Coach: Gary Ayres (ninth year)
Captain: Toby Pinwill (second year)
2015 finish: 10th
2015 best and fairest placings: 1. Toby Pinwill / 2. Jordan Lisle / 3. Damian Mascitti
Last premiership: 2011
Alignment: VFL standalone
Port Melbourne has undertaken a huge list turnover after missing the finals for the first time since 2006. The traditional competition powerhouse started 2015 brightly with a 5-1 record but lost 10 of its last 12 games as significant injuries to key playmakers such as Chris Cain, James Magner, Leigh Osborne, Hugh Sandilands and Josh Scipione took a toll.
Among the experienced heads to leave the club are Magner, Will Johnson, Tom Langford, Mitch Wooffindin and Daniel Noonan, the 2014 VFL Team of the Year defender who will leave a gaping hole in the Borough’s back six. Veteran senior coach Gary Ayres has clearly taken the chance to refresh the rest of the playing list in the wake of their departures.
The club’s connection with the Oakleigh Chargers brings a swag of 2015 TAC Cup premiership players to North Port Oval, including ball-winners Fraser Pearce and Lachlan Sullivan, ruckman Michael Wenn and dependable defenders Daniel Beddison and Harvey Hooper. Tackling machine Aaron Fenton and raw ruckman Jarrad Smith are other promising TAC Cup graduates to sign on.
Plenty of ex-AFL experience will supplement the youth. The dynamic Sam Dwyer returns to where it all began before being drafted (but will be in the sidelines for 14 weeks with a hamstring injury), with Mitch Golby and Matt Arnot also coming straight from the elite level. Former Melbourne player Josh Tynan will join his brother Luke at the club, while former St Kilda player Sam Crocker also crosses from a rival VFL club.
Half forward Jason Williams is another to return after playing in Port Melbourne’s 2012 Grand Final loss, while the Borough has signed half back Jake McKenzie, best-on-ground in Williamstown’s Development League premiership victory last year. A key signing given Noonan’s departure will be 22-year-old Brody Mihocek, who emerged as part of Werribee’s defence across 11 senior games in 2015.
Ins: Sam De Soysa, Jarrad Matheson (Balwyn), Brody Connelly (Berwick), Sam Crocker, Dalton Graham (Box Hill Hawks), Mitch Golby (Brisbane Lions), Sam Bevan (Claremont), Michael Tang (Coburg), Sam Dwyer (Collingwood), Jason Williams (Diggers Rest), Luke Duffy (Drouin), Aaron Fenton, Jarrad Smith (Eastern Ranges), David Iaccarino (Footscray), Josh Tynan (Frankston), Nick Dixon (Geelong VFL), Tom Hobbs (Gippsland Power), Nick Parthenopoulos (Greenvale), Ben Gilling (Mulgrave), Stephen Murray (Northern Blues), Daniel Beddison, Harvey Hooper, Fraser Pearce, Pat Phillips, Lachlan Sullivan, Andrew Walker, Michael Wenn, Jayden Wilson (Oakleigh Chargers), Fabian Brancatisano (Pyramid Hill), Matt Arnot (Richmond AFL), Malcolm Neiwand, Alex Spencer (Sandringham), Jake Allan (Sunshine), Brody Mihocek (Werribee), Jake McKenzie (Williamstown), Toma Huther (Wonthaggi)
Outs: Will Johnson (Collegians), Jack Mahon (Frankston), James Magner (Heidelberg), Seb Henderson (Mulgrave), Tom Langford (Richmond VFL), Daniel Noonan (VAFA), Shannon Taylor (WA), Sam Anderson, James Breust, Alex Brown, Tagan Carter-Taylor, Ed Clinch, Austin Deneys, Jake Dermott, Sam Gilmore, Brandon Hayes, Jarrod Healey, Patrick Jenkins, Clay Johnston, Tomi Johnston, Matthew Lello, Tim MacMillan, John McKenzie, Chris Michaliades, Nick Papaleo, Liam Patterson, Chris Prowse, Nick Prowse, Caleb Vearing, Mitch Wooffindin
more -->