Locked in: Every MPFNL coach for 2025 named

There are a bunch of new appointments and ex-AFL men among the coaching ranks in the Mornington Peninsula league in 2025. See who’s coaching every club.

Nathan Burke will coach Karingal in MPFNL Division 2 in 2025. Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos

Six new coaches will chase success in the Mornington Peninsula Football Netball League in 2025.

They include former St Kilda players Nathan Burke (Karingal), Troy Schwarze (Bonbeach) and Dean Kent (Devon Meadows) and former Adelaide Crow and Sandringham premiership star David Gallagher (Red Hill).

MPFNL coaches in 2025:

DIVISION 1

DANNY ADES (Rosebud)

You sense Rosebud is building something exciting under Ades, who guided the Buds into the finals in 2024, his second season at the helm.

JOSH BEARD and JARRED MOORE (Langwarrin)

Josh Beard and Jarred Moore will continue as co-coaches. Beard has coached Langy since 2018, while Moore, the ex-AFL Swan, has been back at his home club since 2022 (when he was an assistant coach).

DAVID GALLAGHER (Red Hill)

The former AFL-Crow and Sandringham premiership star will make his first foray into senior coaching, as co-coach of the Hillmen with Jamie Mollo, and he may draw on the experience of playing under iconic coach Malcolm Blight at the Crows.

PAUL GOONAN (Frankston YCW)

The 2022 premiership coach looks like having another strong Stonecats side to work with in 2025, with the addition of ex-AFL Bomber Ned Cahill and several VFL players.

James Hallahan will be Sorrento’s playing-coach in 2025. Picture: Andy Brownbill

JAMES HALLAHAN (Sorrento)

The Sorrento premiership captain begins his coaching career as playing-coach of the Sharks in 2025 and is determined to set high standards.

BEN HOLMES (Dromana)

Holmes took the Tigers to the grand final in his first season at the helm and another exciting season looms in ‘25.

RIKKI JOHNSTON (Mt Eliza)

Johnston was the success story of 2024, taking the brilliant young Redlegs to the holy grail in his first season at the club. They’ll go into 2025 as favourites to win back-to-back flags.

JAMIE MOLLO (Red Hill)

Long-serving senior coach Jamie Mollo will share the role with David Gallagher. The Hillmen plan to be in premiership contention this year after making the Division 1 finals for the first time in 2024.

LEIGH MCQUILLEN (Mornington)

McQuillen will be co-coach with Josh Newman. The pair worked closely together when the Bulldogs won the 2023 Division 2 flag.

Leigh McQuillen (left) and Josh Newman will be Mornington's head coaches in 2025. Picture: Facebook

JOSH NEWMAN (Mornington)

The premiership playing-coach stepped away from footy last season due to ongoing concussion symptoms but he’s back in 2025 as co-coach with Leigh McQuillen. The Bulldogs are chasing a top-five spot.

KRIS PENDLEBURY (Edithvale-Aspendale)

Pendlebury made a whirlwind start to his coaching career, taking the Eagles to the Division 2 premiership. Now he will lead Edi-Asp into the top division. Pendlebury initially took the Edi-Asp job in September 2023 after being urged to do it by his famous brother, Collingwood champion Scott.

Kris Pendlebury has a 19-1 coaching record, including a premiership. Picture: Valeriu Campan

PADDY SWAYN (Pines)

Swayn will coach the Pythons for an 11th straight season in 2025. He chalked up his 200th game at the helm in August.

DIVISION 2

DUANE ANNABLE (Crib Point)

After going close to steering the Magpies to their first finals campaign in 10 years, Annable plans to have his side challenging for the title in ‘25.

PETER BASTINAC (Pearcedale)

“Bushy” Bastinac will coach the Dales for a fourth successive year in 2025, but will do so in partnership with star full-forward Brett Eddy. They will be co-coaches. Bastinac has taken the club to finals in each season so far and has it poised to challenge for high honours.

ROHAN BLEEKER (Seaford)

The Dromana premiership player will continue as the Tigers senior men’s head coach. He guided the Tigers to seventh spot with a 9-9 record in 2024.

Nathan Burke will coach Karingal in 2025. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

NATHAN BURKE (Karingal)

The former St Kilda champion was unveiled in August as the man to lead the Bulls in 2025. A former coach of the Western Bulldogs’ AFLW side, Burke knows Karingal well, having served as player development manager this year, working with the Bulls’ raft of young players. He replaces Luke Forsyth, who has joined Langwarrin as an assistant coach.

BRETT EDDY (Pearcedale)

The former Port Adelaide forward will be co-coach of the Dales along with Peter Bastinac. Eddy will continue as a player with the Dales (he kicked 72 goals last season).

CHRIS GAMBLE (Somerville)

The Eagles have been knocking on the premiership door under Chris Gamble and he will again be at the helm in 2025, his third season in charge.

Chris Gamble coaching Somerville. Picture: Valeriu Campan

JARRAD GRANT (Frankston Bombers)

The ex-AFL Bulldog and Sun had a tough introduction to coaching when the Bombers were relegated from Division 1. But 2025 brings new hope for Grant and the Bombers.

MATT HAVERFIELD (Tyabb)

Haverfield will coach the Yabbies in season 2025. Sam Fox, who was Haverfield’s co-coach in ‘23-24, has stepped aside. Haverfield has been part of Tyabb’s coaching group since 2018 and his knowledge of the club’s players, opposition and the game will see the club continue to improve in ‘25.

RYAN HENDY (Devon Meadows)

The Panthers are going with a co-coaching set up in 2025, with ex-AFL player Dean Kent to be a playing co-coach and sharing the top role with Ryan Hendy, who has coached the club since 2022. “I’ll just bring my experience, different ideas and a different voice and see where that takes us,” Kent said. “We’ll be honest with each other and bounce ideas off each other.”

DEAN KENT (Devon Meadows)

Joins the senior coaching ranks as co-coach with Ryan Hendy. Kent will continue to be a key player for the Panthers.

KEVIN LYLAK (Hastings)

Seven-time Frankston YCW premiership player Kevin Lylak will launch his coaching career at the Blues. “It’s exciting,” he said. “I know they (Hastings) are coming from far back but that’s the exciting part of it, it’s a blank canvas. I feel like I can make a few changes that overtime will go a long way.”

BRENDON MOORE (Rye)

In his first year as senior coach of the Demons, Moore led the continued development of the club’s senior and reserve sides, and played a pivotal role in the development of Under 19s. The Demons are setting themselves for a strong 2025 season.

TROY SCHWARZE (Bonbeach)

The ex AFL-Saint returns to senior coaching ranks as Bonbeach’s new mentor for 2025, replacing Adrian Connolly. Schwarze has a coaching record few can match. He coached Sorrento for 10 years, including six premierships.

DAVID WILLETT (Chelsea)

Willett nearly became a premiership coach this year after steering the Seagulls to the grand final, which they lost by one straight kick. He’s the right man to lead them again in ‘25.