VFL: Bailey Lambert among new group of impressive Frankston Dolphins

A batch of recruits, including Bailey Lambert, is helping Frankston achieve wins and gain respect in the VFL this season.

VFL Frankston Dolphins

Frankston is winning games.

And, Bailey Lambert says, it is trying to change perceptions too.

The Dolphins are 3-0 and on Saturday they visit Williamstown, which is also undefeated.

They haven’t beaten Willy since 2005. And they haven’t beaten them at Point Gellibrand since 1999.

That is no concern to Lambert, one of the many recruits making a difference to a club that last played in the VFL finals in 2008.

Since then Frankston has picked up enough wooden spoons to fill a pantry.

As the perky Lambert sees it, it’s about the present for Frankston rather than the past.

“We’re trying to change how people think about us, to be honest,’’ he was saying after the side’s defeat of Aspley in Round 3.

“We want to be a nice, tough team, a relentless and organised team that nobody looks forward to playing. We want to be hard to play against.

“I think in years gone by people have looked at Frankston and saw us as an easy win. We want to turn that around and bring some respect to the club.’’

Bailey Lambert takes a set-shot for Frankston. Pic: Matt Walker.

Two of the wins have come under lights at SkyBus Stadium, and Lambert, who turns 22 tomorrow, said supporters had been so vocal it was like the Dolphins had an extra man on the ground.

“The atmosphere on the hill has been unbelievable,’’ he said, adding that the players wanted to turn the ground into a “fortress’’. Frankston Fortress would have a nice ring to it on the fixtures.

Like his team, Lambert, 21, has made a rattling start to the season.

He kicked two goals, took eight marks and laid eight tackles against Coburg in Round 1. He booted five goals against North Melbourne in Round 2. And he kicked four goals against Aspley.

As a 183cm forward, Lambert is taking marks and making his mark on the competition too.

And he’s having a blast with the Dolphins, whom he joined at the end of the 2019 season.

“It’s just great fun at the moment, winning games with such a great bunch of blokes,’’ he said.

Lambert is the son of former Richmond best and fairest Craig and at the age of 18 came from interstate to join the Tigers’ VFL team in 2018.

Ironically, he made his debut late in the season against Frankston and had almost 30 possessions.

He valued the Richmond program and the coaching of Craig McRae – “He’s one of the greatest coaches you could have’’ – but he played more for Noble Park than the Tigers.

Dolphins coach Danny Ryan, doing the rounds of local grounds when Frankston wasn’t playing, noticed him at Noble, liked what he saw and chased him up.

Flashback: Bailey Lambert with his father, Craig, at a Brisbane Lions Father’s Day barbecue in 2001.

Ryan said Frankston could give him senior opportunities.

Eighteen months on, Lambert is taking them, gratefully and happily.

“Richmond was really good to me. I learnt a lot of the stuff that’s coming into my game now from Richmond,’’ he said. “I had an unbelievable time there. I wouldn’t change it for the world. That last year, 2019, winning both the flags (AFL and VFL), that was one of the most unbelievable experiences of my life.

“But the opportunity you get at Frankston is ridiculous. That’s one of the best things about it. If you’re in the best 22 you’re going to play.’’

Richmond regarded him as an onballer. But, as Ryan saw, Lambert was used as a forward at Noble Park, mostly because of his marking (Lambert can even remember playing out of the square at Noble). Everyone says it about him: he’s strong overhead.

“For someone his size, his marking is outstanding, clean and one-touch,’’ Ryan noted.

“It’s not just that. His footy IQ is good, he’s creative, he gets himself in the right spots. And when he decides to tackle, he tackles well. Good package for a forward.’’

Ryan said Lambert’s rousing start to the season had been a “pleasant surprise, but not unexpected in a way …. I liked what I saw of him for a couple of years at Noble Park’’.

Bailey Lambert training at Richmond

As for Lambert’s character, Ryan calls him a “good Dolphin’’.

After last Saturday’s game against Aspley, Lambert and teammate Ash Krakauer were walking across the hill to the social club for the after-match presentation.

They stopped and for five to 10 minutes scooped up empty cans on the terraces and placed them in the bin.

“That tells you a lot about what sort of kids they are,’’ the coach said.

The goals and marks have brought attention to Lambert.

Teammate Nathan Freeman got on the radio last week and gave him some lift-off, urging AFL clubs to take a look.

“’Freezer’ is one of the best blokes going around, a legend,’’ Lambert responded. “I messaged him straight away telling him to not be so nice.’’

But Freeman’s assertion that he was a draft prospect? “Well, I’d like to take my footy to wherever or how far I could go with it. But at the moment I’m having so much fun at Frankston, the most fun I’ve had playing football.

“If Frankston is the best I can do I’ll happily play as many games I can here.’’

And try to change perceptions along the way.

COACH DANNY RYAN ON THE NEW DOLPHINS

Jack Mentha (23, recruited from the NEAFL): “Effervescent small forward, really lively, always bouncing around. He’s a man. He’s well built – he likes his weights – and he uses his body well. He gets up and down the ground and has a little knack for kicking a goal.’’

Taine Barlow (21, Rowville): “Mr Consistent. Unassuming. He’s 6’3 and slightly built but he plays to his strengths. He can mind the talls and smalls and he’s a really neat kick.’’

Connor Riley. Pic: Matt Walker

Connor Riley (23, Richmond VFL): “Another mature body, a ballistic, explosive type of player, especially off half back. He’s got a long leg on him, good with his hands and his physical pressure, and he gives us a bit of link at wing and half back.’’

Anthony Brolic (24, Rowville): “A quieter personality. A one-touch player, really clean, composed in traffic, makes good decisions, clever with ball in hand and skilled. He can set the play up from inside or outside.’’

Sam Fletcher (20, Gold Coast Suns): “Clean, strikes at the ball, a team player who likes to brings teammates into the game. He’s a neat kick and a really good size for a mid. He’s growing into his role nicely.’’

Josh Begley (21, Essendon): “Recruited from Essendon. Like Connor Riley, he’s a ballistic type of player, a 95kg, 6’2, marking half forward who can run up and down the ground and is a really long kick. He’s a weapon forward of the ball and he can also play on the ball.’’

Joel Crocker. Pic: Matt Walker

Joel Crocker (20, North Melbourne): “Young, developing player, working on his strength. Has a high footy IQ, understands how we want to play, brave with his ball use and getting better. Growing into his body and his game.’’

Kai Owens (21, Sandringham): “Another jack in the box. Highly athletic, has serious hops. He’s not getting his rewards for effort at the moment but we can’t question his efforts working up and down the ground. He ran 16km the other night. We like him as a tall mobile forward.’’