Sport
Saints back for more
Paul Amy
15Apr08
IF practice-match form and the standard of recruiting is any guide, the Southern Football League season that kicks off this Saturday should be a clinker.
Reigning premier St Kilda City again looms as the team to beat, despite losing some key members of the 2007 premiership team, Salim Hassan (West Adelaide) and Adrian Newman (Darley) among them.
Much-travelled ruckman Steve Arvanitis is also on the move again, this time to Tooradin, while Dave Sheehan has returned to Moorabbin West.
Warren Kruse has been cleared to Lilydale and Ryan Pitcher has retired.
However, experienced rover John Lindsay will bolster the Saints' stocks, as will Ben Artz, who played in St Pauls' losing grand final against the Saints.
Gavin Mahony has crossed from Ashwood, while midfielders Michael (from Mt Gravatt) and John Stinear (De La Salle) will provide more run through the centre.
The Saints are banking on former WAFL star Myles Quinn, who was at Strathmore last season, to cover the loss of Arvanitis, while Craig Allender, a forward from Old Ivanhoe, is expected to do well. Simon Campbell has returned to the Peanut Farm after a stint in Tasmania.
Richard Houston will again coach the Saints.
"We have a younger group and hope to be around the mark again. Our aim is to make the four and inject some of our Under 17s into the senior team."
Last year's runner-up, St Paul's East Bentleigh, has recruited well, with Joseph Krieger from Mornington and Jarrod Rafferty from Frankston impressive in scratch matches.
Trent McIntyre from Bentleigh and Nathan White (Katandra) have also added some extra dash to the Doggies' running game, while ruckman Trevor Timms has returned from overseas.
With their only major loss that of Artz to St Kilda City, the Doggies again look set to be a leading contender at the business end of the season. Adam Shepard remains at the helm at McKinnon Oval.
Clayton, third last season, will be led by former Carlton star Darren Hulme, who replaces George Jones.
"It's a tall order taking the place of someone as well respected as George, but I'm looking forward to repaying the faith the club has shown in me," Hulme said after his charges easily defeated Highett in a practice match.
Hulme's task will be made a little easier with the return of former premiership player Dave Roberts from overseas and former league best-and-fairest winner Victor Currie, back from Noble Park.
Justin Isaac has also returned to Clayton Reserve, from Hastings, while Brett Gilder's availability will depend on when his services are required by Sandringham.
Hulme is hopeful of playing, but has been troubled by soft tissue injuries.
Dingley and Heatherton will be sent out as early favourites in Division Two.
But Caulfield, a finalist last season and with Darren Kappler again in charge, has recruited well and should again be in the mix.
The Bears have retained most of last season's list, with Evan Goldman, a flanker from Elsternwick, Leigh Goldman, a solid utility from Ajax, and Russell Croxford from Swanpool among the additions.
Chris Todd from Sandhurst will give the Fields some added height, while the club is also hopeful of securing ruckman Paul Burke from Eastlake in the ACT.
Like many other SFL clubs this season, Murrumbeena has added to its depth and, according to club officials, as many as 15 new players could line up in the seniors in the Lions' opening clash against Hampton at Murrumbeena Park on Saturday.
Former player Drew O'Donoghue has returned to the club as coach, bringing back with him Adam Williamson from Sebastapol. Other new faces include onballers James Clyne from South Melbourne Districts, Tim McDonald from Noorat and Mick McCormack from Warragul Industrials.
Rover Peter Fotiniotis (Sebastapol) and wingman Chris Sinclair (Hampton Rovers) are also expected to do well, while Adam van der Nuit, a tall defender from Fish Creek, and former Nyora forward Jesse Doumas were impressive in the Beena's hit-out against Eastern Lions.
The Lions will be buoyed by the return from injury of solid defender Joel Statham and the consistent Justin Pilgrim, while Sam Heslop and Dion Sortino have both returned after a stint with Kew Amateurs.
Ashley Brownjohn (retired) and Mark Dintino (Reservoir) are no longer around.
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DIV 1: Springvale Dist v Clayton (Friday night), St Kilda City v East Brighton, Highett v Mordialloc, Tooronga Malvern v St Paul's, Cheltenham v Chelsea Heights (Sunday).
DIV 2: Black Rock v Moorabbin, Murrumbeena v Hampton, Ashwood v Dingley, Lyndale v Oakleigh District, Heatherton v Caulfield.
DIV 3: Skye v Cerberus, Mt Waverley v Sandown Cobras, Dandenong v South Yarra, Doveton Eagles v Canterbury.
