West Gippsland Football Netball Competition: Tooradin-Dalmore re-signs key players, coach

Something special was brewing at Tooradin-Dalmore before the season was canned, but the Seagulls have held their ground and made some important decisions as they look to 2021.

Dylan Wilson slots a goal for Tooradin-Dalmore. Picture: Chris Eastman

The Seagulls were set to soar.

With a bag of recruits, including one-time Richmond AFL rookie Piva Wright, Tooradin-Dalmore looked like being a genuine contender in the West Gippsland competition.

Third last year, the Gulls had set their sights on going all the way in ‘20.

Then the coronavirus crisis hit.

But as the saying goes, good things come to those who wait and Tooradin-Dalmore is prepared to be patient, reload and go again in 2021.

Importantly, the club has moved to shore up its list, re-signing a string of players in recent weeks.

Piva Wright playing for the Doveton Eagles last year. Picture: Josie Hayden

Captain Jordy Kelly has committed to lead the Seagulls again next year, while vice-captains Andrew Dean and Kris Sabbatucci — both WGFNC team of the year members last season — have also been locked in.

Narre Warren premiership forward Stewie Scanlon, who looked like slotting in nicely alongside Dean and Wright to give the Seagulls a potent attack, has re-signed.

And big Piva is on board again, too.

“It’s just been good to make sure everyone wants to stick around,’’ coach Lachlan Gillespie, who has been reappointed, said.

Tooradin’s Jake O'Donnell on the move. Picture: Chris Eastman

Young guns Cameron Brown, Brad Butler and Cooper Shipp (son of former Fremantle Docker Andrew Shipp) have also re-signed with the Seagulls.

Tooradin-Dalmore finished in third spot in its inaugural season in the West Gippsland competition last year. Its reserves side won the premiership.

Gillespie, who played in Tooradin’s last grand final appearance as a 17-year-old in 1999, said everything was in place for the Seagulls to “take another step forward’’.

“I think we recruited quite well,’’ he said.

Tooradin-Dalmore coach Lachie Gillespie. Picture: Hamish Blair

“We’d worked really, really hard, battled hard for a long period of time. To have a little bit of success as far as playing finals and making the prelim last year, and then having that excitement and hope — and that’s all we’ve got is hope — go, with everything that has gone on, has been a kick in everyone’s guts.

“To be honest, though, every time I say that I do feel a bit of guilt because there are much bigger things going on in the world, other things we need to worry about and concentrate on.

“Now, I guess it’s shifted from the disappointment of not being able to play and be around your mates to making sure everyone is okay mentally — everyone connected through our club and throughout the league, we hope they are doing okay.

“It’s shifted as a coach, from that mindset of trying to win everything to now thinking along the lines of, ‘I hope everyone is okay and all our mates are doing okay’.’’

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