VFL: Frankston signs five graduates from NAB League, including Stingrays best and fairest

The grandson of a former Frankston coach is among the Dolphins’ impressive list of recruits for the 2022 VFL season.

Former Oakleigh Charger Lochie Jenkins has joined Frankston Dolphins. Pic: Michael Klein

Were Stingrays, now Dolphins …

VFL club Frankston has signed a trio of Dandenong Stingrays graduates as it moves closer to finalising its squad for 2022.

Rays 2021 best and fairest James Cahill, Colby Nayna and Jai Neal have been awarded contracts.

Nayna has family ties to the club: he is the grandson of Jeff Sarau, who coached the Dolphins for three years and played some vigorous football for them after finishing up at St Kilda.

Nayna, 18, played all games bar one for the Stingrays last year (he missed against Tasmania because he was off playing in a Vic Country trial match).

A Carrum Patterson Lakes junior, he was pleased to tell his grandfather he had made the list.

“He was pretty proud. Couldn’t wipe the smile off his face,’’ Nayna said.

Frankston coach Danny Ryan said Nayna was a good prospect and had worked for his place.

“He’s just neat, does a lot of things right,’’ he said.

“He’s really flourished playing half-forward roles in our match sim. Clean with ball in hand and makes good decisions. We think there’s a future for him.’’

Former Sydney Swans will play for Frankston this year.

Cahill is the brother of former Bomber Ned and a little taller than him. The Stingrays considered him a rough chance for last year’s rookie draft.

“Jimmy (Cahill) has been impressive from week one of the NAB League tryouts,’’ Ryan said.

“He was a real standout both physically and with his approach to wanting to be a Dolphin. He continued that all the way through. He had a little bit of soreness getting used to the training loads we’ve been putting them through but he’s come out at the other end.

“He’s a player with flexibility. He runs well and can play small back, wing, half forward. That’s appealing. He’s super-fit and he’s super-coachable. We think he’s even got early leadership traits with the way he goes about it.’’

Neal is tall and adaptable, and first played for the Stingrays in 2019.

He came through Beaconsfield juniors.

“He looks like a dynamic player to me,’’ Ryan said. “The pre-season has been an eye-opener for him. He hasn’t done it easily. He was also injured in a competitive drill. But he’s back on track.’’

The Dolphins also signed Lachie Riley (the brother of Frankston wingman Connor) from Sandringham Dragons and Lochie Jenkins from Oakleigh Chargers, and have another ex-Stingray, Ash Williamson, and former Eastern Ranges Josh Clarke and Marc Massarotti training with them.

Frankston has recruited well in the off-season, locking in:

* Taylin Duman, who played 41 games for Fremantle Dockers.

* Will Walker, who is coming off a stint at North Melbourne that produced six AFL matches.

* Ryley Stoddart, who had six AFL appearances for the Sydney Swans.

* Ex-Essendon rookie Trent Mynott.

* Former Kangaroo Tom Murphy.

* Melbourne Category B rookie ruckman Austin Bradke, the son of former basketball champion Mark.

* Pierce Roseby from the Sydney Swans Academy

* Angus Grant from the Frankston Academy and Old Mentonians.

Mitch Cox, Ash Krakouer, Jack Berry, Angus Styles, Cal Jones, Al Richards, Harry Loughnan and Jack Mentha have departed the club.

And Nathan Freeman continues to train with Gold Coast Suns as a pre-season possible.