MPFNL 2025: Division 1 club-by-club season preview

The start of MPFNL Division 1 season is just days away. Here’s how every club shapes up for 2025, including all the ins, outs, late recruits — and coaches comments.

The MPFNL Division 1 season is set to be a ripper.

Let’s go!

The 2025 MPNFL Division 1 season kicks off on Saturday.

Mt Eliza goes in as favourites but the chasing pack, led by Dromana, Frankston YCW and Rosebud, is hungry.

All coaches agree — it’s going to be a strong, fiercely contested competition.

Frankston YCW tackles Dromana in a huge season-opener, while Mt Eliza will unfurl its premiership flag when it hosts Sorrento.

Brace yourself for six months of twists and turns, highlights and drama. Who will emerge victorious and claim the premiership cup?

Here is a club-by-club guide to what’s ahead for the 10 teams.

Luke Oborn takes a hanger in last season’s grand final. Picture: Andrew Batsch

DROMANA

Coach: Ben Holmes

Captain: Billy Quigley

Last year: 16-3-1 (runner-up)

IN: Jack Gipp, Dan Geurts, Dan Marchesani, Jack Fowler (all returning)

OUT: Jake Aarts (Beaconsfield), Jordan Andrews (Berwick), Taylor Davidson (North Ringwood), Tate Dennis (Rye), Connor Wallace (Rye), Jack Austin (Rye), Ethan Johnstone (Heidelberg), Harry Cook (Karingal), Dean Waugh (Coreen Daysdale Hopefield Buraja), Jon Ristrom (Coreen Daysdale Hopefield Buraja), Daniel Gormley (Coreen Daysdale Hopefield Buraja), Jack Arceri (Aberfeldie)

Coach says: “We’ll be having a crack, make no mistake. Dromana has done it time and time again where they go back and invest in the kids. We’ve got a great crop of kids who we will just teach our program to and try and blood them that way, get them ready. I’m not sure where that has us sitting for 2025. We thought we were the best team in it all year but we didn’t get it done on grand final day obviously. How far it brings us back to the pack with those seven (players) gone will be anyone’s guess.”

Riley D’Arcy will lead Frankston YCW’s attack. Picture: Valeriu Campan

FRANKSTON YCW

Coach: Paul Goonan

Captain: Blake Mullane

Last year: 12-8-1 (third)

IN: Matt Hill (Karingal), Aiden Bonar (Williamstown), Harry Lloyd (Mornington), CJ Small (Mornington), Mitch Cox (Williamstown VFL), Ned Cahill (Carlton VFL), Cameron Owen (Footscray VFL), Billy McCormack (Central District), Max Williams (Beaumaris/Frankston VFL), Ethan Stanley (Fremantle, on Box Hill’s VFL list)

OUT: Kev Lylak (Hastings), Jack Butland (Hastings), Jake Milward (Hastings), Josh Black (Cora Lynn), Zach Barrett (WA), Roan Steele (West Perth), Josh Butland (Centrals Trinity Beach)

Coach says: “We’ve got improved depth in the club with some solid recruits but more importantly some quality U19’s coming through. We’ve had a solid pre-season and we’re excited to test ourselves in a really strong competition.’’

Nick Carlon will captain Edi-Asp. Picture: Valeriu Campan

EDITHVALE-ASPENDALE

Coach: Kris Pendlebury

Captain: Nick Carlon

Last year: 19-1 (premiers in Division 2)

IN: Jordan Gallucci (South Fremantle), Toby Arms (Springvale Districts), John Walker (Springvale Districts), Kyle Parrott (Karingal), Darcy Warke (Springvale Districts), Kyle Rees (Langwarrin), Tarkyn Wyatt (The Basin), Aaron Cotte (Bayswater)

OUT: Zac Burrowes (Frankston Bombers), Bayln O’Neil (Carrum Patterson Lakes), Blake Ross (Dingley), Ryan Warren (Ringwood), Jack Turner (Lorne), Blake Ross (Dingley)

Coach says: “We’ve prepared accordingly for the jump to Division 1. We are ready to compete and feel we are well placed heading into 2025.’’

Anthony Vella swings onto his left for Langwarrin. Picture: Valeriu Campan

LANGWARRIN

Co-coaches: Josh Beard and Jarred Moore

Co-captains: Jaiden Jakubenko and Nick Hammill

Last year: 5-13 (ninth)

IN: Agape Patolo (Karingal), Bryce Rutherford (Mooroopna), Jordan Bertrand (Cranbourne), Matt Johnson (Frankston), Nic Xerri (Hastings), Mitchell Mathie (Seaford), Josh Smith (Seaford/Frankston VFL)

OUT: Billy Rolfe (Koo Wee Rup), Ryan Smyth (Prahran)

Coach (Josh Beard) says: “We’ve added some great experience, and are looking for our improvement to come from our younger players, building to not just stay in Division 1 but to be in the mix to play finals in a quality competition. Most sides in Division 1 look to have improved dramatically.’’

