Southern league: Hampton Park makes two key signings

Hampton Park has farewelled its champion ruckman – but it is also welcoming a Sandringham VFL player.

Russell Gabriel playing in the NTFL in 2016.

He’s a big man and he’s a big loss for Hampton Park.

After one season with the Redbacks, champion ruckman Russell Gabriel is leaving the Southern league Division 2 club.

He’s being linked with a return to Mornington Peninsula Nepean club Pines.

He was also in talks with another of his former clubs, Doveton.

Hampton Park coach Nathan Wilson said it was disappointing to lose Gabriel, who with two league medals and VFL and WAFL experience is one of the most decorated players in local football.

But he said Gabriel missed games with injuries this year, the Redbacks adjusted by playing Jarrod Hardy and Aaron Holden in the ruck, and would do so again next season.

“They did a fabulous job giving us a contest in the ruck and more or less playing as extra midfielders,’’ Wilson said.

But there’s more good news than bad for Hampton Park.

It has signed classy Trent Thomas, who figured in Berwick’s 2018 senior premiership and played four senior games for Sandringham in 2019. He was on the Zebras’ list again this year.

Thomas is close with Redbacks assistant coach Liam Myatt and Kyle Hendy.

Makaio Haywood (right) in the Stingrays strip.

In another lifter for the Redbacks, they’ve signed former Dandenong Stingray Makaio Haywood from Narre Warren.

In 2019 Haywood won the Narre Under 19 best and fairest and played eight NAB League matches with the Stingrays. The Redbacks described him as an “explosive, strong bodied midfielder’’ with an eye for a goal.

“He’s a real inside bull, someone we needed, and we’re really excited to have him come over from Narre,’’ Wilson said.

“He’s only 19, and he’s got so much ahead of him.’’

The Redbacks have also picked up Jesse Naylor from Narre. The midfielder and forward is coming out of the Under 19s and looking to take his first steps into senior football.

Hampton Park had a bad run with injuries this year but still finished 7-4 (and twice didn’t get to play bottom side Murrumbeena).

Meanwhile Wilson said he was pleased his former club Doveton had crossed to the Southern league.

And he said he expected the Doves to be a force in Division 2.

“It’s a really good move for the footy club,’’ he said.

“For Doveton to be sustainable in the future it had to happen, and to be honest it probably should have happened a couple of years ago.

“I’m really looking forward to renewing the rilvary. It will be funny being in the away rooms!’’

The clubs play for the Batten-O’Brien Cup, named after Doveton great Stuart Batten and Redbacks legend Mick O’Brien.

Wilson said Doveton would be “super competitive and I’d be very surprised if they weren’t playing finals’’.

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