MPFNL 2024: Division 1 club-by-club season preview

Dromana goes in as favourites but the chasing pack is hungry ahead of the Mornington Peninsula league’s Division 1 season. Here’s how every club shapes up for 2024.

Dromana celebrate winning the 2023 MPFNL Division 1 grand final. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

Who will lift the premiership cup in 2024?

The MPNFL Division 1 season shapes as one of the best yet, and it kicks off next week.

Reigning premiers Dromana face local rivals Red Hill on Good Friday.

All teams have recruited well and go in with high hopes.

The first bounce can’t come soon enough.

DROMANA

Coach: Ben Holmes

Captain: Billy Quigley

Last year: 19-1 (premiers)

In: Ryan Morrison (Noble Park), Matt Gahan (Southport), Jack Arceri (Woodend-Hesket), Clayton Gay (Hastings), Josh Smith (Mt Eliza)

Out: Terry Wheeler (retired), Rohan Bleeker (Seaford), Daniel Marchesani, Jai Taylor, Madison Andrews

Coach says: “Season 2024 will look and feel different for us. In previous seasons even after winning premierships we have never been earmarked as the favourites. We have cherished the underdog tag. 2024 we can’t avoid that we are the hunted and every week teams will lift to play us. Our pre-season has been solid but stricken with injuries. Early wins will be very important and determine our finishing position.’’

Sam Fowler of Dromana celebrates kicking a goal. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

FRANKSTON BOMBERS

Coach: Jarrad Grant

Captain: Alex Harnett

Last year: 10-9

In: Mitch Harvey (Seaford), Ben Charles (Langwarrin)

Out: Ryan Marks-Logan (Tyabb)

Coach says: “We’re excited to see the growth from within the club. The competition will improve again and we expect to be competitive every week.’’

Jack Berry in action for the Frankston Bombers. Picture: Valeriu Campan

FRANKSTON YCW

Coach: Paul Goonan

Last year: 15-7 (runners-up)

In: Luke Smaluch (Officer), Riley D’Arcy (Karingal), Jimmy Miller (South Fremantle), Josh Mack (Pearcedale), Jaxson Mead (Mornington), Lachy Sutherland (Red Hill), Michael Scott (Pearcedale)

Out: BJ Credlin (Mornington), Kyle Hutchison (East Brighton), Kaiya Deas (Langwarrin)

Coach says: “We think we’ll be competitive. The pre-season has been strong and we get a few important players back that missed last year due to injury, in Barrett and Cahill. Guys like Angwin, Jackson, Meyer and Tsiampas have taken another step in their development, so we’re excited to see how they perform.’’

Zach Barrett in the ruck for Frankston YCW.

LANGWARRIN

Co-coaches: Josh Beard & Jarred Moore

Co-captains: Billy Rolfe & Nick Hamill
Last year: 3 wins-14 losses-1draw
In: Mitch Cuthbert (Frankston VFL), Harrison Money (Berwick), Anthony Vella (Berwick), Kaiya Deas (Frankston YCW), Spyke Mepstead (Somerville)

Out: Blake Peach (Koo Wee Rup), Josh Bateman (Koo Wee Rup), Ben Charles (Frankston Bombers), Jesse Murphy (Chelsea Heights)

Coach (Josh) says: “We will be young and exciting.’’

Langwarrin co-coach Josh Beard. Picture: Valeriu Campan

MORNINGTON

Coach: Josh Newman

Co-captains: Nathan Heath & Adrian Speedy

Last year: 16-4 (premiers in Div 2)

In: Kai Owens (Frankston VFL), Angus Grant (Bonbeach), BJ Credlin (Frankston YCW), Luke Morgan (Centrals Trinity Beach), Rory Wagner-Watts (Red Hill), Kai Marshall (Somerville), Jackson Voss (Frankston)

Out: Jackson Calder (Dimboola), Perry Lewis-Smith (Yarrawonga), Matthew North (Palm Beach Currumbin), Harry Bould (Seaford), Broden Bird (Red Hill), Kalen Bird (Red Hill), Lachlan Dalziel (South Mornington), Jake Smart (Toora), Will Goosey (Toora), Jaxson Mead (Frankston YCW), Jimmy Cameron (retired)

Coach says: “A great opportunity for us to cement ourselves as a Division 1 side.”

