Former AFL players Dawes, Lovett, Everitt and Murray join Nepean clubs for 2017 season

AT 28 and with plenty of good footy left in him, former Collingwood premiership player Chris Dawes is a key inclusion for Sorrento.

Ex-Magpie and Demon Chris Dawes, 28, has joined Sorrento in Nepean league.

AN influx of ex-AFL players will add even more interest to the 2017 Nepean league season, tipped by many to be tightly contested.

Predicting the premier, or even the top five, is near-on impossible ahead of Round 1.

Sorrento, after missing the finals last season, has added former Collingwood premiership player and Melbourne forward Chris Dawes as well as former Essendon star Andrew Lovett.

And all eyes will be on ex-Carlton player Andrejs Everitt when he turns out for his junior club, Somerville.

Here’s a look at each club:

CRIB POINT

Coach: Brad Arnold (new).

Captain: TBA.

Last year: 11th.

Ins: Mitch Chopping (Mt Eliza), Ben King (Hastings), Elliott Avis (Old Brighton), Billy Tovey (Dromana).

Outs: Dean Kairies (Mornington), James Cook (Foster), Kain Stratton (Hastings), Lee Koerner (Somerville).

Coach says: “It will be a different side from last year. We’re going to be a younger group. Overall I think the signs are good for the future. There’s an exciting buzz around the club at the moment with young guys seeing opportunities to play senior football.”

Former St Kilda player Allan Murray will wear the red, white and black of Devon Meadows this season.

DEVON MEADOWS

Coach: Glenn Michie.

Captain: Jess Dehey.

Last year: 8th.

Ins: Allan Murray (Balwyn), Elliot Hunt (Tooradin), Matt Italiano (Hillside), Barry Parsons (Sale City), Steve McInnes, Phil Raso, Stef Baumgartner, Dylan Mitchell.

Outs: Alex Doria, Chris Doria, Jack Hazendonk (Poowong), Jack Henderson (Langwarrin), Jayden Sullivan, Brandon Wapshott (Cranbourne), Corey Walker (Beaconsfield), Dylan Hand, Glenn Michie, Steve Roberts (retired).

Coach says: “Our expectations are realistic. A healthy list will surprise a few with the return of up to eight players who missed all or most of 2016 through injury. The exits don’t look great but that’s footy, we’re building a club culture that people want to commit to that is made up of good character.’’

DROMANA

Coach: Rikki Johnston.

Co-captains: Terry Wheeler and Dan Guerts.

Last year: 9th.

Ins: Zac Muschialli (Edi-Asp), Cam Carmody (Mount Evelyn), Josh McCleary (Tracy Village), Jeremy Daniel (Tyabb), Kyle Busuttil-Inglis, Ryan Smith (Langwarrin), Craig Christie (The Basin).

Outs: Christian Ongarello (Frankston YCW), Rohan Bleeker (Lang Lang), Cade Williams, Jedd Savage (retired).

Coach says: “I think we will improve on last year. We’ve brought in a heap of experience which we probably needed, some bigger bodies to slot in around our younger guys. Finals footy is something we are firmly aiming for.’’

Former Frankston Dolphin Corey Buchan has joined Frankston Bombers.

Ex-Dolphins captain Mitch Bosward will skipper Frankston Bombers.

FRANKSTON BOMBERS

Coach: Beau Muston.

Captain: Mitch Bosward.

Last year: 2nd.

Ins: Mitch Bosward (Mallee Eagles), Corey Buchan (Frankston Dolphins), Alex Harnett (Pearcedale), Jay Reynolds (Koondrook-Barham), Alex Beech (Frankston Dolphins).

Outs: Jason Curry (Langwarrin), Luke James (Kilcunda-Bass).

Coach says: “We think we will be a better side in 2017 than we were in 2016 but we think a lot of other clubs have improved significantly also. Our expectations are to be good enough to feature in finals football once again.’’

HASTINGS

Coach: Brendan Dunne.

Captain: Paul Rogasch.

Last year: 1st.

Ins: Kain Stratton (Crib Point), Ricky Ferraro (Hepburn), Jack Williams (Moorabbin), James Marasco (Yea), Chris Maloney (Chelsea Heights).

Coach says: “We’ve been trialling a few new things, strategies … we are looking at definitely improving, that’s our message, we want to improve.’’

Hastings coach Brendan Dunne: “We want to improve.’’

PEARCEDALE

Coach: Leigh Stewart (new).

Captain: Ben Mitchell.

Last year: 10th.

