Red Hill ‘reset’: how honesty will kickstart winless Hillmen in MPFNL Division 1

Red Hill players are being urged to be honest with each other as the club holds meetings to turnaround its a 0-5 start in MPFNL Division 1.

Red Hill hasn’t reignited the fire that took it to fourth spot last season.

The Red Hill “reset” starts this week.

With no game this weekend, the Hillmen will use the timely break to do some soul searching and work out a way to get their floundering campaign going after a disastrous 0-5 start.

After playing finals in 2024, Red Hill is rock bottom on the MPFNL Division 1 ladder a month into the new season.

The Hillmen pushed Frankston YCW and Edithvale-Aspendale in rounds two and three, but crashed to an 85-point loss to Sorrento on Saturday.

Red Hill co-coach Jamie Mollo sees his side’s plight as an opportunity to show its true colours.

He said while their performances have been below par, he says a positive mindset and honesty can turn things around.

“It can’t be negativity at the moment. There’s enough of that in footy,” he said.

“I think we just have to approach it in the sense the last 13 rounds just needs to be, ‘how can we get back to who we are and the identity we’ve had for such a long period of time?’ And then try and get some other things going in our game.

“It’s a struggle to put into words because we had such a good year last year and then we haven’t quite reignited that fire.”

Red Hill co-coach Jamie Mollo. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Red Hill made the Division 1 finals for the first time in its history last season.

“Coming fourth, we wanted to continue to rise,’’ Mollo said.

“We didn’t want to go backwards.’’

Red Hill has been without key players due to injuries. Sandringham VFL-listed midfielder Misi Faimalo and key back Liam Reilly haven’t played yet.

“We’re just a bit young at the moment, from a moments point of view,’’ Mollo said.

“So they just don’t know how to handle the bigger moments.’’

Mollo, who is sharing the coaching duties with David Gallagher this season, said the Hillmen “need to connect off field a bit better”.

That starts on Tuesday and Thursday this week.

“We’re going to bring them in but it’s not going to be physical training, we’re going to get them in and it will be pretty quick,” he said.

“But we want to have a chat about what’s going on, what we need to do better.

“I wouldn’t say it’s panic stations but it’s at reality stations.

“We need to talk together as a group, and let the players talk to each other. And if someone’s not performing, let’s be honest.

“It’s a reset week for us, a definite connection, reset.”

Red Hill and Mornington are both winless. They play each other next week, on May 17.

“We’re positive we can get this thing turned around,” Mollo said.

“We’ve had our struggles, but this week is about a reset for us.

“I sent a message to our group saying I’ve got great faith that we can turn this around if we all roll our sleeves up.”

LADDER: Rosebud 16, Edithvale-Aspendale 16, Langwarrin 16, Frankston YCW 12, Pines 12, Dromana 8, Sorrento 8 Mt Eliza 4, Mornington 0, Red Hill 0.