MPFNL: Pearcedale retain Ryan and Jordan Bastinac, target recruits

After successive finals campaigns in MPFNL Division 2, the Dales are planning to grow and challenge for a premiership in 2024. This is their plan.

A young and talented Pearcedale enjoyed plenty of success in 2023. Picture: Valeriu Campan

The future starts now for Pearcedale.

After successive finals campaigns in MPFNL Division 2, the Dales are planning to grow in strength and challenge for a premiership in 2024.

The work has already begun.

The club has reappointed coach Peter Bastinac, while his sons Ryan and Jordan — two of Pearcedale’s leading players — have also recommitted.

Now it’s about boosting the list.

And the Dales know exactly what they want and need.

“We’re going to certainly target some experienced players,” Peter Bastinac said.

“The club and I had a discussion and we’re just too young at times, especially when you’re playing the stronger teams who are full of mature bodies.”

Pearcedale coach Peter Bastinac. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Bastinac’s point was highlighted during last week’s elimination final defeat when Pearcedale was out-muscled by an experienced Devon Meadows.

“So if we can get a couple of experienced players in...’’ Bastinac said.

“The plan is to keep playing the kids, we’ll keep getting games into all the kids because we’ve got another batch coming through with some real talent.

“But if we keep going to them we’re going to keep getting beaten up, so to speak.

“We need to target some experience to come in and help us immediately, help these young boys.”

Ryan Bastinac.

Cruiz West.

Bastinac said the Dales aren’t “looking for 10 players”, rather they’ll target a select few.

It’s understood regaining former Pearcedale players who have been playing at rival MPFNL clubs is a priority.

“Our defence is really young and we’ve lost a couple of key defenders with Jack McGuiness doing his ACL,’’ Bastinac said.

“We want to strengthen our back half of the field, that’s one key area.

“There are a couple of boys who are ex Pearcedale boys playing elsewhere who we’d like to get back to the club, so we’ll be targeting a couple of those.

“It’s pretty promising.”

Jack McGuiness (right).

Ben Duncan. Pictures: Valeriu Campan

There was speculation Pearcedale was hoping to lure Frankston Bombers ruckman

Harry Prior back, but he has re-committed to the Bombers.

Bastinac said Pearcedale’s stocks were rising.

“There’s certainly a bit of interest in Pearcedale now, those boys are reaching out to us which is a good thing,’’ he said.

“Until you’ve got them you haven’t got them.

“They’re looking at us and they’re saying, ‘I think Pearcedale’s a good thing at the moment’.

And with our rooms and facilities they should be up and going by the time we get to next year, they’re saying it should be open by November this year which will be exciting.

“It’s been a tough year off field when you consider we’ve been living out of a tent for 12 months, so the club’s done really well, the players have been super.’’