Ins: Caleb Cox (Aberfeldie), Harry Prior (Frankston Dolphins), Luke Dalmau (Stingrays), Shane Urbans (Lang Lang), Basil Sibosado, Andrew Douglas (returning), Dylan Ryan, Jake Ryan (Somerville).

Outs: Alex Harnett (Richmond VFL), Dylan Hoare (Red Hill).

Coach says: “I know we will be a hard side to play against and sides will know they’ve played a game when they come up against us this year. I can’t wait for the season to start.’’

RED HILL

Coach: Tony Blackford.

Captain: Marcus Dal Lago.

Last year: 5th.

Ins: Chris Irving (Pearcedale), Ben Hughes, Steven Ballingall (Drouin), Dylan Hoare (Pearcedale),

Outs: Harry Larwill (Old Scotch), Jared Eames (Somerville), Mick Dillon (retired).

Coach says: “There have been a lot of really good credentialed players come into the comp. We think we’ve recruited well, complementing our kids. We want to play finals.’’

Former Frankston Dolphins star Chris Irving is making a comeback with Red Hill.

Former Carlton and Port Adelaide player Greg Bentley will captain Rosebud.

ROSEBUD

Coach: Adrian McBean (new).

Captain: Greg Bentley.

Last year: 3rd.

Ins: Felix and Oliver Dunn (Lang Lang), Kieran Eddington (South Mornington), Ed Schellander (Hillside), Jake McBean (Lara), Bart Wallace (Alexandra), Flynn Holt (Sorrento).

Outs: Cody Mulcair, Glen Boyington, Jacob Houghton, Jack McDonald, Nick Boswell.

Football manager (Mark Hustwaite) says: “We are expecting continued growth and improvement in our young local talent and we should see significant changes to the way we defend and attack. Our game plan will have more structure to it. Adrian McBean has brought virtually a VFL program and the boys have responded with a great pre-season.”

RYE

Coach: Josh Moore.

Captain: Adam Kirkwood.

Last year: 7th.

Ins: Ben Trivett (Old Brighton), Tim Churchin (Cairns), Harley Cole (Merbein), Jari McDonald (Yarram), Oscar Whitty (Mt Eliza).

Outs: Ryan Mullett, Dean Millhouse, Nathan Henley (East Malvern), Kris Bardon (Bundoora), Matt Greig (retired).

Coach says: “We lose some experience but bring in a stack of youth. As a club we have decided to invest in our youth and look towards the long term health of the club. We are lucky enough to be in a position where we have an abundance of young talent.’’

SOMERVILLE

Co-coaches: Bevan Malloy and Andrejs Everitt (both new).

Captain: TBA.

Last year: 4th.

Ins: Andrejs Everitt (Carlton), Marcus Bate (Thorpdale), Lee Koerner (Crib Point), Jared Eames (Red Hill).

Out: Tom Shaw (Seaford), Luke Rowe (US college), Ben Crowe (Glen Eira), Scott Simpson (West Perth), Luke Collie (Thorpdale).

Coach (Malloy) says: “The boys have bought in, they’ve worked hard. You don’t know how well it’s gone until you confront the season. We’re going to give all our young blokes the best opportunity to play. There is opportunity because of the departures.”

Former Carlton player Andrejs Everitt will play with Somerville.

SORRENTO

Coach: Nick Jewell.

Co-captains: Luke Tapscott and James Hallahan.

Last year: 6th.

Ins: Chris Dawes (Melbourne AFL), Andrew Lovett (Redcliffs), Daniel Grant (AFL Qld), Aaron Paxton, Leigh Poholke (Karingal), Chad Harris (Stingrays), Justin McCleary (Cora Lynn), Troy Schwarze, Doug Scott, Jayden Tomkins.

Outs: Jack Egan, Scott Lockwood, (retired), Max Klevercamp (Tasmania).

Coach says: “Looking to develop on last year when we got full seasons into 12-14 kids as senior footballers. We have had a focus on surrounding them with some senior experienced players to help their development so we can build a side capable of winning finals for the next 5-10 years.’’

TYABB

Coach: Mark Paganoni.

Co-captains: Josh Connell and Ethan Rahilly.

Last year: 12th.

Ins: Michael Altenkirch (Mornington), Jordan Alves (Frankston YCW), Daniel Culnane (Hastings).

Outs: Jeremy Daniel (Dromana), Ryan Regan (Crib Point).

Coach says: “We’ve got a young group again but I’m sure we are making progressive steps.”

Round 1, Saturday, April 8: Crib Point v Tyabb, Frankston v Dromana, Hastings v Rye, Pearcedale v Devon Meadows, Rosebud v Sorrento, Somerville v Red Hill.