SFNL: Frankston Dolphins added two premiership cups to the cabinet on Saturday afternoon
There were tears, elation and relief when the Frankston Dolphins finally lifted the premiership cup after successive heartbreaks. The coach takes us between the four walls and explains how promotion will only aid their climb.
Southern
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Frankston Dolphins coach Taylor Stratton said the club’s maiden premiership was “a huge weight off the shoulders”.
The Dolphins had won 51 of their past 57 matches for no silverware prior to Saturday’s decider against South Mornington.
But Stratton’s men finally broke their drought, lifting the cup after a 11.16 (82) to 6.11 (47) win.
“It was a massive relief after the last couple of years, falling short at the last hurdle,” Stratton said.
“Especially last year the reserves won and the seniors didn’t, it honestly, everyone has put the headline as ‘monkey off the back’ or ‘relief’ and that’s what it was.
“It was a huge weight off the shoulders, not that I felt the pressure personally but I just wanted to get it done for the club after the heartbreak, the sacrifices.
“When the final siren went I just went ‘thank goodness’.”
The Dolphins arguably had a more dominant home and away year than their unbeaten run in 2022, with an average winning margin in excess of 100 points.
But the grand final didn’t come easy for Frankston, trailing at half time after conceding five goals in the second term.
Unlike years gone by, the Dolphins held their composure and fired off six unanswered goals across the third and fourth quarters.
Josh Chapman was enormous, exploding out of stoppages and launching his side over the Tigers’ lines.
Stratton said Chapman was unstoppable.
“His explosiveness, mate, winning those balls at contest and just running out of them at speed,” he said.
“No one could keep up with him and he gave us so much drive going inside 50.
“He was a man on a mission and he accomplished it, that’s for sure.”
Stratton himself was tremendous, providing a calmness to the young Dolphins who may have stumbled without it.
And to add to Stratton’s performance, he played with a serious break in his hand.
He is set for a date with the surgeon who will have to re-break and pin it.
The Dolphins are now in Southern’s highly-competitive second division.
The Dolphins are within proximity of a stack of clubs: Frankston YCW, Frankston Bombers, Langwarrin, Mt Eliza, Pines, Skye and Karingal to name a few.
It has been an issue in the past but Stratton is confident Division 2 status will help the Dolphins recruit and retain to keep up with the crowded footy region.
“I think it’s going to help massively,” he said.
“Being a part of it for only a year, when we looked at recruiting in the off-season, not playing in a higher grade did hinder us in getting guys across.
“I think that move up in grade should make the club more appealing for ex juniors who are playing at other clubs to return home.
“We’ve got a couple (retirements) but I am pretty confident majority of the guys will stay around and we’ve got a good under-19s coming through.
“There’s some talent there and there’s obviously a few guys in the twos more than capable of stepping up as well – we’ll be OK.”
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