VFL: Frankston takes Port Melbourne to the cleaners

Frankston took another step towards the finals by thrashing Port Melbourne under lights at SkyBus Stadium.

Mitch Cox celebrates one of his four goals. Pic: Matt Walker

The final margin was 95 points, the type a blowout result that has been common in Frankston and Port Melbourne matches in the past 10 years or so in the VFL.

It’s just that this time it was the Dolphins handing out the punishment and the Borough taking the bruising.

Friday night’s match at a cold SkyBus Stadium was a tale of two stand-alone teams.

One is rising quickly, the other is sagging.

Frankston went into the game in the top eight, and Port Melbourne 22nd and last.

The difference between them was pronounced on the ladder and on the field too as the Dolphins romped it in 18.14 (122) to 4.3 (27).

Josh Begley is jubilant after kicking a goal for the Dolphins. Pic: Matt Walker

Dollies stalwart Michael Robinson was quick to report that it was their biggest win in eight years and also Port’s heaviest loss under the long coaching tenure of the great Gary Ayres.

The hosts began well and never relented; at three-quarter-time a few Frankston supporters urged their team to go on and win by 100 points.

The Dolphins fell fractionally short, but it was a win full of authority and they’re on track to play in the finals for the first time since 2008.

Mitch Cox gave another best-afield performance with four goals and 30 possessions, and captain Josh Newman was outstanding again with 33 disposals.

But Frankston was spoiled for choice when it came to filling its best-player list; it had winners everywhere.

Port Melbourne has missed the finals only once since Gary Ayres arrived as coach in 2008. But the Borough are anchored to the bottom of the ladder with only victory and the task now is to regain some respectability.

Their first half was a shocker.

Gary Ayres at the huddle at quarter time. Pic: Sam Wharton, PMFC.

Players repeatedly fell over – the conditions were slippery, yet the Dolphins managed to stay on their feet – turned the ball over and failed to hold any semblance of structure across the field.

One former VFL coach sat in the grandstand shaking his head as Frankston steamed away from stoppages without any pressure in the first quarter.

That Dolphins big man James Rendell could mark close to goal with no challenge from a Port defender early in the match said it all about the visitors’ lack of cohesion.

Ayres didn’t hold back at the quarter time huddle; one veteran supporter said it was more like watching Gary Brice than Gary Ayres.

But the second term produced more of the same, as did the third and the fourth. And to think some mugs had backed Port in with betting agencies.

The one positive for Port Melbourne was that debutant Marcus Kane from the Eastern Ranges kicked two of the four goals.

The Borough had another first-gamer in ruckman Felix Flockart from the Sandringham Dragons, and he was handy with 10- touches and 11 hit-outs.

What about Cox? He’s playing with power, poise and panache, and the AFL recruiters who braved the cold would no doubt have been taken with his performance.

Newman kicked two goals to go with his pile of possessions, Nathan Freeman (29), Connor Riley (28) and Anthony Brolic (23) handled the ball often and generally cleanly, Jackson Voss had the best of his five senior games, Bailey Lambert (wearing the long sleeves favoured by his father, Craig) made a pleasing return from injury, Josh Begley was lively with three goals, and Jack Mentha and Brodie McLaughlin slipped in with two.

At the other end the defence held tight, conceding nothing.

After the final siren the Dolphins bunched in front of fans on the hill and thanked them for their support; despite the cold, another good crowd turned out for the match.

Friday night football is proving a winner for Frankston and its fast-rising team.