EZYAIR 2025 Season Review | Park Orchards

By Christopher Kourtis.

Park Orchards’ football sides had Grand Final fever in 2025, as the senior women’s side made it back-to-back premierships. 

Senior Men’s

Ladder position: 2^nd, 14-2

Leading goal kicker: Lewis Downie (61 goals)

Best and Fairest: Michael Prosenak

Summary:

It was déjà vu for Park Orchards in Division One. 

Despite being one of the clear juggernauts of the competition yet again, they didn’t have enough to get themselves over the line and into Premier Division. 

The side’s two regular season losses came to eventual premiers South Belgrave, losing by a combined 118 points. After their Round 1 meeting, the Sharks went on to score more than 100 points in their next four fixtures – a feat that they would achieve a total of seven times in season 2025.

Whilst South Belgrave were clearly the benchmark of the competition, Park Orchards were the undisputed ‘best of the rest’. They beat fellow finals contenders both home and away, besting the likes of Boronia, Beaconsfield, North Ringwood and Montrose by an average of 20 points. 

It looked as if the Sharks were catching fire at the right time when the finals came around. Building off their second seven-game win streak of the season, they beat Beaconsfield by 61 points in the Qualifying Final. They finally got the better of South Belgrave in Semi Final 2 by 45 points, before falling painfully short in the Grand Final. 

Their second Grand Final loss in as many years, Park Orchards lost by two points. 

Best win: Semi Final 2: South Belgrave 8.8-56 def. by 15.11-101 Park Orchards @ East Burwood Reserve

Everything seemed like it was coming together after this Semi Final win against South Belgrave. 

Even after winning eight games in a row, the Sharks still came in as underdogs. The game certainly started out as predicted, with South Belgrave leading by 26 at quarter-time and thirteen at half-time. 

Coming out of the main break, it was clear that Paris Harvie had found a way to get his side back in the driver’s seat. Park Orchards won the third quarter 33 to 12 before running over the top of the Saints, kicking seven of the last eight goals of the game. 45-point victors and with a spot in the Grand Final, it was a good time to be a Shark. 

Tom Wilson stuffed the stat sheet, boasting 38 disposals (seventeen contested), and nine clearances. Jacob Price-Inglis was also a major ball-mover with 30 disposals of his own, whilst Lewis Downie kicked six goals from just nine disposals. 

Key players: 

Park Orchards had a league-leading five players listed in the Division One Team of the Year.

The first was club Best and Fairest winner Michael Prosenak. Prosenak, who finished fourth in the goal-kicking charts with 40 majors, was listed as a half-forward. He averaged 19 disposals and two goals a game. 

Joining Prosenak in the forward line was Lewis Downie. Downie kicked 61 goals for the season, averaging three a game alongside seven score involvements. The full-forward scored the second-most goals in the competition.

Matt Haythorne also appeared in the Team of the Year. The full-back was a key part of this Sharks side, averaging six intercept possessions a game. Haythorne was joined by Kane Keppel (19 disposals, seven score involvements) and Liam Webb (17 disposals, six contested possessions), both of which were listed on the Team of the Year interchange. 

What next?

Park Orchards need to improve their list if they are to reach towards the bright lights of Premier Division. As good as they were in 2024 and as good as they were in 2025, they need to keep moving forward to stay ahead of the rest of the pack. They’ll be up against Mitcham again and will also have to contest with Boronia, Beaconsfield, North Ringwood and Montrose – all of whom will improve over the off-season. 

They have started off in the right direction, announcing the re-signing of head coach Paris Harvie. Joining Harvie for another season at Domeney Reserve is Matt Haythorne, Mclaren Spiteri, Kane Keppel and Michael Prosenak, amongst others. 

Although it would be useful to recruit externally, Park Orchards can upgrade from within too. Their reserves side took out the premiership, and it would be foolish to believe that none of the players in that side would hold their own with the seniors. 

