SFNL 2025: Division 2 club-by-club season guide

Southern league Division 2 footy is just around the corner. Read the latest key player movement as we run the rule over every club in our full season preview.

The Southern league Division 2 season is upon us.

See how every club is shaping up below.

Caulfield Bears

Coach: Lynden Dunn

Captain: Nick Schumann

Last year: 10-8 (5th)

In: Henry Woodward (Murrumbeena), Liam Corbett (returning), Jude Elcheikh (Sunshine), Nathan Seci (Noble Park), Finn Cashman, Blake Olarenshaw, Luke Shelley

Out: Harrison Cook (Bairnsdale), Tommy Stait (Ormond) Mason Gurucek (Ormond)

Verdict: With former AFL man Lynden Dunn now in his third season at the helm of the Bears, continuation is the focus as the club looks to improve on last season’s fifth place finish and narrow first round finals exit. The core of the playing group has been retained and continuing to embed Dunn’s game-plan will be the focus. Expect to see a well set-up team.

Chelsea Heights

Coach: Nathan Robinson

Captain: Rob Mac

Last year: 2-16 (9th in Division 1)

In: Luke Clark (returning), Josh Stolp (Parkdale), Liam Dix (Cheltenham), Ronan Keating (Cheltenham), Seb Mooney (Cheltenham)

Out: Kaide Robertson (Lyndhurst)

Verdict: Expect them to be one of the teams to beat in Division 2 after double relegation saw them cruelly cut from the top flight despite finishing ninth with two wins. Have added some young players to the mix and should mark a strong case for the Division 2 finals at the very least.

Doveton Doves

Coach: Matt Stapleton

Captain: Harley Primrose

Last year: 14-4 (2nd)

In: Zack Charles (Officer), Justyn Kennewell (East Brighton), Jake Calvert (Woori Yallock), Michael Richardson (Emerald), Jarrod Smith (Nar Nar Goon), Ryan Hall (Rowville), Daniel Zajac (Melton South)

Out: Ricky Johnson (Springvale Districts Deakyn Smith (Thomastown), Sam Muirhead (South Belgrave), Will Smith (Murrumbeena), Dylan Chapman (retired), Matt Clarke (retired)

Verdict: The loss of league medal winner Ricky Johnson to Dingley will no doubt hurt the Doves as they look to back up a strong home and away season that got them to the preliminary final. The Doves have picked up Ryan Hall and Daniel Zajac who have both performed strongly in the Eastern league’s premier division, while key forward Jake Calvert has also looked good across the club’s pair of practice games against strong opposition.

Harley Primrose - Doveton Doves. Picture: Valeriu Campan

East Malvern

Coach: John Brown

Captain: Isaac Morrisby

Last year: 13-5 (runners up)

In: Jack Waldron (Old Geelong), Charlie McGaw (Barooga), Charlie Ingham (Bargooga), Jesse Smith, Angus Cameron (Barooga), Lachie Harris (Barooga), Lachie Stephens (Barooga), Charlie Hamilton (Ajax), Max Sutton (Ocean Grove)

Out: Rob Amendola (De La Salle), George Bacolas

Verdict: Last year’s grand finalists will be tough to beat in their first season under new coach John Brown and are firming as one of the flag fancies. They have added Max Sutton, who has played senior NTFL footy and won back-to-back senior best and fairests at Ocean Grove, where he had been captain, as well as fellow back-to-back senior best and fairest winner Angus Cameron, and another senior best and fairest winner in Charlie Sutton, who has crossed to the Panthers from Ajax in the VAFA. Expect to see them right in the promotion mix.

Isaac Morrisby. Picture: Ash Hill

Endeavour Hills

Coach: Matt Peake

Last year: 7-11 (7th)

In: Josiah Kyle (Berwick), Baron Grant (returning), Sam McLean (returning), Ryan Peters (Waverley Park)

Out: Jordan Benitez (Highett), Jarryd Attard (Lyndale), Jarryd Balfour (Lyndale)

Verdict: Endeavour Hills will be bolstered by the addition of former St Kilda AFL rookie Josiah Kyle as it looks to build in its second season in Division 2. The Falcons will be a better side after picking up some Division 2 experience and could improve.

