From Leader Newspapers
Reported by Paul Amy
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FRANKSTON has reappointed coach Patrick Hill for two years and re-signed 30 players as it sets out for a more prosperous 2016.
As per a recommendation from football manager Brett Angwin, the Dolphins board locked in Hill last night.
The former Box Hill Hawks assistant confirmed he had been seeking a two-year deal. In its first season under Hill, Frankston finished 0-18 and with a percentage of 43.66, ending a rugged year with a humiliating 146-point loss at Port Melbourne.
“I’m delighted to get it all sorted out and be able to move forward,’’ Hill said this morning.
“It’s been talked about, and both parties have been a bit up in the air about it for the last five or six weeks, but it’s all done now and we can get on with things.
“We started a process this year of how we wanted to change the club. The results … it’s probably something more than what the general public look at. We probably look a little bit more at process and development at this stage, and getting that right.
“It’s very disappointing to not pinch a couple of games this year. But there have been a lot of positives in the development and that’s what we’re about.’’
Hill said he believed his coaching methods were right for Frankston.
He said a two-year contract “enables me to make decisions for the betterment of the club and where we want to get to … not that I would, but subconsciously you can make decisions to save your job.’’
Hill said the Dolphins hoped to add another 10 Dandenong Stingrays graduates next year and needed to recruit 10 to 15 players, from a combination of AFL, VFL and local ranks.
Angwin said the club had re-signed 30 players. But captain Shane Hockey and young gun Ben Cavarra have yet to commit.
Hill said he was confident the 2014 best and fairest Cavarra would stay at Kars St.
Angwin said he had been inundated with messages from players endorsing Hill’s reappointment.
“It does bring stability to the club and that’s very important, and from that will flow longer-term deals for players,’’ Angwin said.
