MPNFL 2021: Pines finishes hard to beat Red Hill in Division 1

A brutal ‘old school 80s’ training session helped an MPNFL Division 1 side turn a 109-point defeat into a rousing win.

Pines player Brandon Lewis handballs as teammate Rhys Wilson looks on. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Something needed to change.

After Pines copped a 109-point hiding from Dromana last week, coach Paddy Swayn said enough’s enough.

The Pythons had to toughen up.

Swayn instructed his players to arrive for training on Tuesday ready for a rugged session.

“It was an old school 80s session on Tuesday,’’ he said.

“You know, ‘bring your mouthguards, boys’, and all of the that sort of stuff.

“It was competitive stuff, with a lot of one-on-ones.”

By Thursday, Swayn had noticed a huge lift in his side’s intensity, the Pythons training more like a side that’s on top of the ladder than at the foot of it.

“I thought, ‘bloody hell, these boys are ready to go’,” Swayn said.

Michael Bezzene was among Pines’ best players on Saturday. Picture: Valeriu Campan

A switched-on Pines travelled to Red Hill on Saturday determined to bounce back.

The Pythons’ mojo was well and truly back as they kicked five goals in the last quarter to swamp Red Hill and record a 15-point victory, 13.6 (84) to 10.9 (69).

Pines got motoring after trailing by nine points at three quarter-time.

It was Pines’ first win of the season after starting with four losses.

Pines coach Paddy Swayn.

“Our tackle pressure at the start was a bit of an indication (we were on),” Swayn said.

Another key factor in the Pines turnaround was the presence of skipper Beau Hendry, in for his first game of the season.

He kicked a couple of vital goals in the last quarter, including a clever dribble goal, as Pines stormed home.

Lachie Marshall gave a determined four-quarter performance, while Brandon Lewis, Michael Bezzene, Luke Dalmau and Jon Hughes were influential.

Nick Boswell started in defence but hurt his groin and was moved forward and it was a godsend because he slotted four goals, including three in the last term.

Guy Hendry was a focal point in attack, kicking five goals.

For Red Hill, which has lost its past two games, Josh Mold, Angus Paterson, James Fletcher and former AFL Tiger Steve Morris were best.