SFNL 2025: Division 1 season guide
The highly anticipated Southern league Division 1 season is upon us. See the latest key player movement and our verdict on every club.
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The Southern league season is upon us and Division 1 promises to be a hotly contested affair.
The consensus across the board is that the highest standard of footy the league has ever seen awaits following the addition of Outer East power Narre Warren and plenty of strong off-seasons.
See how every club is shaping up below.
Bentleigh
Coach: Jack Jess
Captain: Callum Dooley
Last year: 5-13 (8th)
In: Campbell Bedford (De La Salle), Mitchell Smart (Warragul), Daniel Smart (Warragul), Caleb Sheahan (Strathfieldsaye), Ashley Di Ciero (Churchill), Lachie Lawrence (Caulfield Grammarians)
Out: Nic Bufalo (De La Salle), Luke Nunn (Mordialloc), Dimitri Fasoulis (Bonbeach)
Verdict: Finals is the aim for Bentleigh this season under new coach Jack Jess. The club is happy with how it has recruited and believes it has added the ‘A-grade’ experience it needs to improve on last year’s eighth-place finish, but a lot would need to go right for the Demons to jump into the top five given the strength of the competition.
Cheltenham
Coach: Justin Pickering
Captain: Jack Worrell
Last year: 17-0 (premiers)
In: Jack Davis (returning), Riley Bonner, Riet Pal (Noble Park)
Out: Josh Lai (Port Adelaide), Rex Tippett (Mordialloc)
Verdict: Incremental improvements across the youthful playing list will be the focus as Cheltenham looks to offset the recruiting gains of its rivals. Having gone into 2024 as the hunted last year and come out on top, there’s no reason the Rosellas can’t do the same and complete a three-peat despite the loss of Josh Lai to Port Adelaide and more players picking up VFL deals.
Cranbourne
Coach: Angelo Soldatos
Captain: Zak Roscoe
Last year: 9-8 (5th)
In: Anthony Fischer (Emerald), Cal Pola (Ferntree Gully), Ben Pola (Emerald), Luke Morrell (Berwick Springs), Adrian Russo (Emerald), Jake Hill (Norwood), Lewis Robbins (Nightcliff), Kyle Lanham (Scottsdale), Damon Krake (Nightcliff), Sam Cooke (George Town)
Out: Tyson Barry (Frankston Bombers), Jordy Bertrand (Langwarrin), Michael Boland (Skye), Paul Delaroche (Nyora)
Verdict: It’s somewhat of a fresh beginning for the Eagles with Angelo Soldatos in his first year as coach and a sizeable amount of list changes. Have added size and leg speed and will look to hurt teams on the turnover. Should be in the mix for finals again but may find themselves dropping out of the top five.
Dingley
Coach: Zach Horsley
Captain: Jackson Peet
Last year: 13-5 (runners up)
In: Chris Horton-Milne (Noble Park), Tom McCarthy (Highett/Richmond VFL), Jacob Duscher (Highett), Jake Mullen (Noble Park), Liam Hard (Woodside), Jack Ferraro (St Bede’s Mentone), Marcus Toussaint (Inverloch-Kongwak), Cam Saultry (St Bede’s Mentone), Mitch Gent (Bonbeach)
Out: Rory Goldsmith (injury), Trent Dennis-Lane (GWS), Reef White (Heatherton)
Verdict: The Dingoes have added more variety to their midfield as they look to go one step further in 2025. Jacob Duscher will make the jump from Division 2 where he ran second in the league medal and took out Highett’s best and fairest, while Chris Horton-Milne has returned from a stint with Noble Park. Came agonisingly close last year, and are one of the favourites to contend for the flag again.
East Brighton
Coach: Nick Jewell
Captain: Kai Love-Linay
Last year: 9-8 (6th)
In: Ben Dessent (Montrose), Tommy Evans, Emile Tait (Bonbeach), Luke Grima (Wantirna South), Kyle Cooper (Chiltern), Tyler Flanigan (Irrewarra-Beeac), Ben Reid (Wangaratta Magpies), Kai Love-Linay (returning from injury), Alex Keath (Western Bulldogs, AFL), Tommy Bracher (Wodonga)
Out: Jordan Grollo (St Kilda City), Jack Rennex (Yea), Kyle Hutchison
Verdict: Former AFL men Ben Reid and Alex Keath headline the Vampires signing spree, two recruits coach Nick Jewell hopes will address what he described as “immaturity” on the ground last season. Two Eastern league team of the year players in Ben Dessent and Luke Grima are also among the recruits. If East Brighton can put it all together on the park and find cohesion, a finals appearance – and possibly deep run – in its second Division 1 campaign since promotion will be on the cards.
