Southern league: Cranbourne makes smooth transition

With the Eagles perched on top of the SFNL Division 1 ladder, coach Steve O’Brien names his side’s leading performers and identifies the teams to beat for the flag.

Cranbourne’s in-form midfielder Jake Carosella. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Cranbourne is loving life in Southern Football Netball League.

The Eagles have soared to top spot in Division 1 with an 8-1 record at the halfway mark of the season, poised to snatch what would be a fairytale premiership after crossing from AFL Outer East in the off season.

And they’ve done it despite a nightmarish run of injuries to key players.

Reigning best and fairest winner Jarryd Barker ruptured his ACL in the last 10 seconds of the final practice match in March.

In the same game, leadership group member Jake Cowburn broke his foot.

Cranny’s jinx continued in the opening game of the season when young gun Mitch Tharle suffered a serious knee injury and also broke his leg.

There was more pain when Matty Alister fractured his cheekbone in the first game.

At that point, Cranbourne coach Steve O’Brien feared a long season ahead.

“We had about eight breaks in those two games,’’ he said.

“We thought what are we in for here? But we’ve stuck fat, put a lot of time into our kids and it’s been working for us.’’

Cranbourne coach Steve O’Brien.

Cranbourne was quick out of the blocks, winning its first five games, and its scalps include the highly rated St Paul’s McKinnon, St Kilda City and Dingley.

Its only loss was to Des Ryan’s Cheltenham, a side that impressed O’Brien and his Eagles.

“They had a fantastic plan against us so they’re clearly one of the top sides,’’ O’Brien said of the Rosellas.

The league had presented new challenges and a fresh start, according O’Brien.

He says Division 1 is a testing competition.

Luke Bee-Hugo.

“All the sides are pretty well coached I have to say,’’ he said.

“So to be 8-1, we’re stoked, we’re really happy with it.

“We had a great battle with Dingley.

“To be fair to St Kilda City we got them on a day when they had a lot of their key players out and we were able to cash in, so we’ve still got a lot of respect for them.

“And even Port (Melbourne) Colts, they’ve had their injury woes, but the game we played against them last week was just a ripping game of footy, it was a really good standard.

“And then there’s St. Paul’s McKinnon, we got them in round two and we had a comfortable win but then they haven’t lost a game since. So they’re probably a bit of an unknown to us to be honest.’’

O’Brien said Cranbourne’s young players had blossomed in the new competition.

Luca Bellinvia is one who is really starting to find his way in senior footy.

“He’s played senior footy for a couple of years,’’ O’Brien said.

“We threw him around a bit in his first few years but we’ve settled him down this year and he’s been rewarding us, he’s starting to show some really good signs. We think he’s a good talent.

Another exciting talent is 17-year-old forward Tyson Barry, who has booted 18 goals in nine games in his first season of senior footy.

“He’s popping up each week and hitting the scoreboard,’’ O’Brien said.

“There’s nothing of him, he’s tiny, we thought yesterday we’d have to put a weight belt on him so he didn’t get blown away. He just keeps popping up. He’s a really good talent.’’

And then there’s Cranbourne’s established stars. They just keep getting it done.

Cranbourne full forward Marc Holt.

Marc Holt leads the competition goal kicking with 38, including a haul of seven against second-placed Cheltenham.

The Eagles’ backline has been rock solid, with Bailey Buntine “going to a new level this year’’, according to O’Brien, and captain Brandon Osborne setting high standards.

Kirk Dickson has had a great year.

Cranbourne’s midfield has been led by Zak Roscoe and Jake Carosella, both playing excellent footy.

O’Brien said Cranbourne’s loyal supporters had embraced the switch to Southern league, attending home and away games in good numbers.

“We’ve had good support and we’ve had really good support for our away games,’’ O’Brien said.

“Most clubs have commented after the games that we’ve got really good travelling support.’’

O’Brien said the travel hasn’t been an issue.

“We haven’t found it too bad,’’ he said.

“In Outer East we were travelling up to Woori Yallock and Healesville so in terms of kilometres it’s not too much different.

“Port (Melbourne) Colts is our furtherest away game…it might be a bit further but it’s a heck of a lot easier driving particularly coming home in the middle of winter at night time as opposed to coming down the hills when it’s pitch black.’’

O’Brien has put together a mid-season review, highlighting areas his side can improve in.

“We’ve been able to identify a few areas where we have to get better at if we want to be there when the whips are cracking,’’ he said.

Southern league has a break over the Queen’s Birthday weekend. Cranbourne hosts Springvale Districts when play resumes on Saturday, June 18.