more highways than streets ahead of its opposition.

“It was the best twos team I’ve ever seen,’’ Wilson said this morning.

“We were quite dominant … it was a little bit too easy. I’m the sort of guy who needs a bit more of a challenge.’’

He’s got it: Wilson, 39, has returned to Murrumbeena as the non-playing senior coach.

The proud and historic Lions tumbled down the Division 2 ladder this year after losing most of their senior players.

The Southern league has made no decision on gradings for next year but the Lions are hopeful they can stay in second division and resume their place in the top rungs.

They’re already regained Jake Semmel, James Shirley and Michael Kinsella for 2022.

Kinsella will serve as an assistant to Wilson.

“I’ve got no doubt we’re going to be a lot stronger than what they were this year,’’ Wilson said.

“Things are looking up. It’s very positive.’’

Liam Wilson in his prime at St Paul’s.

Wilson counts as one of the best players in the Southern league in the past 20 years, having played in the St Paul’s 2011 and ’13 premierships and won two league best and fairests with the Doggies.

At the end of his career he had two seasons with the Beena, playing a superb game in the preliminary final to lead them into the 2017 Division 2 grand final.

“Definitely not,’’ he said when asked if he always intended to make the move from playing to coaching.

“I wasn’t too keen on coaching to begin with. But I moved to Dingley and they asked me to coach the reserves.

“Since I got a taste of it I’ve become more eager to do it. And when I found out Murrumbeena had their job open I thought I’d go for it. It’s a great challenge to help rebuild the club and get them back to where they were.’’

He said he gained a good grounding at Dingley under Danny Ades.

Wilson said he enjoyed his two seasons at Murrumbeena immensely and wished he’d gone to the Beena Arena earlier.

“It brought the joy back to my footy,’’ he said.

“I absolutely loved it. We won 11 straight that year (in 2017) to make the finals and get to the grand final. It was one of my favourite years. Had so much fun, and I want to make sure we have some fun next year. It wouldn’t have been too much fun this year. We’ve got to create that good vibe around the place.’’

Wilson replaces James Ray, the former Northern Knights assistant who stepped in when Justin Wenke took a position at Wesley College and moved on after only a few weeks with the Beena.

Although they failed to win a game, the Lions showed encouraging improvement under Ray.

Wilson joins Heatherton’s Matt Shorey as a newcomer to Southern league coaching ranks.

SOUTHERN LEAGUE COACHING REAPPOINTMENTS

* The terms have been settled and Des Ryan has been appointed for his sixth season as senior coach of Cheltenham.

“It’s actually four seasons and change,’’ Ryan said with a laugh, referring to 2020 being abandoned and 2021 being cut short.

The former Richmond defender and Frankston VFL captain landed at Chelt in 2016.

Three years later the Rosellas played off in the grand final against Dingley, going in as favourites but falling by 12 points.

They’re being made to wait for the chance to make it right.

“We’ve just got to finish what we started,’’ Ryan said.

“I spoke to a few of the boys about it and we all agreed we’d started a journey and we haven’t made it to the end yet, so we’ll saddle up again. It’s a very good club and I’m happy with the progress we’ve made in my time there.’’

The Rosellas were second on the ladder, one game behind Dingley, when the season was called off.

Ryan said he was pleased with how his team was playing “but the unknown is the unknown’’.

“We were happy with how we were going but who knows how it would have played out (in the finals).

“Pretty disappointing for everyone how it all finished up, but we’ve all got to stay positive.’’

Des Ryan in the huddle at Cheltenham.

Ryan said he was confident he would keep the playing list intact for 2022.

His former Richmond teammate Justin Pickering is also staying on as assistant coach.

Dingley has also reappointed its senior coach, extending Danny Ades’ tenure for another two years.

The star big man took over from Shane Morwood at the end of 2019 but has yet to coach out a season.

“Danny has demonstrated in his first two seasons that he is a coach on the rise,’’ the club said.

“Danny lives and breathes footy and loves the strategy behind the current game. Danny is committed to improving the current playing list and is already looking forward to touching base with the entire playing group as we now set our sights on next season.’’

A number of other clubs has also made reappointments.

Brendon Moore has put pen to paper for a third year at Mordialloc in Division 1, and Matty Hoy (St Kilda City), Graeme Yeats (Port Melbourne Colts), Jason Heffernan (St Pauls) and Peter Pirera (Bentleigh) are going on.

Division 2 contender Caulfield has locked in legendary local footballer Chris O’Keefe, but the 40-year-old is unsure if he will play on. O’Keefe joined the Bears in 2019 and they’ve made excellent improvement under his watch.

Andrew Kahofer is going on at East Brighton after overseeing the Vampires’ rousing resurgence this year, when they rose to second.

Nathan Wilson, who steered Hampton Park to fifth in its first year in Division 2, has been given the nod for 2022.

And Kris Thompson will lead Springvale Districts in their return to Division 1, with a squad bolstered by the signing of former AFL forward Tyrone Vickery.

Division 3 club Ashwood has installed the impressive Nick Morrey for another season.

The Magpies said Morrey had done a “fantastic job so far in very frustrating circumstances, with Covid-19 having such an impact on local footy’’.

“Nick has made a big impact on our football program through his endless time and attention to detail in training and preparation for match day,’’ the club said.

“He has galvanised this new group of Ashwood players into a team that are willing to learn and are working hard to improve together.

“We look forward to the 2022 season, and we go into next year with high expectations of a successful season for our club.’’

Ryan Handley is staying on at Division 3 minor premier Black Rock.

The Jets said Handley was “high energy, models the standards and commitment that he expects of others, shows interest and cares for every one at the club’’.

“Above all else though, he makes playing footy fun,’’ the club said.

Josh Jones on the burst for Doveton Eagles.

Endeavour Hills has extended Matt Peake’s deal for another two years, saying it was “genuinely excited about what he’s started to build around the place with the emphasis being on strong values and culture on and off the field’’.

“This will ultimately provide the Falcons with sustained success in the future,’’ the club said.

Josh Johns, who at the age of 22 stepped up as senior coach of Doveton Eagles, remains at Power Rd Reserve as captain-coach.

His father, David Johns, will assist him.

Division 4 club Dandenong is going again with Mick Lawrence, who stepped in as caretaker a few games into the season.

And the Redlegs have installed John Blackburn as the senior assistant.

Blackburn played in the Richmond Under 19s and former Oakleigh in the VFA, and coached Springvale Districts and Canterbury.

He is the father of AFLW star Ellie Blackburn.

“His years of experience and cool head will assist our young team tremendously and we are thrilled to have John involved in our club,’’ Dandenong said.

Lyndale coach Christian Egan.

Also in Division 4, Lyndale has reappointed Christian Egan.

“The work that Chrisso has put in since his appointment in late 2019 has been phenomenal, leading the club throughout 2 seasons that have been severely disrupted by this pandemic,’’ the Pumas said.