BIG RUS - Russell Gabriel Leaps Towards AFL

Russell Gabriel or BIG RUS as he is known at the Frankston Dolphins is a clear favourite amongst players and supporters. In talking to Russell, it was clear to see that success for the club and him personally this year is paramount.

Last year, he was arguably the best performed ruckman in the VFL, according to his coach Simon Goosey. This is what BIG RUS had to say about himself.

Media:            Russell, what is your nickname?
Gabriel:          ‘BIG RUS’

Media:            Where did you play your junior football?
Gabriel:          I played at Hallam and Noble Park.

Media:            Who was / is your favourite coach?
Gabriel:          Simon Goosey.

Media:           Which AFL footballer do you play like?
Gabriel:          Not sure, but I am a big fan of David Hille

Media:            Who is your favourite AFL player
Gabriel:          David Hille

Media:            Which AFL team would you like to play for?
Gabriel:          Collingwood, their training facilities are second to none.

Media:            What is your favourite spot on the Mornington Peninsula?
Gabriel:          Frankston Foreshore at night at Sophia’s?

Media:            Who is your favourite Dolphins player?
Gabriel:          PK, he is hard at it, talks non-stop and drives me mad.

Media:           What is your favourite Mornington Peninsula restaurant?
Gabriel:          Sophia’s at Frankston…..the meals are huge!

Media:            Is there pride in representing the Frankston / MP region?
Gabriel:          Yes, it’s an enormous honour that I respect.

I once went back to playing local football but it’s not the same, the atmosphere at the Frankston Dolphins is HUGE and the players are a great bunch of blokes. Nowadays, I wear ‘Normies’ jumper which is an honour and I wear it with pride.

Media:            How do you think Frankston Dolphins will go this year?
Gabriel:          I think we will improve greatly from last year.

We should have won five or six games last year but lost by small margins. Our team is older this year, has good skills and a good mix of talls and smalls.

 As I was interviewing BIG RUS, I realised that beneath the exterior was a very genuine and likeable club man. But one could sense there is ‘fire in the belly’ of BIG RUS. Expect a huge year from the big fella!

Good Luck RUS!

Player Profile - Mark Baguley

‘Baggers’ as he is called by his team mates and followers has now played for the Frankston Dolphins for two seasons entering into his third. Mark is a local Frankston lad and is proud to be representing the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula region.

Mark has been an impressive player utilised as a utility player who has shown the ability to be an attacking and defensive player capable of matching it with the best in the VFL.

This pre-season, Baggers has shown the way to the new recruits with his leadership, skills, dedication and discipline.

In the first of our player profiles, we asked ‘Baggers’ some tricky questions about himself and his future aspirations.

Media:           Mark, what is your nickname?
Baguley:        ‘Baggers’

Media:           Where did you play your junior football?
Baguley:        I played at Frankston Rovers and then Langwarrin.

Media:           Who was your favourite coach?
Baguley:        Simon Goosey.

Media:           Which AFL footballer do you play like?
Baguley:        Chris Judd

Media:           Who is your favourite AFL player
Baguley:        Nick Reiwoldt

Media:           Which AFL team would you like to play for?
Baguley:        I follow St Kilda so to play with them would be great.

Media:           What is your favourite spot on the Mornington Peninsula?
Baguley:        Probably Gunnamatta as I love to surf?

Media:           Who is your favourite Dolphins player?
Baguley:        Simon Goosey, who else!

Media:           What is your favourite Mornington Peninsula restaurant?
Baguley:        Dock Italian pizza and pasta restaurant in Mornington

Media:           Is there pride in representing the Frankston and MP region?
Baguley:        Yes, most certainly!

Media:           Why did you leave Langwarrin and come to Frankston Dolphins?
Baguley:        I wanted to try out at Frankston and see if I could make AFL

Media:           How do you think Frankston Dolphins will perform this year?
Baguley:        I think we will improve greatly on our performances of last year.

If training effort is a guide, then Mark Baguley will be a very dangerous player this year. In fact, we had to wait until after training to interview Mark as he was not prepared to miss 15 minutes of training to complete our interview!

Good Luck Baggers!

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A Legend on the Mornington Peninsula

There is a former player who has kicked more goals than most past champions; who carved out a stellar career in the VFL and other leagues in country Victoria. He now holds the reigns proudly at the Frankston Football Club.

The man with the deadly accurate kicking action is Simon Goosey, better known as Goose. Simon played for Frankston in the VFL and with both Mornington and Dromana in the country leagues.

As a player, Simon Goosey is arguably the greatest forward never to play in the AFL (although he did play two seasons in the Richmond reserves). 

In his football career, this is what Simon Goosey actually did:


> In 248 games for Mornington, he has slotted through a massive 1623 goals, 
> In 15 games he played for Dromana, he kicked 107 goals, 
> He has kicked more than 150 goals in a season – twice!
> And more amazingly, he has kicked over 100 goals a season for 11 years straight,
> The most goals he has kicked in a game is 20,
> And overall, he has kicked more than 1730 senior goals.

Whilst kicking goals with regularity and prior to his appointment as coach of Frankston in 2010, Simon Goosey was also coach at Mornington for 10 years, guiding them to 8 grand finals and winning 4 premierships. His talents were finally recognised when he played in the AFL’s Ted Whitten Legends Game in 2005 (where he kicked 4 goals).

The present Frankston Coach has probably kicked more goals during his career than anyone else in the history of football. Certainly, anyone whose grown up on the Mornington Peninsula would argue that fact.

Watch the Frankston Dolphins in 2011 from within the NEW Grandstand

If the recent weather events are any indication, the new Frankston Oval Grandstand will be well received by the public of the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula region.


The new grandstand closely resembles the original, however it has had some modern features built into it which will greatly help the Dolphins continue to represent the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula region. 

The new grandstand will feature modern changerooms and seating for 600 spectators. The grandstand has restored the Frankston Oval to its former glory and enhanced its look and feel. 

We kick off the new 2011 season with great optimism with a senior and reserves team full of local talent having a shot at VFL football. Who knows....there may well be players that you know, have played with or just want to follow! We invite the community to whole heartedly come down to watch and support the new look Dolphins teams either in or around our great ground and Grandstand.

Frankston Dolphins - Promoting Local Talent on the Mornington Peninsula

The Frankston Dolphins coach is a legend around the Mornington Peninsula as both a footballer and a person. Fittingly, Simon Goosey was appointed coach of the Dolphins in 2009  and has had immediate impact.

Upon his arrival, the club was languishing with spirit at an all time low. Combine this with the clubs decision to 'stand alone' and not affiliate with an AFL team and the on ground performances and finances were taking a battering.

However, enter Simon Goosey and herald the arrival of a positive attitude which consisted of building the team from the ground up based upon the local talent pool of the Frankston and Mornington region. To his credit, in the 2010 season, the new coach brought to the club the likes of Michael Hibberd and Mark Baguley. These players had done 'very well' in lower grade foootball and rose to the challenge of playing competitive football in arguably the 2nd best football competition in Australia, the VFL.

In preparation for the 2011 season, already the word is out amongst all players within the region about getting a fair go and try out at Frankston under the direction of Simon Goosey. Already, a number of players have tried out at Frankston and impressed. Watch out for the presence of big Westy on the ground and a number of other new recruits who appear set for senior football based on their present form.