VAFA Premier: Former Demon and VFL player Josh Tynan locked in at St Kevin’s

Skobs have confirmed a package of five recruits ahead of the start of pre-season training under new coach Anthony Lynch.

Josh Tynan on the training track with Melbourne.

One recruit and four returnees have new St Kevin’s coach Anthony “Plugger’’ Lynch perky ahead of the club’s start to pre-season training.

Skobs have landed former AFL player Josh Tynan and regained Pat Kerr, Cam Hodges, Callum Jones and Al Richards as full-timers in the VAFA.

They were with VFL clubs this year: Kerr and Hodges at Port Melbourne, and Jones and Richards at Frankston.

Tynan, 28, played two games with Melbourne in 2012 after being recruited from Gippsland Power.

The right-footer headed to the VFL after being delisted, lining up at Frankston, Port Melbourne and Essendon.

Josh Tynan playing at Casey in the VFL.

Lynch was an assistant at Essendon and got to know Tynan.

He now employs Tynan in his window furnishings business.

“We’ve become friends through the Essendon connection and now that I’m coaching at St Kevin’s he’s going to join me, which is good,’’ Lynch said.

“First and foremost he’s an amazing person – a great character, outstanding – and he’s got great experience, from that time at Melbourne and then in the VFL.

“In my time at Essendon he was basically a lock every week, and I guess at an AFL aligned club it’s always tough because clearly the AFL boys are always given priority. Josh was a constant in that team.

“I’m super-excited to have him at St Kevin’s. He’ll fit in really well. He’s got a young family and they’ll be well accepted. Great acquisition for us.’’

Tynan was in Essendon’s leadership group this year.

Kerr, who played four games for Carlton in his three seasons in the AFL, lined up at Port Melbourne this year but has stepped away from the VFL. He kicked eight goals in his two matches for St Kevin’s, seven of them against Old Scotch.

Hodges had a stint at North Melbourne VFL before joining Port Melbourne.

Jones played seven senior games for Frankston this year – gaining three mentions in the best – after a previous stint at Sandringham.

He was in the St Kevin’s side that lost the 2019 grand final to Uni Blues.

Richards, a Vic Metro Under 18 representative when attached to Sandringham Dragons, had three matches for the Dolphins this year.

Lynch pointed out that Kerr, Hodges, Jones and Richards were all “St Kevin’s boys’’.

“I think they’re all looking forward to playing and training with the same group every week rather than moving between VFL and local footy,’’ Lynch said.

He said the club had a “great young list’’.

“I’ve got a lot of faith in the group,’’ Lynch said.

“There’s a lot of upside there. Exciting times with the pre-season only a couple of weeks away.’’

Lynch, one of the most decorated players to wear the St Kevin’s jumper, has taken over the coaching position from Guy Martyn, who has landed at Uni Blues.