Chris Lacey appointed to steer Frankston Dolphins Football Netball Club in first season

THE all-new Frankston Dolphins Football Netball Club has taken significant steps towards its inaugural season in 2018.

Frankston Dolphins Football and Netball Club's inaugural senior coach Chris Lacey (left) shakes on it with president Mal Lewis.

THE all-new Frankston Dolphins Football Netball Club has taken significant steps towards its inaugural season in 2018.

Based at Overport Park, the Dolphins – not to be confused with the VFL side of the same name – hope to kick off in the Southern Football Netball League (SFNL) after their application for affiliation is assessed.

On Monday, the club appointed its first senior coach, 33-year-old Chris Lacey.

The former Springvale Districts reserves coach says his role will be to guide youngsters, many from the Frankston Dolphins Junior Football Club, into senior ranks.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity, especially for the young kids in the area,’’ he said.

“Some kids are starved of opportunity to play senior footy and having a new club pop up it’s a great opportunity for them and myself to guide these kids into senior footy.’’

Lacey said he viewed the new club as a blank canvas, with a chance to build a strong culture.

“It’s exciting. Clubs are dying to have this good culture and we can just build that,’’ he said.

“We can turn it into a place where everyone wants to be, have a bit of fun along the way and hopefully that breeds success for a new future.’’

Chris Lacey in action with Highett in 2010.

Frankston Dolphins Football Netball Club hopes to field senior, reserves and under-19 sides next season.

Experienced former coaches Gavin Artico and Jason Watts have been working behind the scenes to help get the club get established, while Mal Lewis is club president and David Long vice president.

The new senior club will provide a pathway for Frankston Dolphins juniors.

“They have 500 juniors kids. To give them a pathway into senior footy, that will be my focus,’’ Lacey said.

Lacey played with Springvale Districts, Highett and Caulfield and for the past three years has been reserves coach at Springvale Districts.

He says about 30 players have expressed an interest in playing with the Dolphins, and another 13 “want to come across with me from different areas and different clubs’’.

“It’s getting bigger and bigger and the momentum is starting to take hold now which is great,’’ Lacey said.

A meet the coach evening is on Wednesday, November 1, at Overport Park, at 7pm.