West Gippsland FNC: Phillip Island signs Gaelic stars and ex-VFL midfielder
Phillip Island has cast its recruiting net far and wide in a bid to go one step further in the West Gippsland league next season.
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From Ireland to the Island...
West Gippsland competition grand finalists Phillip Island has cast its recruiting net far and wide — and landed three key signings.
Irish men Colm Brennan and Matthew O’Sullivan, both Gaelic footballers who played Aussie Rules in Melbourne’s Southern league last season, will bolster the Bulldogs in 2025.
So, too, will former VFL midfielder Mark Collison.
O’Sullivan (192cm) has played top-level Gaelic football in Ireland.
He’s played with St Kilda City and Bentleigh in the SFNL, while Brennan (188cm) was named in the best players in nine of the 10 games he played at St Kilda City last season.
Phillip Island football operations manager Scott Huther said they would complement the young Bulldogs list.
“That’s what we need, we need some height and some speed and some skill to cover both ends of the ground,’’ he said.
“They’ll fit in really well. They’re really good guys. They play for the right reasons, they’re playing for experience and to have enjoyment.
“The Irish like to win, they don’t like to lose. They’re going to be pretty fun to have I reckon.’’
Collison is a decorated and accomplished player who is originally from Traralgon.
He played for Frankston in the VFL and Southport in the NEAFL — and last season played in a premiership at Woodside in the North Gippsland, named in the best players in the grand final.
“He’s a high quality midfielder,’’ Huther said of Collison, who has a holiday house in Phillip Island.
“He will complement our young midfielders. He and Jaymie Youle will be the older boys.
“We’ve got a good young list and a lot of kids coming through and we’ve got six or seven still trying out for Gippy Power.’’
Phillip Island lost to Nar Nar Goon by 24 p;oints in the WGFNC grand final in September.
The Bulldogs have lost only two players, Daniel Bourke (Hurstbridge) and Kai Mackenzie.
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