A late run of games at Cheong Park saw the Dogs enter September with real momentum behind them while the Senior Women fell one win short of a historic Premier Division premiership.
By Ryan Long.
South Croydon
Ladder Position: 3rd (13-5, 140.19%)
Best and Fairest: Brayden Kilpatrick
Leading Goalkicker: James Wilsen (73)
Summary:
A unique type of year for the Dogs who came home like a house on fire in the second half of the year with a stretch of home games at Cheong Park. Due to ongoing renovations at their home ground, the club played their last seven games at Cheong, where they won six of them to finish third on the ladder.
This came after just one game at home in the first eleven weeks of the season, going seven and four.
The Dogs were the number one attacking side in the division, averaging 99 points per game in the home and away season.
They had plenty of momentum going into this year’s finals series, first playing Blackburn in the Elimination Final. They were challenged early on, looking flat in the second quarter, allowing Blackburn to jump in the box seat for an unlikely finals victory. However, as all good sides do, the Dogs bounced back in the second half, a 36-point turnaround saw South Croydon make it through to the second week of the finals. There they faced the other elimination final winner, Doncaster East, winning by 14 points.
Their season then came to an end when they ran into the eventual premiers, Noble Park, in the Preliminary Final, defeated by 67 points.
Key Players:
In what was a dominant year for ruckmen, Max King celebrated a great season by winning the Chandler Medal, tied with Norwood’s Blake Pearson. King has been quite a versatile player for the Dogs, giving midfielders plenty of first use of the ball while in the ruck, also giving the side an option up forward, kicking 25 goals for the season.
Also having a phenomenal year was Brayden Kilpatrick, the club’s best and fairest winner for season 2022. Kilpatrick was damaging in the midfield, averaging 28.9 disposals while also kicking 23 goals himself. Finishing behind him in the Runner Up position was Jordan Williams who averaged 4.1 clearances and 4.7 tackles to go with 19 disposals per game.
Up forward, James Wilsen not only led the Dogs’ goal-kicking but the entire division with 73 goals for the year.
Best Win: Semi Final – South Croydon 13.7 85 def. Doncaster East 10.11 71 @Central Reserve
After knocking off Blackburn a week earlier, the Dogs came into the Semi Final as slight favourites against a strong Doncaster East outfit. The sides met just once during the home and away season where the Lions won comfortably by 55 points. The Semi Final was an even contest throughout the afternoon, with the third quarter being the exception. The Dogs kicked four goals to none in the ‘premiership quarter’ to set up an excellent 14-point win. James Wilsen was once again hard to stop up forward as he kicked an impressive five goals. Meanwhile, Matthew Jones had a day out, finishing with a season-high 35 disposals and the honours of best on ground for the Doggies.
Off-Season Focus:
There’s no question that the Dogs will be looking at another September campaign in season 2023. The current list is good enough to make a Grand Final. As the number one attacking side in the comp, the Dogs have plenty of scoring options and versatile players that allow them to throw the magnets around when needed. As good as their forward half was, South Croydon was the fifth-ranked defensive side, giving up more points than Rowville, Noble Park, Balwyn and Doncaster East. If there’s a knock on the side, that may be it. Sides such as the Bulls were able to really get on top of them through the middle and in the back half which resulted in some heavy losses.
2023 is a big opportunity for the club to go further. The top-two finish for the double chance will again be crucial.
South Croydon Women’s
Ladder Position: 3rd (8-6)
Best and Fairest: Chelsea Wilkinson
Leading Goalkicker: Taylah Black (40)
Summary:
One of the front runners in the Women’s premier division, the Dogs finished one win short of a premiership.
Winning eight games for the season, the Dogs finished in third position at the end of the home and away season as a serious threat for the flag. The only side they weren’t able to defeat throughout the year was the Eastern Devils who dropped just one game all year.
They took on Vermont in the Elimination Final. It was a game they controlled right from the outset despite a late second-half push from the Eagles. Winning by 13 points, the Dogs advanced through to the Preliminary Final where they met Mount Evelyn. Challenged early, South Croydon was able to outrun their opposition to win by a comfortable 22 points.
