MPNFL 2019: Recruits boost Pearcedale ahead of season kick off

New Pearcedale coach Justin Hamilton said the Dales employed the “no d...head policy” when they recruited for this season.

Travis Bravo (right) will captain Pearcedale this season. Picture: David Crosling

New Pearcedale coach Justin Hamilton said the Dales employed the “no d...head policy” when they recruited for this season.

“There are a lot of blokes out there who want to play but you get the hassles that go with it,” he said.

“We looked at blokes who want to buy into the system and have been on the brink of senior footy at a higher level. Coming back to (MPNFL) Division 2, they will get more opportunities.”

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Pearcedale will be young and enthusiastic when it faces Rye, at Rye, in the season opener on Saturday.

Travis Bravo has been named Pearcedale captain for 2019 and Hamilton is happy with the list.

Recruits include Max Gearon (Mornington), Cranbourne quartet Jordy Leinmueller, Chance Struth, Daniel Baker and Jordan Baker, Luke Adams (ROC), Trent Robertson (Stony Creek), Declan O’Donnell (Doveton) and Braydan Maizey (Rosebud).

New Pearcedale coach Justin Hamilton.

Kaolan Thornton, who won Pearcedale’s Under-17 best and fairest last season, is a player to watch in ‘19, along with Luke Daniels, Connor Benwell and Riley Bradshaw.

Pearcedale, which finished seventh last season, has lost Harry Prior to Frankston Bombers, Luke Dalmau (Pines), Aiden Simmons (Mornington) and Damien Scully (Pines), while last season’s captain Dan Heijden has moved to Queensland.

Hamilton says Pearcedale has had 60 to 80 on the track consistently and has already noticed marked improvement in skills.

“I’m about building a club, not buying a club,” Hamilton said.

“I’ve put a lot of things in place ...my idea is to build a culture and get the players to lead us to where we want to go, instead of me getting up there and ranting and raving. I want buy-in from them, and they get a say to where we want to go.”

Former Sorrento ruckman Ryan Williams is a key addition for Rye this season. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Rye also has a new coach and a fresh batch of recruits.

Champion player Adam Kirkwood will steer the Demons, with Harry Whitty captain.

Sorrento ruckman Ryan Williams has joined Rye, along with Josh Curren (Mt Eliza), Ben Garlick (Rosebud), Cal Rice (Mt Eliza) and Glen Boyington (Newstead).

Rye’s losses include Jai Lloyd, Harley Cole, Oscar Whitty and Ryan Taylor.

Players to watch for the Demons are Curren and Kalani Ryan.

Kirkwood said his 2019 expectations were to “continue to improve and be competitive each week’’.

MPNFL Division 2, Saturday, March 30: Rye v Pearcedale.

Sunday, March 31: Devon Meadows v Karingal.