FRANKSTON forward Brodie McLaughlin has been rewarded for his strong VFL form, earning a spot on the Gold Coast Suns rookie list for the 2023 AFL season.
The rebirth of the Dolphins has been one of the VFL’s biggest developments in recent years.
Six short years ago, Frankston didn’t even have a football team after being forced to sit out the 2017 VFL season.
Now the club is building a reputation as a footy factory.
McLaughlin on Wednesday became the third present or former Frankston player this off-season to find himself on an AFL list after being signed by the Suns in the pre-season Supplementary Selection Period (SSP).
He joins ruckman Liam Reidy and former defender Tylar Young, who were picked up by Fremantle and Richmond respectively in the NAB AFL Rookie Draft in December.
Young moved to Richmond’s VFL team last season but the latecomer to footy made huge developmental strides during his time with the Dolphins.
That trio added to Mitch Cox, who spent the 2022 season on the Brisbane Lions’ AFL list.
Cox has since returned to the VFL, although he is now at Williamstown, where he had signed last year due to work commitments.
With Frankston academy graduate Kye Turner believed to be one of the last two players in the hunt for an SSP spot at Melbourne, that number could soon rise to five.
McLaughlin averaged 12.1 disposals and 5.5 marks in 12 matches for Frankston during a 2022 campaign interrupted by injury, with his goal sense and accuracy (24.14) one of the key factors to grab the Suns’ attention.
He played six games for the Dolphins during the truncated 2021 season, having previously played six matches for North Melbourne in 2019.
McLaughlin booted a total of 38.26 in 24 VFL appearances after rising to State league ranks following impressive stints with VAFA clubs Bulleen Templestowe and De La Salle.
Frankston coach Danny Ryan was delighted McLaughlin had been given the opportunity at AFL level.
“He’s done a power of work himself, so he gets what he deserves,” Ryan said.
“He’s coachable, he’s diligent (and) hard-working. He’s got a good work ethic and the talent and he finally gets a shot. It’s fantastic and we hope he goes really well.
“We’re rapt for the other players who have helped him and we’re rapt for the coaches who have helped him, Craige Milward and Craig Hucker.”
Ryan said Frankston’s run of producing AFL-listed players was proof the club was in a great position after the depths of six years ago.
“It is credit to the likes of Peter Geddes, Michael O’Neil, even Gary Buckenara right back at the start, and now Adrian Lloyd,” Ryan said.
“(And) all the other coaches who have been through back to Adam Skrobalak, the first coach, just to really dig in and do the work.
“It’s no secret really. You get good people involved and good things start to happen.
“Anyone who comes in has got a chance if they do the work. What (McLaughlin) got by coming to Frankston was an opportunity to play and put himself out there.”
Meanwhile, Dandenong Stingrays graduate Mitch Szybkowski has returned to Kinetic Stadium after being released by Essendon, where he was trialling for an SSP spot.
The hard-working midfielder was seen as the most unlucky player to miss out on selection during last year’s AFL Draft.
He trained with the Dolphins this week and is expected to be announced as an official signing in the near future.
Twitter: @BRhodesVFL