Southern league 2019: Mordialloc picks up a bag of recruits, including a contestant from The Recruit

Mordialloc had a narrow loss in the preliminary final last year. But a string of recruits has coach Mick Brown convinced the Bloodhounds will have more balance in 2019.

The Recruit competitors Ryan Semmel, Nathan Jackel and Brendan Goss. Picture: Julie Kiriacoudis

A star of The Recruit is a star recruit for Mordialloc.

Ryan Semmel, who earned a burst of publicity and paraded his skills in the football reality TV program in 2014, has joined the Bloodhounds and coach Mick Brown has no hesitation in hailing him a “matchwinner’’.

Semmel and Brown know each other through school and VAFA club De Salle.

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Brown said he had often tried to land the goalkicking midfielder, who is coming off a six-year stop at Heathcote District club Huntly, where he snared three league medals, three club best and fairests, and was co-coach for one season.

Ryan Semmel taking a kick for the Heathcote rep team.

“He probably knows about eight guys on our list,’’ he said of Semmel.

“He’s been playing up the country for about six years and he was wanting to play closer to home (Semmel lives in Mentone).

“So those connections to the footy club got him across the line, which is obviously exciting for us. He’s been fantastic already. He’s not only a quality player but he’ll raise the standards at training and everything else he does around the club.’’

Semmel, 31, confirmed the travel had started to bug him, and he was happy to be playing for a club only a short drive from his home.

He said the fact that Mordi hadn’t won a Division 1 premiership was a factor in his decision to sign.

“That was a big appeal to me, to help them get one,’’ Semmel said.

As for his involvement in The Recruit, he said it was an enjoyable experience, particularly having the great Michael Voss as coach.

“The knowledge I gained from him was unreal,’’ he said.

He remains in contact with fellow contestants Brendan Goss, who is playing at Old Xaverians, and Chris Moreland, who is coaching Wyndhamvale.

Former Rye ruckman Rhett Sutton has joined Mordi.

Semmel is one of four Huntly players to join the Bloodhounds. Decorated former MPNFL ruckman Rhett Sutton, ex-VAFA topliner Josh Dickerson and forward Chris Gleeson have followed him to Ben Kavanagh Reserve.

Gleeson kicked 47 goals from 15 matches last season following returns of 50 (2017) and 46 (2016).

Sutton, a former captain of Rye, and Dickerson, who played much good football at Old Brighton, are experienced big men who will strengthen Mordi in an area they were lacking in last year.

Hampton Rover Josh McPherson, who slotted 38 goals from 11 matches last season in Division 1, has also signed with the Bloodhounds.

“He’s really quick and we identified we needed someone like him, a small forward who kicks goals,’’ Brown said of McPherson.

“It frees us up to do other things with Dan Nicholls (former Collingwood player), who had to play in that position last year.’’

Mt Eliza’s Dan Gormley has crossed to Mordi.

Mt Eliza premiership speedster Dan Gormley and well-performed Ellinbank half back Steve Ballingall are other inclusions.

Brown said aside from the recruits, the Bloodhounds would regain key players including forward Steve Tolongs and centre half back Justin Summons.

Both went down with injury midway through last year.

“Getting them back is just as exciting as getting in the guys we’ve signed,’’ Brown said.

Mordialloc is also expecting strong years from emerging players Rob Evans, Dev Danckert and Connor Shaw. All are aged under 21.

Asked how Mordi would shape up in Round 1 compared to 2018, Brown said the club would not necessarily have more talent, but would be better balanced.

“We’ll be stronger, mainly because of the type of players we’ll have,’’ he said.

“Last year Buddy (Spohn) was our ruckman and he was 6’1. This year we’ll have two ruckmen who are 6’5 (Sutton and Dickerson). We’ve picked up small forwards and got that gun midfielder (Semmel) we were looking for.

“Talent-wise, we’ll be pretty similar. But we’ll have more balance in terms of how we want to play.’’

Mordi were narrowly beaten by East Malvern in last year’s Division 1 preliminary final.

A week earlier they stitched up reigning triple premier Dingley.

“It was an exciting day for us, because obviously Dingley had had the wood over us in the previous three or four years,’’ Brown said.

“But it probably showed to me how important it is to get a week off in the finals. It’s a hard finals series over four weeks.’’