Frankston has beefed up its team for its Smithy’s VFL Friday night standalone clash against the Northern Bullants, with star defender Joe Lloyd and key midfielder Connor Riley returning for their first appearances of the season.
Lloyd missed the Dolphins’ first two matches with ankle injury while Riley was sidelined with a hand problem, but the double bye meant they didn’t miss any more football and were able to get back on the park.
Frankston has, however, lost key forward Josh Butland for six weeks with a broken finger after he hit top form with five goals in the impressive victory over Port Melbourne on Good Friday, while Kyle Stainthorpe is also injured.
The news is completely in contrast to the Bullants, who will front up off a five-day break compared to the DoIphins’ 21 days and must do it without co-captain Liam Mackie and burly forward John Roumeliotis, who both copped suspensions in the home loss to Geelong last Sunday.
Mackie’s 50th VFL game was soured by a four-week ban for tunnelling Geelong’s Marcus Herbert in the last quarter, while Roumeliotis will miss the next two games after taking the early plea for a high bump on the same Cat in the second term.
The Bullants have named Brisbane Lions Academy recruit Josh Cooper for his first game in red and white after three VFL games last year, while Rohan McKenzie has been named for his debut after booting three goals for Old Ivanhoe last week and Sam Donegan returns after playing in Round 1.
Frankston also has a debutant in 202cm Beaconsfield big man Harrison Coe, who will play his first VFL game at the age of 24.
Coe kicked 117 goals for St Francis Xavier in the VAFA Division 4 competition in 2019 but has been playing further afield for the Outer East league Eagles, booting two majors last week.
All matches in the 2024 Smithy’s VFL and VFLW seasons will be live streamed free via the AFL website, AFL Live Official App and VFL App.
Smithy’s VFL broadcast partner, the Seven Network, will broadcast select matches live and free on the Seven Network in Victoria and on 7plus nationally. This week’s game will be Carlton vs Port Melbourne.
FRANKSTON vs NORTHERN BULLANTS
Friday 19 April, 7:35pm, Kinetic Stadium
Head-to-head: Northern Bullants 37-30-1; At Kinetic Stadium: Frankston 21-13; Streak: Frankston 3; Last Time: Frankston 10.11 71 def Northern Bullants 8.6 54 (May 20, 2023, Genis Steel Oval)
FRANKSTON
B: T. Milne (15), J. Lloyd (18), T. Barlow (3)
HB: T. Murphy (5), J. Smith (25), G. Grey (6)
C: N. Burke (17), J. Newnes (14), J. Voss (13)
HF: T. Mynott (12), A. Grant (19), C. Riley (22)
F: C. Nayna (9), N. Gown (1), M. Johnson (24)
R: H. Coe (16), T. Owens (7), S. Quirk (11)
INT: M. Williams (4), O. Moran (28), B. O'Leary (10), L. Riley (21), L. Reidy (2)
EMG: H. Jones (39), T. Marotta (30), J. Davies (35), T. Campbell-Farrell (26)
IN: H. Coe, J. Lloyd, C. Riley
OUT: J. Butland (injured), K. Stainthorpe (injured), T. Marotta
NORTHERN BULLANTS
B: E. Mantas (28), S. Hayes (23) , I. McMillan (20)
HB: M. King (10), W. Wallace (12), J. Hamilton (15)
C: T. Waack (47), A. Jacobs (11), S. El-Hawli (18)
HF: C. Franks (13), M. Goodman (16), L. Edmonds (31)
F: R. McKenzie (42), J. Jorgensen (14), J. Crosbie (17)
R: M. Johnson (33), P. Fairlie (8), J. Velissaris (3)
INT: J. Cooper (9), W. Wuol (19), S. Donegan (34), W. Elliott (6), B. Tome (21)
EMG: K. Brown (30), J. McCormick (5), C. Ellis (24)
IN: J. Cooper, S. Donegan, R. McKenzie
OUT: L. Mackie, J. Roumeliotis (suspended), J. McCormick
UMPIRES
FIELD: 6.Alex Murray, 14.Luke Porter, 24.Matt Mahoney. BOUNDARY: Harry Bell, James Brayshaw, Lachlan Menara. GOAL: Adam Gardner, James Rizio.