Josiah Kyle. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Frankston Dolphins

Coach: Jack Birthisel

Captain: Nick Christoforou

Last year: 16-2 (Division 3 premiers)

In: Bailey Smith (Red Hill), Jak Nardino (Seaford)

Out: Nathanael Furlong (retired), Josh Chapman (retired), Josh Francis (retired),

Verdict: The Dolphins are jumping into the unknown as they prepare for a maiden Division 2 campaign off the back of Division 3 dominance. There was a pre-season coaching change, with assistant Jack Birthisel taking the reins from playing coach Taylor Stratton, who has stepped back into an assistant role. Frankston’s goal is simply to compete in every game but if recent history is anything to go by the jump from Division 3 to 2 is one that clubs can adjust to quickly – and even push beyond.

Jak Nardino. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Hampton Park

Coach: Luke Bull

Captain: Liam Myatt

Last year: 11-7 (4th)

In: Luke Bull (Noble Park), Liam Scott (Noble Park), Lionel Benoit, Mason Hawkins (Vermont), Makaio Haywood (Ellinbank), Tom Jewell (Karingal), Mitch Woolgar (Noble Park), Myles Wareham (Gembrook Cockatoo), Blake Pearce

Out: Tanner Stanton (Pakenham)

Verdict: After a fourth-place finish and second week finals exit last season, new coach Luke Bull hopes his side has added enough to go all the way in 2025 despite the loss of dual best and fairest winner Tanner Stanton. In his absence, the Redbacks have added to their midfield stocks while also bringing in some tall timber. Ruckman Mason Hawkins has crossed from Vermont and looks an exciting prospect. With a relatively young list, the future is bright for Hampton Park and they should contend for the flag if they can get the blend of youth right.

Highett

Coach: Clint Einsiedel

Captain: Sam Jackson, Sam Stephens

Last year: 7-11 (6th)

In: Jordan Benitez (Endeavour Hills), Dayton Woodham (Cheltenham), Yael Hoorman (Cheltenham), Josh O’Neill (Dingley), Hamish McKenzie (St Paul’s McKinnon juniors)

Out: Tom McCarthy (Dingley), Jacob Duscher (Dingley), Harry Jenner (Travelling), Macklin Raine (retired)

Verdict: On paper, Highett may have missed finals last season, but they came home with a wet sail after an 0-7 start. Aside from Sam Stephens in the ruck, Highett will boast an entirely new midfield as they look to crack into the top five, although the loss of league medal runner up Jacob Duscher will hurt. They will be youthful too, with five under-19s players set to start in round one.

Keysborough

Coach: Chris Smith

Captain: Tom Anderton

Last year: 6-12 (8th)

In: Jack Harmes (Devon Meadows), Kyden Vella (Dingley), Connor Johnson (Edithvale-Aspendale), Bryce Sutton (returning), Sam Alice, James Alice

Out: Brenton Wells, Copper Balic (Parkdale)

Verdict: Keysborough will be a young outfit this year and have built a game-style to suit younger and quicker players. The club is coming six wins last season after three the year prior, and there’s no reason that the upward trajectory will slow down. Being able to get over the line in close games will be a key aspect to the club taking its next step, while its biggest issue will be its thinner depth which could cause some headaches later in the year.

Mordialloc

Coach: Josh Jewell

Captain: Toby Plant

Last year: 0-18 (10th in Division 1)

In: Luke Barnhoorn (returning), James Keighley (returning), Nathan Evans (returning), Mathew DeBruin (Pakenham), Rex Tippett (Cheltenham), Luke Nunn (Bentleigh), Josh Tempany (returning), Michael Fries (returning), Josh Whelan (Moorabbin Kangaroos), Mason Bailey (Moorabbin Kangaroos), Alex Houghton (returning), Josh Dickerson (Old Brighton), James Davis (Old Brighton), Luke Shannon (Moorabbin Kangaroos), Daniel Aarsman (Moorabbin Kangaroos), Donall Purvis (Belfast Redbacks/West London Wildcats), Ryan Fitzgerald (Old Mentonians)

Out: Nick Grech (Bonbeach)

Verdict: Mordialloc has added 40 new players across the board in its entire senior list as the club sets its sights on bouncing back from a winless Division 1 campaign, which was viewed as a development season with a young squad. The abundance of new faces are hoped to create depth across positions instead of just simply looking to fill gaps. There are positive signs as there were good connection across the practice matches despite the new faces. Will be an interesting case to watch this season and it’s hard to tell where they could end up.