The start-up Frankston Dolphins are making a big splash in the Southern league

FRANKSTON Dolphins, not to be confused for the VFL team, is enjoying a first year to savour in the Southern league as they prepare for a finals berth.

Jacob Mehrtens takes a mark for Frankston Dolphins. Picture: Andy Brownbill

TWO Frankston clubs with the Dolphins emblem set out in senior football this year, one resuming, the other beginning.

Frankston Football Club was returning to the VFL after financial problems had it shunted to the sidelines for 12 months.

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Frankston Dolphins Football Netball Club was kicking off in the Southern Football Netball League as an offshoot of Frankston Dolphins Junior Football Club.

Of course it can be confusing. Feel for the person who purchased a Dolphins membership this year, thinking he was buying a season-ticket for the VFL club.

Austin Lothian rises above the pack. Picture: Andy Brownbill

But while one of the clubs has a long history at senior level in the VFA-VFL, the other is busy making it in local ranks.

The Dolphins have always been strong in junior football in the Frankston district. But Paul Wright for one wondered why they never had senior teams for the juniors to feed into.

“When I walked into the junior club, the first thing I realised was that there was no senior club,’’ he said.

“I’d never been at a footy club that didn’t have a senior club associated with it. It seemed a bit strange to me. That’s why I started asking around.’’

That was in 2016. Soon a few like-minded officials were forming a working party, from which sprang a general committee with Mal Lewis as president, Wright as secretary, Dave Long as vice-president and Sean Limpens as treasurer. All have children playing juniors with the Dolphins.

They spoke to the AFL South East, which was making noises about adding a third division. But they sensed they would be more competitive in the lower levels of the Southern league.

In anticipation of affiliation with Southern (it officially came last December, in Division 4), the Dolphins began rounding up players.

Luke Ambler in action for the Dolphins. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“We had an expression of interest night last August and we had about 25 guys turn up,’’ Lewis said. “A few were ready to jump on board straight away.’’

Meanwhile Chris Lacey was appointed coach.

“From there we just kept building and building,’’ Lewis said.

Fifteen sponsors were secured, including key backers Tech Power and Quadracon.

With a squad of about 70 players, all of them happy to play for nothing, the Dolphins entered the season with senior and reserves teams, as well as the women’s side established under the junior umbrella in 2017.

It’s been a first year to savour — all three will play in the finals.

Lewis and Wright said the Dolphins’ sole aim had been to be competitive and to foster a good environment.

“We had a blank canvas,’’ Wright said. “We could create a good culture and that’s something we’ve been strong on right from the get-go. We want to be a club that people want to come to and be around. We just won’t put up with crap.

“On the playing side, it was more about getting the team up and running. Finals weren’t in our wildest dreams.’’

Gus Turner and Lyndhurst’s Jarryd McGrath compete for the ball. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Lewis said Lacey had been a good choice as senior coach.

“He’s very measured in his method and his messages,’’ he said. “He’s also a good planner, a good strategist.’’

While the senior section has flourished, the juniors have continued to thrive with more than 20 teams.

Wright said now that a pathway had been established, the club could expect to retain players who in previous years either went elsewhere or dropped out of football.

“That was the key for us. We had a lot of kids who were doing their Under 14s or 15s and realising they’d have to go to another club and start from scratch again,’’ he said.

“When we did the numbers most clubs retain around 70 per cent of their kids through to Under 19s footy and have around 30 per cent drop out. We had the exact opposite. We had 30 per cent who went on to play further footy and 70 per cent who dropped out. It was an absolute given for us to do something about it.’’

The Dolphins have more growing to do. They are planning to introduce an Under 19 team in 2019 as well as a netball section. And Frankston Council will build new clubrooms at Overport Park. “A bit of disruption next year but a bit of pain for a massive gain,’’ Lewis said.

The start-up Frankston Dolphins have had a few gains this year.