Both Casey Scorpions and Frankston enter season 2015 with a new coach in Round 1 of Peter Jackson VFL action.
Justin Plapp takes over from Rohan Welsh at Casey, while Patrick Hill replaces Simon Goosey at Frankston.
Both clubs missed out on finals action last year, only separated by percentage in 13th (Frankston) and 15th (Casey) spots on the ladder.
We look at season 2015 for both clubs:
Casey Scorpions
Coach: Justin Plapp (new)
Captain: Evan Panozza
2014 finish: 15th
2014 best & fairest: Max Gawn
Last premiership: 1999
Alignment: Melbourne
Notable ins: Shannon Byrnes (Melbourne), James Munro (Sandringham), Jack Hutchins (Gold Coast), Bailey Fritsch (Coldstream), Luke Walmsley (Dingley), Luke Hannon (Eastern Ranges), Keegan Mason (North Ballarat)
Notable outs: Jake Best (Leongatha)
Casey Scorpions are set to be one of the big improvers this season. After having their seven year finals run come to an end in 2014, finishing 15th with five wins, the Scorpions will hope to return to the September action under new coach Justin Plapp. Plapp is no stranger to the VFL, after coaching stints at Box Hill and Williamstown, but his development role at Melbourne will help him form better relationships with the AFL Demons that line up at Casey. Injuries and ability to kick a winning score hampered the Scorpions last year, but preseason form has been ominous, with added depth to the side and the AFL experience of Shannon Byrne and Jack Hutchins. Add to this the addition of the reliable defender James Munro from Sandringham and young talent from local leagues and the TAC Cup, and Casey should be able to make a jump back up the ladder.
Frankston
Coach: Patrick Hill (new)
Captain: Shane Hockey
2014 finish: 13th
2014 best & fairest: Ben Cavarra
Last premiership: 1978 (Div 2)
Alignment: VFL standalone
Notable ins: Brandon Wood (Box Hill Hawks), Kalem Post (Box Hill Hawks), James Wilsen (Port Melbourne), Aaron Wilson (Dandenong Stingrays), Tom Pridgeon (Bendigo), Waylen Manson (NT), Grant Valles (Bendigo)
Notable outs: Khan Haretuku (Port Melbourne), Ziggie Alwan (Noble Park), Scott Simpson (Somerville), Jarrod Irving (Sturt), Nic Newman (Sydney), Leigh Kitchin (WA), Shannon Taylor (Port Melbourne)
It will be a new look Frankston side in 2015, with plenty of experience departing the club in the offseason. For the first time since 2010 the Dolphins will enter the season with a new coach, with former Box Hill Hawks assistant coach Patrick Hill joining the club. He had a baptism of fire early, having to try and replace the likes of key forwards Michael Lourey (WA) and Khan Haretuku (Port Melbourne), and the versatility of players such as Scott Simpson and Ziggie Alwan. Hill has worked on the relationship with the Dandenong Stingrays to ensure the pathway is a healthy one, and has targeted a number of players that have not seen regular senior football at other clubs, with Brandon Wood, Kalem Post and James Wilsen likely to be regular senior players. They late signing of “The Recruit” excitement machine Waylen Manson will add X factor to the side, with best and fairest winners Ben Cavarra (2014) and Shane Hockey (2013) to again be keys to the Frankston engine room.
LAST TIME THEY MET:
Round 15, 2014
Frankston 1.1, 6.3, 8.4, 13.10 (88)
Casey Scorpions 5.3, 6.4, 9.10, 12.10 (82)
GOALS
Frankston :
L. Potts 2, T. Harper 2, S. Simpson 2, K. Haretuku 1, C. Buchan 1, N. Newman 1, J. Coleman 1, J. Pollard 1, M. Lourey 1, D. Sutton 1
Casey Scorpions :
M. Gawn 4, A. Scott 2, W. Petropoulos 2, M. Clisby 1, M. Jones 1, J. Best 1, J. Fitzpatrick 1
BEST
Frankston :
L. Kitchin, L. Potts, S. Simpson, M. Lourey, J. Tynan, T. Harper
Casey Scorpions :
M. Gawn, J. Strauss, D. Nicholson, J. Fitzpatrick, E. Morris, M. Jones
MEDIA COVERAGE
Casey Radio: Tune to 97.7 fm for a live boradcast of this game or tune in at www.caseyradio.com.au
Last Modified on 17/04/2015 13:51