MPFNL: Dromana appoints Ben Holmes as senior coach

Dromana has had a change of coach just weeks after winning the MPFNL Division 1 premiership as the self-motivated Tigers take steps to stay ahead of the pack.

Dromana players, including the retiring Terry Wheeler (No.27), celebrate their 2023 premiership. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

The Tigers will roar once more in ‘24.

That’s Dromana’s plan under newly appointed senior coach Ben Holmes, who has replaced premiership coach Matt Price just weeks after the 2023 grand final triumph.

Holmes, a former star player with Vermont, Rye and Dromana, coached Dromana’s under-19s to the finals this season.

He’s also a former Rye senior coach.

When Price decided to step down after the grand final, citing family and travel reasons (he lives in Wonga Park), the club turned to Holmes.

“He’s well respected by the playing group and I think that’s half the battle,” Dromana president Mark Crawshaw said of Holmes.

“He’s coached quite a few of these players in their younger years so he’s got the respect of that core playing group because he’s been involved with them before and I think it was just a natural selection for us to go with Ben — and Ben was as keen as mustard and the playing group are happy.”

Ben Holmes with his family.

Holmes playing in 2018.

Crawshaw said the club decided against advertising the coaching position, opting instead to quickly install Holmes.

“I’m not necessarily big on advertising,” Crawshaw said.

“If you know someone who’s interested in the job and you think they’ve got the qualifications, well, you go and talk to them, like I did with Gavin Artico back in 2010.

“You try and pick the right person for the playing group you’ve got and I think Ben’s the best person for this group that we’ve got. There are a lot of young kids still coming through.”

Crawshaw said Dromana’s list was staying together, with only former captain Terry Wheeler hanging up the boots.

He said the Tigers would look to utilise their talented batch of young players rather than recruit extensively.

“We haven’t actively recruited,” he said.

“I know Ben and our football manager have spoken to two or three players who are keen to come to the club.

“We’ve got a lot of young kids who have the ability to play senior football.

“We’re in a difficult situation where we probably don’t want to bring in too many recruits because we want to play these young kids that we’ve got, local kids.

“That’s been our philosophy for a long time.”

Dromana has won three premierships in five seasons – the Tigers won the Division Two flag in 2018 and won the top division title in 2019, and the ‘23 title.

Crawshaw said Dromana’s players were so keen to maintain their status as the MPFNL’s premier side that they’re already training together in preparation for 2024.

“They’re a very tight knit unit,” he said.

“They’re as keen as mustard, they’re still training now, most of them actually.”

Dromana defeated Frankston YCW by 54 points in last month’s grand final, 14.13 (97) to 6.7 (43), in front of a crowd of 6774 at a sun-drenched Frankston Park.

League medal winner Jake Aarts was influential with his toughness and skill while Sam Fowler was electric up forward, kicking five goals.

Dean Waugh was a stand-out with his intercept marking in the backline and his laser left foot that always hit a target. Dromana’s champion ruckman Billy Geurts won the medal for best-afield after a dominant display, in the ruck and around the ground.