Eastland Division One Senior Men Grand Final Preview

The two best teams of Division One in 2025 will play off for the Division One premiership and a well-earned promotion to Premier.

Both clubs know what it takes to get to Grand Final Day; both the Saints and Sharks lost to Mitcham in the 2023 and 2024 Grand Finals.

This year, one club will earn redemption, leaving the other staring at a second Grand Final loss in three years.

South Belgrave in Kristan Height’s first year as senior coach was the dominant force of the Home and Away season. The Saints won 15 of their 16 Home and away games.

Star power absolutely everywhere, Taylor Garner and Tim Smith combined for 111 goals. Charlie Peters, Luke Dunstan, and Calvin Daraio are all averaging over 22 disposals per game.

Across the season, they scored over 300 more points than Park Orchards and over 440 points more than the next best attacking side.

However, a 45-point loss to Park Orchards in the second semi at East Burwood Reserve threw a curveball to the premiership race.

The Sharks have flown under the radar, clearly a step ahead of the rest of the division, their only two losses coming at the hands of the Saints.

Lewis Downie has been one of the Sharks' best recruits, having kicked 60 goals for the year, not missing a game. Downie was key in the last finals game against South Belgrave, kicking a bag of six.

A week prior in the Qualifying Final against Beaconsfield, Michael Prosenak bagged five in an impressive outing.

The club has all three sides playing on the day, sure to give them an extra boost on the biggest day of the Division One calendar.

2025 Head to Head

Round One - South Belgrave 15.16 106 def. Park Orchards 9.10 64 @ Belgrave South Recreation Reserve

A highly anticipated opening round fixture as the Saints hosted the Sharks in Round One.

In Kristan Height's first year as senior coach, South Belgrave sent a message out to the division with a strong 32-point win over last years Grand Finalists.

Taylor Garner, Tim Smith and Blake Simondson all combined for ten goals on the day as the Saints responded to each time the Sharks challenged.

Calvin Daraio in his first game for the Saints after moving from Vermont, had 34 disposals, 11 tackles and 12 clearances in a big afternoon.

Round Ten - South Belgrave 23.18 156 def. Park Orchards 12.8 80 @ Domeney Reserve

The Saints at their best. A 76-point demolition job in a top of the table clash in Round Ten continued to highlight South Belgrave as this year's premiership favourites.

The margin exceeded 50 points in the opening minute of the third term as the visitors had their way with the Sharks. Once again, the South Belgrave forward line had the game on their terms, Taylor Garner at Full Forward kicking seven, while Tim Smith finished with six goals and 23 disposals, and Blake Simondson, four goals from his 15 disposals.

Charlie Peters was a key reason for this through his 37-disposal game, 10 clearances, 10 tackles and 14 Inside 50's.

Second Semi-Final - Park Orchards 15.11 101 def. South Belgrave 8.8 56 @ East Burwood Reserve

Booking their spot in a second consecutive Grand Final, Park Orchards stunned the Saints with a 45-point win in the second semi.

After a goalless first term, conceding four of their own, Park Orchards kicked 15 goals to four after Quarter Time.

Tom Wilson accumulated plenty of the sherrin, 38 disposals, 17 contested. Up forward in a breakout season, Lewis Downie kicked six majors for the afternoon.

A huge finals win for Park Orchards and a much needed one for the side after two Home and Away losses to the Saints during the year.