Former Heidelberg forward Chaz Sargeant has joined Mornington. Picture: Alan Dillon

MORNINGTON

Co-coaches: Josh Newman and Leigh McQuillen

Captain: Nathan Heath

Vice-captains: Tim Susovich and BJ Credlin

Last year: 5-12-1 (eighth)

IN: Max King (South Croydon), Matt Jones (South Croydon), Chaz Sargeant (Tatura), Todd Vander Haar (Doncaster), Chris Dove (Caulfield Bears)

OUT: Adrian Speedy (retired), Reid Stock (overseas), Harry Lloyd (Frankston YCW), CJ Small (Frankston YCW), Tyler Hobson (Crib Point)

Coach (Leigh McQuillen) says: “The club is going well. We’ll be a young and exciting team planning to work our way up the ladder.’’

Braden Nelmes boots Mt Eliza into attack. Picture: Valeriu Campan

MT ELIZA

Coach: Rikki Johnston

Co-captains: Braden Helmes and Fin Bayne

Last year: 14-5-1 (premiers)

IN: Lachie Robinson (Frankston Bombers), Khian Taylor (Somerville), Lachie Bell (Blackburn/Oakleigh Chargers), Alfie Lambert (Brighton/Sandringham Dragons), Cooper Jackson (returning)

OUT: Declan Cole (travelling), Max Mourney (travelling), Lachy Hodder (Red Hill)

Coach says: “We are well aware of how competitive the competition is and that we now become the hunted so we need to continue to improve and evolve. Our preparation through pre-season has been solid and we come into round 1 fitter and with a healthy list.”

Jacob Boyle takes a kick for Pines. Picture: Valeriu Campan

PINES

Coach: Paddy Swayn

Captain: Luke Dalmau

Last year: 7-10-1 (seventh)
IN: Kane McKenzie (Somerville), Zechariah Cuppens (Reservoir), Cam Olden (Richmond VFL), Kayden Sharp (Finley), Shaun White (Lyndhurst), Lachlan Sharp (Somerville), Nick Boswell (returning from WA), Jack McHale (making Pines his home club but listed with Williamstown VFL), Carter Michael (ex-Brisbane Lions, on Williamstown VFL list)

OUT: Shane Savage (Tooradin-Dalmore), Macgregor Cameron (Echuca), Jake Pusch (Karingal), Aaron Philp (Skye), Jarrod Richards (Subiaco), Zane Martin (overseas)

Coach says: “We’ll play finals, and that will give us an opportunity to challenge for the title.’’

Patrick Willach has joined Red Hill. Picture: Facebook

RED HILL

Co-coaches: Jamie Mollo and David Gallagher

Co-captains: Josh Mold and Dan Frampton

Last year: 9-10 (fifth)

IN: Jake Di Pasquale (Sorrento), Josh Watson (Collegians), Charlie Niall (Old Xaverians), James Langford (Old Xaverians), Patrick Willach (Essendon Doutta Stars), Chance Doultree (Traralgon), Lachy Hodder (Mt Eliza), Darby Hipwell (ex-Sandringham, now on Frankston’s VFL list)

OUT: Aden Phillips (Crib Point), Danny Allsop (WA), Jonno Ross (NT)

Coach (Jamie Mollo) says: “We had a breakout season in 2024, finishing in the five and playing finals in Division 1 for the first time in our history. We have had a really solid pre-season and connection couldn’t be higher so we are looking to build on last season and aim for top 3.’’

Stephen Cumming of Rosebud. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

ROSEBUD

Coach: Danny Ades

Captain: Campbell Hustwaite

Last year: 10-10 (fourth)

IN: Campbell Hustwaite (Casey), Mitch White (Casey), Lachy Williams (Somerville), Nick Mason (Somerville), Miller Stewart (Somerville), Nick Russo (Emerald), Cal White (Emerald)

OUT: Jake Haskett (Somerville), Jesse Dinicolantonio (Rye), Jai Nanscawen (Port Douglas)

Coach says: “Our focus is to see our recent development continue to progress throughout 2025. After our first taste of Division 1 finals last season our internal expectation is be back there again with a higher seed than fifth.’’

Jack Beverley of Sorrento is tackled. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

SORRENTO

Coach: James Hallahan

Co-captains: James Brigden and Jack Beverley

Last year: 8-9-1 (sixth)

IN: Ryan Clarke (Sydney Swans), Chad Harris (Richmond VFL), Malcolm Neiwand (Macorna), Matt Peric (Alexandra), Ryan Polkinghorne (North Ballarat), Adam Tomlinson (on North Melbourne’s VFL list), Angus Callaghan (returning)

OUT: Leigh Poholke (Moe), Myles Poholke (Moe), Aaron Paxton (Moe), Liam Buxton (Vermont), Lachlan Croad (Rye), Luke Bakewell (Belgrave)

Coach says: “We’ve had a really strong and committed pre-season. The playing group has put in six months of consistent work, and we’ve laid some really solid foundations around our game plan, our culture and our standards. We’re under no illusions — it’s a tough competition and nothing’s guaranteed — but I think we’ve given ourselves a good platform to compete. The group is united, we’re building something that we hope will be sustainable, and we’re excited to see how we measure up when the real stuff starts.’’