Moving on: Spearhead departs MPFNL premiership side

One of the Mornington Peninsula league’s leading goal kickers will pull on a different jumper next season. Details…

Mornington forward Jackson Calder slots a goal last season. Picture: Valeriu Campan

The high-marking and straight kicking of Jackson Calder will be missing from Mornington’s forward line next season.

The Bulldogs have confirmed the big spearhead has moved on.

“He’s not playing with us,” Mornington coach Josh Newman said.

“He looks like he’s playing country footy next year.’’

Darwin-based Calder was a fly in, fly out player for Mornington last season.

He kicked 43 goals in 13 games and played in the Bulldogs premiership in MPFNL Division 2.

Jackson Calder kicked seven goals for St Mary's against Wanderers in Round 4 of the 2023-24 NTFL season. Picture: AFLNT Media

Newman said the travel factor was hard for both Calder and the club.

“It’s just hard work for both parties and he was pretty knackered from it all and obviously going into Division 1 the comp’s going to be good again,’’ Newman said.

“He doesn’t want to fly in and fly out and we don’t really want to do it either as a club.

Newman added:

“Jacko is a really great, proud Mornington person and he was stoked to win the flag.”

Calder, who is currently playing with St Mary’s in the Northern Territory Football League, has been linked with a country club in the state’s west that already has several NTFL players on its list.

“It’s a really good opportunity with a mate who’s coaching country footy,” Newman said.

“We all love Jacko and it was great to share that (premiership) with him. He loves his time up in the Northern Territory…who knows, we might see him back in the last couple years of his career potentially if he comes back down to Morno.’’

Mornington has signed Frankston Dolphins gun Kai Owens, who can play up forward.

Tim Susovich was Mornington’s leading goal kicker last season with 49, while Matthew North booted 28.

Newman said without Calder his side would “look to do things a little bit differently’’ in attack next season.