EFNL 2021: South Croydon, VFL premiership player Steve Dinnell signs with East Ringwood

The ‘Roos have been nicely building for 2022 with some big inclusions, and the latest name to sign is no exception...

It’s been some off-season of recruiting for East Ringwood.

Star veteran Steve Dinnell is the latest addition to the Eastern league Division 1 club, after he recently stepped away from Premier Division football with South Croydon.

He enjoyed a successful state league career which took in two premierships with North Ballarat after a stint with Box Hill, and featured in a TAC Cup flag with the Eastern Ranges as best afield in 2002.

Dual VFL premiership player Steve Dinnell has linked with East Ringwood. Picture: James Ross/AAP

He’ll serve as a forwards coach at the ‘Roos next season, where he links up with great mate and East Ringwood coach, Ben Osborne.

The pair played together at South Croydon, and in a cricket flag with Croydon Ranges some years ago.

Osborne later oversaw Dinnell as an assistant coach at the Bulldogs when the club won the 2017 top division premiership.

A reunion has been some time in the making.

“He’s my best mate and I’ve been trying to get him for three years, but it’s never been any chance until this year,” Osborne said.

“He wasn’t able to commit to Premier level football … he didn’t know what he was going to do, but he was looking forward to playing some games somewhere.”

Osborne said there’s “no ceiling” on the games Dinnell would play.

“There’s no pressure on him here to play … he wants to play, so we’ll just give him every chance to do whatever is best for his body. If not, we’ve still got a great forwards coach,” he said.

“His knowledge of that area of the ground and of footy in general is outstanding, and I’m pretty excited to have him on board … he makes me a better coach and I like to surround myself with people that are going to challenge me.”

Dinnell’s addition adds to a busy off-season for the ‘Roos, with the signing of South Croydon premiership player Jason Coghlan and star Mooroolbark defender, Troy Wright, who returns to the club.

Troy Wright will be a big boost to the ‘Roos’ back six. Picture: Supplied

Osborne, who also coached Coghlan at South Croydon, said the forward would be a “great asset” through his leadership and on-field presence, as he makes the move in pursuit of senior opportunities.

“We’re really fortunate to have him as his best footy is premiership material in the top division … he puts lots of pressure on and that suits our game-style and how we want to play,” Osborne said.

Wright’s inclusion offsets the departure of key defender Dale Walker, who recently returned to South Croydon after a season with the ‘Roos.

Wright lands back at East Ringwood after six years away, where he also had a stint with Montrose.

The experienced defender earned selection in the Division 1 team of the year in 2019, in a season where he also finished runner-up for the Mustangs’ best and fairest.

“We probably couldn’t have done much better for a replacement (for Walker) with Troy coming on board as a back coach and centre half-back … it’s an outstanding result for us,” Osborne said.

Meanwhile, young gun Jackson Weatherill has committed full-time, following eight games at the Eastern Ranges this season.

The 191cm, 19-year-old is a product of the ‘Roos’ junior program, and played three senior matches this year, featuring in the best twice.

Osborne said he’s part of an exciting crop of emerging talents at the club aged 21 and under, after a wealth of names earned a taste at senior level this year.

“We just feel our upside through that age group is just going to be so big for us,” he said.