MPNFL: Pines regains ruckman Russell Gabriel
The Pythons have begun announcing their recruits for the 2022 MPNFL Division 1 season — and there’s an absolute star among them.
Mornington
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He’s a big in for Pines.
Champion ruckman Russell Gabriel has returned to the Pythons after a season with Hampton Park in Southern league.
And Pines has also secured speedy Seaford midfielder Nick Braund.
Gabriel will hook up with Beau Hendry to form a formidable ruck combination in 2022.
“We’re super excited to get him and (his wife) Sam back to the club,’’ Pines coach Paddy Swayn said.
“Family was the reason why they went to Hampton Park for 2021.
“Russell, as a ruck-forward, is going to cause a lot of dramas for a lot of clubs.’’
Gabriel, who with two league medals and VFL and WAFL experience, is one of the most decorated players in local football.
He played at the Snakepit in 2019.
“I think between him and Beau Hendry we’ve got two of the best rucks in the comp,” Swayn said.
“And Russ’s wife wife Sam will play netball so it just gets them all back to that community sort of club we want to be.”
Swayn said Braund, a team of the year wingman and best and fairest runner-up at Seaford, would inject a burst of speed into the middle.
“He’ll be good, he adds to our speed with the likes of Liam Cox, Micky Bezzene and Jacob Boyle,’’ he said.
“You know, we start to become a much quicker team with those guys.
“And with some of those kids we blooded last year like Jarrod Gatt, we’ll have a bit of a nippy sort of a side. Jono Haidon is another one with toe. It’s looking pretty positive.’’
Pines has also announced the return of Daniel John and Rhys Chalkley.
More recruits are to come for Pines, which said in July it would mount a vigorous recruiting campaign in a bid to improve after a 2-10 season.
“We are looking for ex-AFL, ex-VFL good players and people,’’ Swayn said at the time.
“And we are prepared to do what we’ve got to do to get those type of guys.’’
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‘Fit as anything’: Grand final hero returns to MPFNL club
He executed the “fend off of the century’’ in Pines’ 2018 grand final win — and now he’s back to do it all again. The Pythons have regained one of their favourites, and also signed a VFL gun.