Ex-Kangaroo Joel Crocker joins VFL club Frankston

And the Dolphins have 2018 Dandenong Stingrays premiership wingman Lachie Williams training with them as they move closer towards locking in their list.

Joel Crocker training with North Melbourne last year.

Another former Dragon has become a Dolphin.

In Joel Crocker’s case, he’s an ex-Roo too.

The 20-year-old has joined Frankston after two years at North Melbourne, where his father, Darren, was a premiership player and more recently a respected coach.

Crocker was taken in the AFL national draft in 2018.

Lightly framed, he had injuries and didn’t play a senior game.

He joins a number of other Sandringham Dragons players at SkyBus Stadium.

“He’s a crafty half back/wing type who reads the play really well,’’ Frankston coach Danny Ryan said of the 189cm Crocker.

Joel Crocker had two years with the Kangaroos.

“We think he can play some good footy for us across half back.

“He’s still finding his way, still building his body, but he’s got upside and he fits the mould of what we call a ‘good Dolphin’, a ripping person, the sort we’re trying to bring through the door. Good pick-up for us, young Joel.’’

Ryan said the character test was important for Frankston when signing players.

He said the club wanted good citizens as well as good players.

“Clearly they’ve got to be able to play footy and have a chance at the level,’’ Ryan said.

“That’s obvious. But it’s massive that they be ripping kids. Any club is a reflection of the people in it, so we want good people in our club. Good people make good Dolphins and good Dolphins do good things. When they sign a contract we expect them to be good Dolphins for 24-7, from picking up a piece of rubbish some dropped in front of them or holding the door open for a man, woman or child.’’

The Dolphins have signed about 40 players and will ultimately sign 47 – a senior squad of 40 and supplementary list of seven.

Lachie Williams (left) is training with the Stingrays.

They will also operate an Academy group of 20 players, to be coached by Dandenong Stingrays assistant and former Rye senior coach Josh Moore. Nathan Freeman is the development coach and Richard Brennan the program manager.

The Academy players will train at SkyBus Stadium every fortnight.

Former Essendon forward Josh Begley, Box Hill Hawks premiership player Anthony Brolic, ex-Gold Coast Sun Sam Fletcher, Port Melbourne premiership small man Ashley Krakauer and former Claremont ruckman Jeremy Goddard are the most notable recruits.

Dandenong Stingrays 2018 premier Lachie Williams, who had been with Richmond VFL, is training with the club, as is Riley D’Arcy.

The bulk of the signings for the 2020 season that never got off the ground are also back, including Gus Styles, Kai Owens, Jack Mentha, Bailey Lambert, Jack Berry, Harry Loughnan, Billy McKay, Blake O’Leary, Jackson Voss and Joe Lloyd.

“They’ve been here for a year-and-a-half. They haven’t played but they’ve been here so the game plan is entrenched, they know their roles and they’re excited about the new guys coming in to help them,’’ Ryan said.

“They’re all chewing at the bit. Selection’s going to be tough.’’

Meanwhile, the Dolphins have appointed a new football manager in Dale Christie, a new high performance manager in Steve Roberts and a new head of medical services in Greg Dea.

Ryan said all three were excellent additions to the support staff.