MPFNL Division 1: Mornington upsets Red Hill to avoid relegation

An inspirational story has emerged from Mornington’s stunning last-round victory that staved off relegation in MPFNL Division 1.

Adrian Speedy kicked the match-winning goal. Picture: Al Dillon

The clock was ticking on Mornington’s time in MPFNL Division 1.

Trailing finals-bound Red Hill by 22 points at three-quarter time in the last round on Saturday, the Bulldogs were staring relegation smack, bang in the face.

It was now or never for Mornington. The Dogs needed a spark, a hero…someone to stand up.

On cue, co-captain Adrian Speedy — in his final game for the club before relocating to Queensland — approached coach Leigh McQuillen and Josh Newman.

“He said, ‘in the last quarter you need to send me forward’,” McQuillen said.

“He was giving us so much drive off the half back line.

“Josh and I had a chat and I said, ‘mate give him what he wants because he’s the kind of guy — we saw him in a grand final last year he turned the game in the third quarter — he’s the kind of guy who could win it for us’.”

Mornington coach Leigh McQuillen.

A man on a mission, Speedy went forward and ignited Mornington.

It wasn’t totally clinical — he kicked one out on the full, and then a point — but, crucially, he slotted the goal to put the Bulldogs in front with minutes remaining.

The Dogs clung on, 11.9 (75) to 10.12 (72), to climb off the bottom of the ladder.

Speedy was chaired off and the club honoured him after the match.

“What a way to finish,” McQuillen said.

“He’s been so instrumental for us. It’s sad to lose him…it’s a fitting way to see him out.”

Mornington kicked 3.7 while keeping Red Hill scoreless in the final quarter as Ned Moodie’s class shone, along with Matthew La Fontaine, Brenton Credlin and Tim Susovich.

McQuillen also praised Ty Cull and Ryan Falvo who stepped up in the midfield after co-captain Nathan Heath was injured in the first quarter and played no further part.

Almost 12 months after celebrating the Division 2 premiership, Mornington was again in party mode, having retained its place in Division 1.

“To me it was reminiscent of winning the grand final again,’’ McQuillen said.

“It was such a good celebration.

“The last thing we wanted to do was to go back to Divvy two and have to reload and come back up again. We felt like we belong in Division 1 especially with our 19s being so strong. We believe we belong there and now we need to establish that.”

Frankston Bombers, after playing finals in 2023, were relegated.

McQuillen said Mornington would strengthen for the 2025 season.

“We’ve got such a good culture at the football club,’’ he said.

“Even though we’ve been sitting on the bottom of the ladder for most of the year it’s still exciting and fun to go to training every week.

“They’re just a good bunch of players and our coaching staff just make everything fun and enjoyable and I guess that culminated in what everyone saw yesterday after the game.’’