THE JOURNEY CONTINUES
“Choose Tap” Countdown | South Belgrave Football Club
By Andy Paolacci
There was a lot to like about South Belgrave’s 2014 season
After their record-breaking exploits one year earlier, all eyes were on the high-flying Saints and the way they’d respond to promotion into Division 3.
Naturally, with this comes plenty of pressure, but the boys from up the mountain responded well and, facing stern opposition from The Basin, qualified for the Division 3 finals.
The Saints were knocked out at the first hurdle to Boronia, but had shown their value in the third tier having earlier defeated the Hawks during the home-and-away season.
Considering the amount of times teams have been relegated following immediate promotion, a fifth-place finish and a finals berth said a lot about their recent success as a club.
And they’ll be hungry to cement their spot in the elite bracket of Division 3 this year, as they look to build on their 2014 campaign.
Blessed with plenty of talent, the Saints will look to improve on their already solid work ethic, in an effort to become a well-rounded team.
Like so many times in the last two years, South Belgrave will remain confident of kicking a winning score.
Goals were never the issue for the dominant Saints outfit and, if the potent trio of Cody Morris, Alex Bakens and Leigh Odermatt continue to fire, then opposition defences will no doubt have plenty to think about when facing the Saints.
Furthermore, if the Saints can continue to get games out of Alex Benbow and can sure up their defence, then this will provide them with the perfect platform to realise their goals for 2015.
In terms of their off-season recruiting, former Chirnside Park hardman, Anthony Bernardo, and Ex-Rowville utility, Joshua Dyson, will add some much needed depth to the Saints, as does the ex-Knox fringe player in Braet Adams.
In fact, a total of six players have come from Rowville to South Belgrave in what can only be described as a bit of a coup for the club; the experience of first division football that they’ll bring can only be beneficial moving forward.
However, the biggest change comes in their coaching ranks, with former Mulgrave premiership coach, Hayden Stanton, replacing the much-respected Dean Burnell in the senior coaching role.
For now, it’s baby steps for South Belgrave, but taking a giant leap to premiership success is within their reach if all the cards fall into place.