SOCCER
THERE are derbies galore in State 4 South next year and Ben Symonds can’t wait to throw himself headlong into the action. The 21-year-old Rosebud midfielder is fresh off a championship in his first full senior season and already the lure of squaring up to Frankston Pines, Chelsea, Baxter, Somerville Eagles and Mentone excites him. “Oh yeah we’re all looking forward to the derbies,” Symonds said. “Everyone gets really pumped up and it’s a different level of excitement. “There’s an extra edge to a derby for sure.”
Symonds has no doubt that the ’Buds will need to go to another level to confront the challenges that await next year.
“I expect it to be a step up for all of us in terms of standard. “I think there are a few younger guys at Pines who are really good and it’ll be interesting to see how Chelsea goes because they were chasing promotion this year weren’t they. “I’m looking forward to playing against all of these clubs in fact I’ve looked at all the teams in State 4 and I think it’s going to be a really good year.”
And it’s a fitter, sharper version of Symonds that opponents will see next season if things go to plan. “Last season I don’t think I was as fit as I could have been. “I was juggling soccer with being at uni and I was a bit all over the place. “Gym sessions are definitely on the agenda as well as working more on sprinting rather than the long-distance stuff.”
When Symonds joined Rosebud earlier this year it came as no surprise to many given his strong family ties to the Olympic Park outfit. “My dad (Jason) and my uncle (Ross) played with Rosebud and throughout our house there’s lots of things about Rosebud so there’s always been that connection. “A few of my mates were there plus Stuart (Johnson) was coaching so it was a great environment for me and I felt it would be silly not to go.”
It didn’t take long for Johnson to leave a lasting impression on Symonds and his teammates and the connection between Rosebud’s coaching staff and the players played a pivotal role in clinching the State 5 South title. “Stuart’s friendly and approachable and all the boys like him. “He’s very good at man management and he played a big part in getting me to the club. “We sat down and had a coffee and he outlined his plans but he also wanted to know what my needs were and I think he did that with everyone. “Stuart also did a lot of work for the club behind the scenes and everyone respected that.”
Johnston’s assistant Stan Packer has been a long-time friend to the Symonds family and the young midfielder holds him in high regard. “He’s the beating heart of Rosebud and everyone there loves him.” Symonds has had other coaching influences throughout a junior career at Rosebud Heart and Mornington winning the reserves best and fairest at the latter. “Well obviously my dad has been great and ‘Jamo’ (Adam Jamieson) was really good. “And Steve Riley was big on fitness and competitiveness. “It was win at all costs with him.
“Scotty Morrison was really good tactically and had a specific vision of how he wanted the team to play. “That worked well for us when he was doing the reserves at Mornington with my dad and he’s doing really good work at Strikers now.” There’s no doubt that Symonds will have some new teammates next season given that veterans Dave Greening, Stef Papaluca and Dougie Cunnison won’t be playing. However he expects most of the senior squad to sign up again and thinks that continuity will have a major bearing on the club’s State 4 campaign. “Of course it’s going to be harder for us but I think it’s all about building. “It’s really important to keep the current squad together as much as we can because sticking together helps to build the chemistry between the players. “I think if we all give it our best shot we’ll do alright. “It’s exciting just thinking about it.”
In VPL1 news Rhys Craigie and Muhamed Huseinovski are training with Langwarrin. Edinburgh-born Craigie, 27, is a midfielder who has been with Hearts and Trenant Juniors in Scotland and joined Beaumaris for the 2019 season.
He joined Mornington in early 2022. Huseinovski, 20, is a forward who has had stints with Bentleigh Greens and Dandenong Thunder. He is returning from ACL surgery. It’s expected that Langwarrin head coach Jamie Skelly will make a call on the pair after the club’s pre-Christmas game schedule.
In State 1 news Mornington head coach Adam Jamieson has confirmed the signing of forward James Kelly from Langwarrin. “He’s that type of player that we need – someone who gets the ball and goes at players,” Jamieson said.
Midfielder Jacob Brito from Langwarrin has also been linked with a move to Mornington. “Yes we are in talks with Jacob but nothing has been finalised yet,” Jamieson added. “We’re getting there and we’re hoping to sign him.”
Veteran Kelly is a former Bentleigh Greens, Dandenong City and Essendon Royals star while 21-year-old Brito had three seasons at Lawton Park after switching from Dandenong City.
The big news in State 4 is the signing of James Stinson for a second season at Chelsea. The former Sunderland youth striker was among the first signings of the Gus Macleod era at Edithvale Recreation Reserve. Stinson played for English Universities in the 2017 Home Nations tournament in Scotland. He arrived in Melbourne in September 2022 but injury sidelined him the following season. Stinson finished second in last season’s league Golden Boot award with 17 goals in just 12 games.
In State 5 news Karyn Pert’s second term as president of Seaford United was confirmed at last week’s AGM. The other positions filled were that of secretary (Jacqueline Duncan), treasurer (Kane Klinac), junior secretary (Bec Karpati) and general committee (Kevin Parr and Morgan Deegan).
The roles of vice-president and two more general committee members are expected to be filled in coming weeks.
Pert’s first year at the helm saw Seaford’s juniors grow from 17 to 26 teams including two new girls teams and the introduction of two new senior teams – a new women’s team in Division 5 and a men’s Metro team.
“Our Division 3 women’s team best and fairest, Kallista Tzelios, also won the league best and fairest for the second year in a row,” Pert said. “We were lucky enough to have (current Matilda star) Steph Catley visit our club and liaise with a lot of our members and we also held a fundraiser for a family at our club struck with cancer. “It was the biggest day the club has ever seen raising over $50,000. “Next season we hope to retain all our teams and build pathways for the juniors to become competitive players for our future senior teams.”
In other news Langwarrin and Skye United have released details of their pre-Christmas pre-season match schedule.
Langwarrin will play six friendlies with at least three at home. The two games on 19 December will involve a mix of both the senior and under-23 squads.
Langy’s schedule:
Saturday 30 November, 12pm v South Melbourne, Lakeside Stadium
Monday 2 December, 7.30pm v UK select squad, Lawton Park
Saturday 7 December, 5pm v Dandenong City, Lawton Park
Saturday 14 December, v Dandenong Thunder, time/venue TBC
Thursday 19 December, 7.30pm v Springvale White Eagles, Serbian Sports Centre
Thursday 19 December, 7.30pm v Boroondara, Lawton Park
Skye United’s schedule :
Thursday 28 November, 8.30pm v Chelsea, Carrum Downs Recreation Reserve
Sunday 8 December, 1pm v Bayside Argonauts, Carrum Downs Recreation Reserve
First published in the Mornington News – 26 November 2024