Murrumbeena
Coach: Michael Kinsella
Captain: Sam Michael
Last year: 17-1 (Division 2 premiers)
In: Nic Minchin (St Marys), Nathan Scollo (De La Salle), Julian Callahan (Leongatha/Gippsland Power), Harry Boontjes (Oakleigh), Edward Standish (Oakleigh), Will Smith (Doveton), Patrick Bannister (Caulfield Grammarians), Tom Buckley (Ormond), James Corboy (St Kevin’s)
Out: Ben Humphrey (retired), Darcy Hargraves (travelling), Wade Lees (East Sunbury), Henry Woodward (Caulfield Bears), Todd Elton (East Sunbury), Jack Pasara (Clayton)
Verdict: The Lions are aware that jumping straight into Division 1 contention is no easy feat, and as long as they finish ninth or higher this season gets a tick. That being said, there is also an internal belief that the club’s list is flying under the radar. Could they cause some upsets this season?
Narre Warren
Coach: Steven Kidd
Last year: 17-1 (Outer East premiers)
In: Jett Kearney (Berwick Springs), Jake Richardson (returning), Bailey Mayworm (Hampton Park)
Out: Jordan Butera (Cora Lynn), Matt Butera (Cora Lynn), Brad Scalzo (retired)
Verdict: The Magpies have finals on their mind and given Cranbourne went all the way in its Southern debut, there’s no reason Narre Warren can’t have a similar impact. Overall, the Magpies haven’t gone through too many list changes as its young group matures. Will be buoyed by the return of boom goal-kicker Jake Richardson after he spent a year abroad. He’s kicked 10 goals across the club’s two practice games. Narre Warren hopes its strong under-19s program – with two teams – will hold it in good stead.
Port Melbourne Colts
Coach: Justin Taylor
Captain: Justin Taylor
Last year: 8-10 (7th)
In: Robbie McComb (Port Melbourne VFL), Ethan Williams (returning from GWS), Max Collier (Calder Cannons), Aris Moustakas (Sandringham Dragons), Tyler Bell (St Albans), Dylan Ward (Kilcoo GAC), Tom Smith (Surfers Paradise), Rory Lehmann (Coorong Cats)
Out: Tom Bellchambers, Steven Brewer (Broadbeach), Josh Caddy (St Arnaud)
Verdict: The Colts have undergone a major list turnover to rejuvenate a squad that had been on the older side. Lots of promising young players have joined the club in the off-season, while Dane Swan is technically an out as he embarks on his local footy tour, but there is still hope within the club that he will land at the Colts in the backend of the season again. Port Melbourne defeated Albion in a practice match after the same club gave them a “touch up” in the corresponding fixture last year – which bodes as a sign of improvement. They were a touch off the pace in 2024 but showed promise in a strong run home with wins over Dingley and St Paul’s McKinnon. Player-coach Justin Taylor didn’t expect the off-season turnover to be so dramatic, but in the end he said it was probably a good thing to “pull the bandaid off” in one swoop. A return to finals is the aim and they are in the hunt.
Springvale Districts
Coach: Kris Thompson
Captain: Jackson Sketcher, Mason Russell
Last year: 10-8 (4th)
In: Ricky Johnson (Doveton), Jackson Sketcher (Noble Park), Jack Beech (Noble Park), Kyle Martin (Noble Park), Peter Heng (returning), Xavier Kinder (Drouin), Matt Tyquin (Inverleigh), Liam Heasley (Heyfield)
Out: Toby Arms (Edithvale-Aspendale), John Walker (Edithvale-Aspendale)
Verdict: After back-to-back elimination final exits Springvale Districts are hoping to push deeper into the finals this season. You wouldn’t put it past them given in eight years with Kris Thompson at the helm, the club has improved its ladder position every single season. Although Division 1 will be tougher than last year, the club will boast a new-look midfield adding Noble Park stars Kyle Martin and Jackson Sketcher, and well as Division 2 league best and fairest winner Ricky Johnson from Doveton.
St Paul’s McKinnon
Coach: Andy Scott
Captain: Matthew Kreymborg, Jimmy Sziller
Last year: 15-2 (2nd)
In: Stuart Wines (Black Rock), Wade King (Benalla), Jack Cackett (East Keilor), Blake Uebergang (Benalla), Justin Bennett (Bonbeach), Will Dwyer (Shepparton Swans), Will McCartney (Shepparton United), Rhys Kennedy (Ormond)
Out: Sunday Majok Aneet (East Keilor), Kieran Knox (retired)
Verdict: St Paul’s McKinnon enjoyed a strong campaign in 2024 before injuries cruelled their finals runs. The club has recruited well to fill its needs, with tall defensive and inside midfield stocks both strengthened. They have also covered for key retirements by adding some run and dash off half back. Will pride themselves on contested footy this season. Expect them to be a strong contender again.
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