MPNFL: Former EFL star Matt Price appointed coach of Division 1 premiers Dromana
Just weeks after celebrating premiership glory in MPNFL Division 1, Dromana has a new coach.
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It’s a hard act to follow.
But new Dromana coach Matt Price says taking the coaching reins of the back-to-back champion Tigers is more exciting than anything else.
“We will change things up a bit and try and keep it fresh for the group and strive for a third straight premiership,” Price said.
Dromana is going through a golden era, winning the MPNFL Division 2 premiership in 2018 and then taking the Division 1 title in its first seaosn in tht etop flight this year.
Price, who modestly described himself as “a bit of a nobody”, admits his appointment as Rikki Johnston’s successor might have some asking, “who?”.
But he knows the Dromana system better than most; he played in the Tigers’ 2018 flag and this year was a non-playing assistant coach as Dromana reached the summit.
When Johnston announced he was retiring and stepping away from football late in the 2019 season, Dromana swiftly appointed Price, who has a strong bond with the Tigers players.
“All of the guys I’ve helped out over the past couple of years know the way I’m going to go about it, so that’s a real positive,” Price said.
“I’m a bit of a nobody and I’m not a big name in the area so no one really knows me, so that’s great.”
Father of three Price, 37, has had senior coaching experience before — he steered Coldstream in the EFL in 2012.
He was a decorated footballer in the Eastern Football League, winning a record six league best and fairest awards.
Price moved to the peninsula a few years ago with no intention of being involved in football but “fell into” Dromana, and loved the club.
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Price says the Tigers will need to improve further to maintain their status as a league leader.
“There was no expectation (this year), we caught everyone by surprise,” he said.
“We won’t be catching anyone by surprise next year. Everyone is going to come after us. We’ve got to be more diligent...”
Price said Dromana would kick off pre-season training in late October.