MPNFL: Mornington football side awash with young talent

Mornington coach Simon Goosey names the exciting crop of youngsters who will lead the club’s revival in the Mornington Peninsula Nepean League in 2021.

Kalen Bird swings on to his left for Mornington in the MPNFL last season. Picture: David Crosling

Mornington coach Simon Goosey says a talented crop of young players will lead the Bulldogs back to glory.

After being relegated for the first time in its 131-year history, Mornington will compete in MPNFL Division 2 in 2021 and plans to go all out to win the premiership and make a hasty return to the top flight.

“The last couple of years we’ve been working really hard on the young blokes and I’m quite happy where we are with them,’’ Goosey said.

Goosey says Matty Caine, Ryan Falvo, Trent Attard, Kyle Barnes, Will Brewster, Nathan Heath, Will Lewis and Callum Crank are just some of the many Mornington youngsters with bright futures.

“We’ve done a fair bit of work in the last couple of years and with Bobby Simpson now in charge of the under 19s he’s really pushing them through,’’ Goosey said.

“We’re trying to prepare our own, get it healthy.’’

Riley Welsh has joined Mornington from Beaconsfield. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Beaconsfield ruckman Riley Welsh and ex-Sandringham and Noble Park midfielder Bryce Dinger joined Mornington in the lead-up to the aborted 2020 season, and they’ll be on board again in ’21.

Goosey is still hopeful of recruiting in the coming months, “maybe to just top up with any classy experienced players’’.

“We will speak to a few,’’ he said.

“We are always speaking to a few but we’re quite happy…I was rapt where the list was…if we had have got underway (in 2020) I would have been rapt with the list that we had.’’

Mornington’s Will Goosey (left) celebrates with teammate Anthony Giuliano after slotting a goal. Picture: David Crosling

Goosey said Mornington’s depth of youngster meant it was well placed.

“With the salary cap coming down everyone is a lot more equal,’’ he said.

“You are better to put money in your own people and work on the development of your kids which is going to be important.’’

Mornington will host home night games next season after the installation of improved ground lighting at Alexandra Park.

“We’ll have one of the best facilities on the peninsula,’’ Goosey said.

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