Dolphins reveal teams of the decade

PAST and present Dolphins gathered for a special night at Stribling Reserve to be recognised as the decade’s best from 2011 to 2020.

Lorne Football Netball Club has announced its Team of the Decade for football and netball during a night filled with pride and reflection on a decade that brought the club much success.

“That celebration of what it meant to play for Lorne Dolphins made it a really special night,” Lorne FNC vice president Carly Enticott said.

“Some of the selections to the two teams are still current day players, which is a fabulous show of dedication, meanwhile we had former players, now at other clubs, make the trip down to join us on the night.”

Lorne’s football program enjoyed a successful 10 years from 2011 to 2020, securing premierships in 2013, 2018 and 2019 immediately before the start of the pandemic.

The club’s team of the decade comprised Ryan Evans, Tom King, Daniel Hermans, Jack and Lewie Hollmer, and Kane Smartt in the backline.

Mark McCormack, Steven Oliver, Casey Tutungi and Brock Shiels made up the midfield with Joel Tipping and Jaxson Barham situated on the wings.

Meanwhile, Emilio Graziani, Shane Trickey (captain), James Firel, Sean Smart (vice-captain), Rick White and John Leontiades rounded out the forward line.

The side’s coach was named as Sam Stavenuiter, while Ryan Heathcote, Boe Trickey, Lee Hollmer, Che Turner, Sam Parsons, and Sean Holroyd made up the interchange.

The Dolphins’ netball program took a huge step forward at last Saturday’s event, naming its first ever team of any time period.

“It really shows our progression in the way of inclusion and equality, something we are really trying to display throughout the club,” Enticott said.

“2014 was one of our more memorable years in netball as it was the first time we played finals in well over 25 years, so we had that drought-breaking group that helped us transition from being a sidearm of what the football club was to getting some of our own success.”

“We can’t go past 2016 and 2017, where we were premiers in A and B grade, which really showed the amount of depth we had at the club in that time.”

Defenders Ginger Brown, Bianca Hollmer and Brooke Bain were named starters in the back third, while Enticott, Kath Spiers and Sharni Oliver secured a spot up front. Enticott was also named the coach of the team.

Rhiannon White was awarded the Centre position accompanied by Caitlin McCombe, Shelley Walsh and Sara Coglan on the bench.

The footballers were presented with custom-made guernseys and the netballers were gifted with specially made vases.