A great achievement for the club to make it through to the Premier Division Grand Final. They competed well against the Minor Premiers, having periods of control but ultimately, the side would go down by 29 points at HE Parker Reserve.
Key Players:
Taylah Black was a star in 2022, winning the league’s best and fairest. She had a fantastic season up forward, kicking 40 goals, the second most in the division. This earned her a spot in the forward line of the EFNL Premier Division Team of the Year.
Having a great year down back, Chelsea Wilkinson won the club’s best and fairest while also making the EFNL Premier Division Team of the Year in the Back Pocket. Just behind her in the vote count was Maggie McKellar who was just as damaging, eleven times in the best from 14 games.
Best Win: Preliminary Final – South Croydon 6.6 42 def. Mount Evelyn 3.2 20 @HE Parker Reserve
The club’s most important win of the year came at a crucial time. Having lost to Mount Evelyn the last time these sides faced off, the Dogs did a fantastic job to turn things around. The first half was a very even contest, with both sides kicking two goals each. When the game opened up in the second half, the Dogs took control of the game, kicking four second-half goals to one. Taylah Black, Maggie McKellar and Katie Shanahan all finished with two goals each in the big win.
Off-Season Focus:
The Dogs are in the perfect position to challenge for a flag again in season 2023. They were the number two ranked attacking side behind the Eastern Devils. At this time, they look to be the Devil’s biggest threat to back-to-back flags. With two teams and a great culture at the club, everything is looking good for the future of the South Croydon Women’s.
South Croydon Red (Reserves)
Ladder Position: 3rd (7-4, 209.70%)
Best and Fairest: Alana Prendergast
Leading Goalkicker: Alana Prendergast (15)
Summary:
South Croydon also featured a Reserves team in season 2022. The side played off against the other reserves teams in Division Four where they finished third at the end of the season, winning seven games for the year.
The third-place finish saw the Dogs face off against the SBL Wolves in the first week of the finals. Although they had a great record against the Wolves, defeating them in two out of three meetings during the season, they weren’t able to achieve the result they were looking for in the finals. South Croydon went down by 18 points, knocking themselves out of the finals.
Key Players:
Alana Prendergast was a star for the side in the ten matches she played in. Prendergast kicked 15 goals, the leading goal scorer for the side while also winning the club’s best and fairest.
Finishing just behind her in second place was Laura Hammen, also playing ten games for the year. Some of their other important players included Cassandra Godwin, Alisha Fitzgerald and Clare Prendergast.
Best Win: Round 2 – South Croydon 9.12 66 def. The Basin 2.4 16 @Batterham Reserve
One of the club’s best wins came early in the year when they took on the Bears away from home. It was a sign of how strong their offence could be on their best day, having 21 scoring shots to six. Jaimee Field finished with three while the rest of the goals were well spread out. They kept the Basin to just two points after quarter time in what was a massive 50-point win. Best and Fairest winner Alana Prendergast played well, kicking two goals and finishing as the best player on the ground.
Off-Season Focus:
The club are well positioned as one of only six teams to have reserves side this year. The major priority here will be to retain the list and continue developing the players ahead of another season, aiming to keep two sides in the competition.
Netball Review
South Croydon Blue (Section Five)
Ladder Position: 9th (4-11-1)
Competing in the Bendigo Bank Netball competition, the Dogs won four games, finishing ninth at the end of the season. Their goals were evenly distributed. Molly O’Toole finished with 72 goals from 14 games while Caitlin Taylor had 71 goals from ten matches.
South Croydon Veterans
Also featuring a Veterans over 35s side, South Croydon just missed out on the finals, winning five matches to finish sixth on the ladder. Ken Darby had a big season, finishing in the side’s best seven times from eight games while Andrew Zarro led the goal scoring with 12 goals.
South Croydon Juniors
The South Croydon Junior Football Club had another fantastic year in season 2022. The Dogs had a total of 11 teams, an increase of three from 2021. In the Under 14C Boys division, the Dogs finished off their minor premiership year with a Grand Final win over Wantirna South. Also winning a premiership was the Under 16C Girls, defeating SBL Wolves in the decider.
A great sign for a club that’s firing on all cylinders.