MPFNL 2023: Byron Barry, Kyle Hutchison and Bailey Fry chase Frankston YCW glory
Frankston YCW’s grand final side will have a youngster playing his fifth game — and two stars chasing their ninth premierships. Here are their remarkable stories.
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Grand final day and Frankston YCW — they go together like fish and chips.
Zoom in a bit closer and you can say the same of Byron Barry and Kyle Hutchison.
The legendary Frankston YCW players have both played in a remarkable eight premierships with the mighty Stonecats.
They’ll be trying to add a ninth flag on Sunday when YC meets Dromana, led by ex-Richmond player Jake Aarts, in the MPFNL Division 1 decider at Frankston Park.
“They’re marvels those two and so important to what we do,” Frankston YCW coach Paul Goonan said of “Bysa’’ and “Hutch’’.
Barry, 38, and Hutchison, 34, both made their YCW senior debuts in 2008 and it’s fair to say they’ve had a good run since — winning premierships in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2022.
They are still vital contributors.
Barry, hard and tough, is Mr Reliable in the backline, creative and a strong leader.
Tattoo-covered Hutchison is a fan favourite with his dash, skill and uncanny knack of making something happen just when the Stonecats need it.
“He has big moments now, not big games if that makes sense,” Goonan said of Hutchison.
“He has moments where he asserts himself.
“And Byron is the same, ever reliable, he’s had real challenges this year with his work trying to get to training and balancing all that.”
While Barry and Hutchison are cemented as Stonecats and Peninsula footy greats, their 19-year-old teammate Bailey Fry is just starting out.
He will be playing his fifth senior game in the grand final.
Goonan said Fry had been a revelation in the finals series, especially in last Sunday’s preliminary final win over Mt Eliza when he was named among the best players on the ground.
“He was fantastic, the longer the game went the better he got,” Goonan said.
“He makes some strange decisions sometimes with the ball and he makes me hold my breath a little bit but he doesn’t get fazed, he’s got one of those personalities.
“There are the extremes, you’ve got Byron running around at 38 and hopefully trying to play in his ninth premiership, and a fifth gamer going together.”
There’s no shortage of premiership experience in Frankston YCW’s side; Lachie Wallace and Kev Lylak have played in four or five flags.
Finals success, and premierships, is part of Frankston YCW’s DNA.
It’s been passed down from one Stonecats generation to another.
“A handful of our young guys last year went along to a premiership reunion…and got a bit of a taste for it, looked around and said, ‘that’s what we want’,” Goonan said.
Goonan played in two premiership as a ruckman in 1989 and ‘93.
He coached the Stonecats’ 2022 flag
His dad Michael played in two YCW premierships in the 1970s.
And Paul’s son Luca, an integral part of the current YC midfield, played in last season’s flag win.
“It’s been a good place for our family,” Goonan said.
“The club works really hard and the playing group has a habit of working really hard to get to these levels.”
*Frankston YCW legend Craig Nankervis played in eight senior premierships for the Stonecats, retiring in 2018. He also played in a reserves and an U18s flag.
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