Who can challenge Stonecats? PENINSULA LEAGUE
By Toe Punt IT was six premierships in seven years for Frankston YCW last Sunday. What an unbelievable achievement from a lot of dedicated off-field people and a committed on-field group. Question now is, will this continue? A competition-wide salary cap of $150,000 per year is expected to effect the Stonecats. How do they keep the list together? Do the players take a significant pay cut to stay together? Or, as some would have you believe, after so many flags, now is the time to explore other opportunities. With absolute respect to Frankston YCW (they absolutely deserve to have achieved the success they have!), this would be the best thing for the Peninsula competition. There is daylight between the Stonecats and the rest of the competition and players leaving is the only way to even things up. The Player Points System doesn’t allow clubs to go out and recruit to catch-up. So, as we approach the mad ‘offseason’ period, what can you expect from your club as they prepare for 2017. Frankston YCW: The Stonecats need to appoint a coach and appoint one quickly. Opposition clubs are circling the Stonecats and a new coach needs to reel them in quickly. YCW historically have appointed within, however, now might be the time to look outside, to bring some freshness to the list. The key for this club and the new coach is simply to hang onto the 2016 list and improve relationships with others pushing for selection. BJ Credlin needs to go on The Recruit in 2017! Mt Eliza: Mt Eliza looked unbackable at half time in the grand final last
Picture: Andrew Hurst weekend. By three-quarter time, you couldn’t get off them quick enough. As good as the Mounties were, there’s still a gap. They’ll all be better for the ‘learning’ year of 2016. There were 46 players who played senior footy this season for Mt Eliza. The reserves and Under 19s won their third straight flag. There’s absolutely no reason to think that they won’t be there on the final day again. Pines: The first thing the Pythons needed to do was lock away Aaron Edwards – they did that last week. Tim
Bongetti has committed. Pines just needs to add some depth to their line up and a few recruits in the off-season will assist with that. Pines is also keen on getting hold of 19 and 20 year-olds, like Brad Kiely, so they’ll be active in that space. Bonbeach: The Sharks were considered a bit of a smoky coming into this year’s finals but let themselves down. They took a while to get going in 2016 (lost first four games) and really never played their best footy consistently. Consistency is the key, as is adding a
couple of recruits to the list and keeping Shane McDonald. Edithvale: The Eagles have already got back Brent Bowden and Matty Clark and are hopeful of getting back Brad Tagg, which would be a formality you would expect. There’s some exciting kids coming through who got a taste of it late and in a final. There are some powerbrokers looking after recruiting, so expect them to land a few. Seaford: The Tigers improved rapidly under the guidance of Ben Mur-
phy in 2016 and they’ll take another step again. The club is young and Murphy would have learnt a lot about his group and the competition. The Tigers have already picked up goal kicking midfielder Damien Rayson, who has played VFL. Expect more recruits to follow. Mornington: The Doggies were the disappointment of 2016. A soft preseason cost the Dogs at the beginning of the year and they came storming home late. Their top-end talent is as good as any and they have some great kids who were exposed to senior footy this year. With a strong pre-season, the Dogs will be the big mover. Karingal: The Bulls have landed a new coach in former VFL assistant Andrew Sharp. The red and white are hopeful of some Dolphins’ recruits on the back of that appointment. Leigh Poholke has left, as has ruckman Grant Goodall. Grant leaves a big hole. Luke Van Ran Raay and Michael Burke will go around again. The kids will take another step. Recruits is the key for the Bulls, as is a clear and concise game style. Langwarrin: The Kangaroos did a lot better in 2016 than anyone outside of the club expected. Some kids got an opportunity and rose to the challenge and there’s plenty to work with. The club is likely to continue on the ‘youth’ path. Ideally, they could do with a key forward and backman and a couple of midfielders with silky foot skills. Chelsea: The Seagulls are stable, both on and off the field. It’s been a while since that has been the case. Brett Dunne and his coaches have all been reappointed, the majority of the list has resigned and the off-field group is united. The Gulls just need a big pre-season and a couple of recruits and they’ll be a whole lot more competitive for longer in 2017.
