Frankston 2016 season preview

The only way in 2016 is up for a Dolphins outfit that endured a long, hard season in Patrick Hill's first year as senior coach.

Coach: Patrick Hill (second year)

2015 finish: 15th

2015 best and fairest placings: 1. Ben Cavarra / 2. Corey Buchan / 3. Shane Hockey and Jason Pongracic

2015 leading goalkicker: Nathan Gardiner (24)

Last premiership: 1978 (Division 2)

Alignment: VFL standalone

It was a long winless season for Frankston in Patrick Hill’s first year as senior coach. After recording four wins and two draws in 2014, the Dolphins finished a clear last in 2015 but will hold onto hope that the only way is up. Indeed, the playing list has seemingly improved over the off-season thanks to the club’s recruiters, despite the move of captain Shane Hockey to Western Australia and Josh Tynan to join his brother at Port Melbourne.

For a defence that leaked over 500 more points than the next lowest-ranked team during the 2015 home-and-away rounds, the acquisition of versatile former Carlton defender Andrew McInnes will be crucial, while classy half back Daniel Capiron headlines a group of Dandenong Stingrays graduates to join the club. The 19-year-old played seven games for Frankston last year but still managed to win Dandenong’s best and fairest award.

Ex-Dolphins (2011) and Sandringham (2014) forward Josh Bennett returns to the VFL to add to a forward line that scored almost 300 less points than the next lowest-ranked team. The 25-year-old kicked 51 goals in 14 NEAFL games last year and will be able to provide support for the club’s young 2015 leading goalkicker Nathan Gardiner.

Despite the woes at either end of the ground, it all starts in the midfield and the Frankston centre line is certainly beefed up for 2016. While contested work wasn’t a huge issue last year – with Ben Cavarra helping the Dolphins finish as the ninth-ranked team for clearances and sixth-ranked team for tackles per game – 206cm ruckman and 2013 VFL representative player Michael Sikora will take some of the burden off the slightly undersized Kalem Post at stoppages.

The uncontested side of things was a different story though, with Frankston ranking a clear last for uncontested possessions and uncontested marks per game last year. The signings of Box Hill Hawks premiership player Ryan Exon, Casey Scorpions wingman Lucas Walmsley and Division 1 Southern Football League premiership on-baller Jackson Peet will add class and dash.

INS & OUTS:

Ins: Josh Bennett (Ainslie), Ryan Exon, Nik Papadopoulos, Agape Patolo (Box Hill Hawks), Patrick Rosier, Lucas Walmsley (Casey Scorpions), Daniel Capiron, Shannon Gladman, Sam Pickess, Harrison Prior, Jordan Rouse, Zach Rouse (Dandenong Stingrays), Jackson Peet (Dingley), Andrew McInnes (Norwood), Jack Mahon (Port Melbourne), Clay McCartney (Rumbalara), Michael Sikora (Strathmore)

Outs: Nic Tuddenham (Langwarrin), Chris Irving (Pearcedale), Josh Tynan (Port Melbourne), Jarryd Douglas, Tom Pridgeon (Queensland), Shane Hockey (South Fremantle), Grant Valles (Sunbury)

* Photo: Jason Pongracic leads Frankston out to play in 2015

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Frankston 2016 season preview

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