Eastland 2025 Season Review | South Croydon

Overcoming a slow start, South Croydon's Senior Men's side came home strong for a finals spot, while both Senior Women's sides featured in the finals.

Senior Men’s

Ladder Position: 5th (9-9, 89.10%)

Leading Goalkicker: Tom Sheridan (48 Goals)

Summary:

A big turnaround mid-season saw the Dogs reverse an 0-5 start to make the 2025 finals series.

After making a semi-final last season, the side were slow out of the blocks, a 103-point loss to East Ringwood in Round One was the start of a difficult start to the season. Four more losses followed to strong opposition in Blackburn, Doncaster East, Rowville and Balwyn.

The Dogs broke the drought in Round Six with a hard-fought six-point win over Mitcham. They backed it up with wins over Berwick and Vermont.

Hitting a hot streak on the run home, South Croydon won five games in a row, including big results against Rowville and Balwyn.

A loss to Vermont in Round 17 put South Croydon into a mini-elimination final in Round 18 against Noble Park, the winner to finish fifth. The Dogs performed well with the season on the line, thumping the Bulls by 39 points at Cheong Park.

Finishing fifth with a record of 9-9, the Dogs met Rowville in the Elimination Final. In a tight, contested game, South Croydon just fell seven points short of a semi-final appearance.

Best Win: Round 14 - South Croydon 14.11 95 def. Balwyn 9.9 63 @ Cheong Park

Needing to put together consecutive wins as they approached the final stretch of the season, South Croydon pulled off a huge upset over the Tigers at Cheong Park in Round 14.

Trailing at the final change in a tight encounter, the Dogs kicked seven goals to one in the final quarter in a memorable victory at home.

A Tom Sheridan masterclass, he booted seven goals for the game and took home the three votes for the game. Matthew George the leading disposal getter for the Dogs on the day, finishing with 28 disposals.

Key Players:

Tom Sheridan was outstanding for the Dogs, booting 48 goals for the year. A huge second half of the season saw Sheridan make a late charge in the Chandler Medal, 30 goals in the last six games of the season.

Sheridan was a Team of the Year member alongside teammates Matt George and Chris Jones.

George averaged 24 disposals per game, 6.4 marks and 6.7 intercept possessions, while Jones was just as effective down back, averaging 8.6 marks and 6.5 intercept possessions.

Capping off his season, George won the club's best and fairest, the Wheeler Medalist, Chris Jones finishing as the first Runner Up.

What’s Next?

Take away the first five games of the season, South Croydon won nine of 13 games, and looked a dangerous threat come finals.

The side has added Michael Schwab from Montrose, who was listed at the Box Hill Hawks this year. Big inclusion to their forward line depth as a known goal kicker, but Schwab can also run through the middle.

They’ll also be excited to have Brayden Kilpatrick fit and firing for a full season after missing most of the 2025 season due to injury.

In such an even competition, the Dogs can’t afford another slow start to the year.

Senior Womens

Ladder Position: 2nd (11-3, 189.14%)

Leading Goalkicker: Taylah Black (21 Goals)

Summary:

The reigning premiers were around the mark once again in 2025, finishing strong for a double chance spot.

The Dogs finished the year with an 11-3 Home and Away record, all three of those losses coming in the first half of the season. From Round Eight onwards, the Dogs went on a seven-game winning streak to snatch a top-two spot.

This included hard-fought wins against Boronia and the Eastern Devils in Rounds Nine and Ten. After a 106-point demolition of the Pioneers in Round 12, South Croydon knocked off South Belgrave and Park Orchards in consecutive weeks to finish second on the ladder.

Unfortunately for the Dogs, they couldn’t carry the momentum into the finals. A 37-point loss to the Saints in the Qualifying Final was followed by a seven-point loss to the eventual premiers in the Preliminary Final.

Best Win: Round 14 – South Croydon 7.3 45 def. Park Orchards 2.4 16 @ Cheong Park

A comprehensive victory at an important time of year. South Croydon met Park Orchards in the final round of the Home and Away season, needing to win to secure the double chance.

The Dogs had control in the Deakin Uni Match of the Round from the word go. Three goals to zip at Quarter Time had the side in full control, stretching it out to a 30-point lead at the main break.

Their biggest challenge came in the third term, but South Croydon weathered the storm and kicked away late for a 29-point win.

All single goalkickers on the day, Monica Latino, Jennifer Wren and Brooke Smith starred.

Key Players:

One of the best recruits for the season in the Senior Women’s competition was Monica Latino, moving from Donvale to South Croydon. In her first season with the Dogs, Latino won the club’s best and fairest award as well as a spot in this year’s Premier Division Team of the Year.

Heather McMillan capped off an excellent year, finishing second in the best and fairest for South Croydon.

Brooke Smith finished in third place in the club’s best and fairest, having a dominant year for the Dogs. A Team of the Year representative listed the captain of the Premier Division Team of the Year.

Taylah Black led the goal kicking for South Croydon with 21 goals for the season, earning another Team of the Year spot.

What’s Next?

The Premier Division competition was as even as it’s ever been this season, and that’s expected to continue into 2026 with the addition of North Ringwood.

A large majority of South Croydon’s 2024 premiership list is still at the club, and additions this season, such as Monica Latino, keep the Dogs in the premiership hunt.

Premiership coach Simon Hammersley remains at the helm in 2026 which is a great sign going forward.

Senior Womens (Division Three)

Ladder Position: 4th (7-7, 118.18%)

Leading Goalkicker: Tearnu Graham (9 Goals)

Summary:

South Croydon’s depth in their senior women’s program was on show once again in season 2025.

The Dogs second side, competing in the Deakin University Senior Women’s comp, went on to play off in this year’s finals.

The side won seven games in the Home and Away season to finish fourth.

The side was eliminated in the Elimination Final held at Silvan Recreation Reserve. For three-quarters, a tight game against North Ringwood Red before the Saints kicked away in the last term.

Best Win: Round Ten – South Croydon 5.6 36 def. North Ringwood Red 4.8 32 @ Quambee Reserve

An early finals preview as South Croydon held on for a thrilling four-point win over North Ringwood Red at Quambee Reserve in Round Ten.

While the Saints were inaccurate early, South Croydon made the most of their opportunities, skipping out to a 16-point lead at Three-Quarter Time.

With five minutes to play, the margin was back to just three points. South Croydon held on for a four-point win and an important four points at this stage of the season.

Tearnu Graham kicked three goals for the day, while Milly Kenny kicked one and was listed best on ground.

Key Players:

South Croydon Red had two members of the side making the Deakin University Division Three Team of the Year, Milly Kenny and Clare Pendergast.

Kenny won the club's best and fairest award for South Croydon Red.

Pendergast starred for the side seven times in the best of 15 games, Kenny also featured regularly in the best and played one game in the Premier Division side.

Tearnu Graham kicked nine goals for the season, including a three-goal performance against North Ringwood Red.

Netball

South Croydon Red (Division Eight): 7th (4-10)

South Croydon Blue (Division Ten): 7th (2-1-11)

South Croydon White (Division 15): 4th (7-7)

To start off the year, South Croydon claimed premiership honours in the Summer Netball competition, defeating Oakleigh District in the Grand Final.

In the Ringwood Mazda regular winter season, the club had three teams compete in the competition.

South Croydon White went on to play in the finals after finishing the season in fourth spot, winning seven games in the season. Emily Cunningham scored 175 goals for the season and took out the team’s best and fairest award.

The Division Eight South Croydon Red team won four games this season, with Jade Ruighaver winning the side’s best and fairest award. Ash Glennie took out the best and fairest for South Croydon Blue.