Blues to set benchmark in 2017 NEPEAN LEAGUE By Toe Punt THE 2016 Nepean Division season may have come to a conclusion with Hastings winning the flag, however, the silly season is about to begin as teams prepare to challenge in 2017. For footy clubs, the season never finishes – one season just rolls into another. Who’s going to take us to the next level? Where did we fall short? These are the questions that coaching groups and committees discuss at the conclusion of every season. It’s the catalyst for hundreds of phone calls being made between now and the first bounce of 2017. So what would be the plans of your club in the off-season? Hastings: Success breeds success! The Blues have already landed former VFL player Ricky Ferraro and the hot word is that there are others to follow, although the club is keeping its cards close to its chest. The Blues got their mojo six weeks out from finals and I can only see them improving as a group. I doubt very much they’ll lose
anyone and there will be no premiership hangover. Frankston: The Bombers know they weren’t far away. Ryan Kitchen needs to get himself super fit. He had a big reputation coming in but finished the third or fourth ranked ruckman in the comp. He will make a significant difference if he can get himself right. Mitch Bosward and Jay Reynolds have been linked all season. A tougher draw in 2017 will make them a better and more hardened team. Rosebud: The Buds are looking for their third coach in as many years. Nick Jewell wanted a commitment from the club in 2015 and didn’t get one, so he committed to a club (Sorrento) that wanted to invest in him. 2016 coach Michael Kraska lost the support of the playing group and it was unworkable moving forward. The Buds need to get this right for 2017 and beyond. What’s best for the footy club long term? It seems there’s too many agendas both on and off the field with word players are dictating who the club should and shouldn’t interview for the top job. They simply need to find the best coach available. They missed on now
Mt Eliza coach Troy Shannon last year because they dragged their heels. The right decision needs to be made. Their list is outstanding and they’ll challenge again with the right coach. They need to keep Greg Bentley! Somerville: All eyes will be on this club in the pre-season. Bevan Malloy has been appointed coach. The question is, who will stay and who will go? Scott Simpson is on his way to WA and Luke Rowe is off to the US. What will Josh Westerman, Billy Rolfe and Tim McGennis do? What will Tim and David Hirst do? Todd Farrelly has retired. If the Eagles can keep the same list and add a couple, they’re good enough to be there again. Red Hill: The Hillmen were superb in 2016. They have already added one of the league’s best ever, Chris Irving, who will play as a forward. They need a ruckman and another onballer to help Sean Marchetti. They might be close with a big man. The return of Paul Wintle in defence would top them off. The Hillmen will make a massive leap and challenge if they can get what they need. Sorrento: The Sharks will be the big
movers in 2017. Myles Pitt and Leigh Poholke return up forward, Daniel Grant comes back into defence and Rob Forrest returns from a knee in the middle. Add that to a premiership Under 19 team with enormous talent with a taste of senior experience and the Sharks will be there when the whips are cracking. Rye: The Demons will no doubt be looking to bring on some more Under 19s this season. A good crop of Under 17s are coming up and they’ll be exposed to senior footy. Rye has also been able to hang on to the nucleus of their recruits, including Ryan Mullet and Kris Bardon. They should have a few points up their sleeve and will no doubt extend their recruitment web. Dromana: The Tigers will be hoping to see the return of some of their stars from yesteryear – using the great Rikki Johnston (coach) to lure them. Their kids will hopefully get into the gym in the off-season and come back stronger. The Tigers’ best was good enough. Consistency is the key. Devon Meadows: The Panthers will be hoping for some luck in 2017. They were hit with the injury stick in 2016
and emotionally they were rocked and knocked. There will be no excuses in 2017. They recruited well in the offseason last year and just need those players to take the field more often than not in 2017. Crib Point: The Magpies were the big disappointment of 2016 after some heavy recruiting. With Brad Arnold now in charge and having the respect of the entire playing group, expect the Magpies to be a lot more competitive next season. Pearcedale: The Panthers have appointed Leigh Stewart as coach for 2017. Former coach Jamie Merchan is still onboard. The key for the Dales will be hanging onto their list as opposition clubs circle during the offseason. Tyabb: The Yabbies improved rapidly in 2017. There were a couple of big losses in there but on the whole, they were very competitive. Having former North Melbourne powerbroker Ron Joseph playing a mentor role off the field, as well as helping out, will be a significant bonus for the club, which has stability.
Frankston Times 26 September 2016
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