VFL: Frankston Dolphins lock in nine recruits for 2023 season

A former GWS player, a SANFL ruckman and NAB League graduates are among the Dolphins’ impressive list of recruits for the 2023 VFL season.

Nick Minchin (right) goes up in the ruck for Glenelg last season. He’s joined Frankston in the VFL. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

They’ve come from far and wide.

VFL club Frankston has signed nine newcomers, including GWS VFL player Sebastian Quirk and Glenelg Tigers ruckman Nick Minchin.

Frankston coach Danny Ryan said 200cm Minchin’s arrival would help fill a ruck void left by Liam Reidy, who was drafted by Fremantle in November.

“He’s a Vermont junior originally so he’s just coming home,” Ryan said of Minchin, 26.

The Dolphins have also awarded a contract to former Box Hill small defender Chayce Black, son of former AFL player Heath Black.

Chayce played with Wandin in the Outer East league last season.

“He’s had a couple of years of local,” Ryan said.

“We would have signed him last year but he wanted to stay at local.

“He will add a little bit of dash to our small defender stocks.”

Lachlan Reidy of the Ranges handballs.

Ben Hempel.

Casey Demons VFL players Matt Johnson and Josh Smith have also joined Frankston for the 2023 season.

Johnson, a 187cm forward, had a terrific season for Beaconsfield in 2019 when he kicked 51 goals from 15 matches, including a bag of nine against Olinda Ferny Creek and six against eventual premier Narre Warren.

Smith is a big-bodied forward/ruck who was a Gippsland Power player before joining Casey Demons in 2020. He was on Melbourne’s Covid contingency list last season.

Frankston has also had an influx of NAB League graduates, delighting coach Ryan.

“They’ve come from all locales around us, from Sandy, Dandy, Oakleigh, Eastern and Gippy,’’ he said.

“We’re really pleased with those kids. They’re first year so you’re not looking at them to win you games but at least they’re building a nice foundation for the future.”

The teenage newcomers include Lachlan Reidy, out of Eastern Ranges, and Sandringham Dragons 190cm player Ben Hempel. Both are midfielder-wing types who were in draft discussions last season.

A couple of talls, Justin Davies (Dandenong Stingrays) and Trent Marotta (Eastern Ranges), have also joined the Dolphins. Both are capable of playing as key forwards.

Frankston also has two players training with AFL clubs; Brodie McLaughlin at Gold Coast Suns and Kye Turner at Melbourne.

“Whether Brodie and Kye get spots on the list or not, we don’t know,” Ryan said.

“We’re hoping Mitch Szybkowski will come back, he’s at Essendon training.”

Frankston coach Danny Ryan.

The Dolphins have a new high performance manager, Matt Ross, from Gippsland Power.

“He’s got a real new outlook so there’s a new lease of life around the place which is good, good for someone like me too actually,” Ryan said.

The Dolphins are putting more focus on weights training.

“We’ve invested a bit more in the footy department so there’s a bit more gym gear, so there’s a bit more lifting and a bit more boxing going on,’’ Ryan said.

“We’ve got such a young list, they need physical development.’’

The Dolphins’ departures include Reidy (Fremantle), captain Josh Newman (Mornington), Liam Hiscock (Edi-Asp), Tom Murphy (Somerville) and Sam Fletcher (Dromana).

In 2022, Frankston had six wins and, frustratingly, also six losses by a goal or less.

Ryan believes the new additions, plus some changes off field, will see the Dolphins rise again in 2023.

Frankston’s recruits:

Sebastian Quirk (GWS VFL)

Nick Minchin (Glenelg Tigers, SANFL)

Chayce Black (Wandin)

Matt Johnson (Casey Demons)

Josh Smith (Casey Demons)

Lachlan Reidy (Eastern Ranges)

Ben Hempel (Sandringham Dragons)

Justin Davies (Dandenong Stingrays)

Trent Marotta (Eastern Ranges)