MPFNL grand final 2023: Dromana goes in as favourites against Frankston YCW

That’s how Dromana coach Matt Price describes the Tigers ahead of Sunday’s MPFNL Division 1 grand final against Frankston YCW at Frankston Park.

“We’ll go in unchanged,” he said on Thursday.

“I’m really happy with the way the guys have prepared.

“Probably our biggest thing is last week when we played YC we had probably five or six guys still underdone, so we’ll be better again on Sunday.”

Dromana has beaten Frankston YCW in all three meetings between the sides this season.

The Tigers swamped the Stonecats in the second semi-final, turning a 30-point second quarter deficit into a 37-point victory.

Price says his side has the talent; now it’s just about the added pressure of grand final day.

“I think our best is good enough, it will be just whether we can handle the occasion,” he said.

“We’re probably going to be the fresher, we’re ready to go.

“Everyone’s back from injuries and niggles, everyone’s one hundred percent so there’s no excuses from us.

“It’s more if the occasion gets to too many of them, that’s the only thing that will get us I reckon.

“That’s what a grand final does.

“We have a few who haven’t played in a grand final before but I’m sure they’ll be able to handle themselves.”

Price expects the decider to be fast and furious, and high scoring.

“It will be a war of attrition in the end I think, it will be whoever lasts the longest,” he said.

“If it’s high scoring the quarters will be long, it will be a long slog in the end I reckon.

“It will be a cracking game.”

Frankston YCW is going for back-to-back flags, yet coach Paul Goonan has labelled his side “massive underdogs“.

“We’ve played them three times and they’ve beaten us three times but we get another crack at them,” he said.

“They’re obviously a super side and they’ve proven it all year, been head and shoulders above everyone else for the whole season.

“We know that, we get another crack at it and I think we’re a bit lucky to have that crack so we’ll take it.

“I think below them there are some pretty even sides. I felt like — and the ladder says — they were clearly the number one side in it. And we’ve found ourselves to be best of the rest.

“We’re the team that gets a crack at them on grand final day. And we’re happy, we’re excited. It’s a great feeling around the club, it’s great reward.”

Most rival coaches are tipping Dromana to win the 2023 flag, and all agree the game will be a cracker.

Pines coach Paddy Swayn is tipping Dromana, believing the Tigers’ wide range of scoring options, with the likes of Jordy Andrews, Ethan Johnstone and Sam Fowler, will prove telling.

“I think maybe the skinny ground at Frankston can help out YC,” Swayn said.

“If Dromana can stop (Josh) Patullo they win because I can’t see anyone else from YC kicking a score.

“But if they (YCW) stop Fowler…Johnstone and Andrews can still kick a score and their midfielders can kick a score.

“They’ve got too many avenues to goal, Dromana.”

Swayn said Dromana star Jake Aarts, ruckman Billy Geurts and half back Dean Waugh will be influential on Sunday.

“Dromana is such a sling shot team off half back,” he said.

“If Aarts doesn’t win the medal you’d think Waugh would be right up there too.

“They’re a hard one to coach against Dromana because you’ve got to go in with a real defensive mindset and then you can always forget about your own game.

“I just think they’ve got too many avenues to goal, Dromana.”

WHO ARE THE COACHES TIPPING?

Paddy Swayn (Pines): Dromana. Best-on: Jake Aarts

John Brown (Frankston Bombers): Dromana. Best-on: Billy Geurts

Danny Ades (Rosebud): Dromana. Best-on: Billy Quigley

Leigh Poholke (Sorrento): Dromana. Best-on: Sam Fowler

Jamie Mollo (Red Hill): Frankston YCW. Best-on: Kyle Hutchison

Originally published as MPFNL grand final 2023: Dromana goes in as favourites against Frankston YCW