Frankston coach Danny Ryan gives ‘tick’ to club’s 2021 season - and a push to three players
Dolphins coach Danny Ryan says Mitch Cox, Bailey Lambert and Connor Riley are attracting attention from AFL clubs.
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Six wins, enough improvement to hold a place in the top-eight for most of a Covid-hit VFL season, the emergence of three players into AFL draft prospects and dazzling Friday night lights …
That was the story of Frankston’s 2021 as it made purposeful progress under coach Danny Ryan.
The Dolphins finished at 6-5 and in the positive for the first time since 2006, when they made the finals under Brett Lovett.
They had settled on the bottom of the ladder in 2019, Ryan’s first year in charge.
“We’re pretty happy with the season. We understand it was a strange old year and who knows where we might have ended up if Covid hadn’t stopped everything in its tracks,’’ Ryan said yesterday.
“I’d be confident in saying we would have won a few more games if the season had been 21 games, just with the way we were approaching it.
“Overall we give ourselves a tick and move on and start planning. Moving from the bottom of the ladder to the middle of the ladder is probably a good outcome and maybe a bit ahead of schedule.
“We made good progress. But we know well and truly we still have a power of work to do.’’
He said the Dolphins had an excellent pre-season, winning three of their four practice matches, and it spilled into the season-proper, when they won their first three games, besting Coburg, North Melbourne and Aspley.
“Your benefits of your season always come out of your pre-season, with the work you get done building your team chemistry and getting guys going,’’ Ryan said.
“We were up and about early. The Coburg win, I was really happy with that because I expected Coburg to be a couple of years ahead of us in their progression up the ladder. And I think they still are, to be honest, regardless of where we all finished on the ladder.’’
All but two players on the list were used, and a bunch had their first games for the club.
They included Bailey Lambert, who sparkled in the early rounds before being injured, and fellow forward and Essendon signing Josh Begley, who kicked off as a Dolphin with six goals against Coburg.
Ryan said he had taken phone calls about Lambert, Mitch Cox and Connor Riley from AFL recruiters.
Cox is expected to finish high in the best and fairest – captain Josh Newman and wingman Nathan Freeman are the favourites for the award – after some rousing performances.
The right-footer averaged 21.7 disposals and kicked 15 goals, including five against the Bullants and four against Port Melbourne (when he also had 30 possessions).
Cox’s improved fitness was apparent with his hard running in fourth quarters.
“Mitch showed AFL attributes and if someone took a punt on him, that wouldn’t be a surprise,’’ Ryan said.
“He’s highly skilled. He can play multiple roles – half forward, wing or go inside if needed - and he has a good understanding of the game and a bit of a killer instinct on finishing too.
“He’s found with fitness that he can get to more contests and hurt opposition more.’’
Cox turned 24 this year and so is eligible to win the coveted Fothergill Round Mitchell Medal as the league’s “most likely’’ player.
Lambert kicked 14 goals from seven matches, including five against the Kangaroos and four against Aspley.
His marking is his strength, with Ryan noting he was “6’0 and marks it like a 6’5’’.
“But he’s also nimble enough and athletic enough to pick up his ground balls and get his snaps, and he’s a deadeye dick in front of goal,’’ he said of the son of former Richmond and Brisbane star Craig Lambert.
“He can also play multiple roles forward of the ball. He can play deep and hurt opposition close to goal and he can also play high. Some of his defensive efforts as a high half forward were outstanding.’’
Riley, like Cox powerfully built, is the son of former AFL assistant coach “Bomber’’ and joined Frankston after a stint at Richmond VFL. From 10 matches he averaged 21.5 possessions.
“He’s got some tenacity about him, he’s a gritty type,’’ Ryan said.
“He’s an absolute pro, always at the front of the running pack, does everything right, highly coachable, he’s got leadership qualities and he can play half back, wing or on ball. And he’s strong enough and disciplined enough to do a tagging role.’’
He said Begley’s best football “is a level above where we’re at’’.
Ryan said there would be changes to the list, with the Dolphins “super comfortable’’ in retaining 25 to 30 players.
“I’d be happy to have them all back, but clearly we need to improve and if we want to stay in the middle of the ladder or even jump into the finals, there’s a few pieces of the puzzle left,’’ he said.
“A bit of midfield depth and a tall key defender would be high on our list.’’
Frankston played five of its matches under lights on Friday night, drawing big crowds.
CEO Rocky Lloyd said the night games had been a “revelation’’ for the club and would help it to an “in front’’ financial result in a difficult year.
“People embraced Friday night footy and the atmosphere was electric,’’ he said.
“We actually noticed we were getting in a younger demographic and our merchandise sales went through the roof. Friday night is our sweet spot.’’
The Dolphins also signed a club-record 1500 members.
Ryan is expected to sign a new contract with the club soon.
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