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.
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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 got 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).
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 others.
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 steered 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 a 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 and DAVID GALLAGHER (Red Hill)
Long-serving senior coach Jamie Mollo will share the role with former AFL player and Sandringham premiership star David Gallagher. The Hillmen plan to be in premiership contention after making the Division 1 finals for the first time in 2024.
JOSH NEWMAN and LEIGH MCQUILLEN (Mornington)
McQuillen took over as senior coach in June after ongoing concussion symptoms forced Mornington premiership playing-coach Josh Newman to step away from football. Newman is back in 2025 and will be co-coach with McQuillen as the Bulldogs chase 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.
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. He’s taken the club to finals in each season so far and has it poised to challenge for high honours.
ROHAN BLEEKER (Seaford)
Rohan Bleeker will continue as the Tigers senior men’s head coach. He steered the Tigers to seventh spot with a 9-9 record in 2024.
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.
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.
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 players and the game will see the club continue to improve next year.
RYAN HENDY and DEAN KENT (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.”
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.
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