Frankston Dolphins defender Buchan signs with Frankston Bombers

TWO Frankston Dolphins have found homes in the MPNFL, with Corey Buchan signing at Frankston Bombers and Andrew McInnes at Karingal

DEPENDABLE Frankston Dolphins defender Corey Buchan will return to local football next season after signing with the Frankston Bombers.

The 24-year-old chose the Bombers ahead of Tyabb, his original club, after being excited by a challenge put to him by Frankston Bombers coach Beau Muston.

Kicking goals, rather than stopping them, will be Buchan’s mandate in 2017.

“We will probably experiment with him up forward,” Muston said.

“If that works, then great. If it doesn’t we definitely know he can go down back.

“But I think he is excited about potentially playing up forward because he did kick a lot of goals as a kid, especially at TAC Cup level.”

Buchan did excel as a forward in his bottom-age year at the Stingrays, kicking more than 50 goals and winning the ‘Rays goal kicking award.

At the Dolphins, where he played 90 senior games, he developed into one of the VFL’s premier defenders, known for his intercept marking.

Muston said the Frankston Bombers had been chasing Buchan for two years.

rankston Bombers have also regained Mitch Bosward and Jay Reynolds, and signed Pearcedale best and fairest winner Alex Harnett.

All are key additions to an already bursting-with-talent Bombers side that finished runners-up this year.

Muston said the club’s recruiting was “pretty much’’ done.

“Budget-wise we’ll be around where we need to be and points-wise as well. I think we are going to end up on about 36 points at the moment,” he said.

“Alex Harnett is a great pick-up for us. I rate him in the top three players in the Nepean comp. He’s only 20 and I think he’s going to add a lot to us.”

Andrew McInnes tackles Box Hill’s Sam Iles.

Another Dolphin, ex-Carlton player Andrew McInnes, has joined Karingal.

The 24-year-old joins the Bulls after one season with Frankston.

“He’s a great kid, really professional, will fit in well, and he sets pretty high standards,’’ new Karingal coach Andrew Sharp said.

“We are still talking to a few more but Andrew was probably our number one that we wanted. So we are really happy.’’

Sharp said he intended to play McInnes in the midfield next season.

Frankston team manager Gregory Scott has been appointed Sharp’s assistant coach.

Meanwhile the bulk of the Dolphins’ leading players will stay in the VFL next year.

Captain Jason Pongracic is believed to have come to terms with Williamstown, which is also chasing Ben Cavarra, Josh Pickess and 2016 best and fairest Josh Newman.

Sandringham is also keen on Newman.

Brandon Wood and Jayden Cass are at Richmond VFL, Jackson Sketcher will link with Collingwood VFL if he isn’t drafted, ruckman Michael Sikora is considering a move to Port Melbourne, and Nathan Foote and Nathan Gardiner have had talks with Casey Scorpions.

Jackson Peet has returned to Dingley.

Richmond VFL coach Craig McRae said the club was thrilled to sign Wood, whom he described as “an elite inside player’’.

“He’s got great leadership qualities,’’ McRae said. “I was really impressed with his character and to be honest we look at that for our culture and our environment just as much as we do the talent. He’ll come in and have a big influence on our group.’’