MPFNL: Frankston YCW recruit Ned Cahill steps away from football

A blow for a Mornington Peninsula league club ahead of the 2025 season, with a former AFL forward deciding not to play. Here’s why.

Ned Cahill at Essendon training in 2020. Picture: Michael Klein

Citing a lack of motivation, former Essendon player Ned Cahill is stepping away from football to pursue other interests in his life.

The 24-year-old, who played six AFL matches with the Bombers in 2020-21, had committed full-time to Frankston YCW in Mornington Peninsula league Division 1 in 2025 after three seasons at Carlton in the VFL.

But, lacking the “buzz” for footy that took him to the elite level, Cahill told YCW coach Paul Goonan that he wouldn’t be playing in the immediate future.

“His heart wasn’t in it,” Goonan said on Monday.

“He basically told me that. He came in and said so. We sat and spoke about it for a while.

“If he wasn’t a hundred percent committed to it he didn’t want to waste his time or the club’s time or his teammate’s time.’’

Essendon's Ned Cahill celebrates his first goal with Darcy Parish. Picture: Sarah Reed

Goonan supported Cahill’s decision and said he would be welcomed back should he change his mind.

Cahill has been spending his time training for triathlons.

“He’s still on our list but he pretty much hasn’t been committed or excited to get to training,’’ Goonan said.

“For the first time he’s found other things in his life and at the moment he’s taken a bit of a break.

“Look, we’re hoping come mid year he does miss it.

“He’s been training at a higher level from the age of 15 to now and I think for the first time he hasn’t been missing it and he’s kind of been enjoying the break. I think he thought he’d miss it but he just hasn’t.”

Meanwhile, Cahill’s younger brother Jimmy is training strongly at Frankston YCW after a couple of injury-interrupted seasons.

“He’s now back to fully fit, running well and looking a million dollars,’’ Goonan said of Jimmy Cahill.

“We’ve got a few like that...we are treating them almost like new recruits.

“Last year they just weren’t out there.’’

Luca Goonan of the Stonecats. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

In other YCW news, Josh Butland (Frankston), Luca Goonan (Carlton) and Darcy Murr (Collingwood) have returned from the VFL and will play full-time with the Stonecats in 2025.

“They are there for our training sessions now and they’ve really set the standards which will improve us,’’ Goonan said.

VFL-listed ruckmen Cam Owen and Billy McCormack look like starting the season at Frankston YCW after injury-interrupted pre-seasons.

Goonan said Karingal recruit Matt Hill and CJ Small and Harry Lloyd from Mornington had impressed over summer and would be excellent inclusions this year.

“Matt Hill hasn’t missed a session, he’s a gut runner which we love,’’ Goonan said.

“Harry Lloyd and CJ Small from Mornington have come in and the same thing, they’re out and out gut runners.’’

Stonecats key forward Josh Patullo looks like missing early games as he recovers from groin surgery.

“He’s still a fair way off from being ready to play footy,’’ Goonan said.

Frankston YCW will play three practice matches in March — against Berwick at Berwick on March 1, against Frankston Bombers on Friday (night), March 14, and against Rowville at Rowville.