MPNFL: Dromana ploughs through mud to beat Red Hill by six points

The Tigers’ gutsy win over Red Hill in the mud earned them a special reward from their coach Matt Price.

Dromana players walk off winners on Sunday.

Illness swept through Dromana footy club last week, with only 10 players making it on to the training track last Tuesday.

It wasn’t the ideal preparation for an important local derby clash with Red Hill days later.

Yet in the mud at Dromana on Sunday, the tenacious Tigers grinded out a six-point win against an equally gallant Red Hill, 6.10 (46) to 6.4 (40).

Mud-splattered Dromana captain Billy Quigley kicked the winning goal in the last quarter.

The Tigers looked exhausted as they trudged off the wet oval, headed for the changerooms.

But there was good news awaiting them, coach Matt Price telling them they could have the week off.

“We’re giving the boys the whole week off,” Price said.

“We’ve had a couple of tough ones so we will freshen up now.”

Dromana captain Billy Quigley kicks the sealer.

Dromana, in second spot with six wins and a draw, doesn’t play next weekend, with its next game against Frankston YCW on June 25.

“To go into the break now sitting second…we would have taken that at the start of the year for sure,” Price said.

“We’re really happy with the way we’re tracking and we’ll get some troops back after the break.”

Former captain Terry Wheeler hasn’t played a game this season but he’s close to returning from a shoulder injury.

Dromana players leave a muddy and wet ground.

“We’ll only get him for the last month and a bit but he’ll be a pretty big inclusion,” Price said.

Frankston VFL player Ned Shannon is another likely inclusion; he’s been sidelined with groin soreness but is due to be available in a week or two.

Dromana champion ruckman Billy Geurts was again outstanding as the Tigers clawed back from a 14-point half-time deficit.

His two brothers, Sam and Josh, were also named in the best players.

Samuel Childs, Riley Davis and Dean Waugh were also among the Tigers’ best.

Quigley led from the front, kicking that clutch goal in the last quarter and also standing tall in defence when Red Hill was surging at the end.

“We were down to one man (on the bench) in the second half so rotations were down,” Price said.

“For the guys to guts it out was bloody unbelievable.”

Tom Crimmins did his calf, Jai Taylor injured his ankle and Daniel Marchesani hurt his hip and back.

“Hopefully none of those injuries are too bad,” Price said.

“Taylor’s will probably be the worst, it might be a four to five weeker.”

Red Hill forward Tom Slattery gave his side hope with a great goal in the last quarter, while the Hillmen’s best were Mathew Lonsdale, Joshua Mold, Jonah Siversen, Jake Mitchell, Marcus Dal Lago and Harry Wynn-Pope.