Ins, outs, club comments: The complete SFNL Division 2 preview for season 2024
The race to be Southern league Division 2 top dog is on. Here’s the ins, outs and where every club stands ahead of 2024.
Just days out from the Southern league Division 2 season, there’s a lot left in the unknown.
With East Brighton moving on, who will be the new top dog?
Last season’s runners-up Murrumbeena is hungrier than ever and Doveton will be tough to beat while East Malvern’s emerging crop of youngsters bring excitement.
All teams have had strong pre-seasons and go in with high hopes.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the 2024 season ...
CAULFIELD BEARS
LAST YEAR: Eighth — 6-12
COACH: Lynden Dunn (second season)
IN: Brendan Wright (Power House), Michael Casey (Queensland), Wade Wright, Elijah Dale (returning), Will Wheaton (Balwyn), Mat Mclardy, James Stanley (Bentleigh), Liam Trew (Dromana), Jake Hall (Red Hill)
OUT: Ryan Farmer (Murrumbeena), Liam Corbett (Murrumbeena), Brad Pepi (Upper Ferntree Gully)
DOVETON DOVES
LAST YEAR: Preliminary finalist — 14-6
COACH: Matt Stapleton (new)
CAPTAIN: Harley Primrose
IN: Matt Clarke (Noble Park), James Canty (North Beach WA), Ben O’Loughlin (Officer), Matt Rogers (Officer), Joel Pritchett (Mazenod), Will Kerr (Frankston Bombers), Lochie Convoy (Richmond Central), Hayden Spierings (Cora Lynn), Deakyn Smith (Melbourne AFL)
OUT: Michael Cardamone (The Basin), Aaron Johns (The Basin), Matt Stapleton (retired), Daniel Zajac (retired), Troy Allen (retired)
WHAT THE CLUB SAYS:
“I think you’ll see a team that shows a really high work rate and the willingness to take the game on,” Stapleton said.
“It’s what I’ve encouraged the guys to do over the pre-season, take the game on when the opportunity presents.
“Hopefully we play some exciting footy, teamed up with working extremely hard, that’s the basic principle behind what we’re going to be about.
“We’ve got nice and fit to try and stretch the opposition.”
EAST MALVERN
LAST YEAR: Seventh — 6-12
COACH: Mick Rossborough (second season)
CAPTAINS: Isaac Morrisby, Josh Salmon
IN: Matt Tighello (returning), Dan Wigney (Caulfield Grammarians), Logan Berryman (Lavington), Lachie O’Connor (Lavington), Will Borcoski (returning), Tom Shanley (returning), Austin Hogan (Glenroy), Brandon Frith (Beaconsfield), Aiden Celeni (returning), Jim Tighello (returning), Jacob Brunner (Albury), Hayden Chrzanowski (returning), Nick Gauci (returning)
OUT: Will Bainbridge (overseas), Nathan McDonald (overseas), Ash Hill (injury), Youseph Dib (Thomastown)
WHAT THE CLUB SAYS:
“I have said it before, we’re aiming for top three,” Rossborough said.
“Our list is a lot deeper and I think we will have 12 new names round 1.
“Our expectations are to qualify as high as we can for finals and have a crack at it.
“With all these guys coming in, you’d be stupid to think otherwise.
“Our goal is to finish top three.”
ENDEAVOUR HILLS
LAST YEAR: Division 3 premiers
COACH: Matt Peake (fourth season)
CAPTAINS: Nathan Reid, Ben Holland
IN: Fallon Wanganeen (East Burwood), Matt Rogerson (returning), Sam Delosa (returning)
OUT: Rohan Scott (retired)
WHAT THE CLUB SAYS:
“The big thing for us is that we’re quite a young group and there’s a lot of talent in that group, so it’s about developing a lot of those guys,” Peake said.
“I do think those guys can step up, I think as the level goes up those boys will go up.
“I have seen some maturity already through the pre-season with these guys, so that’s where I think we will be able to step up.
“I think fitness was a key for us last year, we ran out games well, that’s always a focus but I think tightening every area up, all the fundamentals of the game.”
HAMPTON PARK
LAST YEAR: Elimination finalist — 11-8
COACH: Haydon Stanton (second season)
CAPTAIN: Liam Myatt
IN: Ryan Patterson (Narre Warren), Bailey Mayworm (Narre Warren), Jayden Weichard (Kilsyth), Bailey Dmonte (Croydon)
OUT: Jack Wilson (Devon Meadows), Cory Phillips, (Gembrook Cockatoo), Ryan Hillard (Gembrook Cockatoo), Kyle Hendy (Springvale Districts), Makaio Haywood (Ellinbank)
WHAT THE CLUB SAYS:
“It will be a tough year for us this year in terms of whether we’re able to make ground on the competition,” Stanton said.
“From what I am led to believe, Murrumbeena are the team to beat, they’ve loaded up and recruited heavily, I expect Highett and Doveton will still be around the mark.
“We had a year off our ground so it’s a transition year for us.”
