Ex-Bomber Josh Begley among Frankston VFL recruits

Frankston has signed 24 players, including six newcomers, as it builds towards the 2021 VFL season.

Josh Begley gets away a handball for the Bombers against Collingwood in 2019.

Frankston has six newcomers and a new president as it sets out for the first season of the new-look VFL competition.

While fellow stand-alone clubs Port Melbourne and Coburg have already finalised their lists, the Dolphins have signed 24 players.

Plenty of hopefuls are in contention for the squad: coach Danny Ryan ticked off 60 names at training last night at SkyBus Stadium.

The Dolphins will run with a squad of 40, as well as a seven-player development list.

Ryan said the club was in no great hurry to close the books.

“Of our list of 46 from last year, 43 are returning to training, so there’s healthy competition for spots,’’ he said.

“We want to give players every opportunity to earn a spot.

“I think by the end of January or the middle of February we’ll be getting closer to being full. But we don’t plan to be full until the end of February. In the meantime we’ll play the hunger games.’’

Anthony Brolic celebrating a goal for Box Hill.

Six recruits have applied pen to paper, including former Essendon forward Josh Begley and 2018 Box Hill Hawks premiership onballer Anthony Brolic.

Drafted from Eastern Ranges, forward Begley had four seasons with the Dons, playing 16 AFL matches.

His debut came late in the 2017 season, against Gold Coast Suns, when he kicked two goals and had 13 disposals.

The 22-year-old signed with the Dolphins only a few days after the club contacted him, the lack of haggling impressing Ryan.

“He’s a dynamic, powerful player who was probably unlucky in being squeezed off Essendon’s list,’’ Ryan said of Begley.

“We’re rapt to have him on board. He’s a 188cm half forward who can also go in the midfield. He’s a great runner, uses the ball well, strong body. We think he brings a bit of leadership too.’’

Brolic stepped away from the VFL at the end of 2018, having figured in the Hawks’ premiership. He joined Rowville for 2019 and was in the Eastern league Premier team of the year, but he returned to the Hawks for what was planned as a shortened 2020 VFL season.

The right-footer, a 2017 VFL team-of-the-year player, will add a dash of class to Frankston’s midfield.

The Dolphins have signed another former Hawk in Billy McCormack, like Begley an Eastern Ranges product.

The 198cm defender is the son of former Fitzroy and Brisbane Bears player Brendan McCormack.

Sam Fletcher on the training track with Gold Coast.

Delisted Gold Coast Sun Sam Fletcher, WAFL ruckman Jeremy Goddard and former North Melbourne VFL forward Brodie McLaughlin have also joined Frankston.

Onballer Fletcher, a Balnarring junior, was part of the Dandenong Stingrays’ breakthrough 2018 premiership team and joined the Suns ahead of 2019 as the club’s first SSP signing.

Goddard, 202cm, played 31 senior games for Claremont and has moved to Melbourne for a work opportunity.

He’ll join James Rendell and Jack Berry in the ruck division.

McLaughlin played six games for the Kangaroos in 2019, kicking three goals against Coburg.

Captain Josh Newman, best and fairest Will Fordham, Nathan Freeman, Liam Hiscock, Berry, Rendell, Nathan Scagliarini, Mitch Cox, Connor Riley, Angus Styles, Alfie Jarnestrom, Jack Mentha, Kai Owens, Max Williams, Bailey Lambert and Blake O’Leary are all locked in.

Ryan said there was “an amazing buzz’’ about the new competition, which is yet to be named (the AFL has referred to it as the VFL/East Coast).

Meanwhile, David Friend has succeeded Peter Geddes as president of the club.

Geddes, so instrumental in the Dolphins returning to the VFL after being stripped off their licence, stood down after four years.

Friend has been on the board since 2017.

He is the founder and managing director of Shared Services Solutions (SSS), which develops membership and merchandise programs.

Peter Geddes.

Friend has 23 years of management experience, including five at Hawthorn Football Club and three at St Kilda Football Club. He’s also been involved in the A-League, NRL and Big Bash.

“He is a very organised leader who will ensure that each area of the club is accountable through each club director,’’ Dolphins CEO Adrian Lloyd said of Friend.

“He is well connected in the sporting landscape and we are excited that he has accepted the role of president of our club.”