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DESTITUTE DOLLIES: Frankston, defiantly standing alone, is particularly feeling the financial pinch. The Dolphins confirmed last week that they’d lost about $35,000 in sponsorship revenue owing to the economic slide. “When you put that in with our grandstand, it will really hurt us,” general manager Bryan Mace said. “The aligned clubs can cope because they don’t have to pay for all their player payments. We do.” It must frustrate the Dollies that while they have to scrounge and scrap for every dollar from their local council, it throws millions at relocating St Kilda to Belvedere Park in Seaford.

ASH FLIES NORTH: Battling a foot injury that tore a chunk out of his 2008 season and was going to do the same this year, Dolphins big man Ashley Eames has stepped away from the VFL and signed at North Albury. Eames had one year with the Scorpions and three with Frankston, and his best football put him in two state squads.

MONTI’S FLYING: He’s a monty for the honour board. The reappointment of Williamstown president Trevor Monti (right) for an 11th season makes him the club’s longest serving president, surpassing Tony Hannebery (1983-1992). But, from a competition perspective, he has a way to go to catch Port Melbourne’s Peter Saultry, who is in his 18th year as president, and the Casey Scorpions’ John Sharkie, who is in his 14th.

HAWKS HAPPY: Box Hill football manager Dale Bower finalised the Hawks’ squad last Thursday, pleased with his off-season pickings. While the Hawks signed five players coming off AFL lists, they also secured eight TAC Cup graduates and a load of country and suburban hopefuls. Phil Smith, a rookie with Brisbane last year but originally a Calder Cannon, is at the City Oval, and Hugh Sandilands, who was on Hawthorn’s rookie list, has opted to stay at Box Hill. Adem Yze (Melbourne), Sam Iles (Collingwood) and Ed Curnow (Adelaide) were locked in weeks ago. Ben Kennedy, the son of John Kennedy junior and the brother of Hawthorn’s Josh, heads the list of TAC Cup newcomers. “He’s 6’2, pretty strong, shows good poise with the ball and he’s a nice mover in traffic,” Bower reported. Kennedy and Jack Bull come from the Sandringham Dragons. Andrew Renton, Tom Purcell, Leigh Kitchin, Matt Cunningham, Dale Walker and Dylan Van Unen make up the Eastern Ranges contingent.

DOUBLE TAKES: Someone at Sandringham had better start thinking of nicknames. At some stage this season the Zebras will have Jarryd Allen and Jarryd Allan in their line-up. Allen is the St Kilda forward who broke through for some AFL action last season and was a good player for the Casey Scorpions. Allan, a midfielder, has joined Sandy from the Sandringham Dragons and has impressed coach Andy Lovell during the pre-season.

PEDIGREE HAWK: The Hawks have another “son of” in Jack Furey, a flanker from Scotch College. His father is former North Melbourne utility Anthony Furey. Hawthorn official Chris Fagan’s nephew Ben, a former Tassie Mariner, has landed from Mansfield. Other signings include Lachie George from Tasmania, Belconnen pair Griffin Underwood and Julian Moussi, Donvale’s Beau Coyle, Tim Harper from Knox, Nick Stockdale from Traralgon, Old Carey’s Glenn Parker and Old Brighton’s Andrew McGuinness. Representing the ACT, onballer Underwood was player of the series at least year’s country championships. McGuinness made the 2008 All-Australian Under 23 team that toured Ireland but broke a finger a month ago and is slightly behind in his preparation. He is also a fine cricketer, batting in the middle-order for Premier club St Kilda. The Hawks have also picked up the diminutive Wayne McInerney, who won the Eastern league Under 18 medal last year. At the thick end of the experience scale, 32-year-old Marco Bello, a five-time premiership player in the SANFL, has been listed. Bello is an assistant to coach Brendon Bolton.

ABLETT’S RECRUITING RETAINER: The last time Geelong champion Gary Ablett asked if he could bring a mate to training, good things came from it. He brought with him Josh O’Brien, who in turn brought Jason Davenport, who in turn brought Shane Mumford. Davenport is now with Port Power and Mumford is a Geelong rookie who broke into the AFL team last year. Ablett’s latest “recruit” for the VFL team is Ben Kennedy, who was full back of the year in the Bellarine league in 2008. The 26-year-old has bounced around bush footy, having had stints at Warrnambool, East Point and Grovedale. Geelong’s VFL list will also include Torquay’s Kane Smith, described as a “bulldozer” of a midfielder by Cats VFL manager Benny Waller; Sam Hughes, a Geelong Falcon who represented Vic Country in 2008; and former Werribee Tiger Jackson Sheringham. Geelong West St Peters onballer Paul Carson, who shared the Geelong Football League medal last year, is likely to be put on the VFL rookie, or top-up, list. Carson is a former Werribee VFL player.

LUKE LANDS AT PORT: A handy pick-up for Port Melbourne, with delisted Collingwood rookie Luke Casey-Leigh taking up a locker at TEAC Oval. Casey-Leigh is a 196cm left-footer who can play at both ends of the ground. The son of former Richmond president Clinton Casey, he had his first run for Port in Saturday’s practice match against Sandringham at Trevor Barker Oval. Torrential rain made for a ground-level scrap, but burly forward Adrian Bonaddio kicked four goals as the Boroughs won comfortably. Adrian Deluca shook off some of the rust that comes with being out of the game for 12 months but his ruckwork pleased coach Gary Ayres.