HIGHETT
LAST YEAR: Semi finalist — 12-8
COACH: Clint Einsiedel (second season)
CAPTAIN: Sam Jackson
IN: Josh Manning (Parkdale Vultures), Jacob Apted (Alexandra Hills), Reece Duffield (Albanvale), Harry Jenner (Hastings)
OUT: Mamuch Chuol (St Kevins)
WHAT THE CLUB SAYS:
“I think our front end is better, we have a lot more variety up there to kick goals,” Einsiedel said.
“In the midfield we’re about the same but the second ruckman is going to help us.
“We will rely on some young guys and the signs are pretty good from our practice games that they are ready to play senior footy.
“They’ll bring enthusiasm, effort and they’re hungry. You’ll see fluctuation between their first 30-40 games but once you get through that we’ll reap the benefits at the back end of this year and 2025.”
KEYSBOROUGH
LAST YEAR: Ninth — 3-14
COACH: Chris Smith (fourth season)
CAPTAINS: Dylan McKenzie, Tom Anderton
IN: Jamie Plumridge (Devon Meadows), Ethan Damato (Berwick Springs), Phil Illick (Mazenod), Max Corbyn (Frankston Bombers), Jake Stuart (Beaconsfield)
OUT: Anthony Brannan (retired), Cory Hargreaves (retired), Tim Edwards (St Johns), Dylan Webb (St Johns), Matt Beer (Heatherton),
WHAT THE CLUB SAYS:
“We know we’re going to be younger, we hope we’re going to be fitter,” Smith said.
“We’re going to have a crack at moving the footy – we’ve loaded up front half of the ball.
“We want to score but we want to be able to push back and get be able to slingshot back out as well.
“It’s becoming a turnover game in the AFL and that’s what we want to do as well, we want to get back, help turn it over and then get out of there with it.
“Round 1 we could have 13 to 14 under the age of 23 playing, that’s something different to what Keysy have had probably ever.
“It’s exciting, we just need to keep this group together now.”
MURRUMBEENA
LAST YEAR: Runner up — 17-5
COACH: Michael Kinsella (new)
CAPTAIN: Jordan Pollard
IN: Byron Wright (Mitcham), Wade Lees (Deer Park), Ryan Farmer (Caulfield Bears), Liam Corbett (Caulfield Bears), Harry Lagastes (Noosa), Sam Wyatt (Trafalgar), Luke Saunders (East Brighton), Jarrod Fisk (Crib Point), Alan Wallace (Black Rock), Todd Elton (Deer Park), Matt Virtue (Trafalgar), Ben Bawden (St Bede’s Mentone), Ollie Bawden (St Bede’s Mentone)
OUT: Michael Kinsella (retired), Anthony Ekberg (travelling), Paul Tscoulas (travelling), Daniel Willis (Echuca)
WHAT THE CLUB SAYS:
“Internally it’s always good to be confident in the list and the system, and the team has definitely put in the work,” Kinsella said.
“(Winning premierships) It’s never done in the pre-season or what you’ve got on paper, it’s what happens in the four quarters that is important – our guys know that.
“You have to be healthy, kick straight, all those handy things, we’re keeping a lid on it because we know there’s strong competition in Highett, Doveton and East Malvern.
“There’s definitely a lid on Murrumbeena.”
SKYE
LAST YEAR: Sixth — 6-11
COACHES: Ben Walker, Paddy Cooke (new)
CAPTAIN: Jordan Thomas
IN: James Symons (Toora), Jake Lesjak (Tooradin-Dalmore), Luca Soto Ahlquist (Langwarrin), Joe Howe (Palmerston Magpies), Aidan Peile (Somerville)
OUT: Brett Dawson
WHAT THE CLUB SAYS:
“We’ll continue to work on being competitive for four quarters and look to build on last years improvement,” president Dominic Spinucci said.
“We’re still trying to invest from within, we feel that’s the best option so we will continue to put time and effort into our guys.”
ST KILDA CITY
LAST YEAR: Relegated from Division 1 — 1-17
COACH: Jason Hamilton (new)
CAPTAINS: Paul Pekaj, Austin Harding
IN: Matt Quinn (Bonbeach), Zakk Edwards (Violet Town), James Tasiyan (West Preston), Roscoe Tsiavis (Prahran), Josh McMahon (Somerville), Austin Harding (Old Scotch), Paul Pekaj (Ormond), Ethan Whish-Wilson (London Swans), Henry Nankervis (Collegians), Rory Freeman (Collegians), Seb Harris-Knipe (Old Brighton Grammarians), Jordie Gray (Old Brighton Grammarians), Harry Hopkins (St Kevins), Jordy Laurie-Rhodes (Alexandra), Ben O’Brien (Caulfield Grammarians), Danny Schuller (Kew), Marcus Tenenbaum (Elsternwick)
OUT: Paul Scanlon (Mooroolbark), Shem Tatupu (Springvale Districts), Judd Rowell (St Paul’s McKinnon), Anthony Zimmerman (South Bendigo)
WHAT THE CLUB SAYS:
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“Things have really turned around for us,” Hamilton said.
“We’re happy with what we’ve put together ... we’ve got a young and talented list full of potential.
“We’re looking forward to the young boys coming on; they got exposed to senior footy last year when the club was down but they’ve trained really well and we’re expecting them to take steps forward in 2024.”
Originally published as Ins, outs, club comments: The complete SFNL Division 2 preview for season 2024
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