By Will Jeffares
A best on ground performance from Jackson Voss has helped Frankston cruise to a 44-point win over a gritty Northern Bullants side at Kinetic Stadium on Thursday night.
Opened with a touching ANZAC ceremony from the Frankston RSL, the contest was evenly poised in the first quarter, before the Dolphins were able to pull away in the middle two periods, kicking nine goals to one, on their way to the 14.15 (99) to 8.7 (55) result.
In front of another strong home crowd on a perfect night for football, it was a scrappy opening to the game, as both sides struggled to assert any control over the contest.
It was the visitors who struck first, putting through a major for the first score of the night at the 10-minute mark, before doubling their tally just moments later.
A great transition move from the Dolphins ended in the hands of Corey Ellison inside 50, who gave the home side their first of the game.
While sloppy errors continued to plague both teams, the Bullants would get their third to extend their lead, before Tom Murphy found Trent Mynott inside 50 late in the quarter, who kicked truly from the set shot to get Frankston back within a kick at the first break.
Noah Gown gave Frankston the perfect start to the second term, sending one through inside the first minute to put the Dolphins in front for the first time. A superb roost from Jackson Voss sailed through to extend Frankston’s lead, before the visitors hit back with one of their own to close the gap.
It was déjà vu for Tom Blamires as he threaded the needle from the same pocket that he kicked an almost identical goal from last week, to push the home side’s advantage out to 11 points.
Tarkyn O’Leary kicked a ripper out of the pack deep inside 50 to bring the margin to an even three goals, while Ellison took a strong contested grab and converted after the half-time siren for his second, as the Dolphins entered the main break with a 24-point lead.
Frankston missed a couple of chances early after the restart, before Ellison got his third as they continued to extend their advantage.
Matt Johnson snapped through a major to open his account for 2025, as Gown converted his second after taking a great sliding mark inside 50.
In his first appearance for the season, Alec McComb was the beneficiary of a Bullants turnover to make it four in the term for Frankston, as they held the visitors goalless to enter the final break with a healthy 52-point lead.
Voss got things rolling early in the last, putting through another long bomb inside 30 seconds for his second of the contest. The Bullants would go on to kick two quick goals in a row, ending a run of eight unanswered Frankston majors.
Gown won himself a freekick at the top of the goal square to put through his third, while the visitors got themselves another.
Harrison Coe was too tall for his opponent, taking a nice grab inside 50 before converting his set shot. The Bullants got a late consolation goal as Frankston ran out 44-point winners at the final siren.
Jackson Voss continued his superb start to the 2025 campaign with a best on ground performance off half back, as he stuffed the stat sheet to finish with two goals, 33 disposals, 12 marks, 14 intercept possessions and four score involvements.
Fellow member of the back six, Tyson Milne, was also among the side’s best, recording 28 disposals, 12 marks, nine intercept possessions and five inside 50s. As Ollie Moran (19 disposals, 10 marks, five inside 50s) continues to impress.
Lochie Reidy (30 disposals, eight marks, five score involvements) and Darby Hipwell (25 disposals, eight tackles, four clearances) were strong, while Tom Murphy (19 disposals, five clearances) was lively early in the contest.
Noah Gown (11 disposals, eight marks) and Corey Ellison (12 disposals, seven marks) caused headaches all night for the Bullants’ defence, as both finished with three goals apiece while combining for 15 marks, with seven of them being contested, in a dominant display.
On his debut, Kade De La Rue showed glimpses of his talents to finish with 15 disposals and five marks.
Frankston will now head to Avalon Airport Oval next Saturday afternoon (1:05 PM AEST) to face the reigning premiers, Werribee, in what shapes as a great battle.
FRANKSTON 2.2 7.8 11.14 14.15 (99)
NORTHERN BULLANTS 3.0 4.2 4.4 8.7 (55)
GOALS
Gown 3, Ellison 3, Voss 2, T. O’Leary, Mynott, Blamires, McComb, Johnson, Coe
BEST
Voss, Milne, Hipwell, Ellison, Gown, Reidy
