Ex-St Kilda, Carlton star Jack Newnes signs with Frankston Dolphins for rest of 2023 VFL season

The 30-year-old trained at Kinetic Stadium on Tuesday night and will play out the year with the stand-alone Dolphins.

He’s expected to be named in the team to play ladder-leader Gold Coast at Heritage Bank Stadium on Saturday, becoming the most senior player in Danny Ryan’s young side.

The Dolphins are keen for Newnes to fill a playing assistant-coaching role with them next year.

Newnes started the season with Greensborough in the Northern league but left the club after one game after moving to the Mornington Peninsula.

“He hasn’t been playing footy – he hasn’t played for a while – and he’s had every local club under the sun talking to him,’’ Frankston coach Danny Ryan said of Newnes.

“We’ve known each other for a long while (Ryan and Newnes were at St Kilda at the same time) and a big part of this is Jack potentially coming on board as a playing development coach, which we’re screaming out for.

“He’s interested … in the last couple of days he’s got the numbers of our young wingers, Lochie Reidy, Colby Nayna, Lachie Riley, Mitch Szybkowski … he’s got a real interest in developing those guys. He’s got a good heart.’’

Recruited from the Northern Knights, Newnes played 155 games for St Kilda from 2012 to 2019 and 52 for Carlton from 2020 to 2022.

The right-footer reached his 200th AFL match last year and finished with 207.

Meanwhile Frankston has confirmed that CEO Adrian “Rocky’’ Lloyd will be leaving the Dolphins.

A former player and general manager of the club, he returned to Kars St late in 2019.

His contract expires at the end of October.

The Dolphins said in a statement that they had experienced “remarkable growth’’ under Lloyd’s leadership.

“Through his commercial vision and decisive decision-making, the club has expanded its market presence, delivered strong financial performance, and established itself as a trusted leader in the wider community,’’ Frankston said.

“The board wishes to extend its sincere appreciation to Adrian for his significant contributions and unwavering commitment to the Frankston Football Club. Adrian’s association with the club spans several decades, beginning as a player, then becoming the club’s inaugural general manager in 1978.

“After leaving the club in 1994 to join the Carlton Football Club, Adrian went on to work with both the Melbourne Victory and Melbourne Rebels during their start-up phases. Adrian returned to Carlton before ultimately coming full circle to become the CEO of Frankston Football Club in 2019.

“During his time as CEO, Adrian achieved exceptional results, creating successful commercial revenue streams for the club through initiatives such as Dolphins in Business and the CEO Club. Additionally, he played a crucial role in securing the club’s immediate future by overseeing a number of critical long-term partnerships.’’