Adrian Speedy fires off a handball in last season’s Division 2 grand final. Picture: Valeriu Campan

MT ELIZA

Coach: Rikki Johnston

Co-captains: Nathan Scaglarini & Braden Nelmes

Last year: 12 wins-8 losses-1 draw

In: Chris Carey (Sandringham VFL), Damian Mascitti (Box Hill VFL), Nick Strickland (Rye), Harry Rowe (Returning QLD), Jono Moren (Returning QLD)

Out: Finn Emile-Brennan (South Adelaide), Lochie Fewster (Somerville), Josh Smith (Dromana)

Coach says: “In what looks to be a super competitive league, we feel we’ve got the list balance right with youth and experience and last year’s finals campaign was great exposure to some big games which will hopefully put us in good stead to continue to build on.’’

Nathan Jones runs out for Mt Eliza. Picture: Valeriu Campan

PINES
Coach: Paddy Swayn

Co-captains: Luke Dalmau & Lachie Marshall

Last year: 12-8

In: MacGregor Cameron (South Bendigo), Jackson Mockett (Warragul Industrials)

Out: Aaron Edwards (Healesville), Mitch Backman (East Brighton)

Coach says: “It’s the same as every year, we’re hoping to win 10 games because 10 games gets you into finals. If we can jag a couple more that’s happy days. You’ve got to be in finals to win a flag. If we can win 10 games that will get us into finals. And in our comp winning 10 games is bloody hard.’’

Luke Dalmau takes a kick for Pines. Picture: Valeriu Campan

RED HILL

Coach: Jamie Mollo

Captain: Jonah Siversen

Last year: 7-11

In: Michael Mock (Barmera Monash), Johnno Ross (Dimboola), Tom Pepperell (Murrumbeena), Oscar Lewis (Old Brighton Grammarians), Oli Jackson (Collegians), Dylan Atkins (Norwood EFL), Michael Griechen (Norwood EFL), Kalen Bird (Mornington), Broden Bird (Mornington), Zach Carlson (Morwell), Charlie MacCallum (Old Camberwell)

Out: Jake Mold (retired), Marcus Dal Lago (retired), Daniel McNamara (retired), Harry Larwill (retired)

Coach says: “We have spent two and a half years developing and growing as a group and in turn learning what is required to consistently compete and succeed in Division 1 and now our focus is simple: we want to get back to being a top five side.’’

Johnno Ross is back at Red Hill. Picture: AAP/ Chris Eastman

ROSEBUD

Coach: Danny Ades

Captain: Fletcher Hustwaite

Last year: 6-12

In: Jake Haskett (Somerville), Kirk Dickson (Cranbourne), Patrick Nagel (Somerville), Lachlan Stenning (Bonbeach), Will Gown (Old Haileybury), Rhys Dempster (Narre Warren), Paul Tomelty (Wyndham Suns), Mitch White (Casey Demons), Campbell Hustwaite (Casey Demons), Ben Crocker (Collingwood VFL), Blake Kuipers (Carlton VFL), Jack Newnes (Frankston VFL), George Grey (Frankston VFL)

Out: nil

Coach says: “For us 2023 was a purely developmental year for the players individually and the side as a collective in terms of learning multiple new game plans. Our own expectations have shifted in 2024 and the aim is to play finals.”

Rosebud is ready to go. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Aaron Breman handballs for Sorrento. Picture: Valeriu Campan

SORRENTO

Coach: Leigh Poholke

Co-captains: James Hallahan & James Brigden

Last year: 9-9

In: Dylan Clarke (Port Melbourne), Liam Buxton (Montmorency), Max Kleverkamp (Officer), Tom Cameron (Old Melburnians)

Out: Zach Byrns (Rye), Liam McKenna (Bonbeach)

Coach says: “Looking forward to a positive year, 30 under 19s...really pumped to have the kids back.’’