MPFNL and SFNL clubs partner up for pre-season training

Two strong clubs from the Mornington Peninsula and Southern leagues have confirmed they’ll train together over the pre-season.

Cranbourne and Pines battling it out in a practice match in 2015. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Pre-season training will go up a gear for Pines and Cranbourne in the new year.

They play in different leagues — Pines in the Mornington Peninsula competition and Cranbourne in Southern league — but for four sessions in February they’ll be training partners.

Pines is a MPFNL Division 1 perennial finalist, while Cranbourne has contested the past two SFNL Division 1 grand finals, winning the 2022 flag.

Pines coach Paddy Swayn and his Cranbourne counterpart Steve O’Brien caught up last Sunday to begin planning the month-long training block, designed to bring out the players’ competitive instincts.

Swayn said Pines have done similar joint-training in the past with Cranbourne, Langwarrin and Karingal and said it’s the best way to prepare for the season ahead.

Pines coach Paddy Swayn.

Pines has played finals in the MPNFL Division 1 in every season since 2015, bar one.

“You’re starting to actually test and see what your game plan looks like against opposition rather than just against each other,” he said.

“And they’re a good outfit Cranbourne.”

Swayn said Pines had voted for Cranbourne to join the MPFNL in recent years and the clubs had a good relationship.

Cranbourne will use the sessions to fine-tune its new-look forward line without champion Marc Holt, who’s gone to Lang Lang, and Kirk Dickson, who has joined Rosebud. The pair kicked 114 goals last season.

Cranbourne Eagles coach Steve O’Brien. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

Meanwhile, Pines have been quiet on the recruiting front, with just one new addition, key forward Jackson Mockett from Warragul Industrials.

Swayn says the Pythons’ shortage of recruits wasn’t through lack of trying; he’s spoken to over 50 prospective recruits.

“We’re still obviously in the market,’’ he said.

“Mate, it’s been ridiculous…you have those years when everyone wants to come and then other times when you’re banging your head against the wall.

“I reckon I would have spoken to 50 blokes at least.”

Pines have re-signed Shane Savage, Russell Gabriel and Luke Potts although Aaron Edwards is unlikely to return.

Former Collingwood star and Brownlow medallist Dane Swan will play the second half of the season with Pines once again after his series of one-off games.