Mornington to try youngsters in ruck in 2021 MPNFL Division 2 season

Mornington has lost its heralded ruck recruit, but coach Simon Goosey says up to five players are capable of stepping up.

Riley Welsh playing for Beaconsfield. He will play with Yarrawonga in 2021. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Good things were tipped for Mornington recruit Riley Welsh in 2021.

But the former Beaconsfield ruckman won’t pull on the Bulldogs jumper this year, and instead will line-up with Yarrawonga in the Ovens and Murray league.

“He’s from there and it’s only for the year,” Mornington coach Simon Goosey said.

“I understood.”

Goosey remains upbeat about Mornington’s chances in MPNFL Division 2 this year.

The club was relegated from the top grade in 2019 but the coach believes a talented crop of young players will lead the Bulldogs back to glory.

With Welsh gone, Mornington has several young ruckmen capable of stepping up, according to Goosey.

They include Ollie Walsh, Ryan Smith and Todd Paganoni.

Or the Bulldogs could call on the more experienced Warwick Miller or Matt North, who has joined the club from Balwyn.

A ruck contest at Mornington training. Picture: Al Dillon

North is a hard running centre half-forward who stands 193cm. He will keep opposition defenders busy, along with Bulldogs spearhead Jackson Calder.

Mornington has recruited ex-Sandringham and Noble Park midfielder Bryce Dinger and Goosey said he’s been training strongly.

“He’ll be a really good midfielder, really clean,” 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.

Mornington kicks off the new season with a home game against Karingal under lights on Friday, April 2.