EZYAIR 2025 Season Review | Oakleigh District

By Christopher Kourtis.

Oakleigh District were stuck in limbo in season 2025, with the senior men’s side narrowly escaping relegation.

Senior Men’s

Ladder position: 8^th, 5-13

Leading goal kicker: Blake Pearson (50 goals)

Summary:

Oakleigh District had a roller coaster ride in Division Three. 

Despite the many ups and downs, however, they seemed to remain adrift – too far back to seriously make a finals push, yet too far ahead to be worried about relegation. The side finished two spots off the bottom, with a one game and percentage gap proving enough to secure their safety in Division Three. 

The side struggled at the start of the season, only managing one win by Round Six. They did well to turn the tides however, picking up three wins in their next four games.

The biggest of which was their 75-year anniversary win against Silvan – a 123-point annihilation of the Cats on a day where Dane Swan pulled on the heritage guernsey. 

Swan signed on for the remainder of the season at the start of July, and all of a sudden those at Princes Highway Reserve had their eyes set on finals. Blake Pearson was kicking goals for fun, Luke Potts ran the midfield and now they could add AFL Hall of Famer Dane Swan, as well as Josh ‘The Kicking Consultant’ Growden. 

With all eyes on them, Oakleigh District kicked off their finals push with a 117-point victory over Coldstream, kicking 183 points from a whopping 48 scoring shots. 

The train had run out of steam before it had barely left the station though, as that would be the only game that the side would win for the rest of the season. 

Best win: Round 10: Oakleigh District 23.16-154 def. 3.13-31 Silvan @ Princes Highway Reserve

If you told an Oakleigh District fan to describe their ‘happy place’, they would tell you about this mid-season thumping of Silvan. 

On the club’s 75^th anniversary, Dane Swan and Joshua Growden both pulled on the Oakleigh District jumper for the first time. Decked out in a specially made heritage guernsey, the side dished up one of the most cutthroat wins of the EFNL season.

They led at all breaks, held Silvan to just one goal after Quarter Time and kicked a monstrous 69 points in the final term. 

Blake Pearson led a twelve-man goal kicking crew with six goals, whilst Connor Cochrane put up three of his own. Luke Potts boasted 49 disposals and 13 clearances, whilst Dane Swan had 40 disposals to go along with two goals. 

Best players:

Player/head coach Blake Pearson was again at the forefront of the talent pool in 2025, booting 50 goals to go with best on votes in ten games. Pearson’s efforts put him at fourth in the league goal kicking charts and earned him a spot in the Division Three Team of the Year.

Joining Pearson in the Team of the Year was Luke Potts, who was named on the interchange. Potts took out the club’s Best and Fairest award in a season where he played his 300^th game. The midfielder was amongst the best on votes in thirteen of his sixteen games this season. 

The two were backed up by the likes of Connor Cochrane, who performed consistently throughout the year. Swan and Growden were brilliant when they played, of course, but limited availability meant that Oakleigh District couldn’t quite maximise their impact.

What next?

Oakleigh District now need to prepare for life after Blake Pearson, as the spearhead announced that he will not return in 2026. Reserves head coach Scott Russell also announced his departure. 

Craig Mulcock has been confirmed as the senior men’s head coach for the upcoming season. Mulcock brings with him a range of experience, including his most recent stint at Beaconsfield in which he was an assistant coach under Mick Fogarty. 

Luke Potts headlines the side’s re-signings, committing to another year at Princes Highway Reserve. Matt McNaughton and Connor Cochrane are amongst others who have signed on as well. 

One thing is certain – Oakleigh District need to improve their defence. They gave up scores of 80+ points in eleven games this season, meaning they always found themselves chasing the game. If they are to improve and build towards a finals appearance in this new era, they must find a way to stem the bleeding down back.