Morton has eyes on Lakoseljac Cup as well as on NPL title

Photo:  South Hobart coach Ken Morton believes his team can still win the league [PlessPix]

South Hobart coach Ken Morton is keen to win this season’s Lakoseljac Cup and he was delighted with his team’s performance in winning last Sunday’s semi-final 5-2 against Olympia Warriors.

“There’s nothing more important than the FFA Cup in Australian football,” said Morton.

“That’s the way forward for the A-League clubs and the NPL clubs and we want to be in that next round [Round-of-32] when it’s drawn.”

Winning the Lakoseljac Cup is Tasmanian clubs’ entry to the national FFA Cup competition.

South Hobart have won the Lakoseljac Cup five times since its inception in 2000.

On Monday, June 10, they face holders Devonport City at KGV Park at 3.30pm in this year’s final.

Photo:  Ken Morton (right) with his ace striker Ben Hamlett as a media conference on Monday after the semi-final win over Olympia the previous day  [PlessPix]

Morton will be hoping for a repeat of the 2008 final, when South Hobart beat Devonport 2-0, but he realises this year’s final will be a huge task as Devonport have beaten South Hobart the last time the side’s met in the final.

Last year, on the 11 June, A Miles Barnard goal gave Devonport a 1-0 win.

“They [Devonport] have done very well in the past couple of years,” Morton said.

“We’ve got lots of reasons for wanting to win this trophy, including the fact that we have close ties to the Lakoseljac family.

“Bradley Lakoseljac is one of our first-team players and his Dad, Brendon, is on our coaching staff.

“And then, of course, it provides the winner with entry to the national FFA Cup competition, where we’ve competed before.”

Photo:  South Hobart's Bradley Lakoseljac (left) up against Olympia's Joffrey N'Koso in last Sunday's cup semi-final [PlessPix]

Morton has given his players four or five days off training after winning last Sunday’s semi-final.

Striker Iskander Van Doorne has taken the opportunity to take a four-day break in Bali.

“We’ll then get the players back in and prepare them for the final,” said Morton.

“The final is our next game [South Hobart have a bye in the league this coming weekend] and we’ll look forward to that and have the guys in peak condition for that game.

“We have to get back to winning this tournament, and getting back to winning the league, too.

“Devonport are 5 points ahead of us, but overtaking that deficit is certainly doable.”

South Hobart have won the league championship 8 times since 2008, including a run of seven consecutive title from 2008 until 2014.

“Sunday’s semi-final win against Olympia was a good performance by us,” Morton said.  “We put it together well.

“We’ve played in patches this year, but we were very good against Devonport when we lost 1-0 to them.

“When you’re playing against a top side like Olympia, to win 5-2 is very encouraging.

“This is the time of the year when we have hit a bit of form and you have to keep everybody together, very fit and get some of the experienced players back as well just to keep the depth there, and we will make a push for the league as well.

“Five points is within reach, but you can’t afford to drop points.

“You’ve got to keep winning.

“We’ve got a good squad and everybody worked their socks off against Olympia and got a good result.

“For my part, I have to be super proud of our academy, and Ned Clarke and the staff.”

Photo:  Ned Clarke is in charge of South Hobart's Academy and recommends youth players for the seniors [PlessPix]

Morton said the Academy staff tell him if and when a player is ready for senior football.

South Hobart have introduced several young players in the senior team this season following injury to some more experiences players such as Alex Walter, Darcy Hall and Gilly Desouza.

All have performed well and South Hobart have reached this year’s Lakoseljac Cup Final and are in second place in the league.

“Devonport are an organised side, but one probably missing a Brayden Mann, if anything, but they’re still a formidable team,” Morton said, looking towards Monday’s cup final.

“Credit to University, who pushed Devonport all the way in last Saturday’s semi-final.

“Uni showed good spirit and had a go at them, which was encouraging for the club.

“It’s up to us now.”

Hamlett looking forward to playing a dramatic role against Devonport and on national stage

Photo:  Ben Hamlett appears to be indicating 'Bring it on" [PlessPix]

South Hobart striker Ben Hamlett scored four goals in Sunday’s 5-2 demolition of Olympia Warriors in the semi-finals of the Lakoseljac Cup.

The 27-year-old said it was very good result for his club and made up for the recent 3-3 draw between the sides in the league.

He is looking forward to meeting Devonport in the Lakoseljac Cup Final at KGV Park on Monday, 10 June.

Hamlett has missed most of South Hobart’s interstate forays in national competitions in the past through injury, so he is hoping that the club will win the cup and compete in the FFA Cup.

“Sunday’s win over Olympia was awesome and a really good result,” Hamlett said.

“It’s what we were after and it wasn’t just a win but it was a strong performance across the whole park, the whole team.

“It was a very good day out.”

Hamlett said the players had been ‘gutted’ by the recent 3-3 draw with Olympia but Sunday’s result has given them confidence and belief in each other.

“We’re building as a team and the Cup means a lot to us so we’re going to go out and give it everything,” Hamlett said.

“When we do that, I think we can test anyone that comes up against us.”

