MPNFL 2021: Red Hill likely to have former Tiger Steve Morris in season opener
Red Hill is set to have a former Richmond AFL player in its line-up for its long awaited first game in MPNFL Division 1.
Mornington
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Red Hill’s bid to play an “aggressive, attacking brand” of footy in 2021 will be boosted by an impressive collection of recruits.
Former Richmond player Steve Morris has made the Hillmen his home club while he remains on the Tigers’ VFL list.
“He’s been training with us every Monday night, running our academy,” Red Hill coach Jamie Mollo said.
“He’s going to be a great inclusion and he looks like playing round one. But we’ve just got to wait and see what Richmond say as well.
“He’s been great.”
Morris, 32, played 87 AFL games with Richmond and captained the Tigers’ VFL side to a premiership in 2019.
Former Karingal captain Andy Mathers is another key inclusion at Red Hill. He signed before the 2020 season that never was and has settled in well at the club.
“His work rate on the track just to get to know the boys and know how we want to play has been second to none,” Mollo said of Mathers.
“We had a praccy game against Coburg Districts (last week) and he’s clearly going to add another element to our midfield which is fantastic.”
Tyler Wooster, from Canterbury in the VAFA, is also fine recruit.
“He moved down local, came to our first training run, played in our seniors last Saturday in the praccy game and he’s another big bodied mid who can run all day,’’ Mollo said.
“He will add depth to our midfield.”
Former Edi-Asp defender Liam Harris is also a key recruit.
Red Hill premiership star Dan Frampton has been training at Sandringham VFL but looks like being available for round one.
Red Hill won the 2019 MPNFL Division 2 grand final but has had to wait 20 months to make its debut in Division 1.
The Hillmen will tackle Dromana in the season opener on Friday, April 2 and Mollo has been encouraging his young players to have a go and not be scared to make a mistake.
“We came from that 2019 granny with a heap of momentum,” he said.
“We’ve got a motto, ‘be where your feet are’ running through at the moment that I introduced early just to say don’t dwell on mistakes.
“There are going to be mistakes after 12 months of no footy so just embrace the moment you’re in and move quickly onto the next one.
“It’s been really good.”
Mollo said the Red Hill side in the opening of the 2021 season would be similar to the ‘19 grand final line-up, only stronger.
“We’re adding a fair bit of talent too with Morris and Andy Mathers coming in,’’ he said.
“So it makes that aggressive, attacking brand we want to play even more so.’’
Mollo also said a “hell of a lot” of kids have impressed in the pre season, in particular Under 19s premiership captain Liam Riley.
“Through pre season, intraclub and the praccy games we have played he’s been really impressive, and he’s only a 20-year-old kid,” Mollo aid.
Aden Phillips and Kane Hawkins are other youngsters who have impressed over pre season.
Red Hill will again be captained by Marcus Dal Lago, with Michael Mock and Jake Mold vice captains and Jonah Siversen and Jake Mitchell deputy vice captains.
Red Hill has a camp in Anglesea this weekend before playing practice games against Cora Lynn and Narre Warren.
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