Southern league: South Mornington turns 21, names greatest players

From only four players at its first training session, South Mornington has grown to be a strong and proud club. Now the Tigers have named their champions.

Flashback: South Mornington celebrates its first senior premiership, the 2012 VAFA Division 4 flag.

“Now we are 21 years old we’ve actually got a bit of a base history now,’’ South Mornington stalwart Bobby Wilson said.

Tigers players, officials and supporters — from past and present — gathered on Saturday night to celebrate the club’s 21st birthday.

The club’s founder Don Kemp made a rousing speech, recalling the tough early days in 2001.

Only four players rocked up to the first training.

And it was hard going in that first season; the Tigers took some heavy defeats — until the final game of the season, when, with the final kick of the year, they secured their first victory.

Soon, South Mornington was building a strong culture, fuelled by a close-knit group of mates.

South Mornington’s Michael Clark.

Richie Spencer takes a hanger.

The club’s first premiership came in its inaugural season of seniors footy in 2005, when they won a Southern league reserves flag.

Another flag, this time in the VAFA, came in 2011, in Division 4 reserves.

South Mornington was on a roll.

The Tigers won their first senior premiership in 2012 when they beat Swinburne University by 15 points in the VAFA Division 4 grand final.

This season, South Mornington is on track to return to finals once again, currently sitting in fourth spot on the Southern league Division 4 ladder.

Greg Pullen.

2013: James Dowsett with team mates James Dickson and Tom Noonan.

The Tigers have produced many fine players over the two decades.

Michael Clark was a smart, reliable defender in the first decade and played a starring role in the 2012 flag win.

Rick Sissons was an outstanding player in the early days, Ben Price was captain of the 2012 flag and Sammy Wright and Mick Heib were key players.

Greg Pullen was a crash and bash half forward, who kicked a lot of goals.

Richie Spencer has kicked about 260 goals and is still playing twos.

Wilson has played the most games (195) and kicked the most goals for the club.

South Mornington team of 2002-2011.

South Mornington team of 2012-2021.

South Mornington teams of the decade:

2002-2011: Steve Kemp, Colin O’Brien, James Dowsett, Sam Wright, Michael Clark, Robert Kemp (captain), Kade Woodruff, Scott Smith, Luke Hockey, Rick Sissons (vc), Ben Williams, Grant Ryan, Ben Price, Greg Pullen, Michael Heib, Richie Spencer, Bobby Wilson, Kyle Debernardi. Interchange: Ryan Hines, Bryce Dowling, Sam Wiese, AJ Georgiou. Coach: Alan Quaiffe.

20012-2021: Lee Murdoch, Ryan Willmott, Jason Wilson, Tomas Mitchell, Dan Woods, Jason Bland, Scott Torpy, Reece Tyrell, Ben Price (captain), Rob Kemp (vc), Aaron Davidson, Luke Fitzsimmons, Jordy Waite, Greg Pullen, Nathan Coy, Kyle Debernardi, Ben Hallas, Bobby Wilson. Interchange: Luke Hockey, Kade Woodruff, Nick Kurts, Dylan Bellsmith. Coach: Mark Green.

South Mornington coach Mark Green at quarter time in the 2012 grand final.