Photo:  Ben Hamlett (right) in action against Olympia's Bay Kurtz on Sunday.  Hamlett was on fire and scored four goals. [PlessPix]

Hamlett said that in some games South Hobart’s intensity had dropped off in the second half and this has allowed teams to come back, as Olympia did in the 3-3 draw in the league match.

“It’s just a lack of concentration,” Hamlett opined.  “But, on Sunday, that intensity that we started with and which was so crucial [in the second half].

“We continued our high-pressing game and being ruthless in front of goal.

“Everybody was really trying for each other, so it was really good to keep the momentum in the second half.”

Photo:  Ben Hamlett and South Hobart coach Ken Morton at a media conference on Monday [PlessPix]

Hamlett is excited at the prospect of the Cup Final and said he could hardly wait for the game.

“I haven’t had a proper go at Devonport this season, so I’m excited for that and am really looking forward to it,” he said.

“I hope we can get back on the big stage where South Hobart belong and stamp our name back up there.

“For me, it’s a lot of unfinished business and wanting to get back on the field, especially at that level.

“It’s really exciting for us as a club, but also for Tasmania, to push the envelope for Tasmanian football.

“Devonport hold no fears for us.  No way.  Obviously, we respect every opponent, but we’ll set the intention and the intensity and see what happens.”

Hamlett, incidentally, holds the record for the most number of goals scored in a single Lakoseljac Cup game.

In April 2017, he scored 10 of South Hobart's goals as they annihilated Launceston United 12-0 in an early round of teh competition.

Jez Kenth new Lions coach, and other comings and goings and decision making on the run

Photo:  Jez Kenth in his University coaching days in 2015 [PlessPix]

Jez Kenth has been appointed coach of Kingborough Lions United.

The Lions are currently sixth on the nine-team NPL Tasmania standings.

Greg Calvert resigned as Kingborough coach 0n 8 May after a 4-0 away defeat to Launceston City.

He was soon followed out the door by Kingborough’s full-time academy coach and assistant to Calvert, Ben Horgan.

Kenth is no stranger to the top flight competition.

He was coach of Launceston City last season, when the club topped the standings for the first half of the season before finishing fourth.

He has also coached Hobart Zebras in 2017 after Peter Savill resigned suddenly early in the season, having been Savill’s assistant at the start of the season.

Kenth established his credentials with second-tier University and took them to a Southern Championship title before moving into the NPL coaching scene.

Kenth will be assisted by Cameron Ellis and former star player Gary Upton, who had a distinguished career interstate and in Tasmania.

Photo:  Gary Upton in his South Hobart days after leaving Kingborough [PlessPix]

Upton was one of the best players to have played in Tasmania and turned out for both Kingborough and South Hobart.

He was as hard as nails and his technical skills and ability to read the game were exceptional.

Jed Donoghue will also assist with match-day analysis.

Photo:  Jed Donoghue has also coached at NPL level in Tasmania [PlessPix]

*****

 Clarence United defender Odaine Demar has left the club after a handful of appearances this season and signed for Scottish club Gretna FC 2008.

Demar, a former Jamaican international, was in his second spell with Clarence, but he was plagued by injury throughout his career in Tasmania.

Photo:  Odaine Demar had huge talent and ability but his performances in Tasmania were blighted by injury [PlessPix]

*****

Former Devonport City coach Chris Gallo will be back in the North-West of Tasmania in a matter of weeks.

He took Devonport to an NPL title last season and also to the FFA Cup Round-of-32 after winning the Lakoseljac Cup.

He left Devonport at the end of last season after two years in charge to coach new club Magpies Crusaders in McKay, Queensland.

He resigned a couple of weeks ago with the Magpies sitting third from bottom.

Anthony Alexander, who was the youth development officer for Football Federation Tasmania in the north of the State and who joined Gallo at the Magpies, is the club’s new interim coach.

Gallo, meanwhile, has been appointed as the North-West Development Officer by Football Tasmania and will assume his new role next month.

*****

Glenorchy Knights are furious at Football Tasmania’s decision to postpone their NPL fixture against Devonport City scheduled for KGV Park on Saturday, 8 June.

The decision was at the request of Devonport, who are scheduled to play South Hobart in the Lakoseljac Cup Final at KGV Park two days later, on Monday, 10 June.

Glenorchy Knights president, Tony Bacic, was furious at the decision and has soight an urgent meeting with Football Tasmania CEO Matt Bulkeley to protest the decision.

“There was no communication with our club at all before this decision,” Bacic said.

“FT are a shambles.

“When the roster was put out at the beginning of the season, surely FT would have been aware this situation could arise.

“Our club organised the availability of our players and asked them not to plan to go away over the long weekend in June because of the match schedule.

“We have organised rosters to run the bar as we, as a club, planned to stay in Hobart over the long weekend.

“This is an absolute joke and how can FT do this?

“This advantages Devonport in the league as well.

“If a roster was put out in the knowledge that this could happen, surely FT would have advised clubs at the beginning of the season that changes may need to be made.

“For FT to make this decision without even asking us, the home club, is nothing short of another embarrassment.

“The financial implications for our club are significant because of this decision.  It’ll cost us a lot of money.”