SENIOR WOMEN’S

Ladder position: 4^th, 10-4

Leading goal kicker: Elly Hartnett, Isabelle Pollock (13 goals)

Best and Fairest: Alannah Panza

Summary:

Park Orchards’ senior women’s side have done the unthinkable, winning the Premier Division premiership in their first season in the league.

The Sharks made their presence known in Round 1, holding The Basin goalless to kickstart their season. They had three wins in their first five games, with losses to South Belgrave and the Eastern Devils coming as their ‘welcome to the league’ moments. 

The newcomers found their footing by Round 6 and put the league on noticefrom there. They went on a six-game win streak, knocking off premiership contenders South Croydon and South Belgrave by a combined 50 points. 

It wasn’t all smooth sailing, however. Having lost two of their last three home-and-away games, there were a few question marks surrounding the side’s credentials as they slipped to fourth. 

These doubts were quickly put to rest in the first Semi Final, as the Sharks beat the Eastern Devils by 28 points. It was the first time that they had gotten the better of the Devils in 2025, and they backed it up with a seven-point win over South Croydon. 

Going into their third straight final as the underdogs, Park Orchards beat out South Belgrave in an incredibly tight Grand Final to win by three points. Their second consecutive premiership, their first in their new division, and their first under head coach Dave Boell – not to mention they did it from fourth. Remarkable. 

Best win: Grand Final: South Belgrave 4.9-33 def. by 4.12-36 Park Orchards @ HE Parker Reserve

It’s no surprise that the biggest win of the season came in the biggest game of them all. Despite having split the regular season meetings one-a-piece, Park Orchards came into this Grand Final as heavy underdogs. 

The game was plagued by inaccuracy early. The Sharks were held goalless in the first half yet only trailed by four points at quarter-time and half-time. 

Finally finding their first goal of the contest, the third quarter was a step in the right direction. The margin stayed at four points, as the three-quarter time score read 2.8-20 to 1.10-16. 

With everything to play for and a premiership on the line, Park Orchards saved their best until last. Kicking 3.2-20 in the final term, the Sharks shut down the game late to emerge three-point victors. 

Alannah Panza earned the best on ground honours, as Kristen Bertoldi and Dakota Hoen were amongst the best on votes too. 

Key players:

Ava Campbell and Jade Hutchinson both led the league for times in best. Each totalled twelve times in fifteen games and were named in the Premier Division Team of the Year. Campbell was listed as a half-back, whilst Hutchinson was named on the interchange.

Kristen Bertoldi was named in the Team of the Year midfield. Bertoldi earned best on votes in ten of her fifteen games and was one of the side’s key movers of the footy.

Dakota Hoen was her usual self in defence. The lockdown defender was often tasked with the opposition’s best forward and came out on top many times. Hoen’s efforts across the season earned herself a spot in the Team of the Year half-back line. 

A surprising omission from the Team of the Year squad was Alannah Panza. Best on ground in the Grand Final and winner of the club Best and Fairest award, Panza not only led the team out each week but also filled any role that was asked of her. 

Head coach Dave Boell was named as the Team of the Year coach. It was Boell’s first season in charge. 

What’s next?

It would be easy to say that this team don’t need to change a thing, but the Sharks will know better than to become complacent. 

The side have already announced plenty of re-signings, including Alannah Panza, Kristen Bertoldi and Jade Hutchinson. The backline will need a slight restructure as Dakota Hoen calls time on her career, which is something well worth keeping an eye on. 

Park Orchards have announced the creation of a second senior women’s side over the off-season. The development squad will not only look to contend in its own division but will also provide some quality depth for the Premier Division side. 

NETBALL

Team by Team:

Park Orchards Black (Division Two):

Park Orchards’ top netball side had their struggles throughout the season, finishing sixth with five wins. They showed that they could be competitive against stronger opponents, falling just short in multiple outings against higher-placed opposition. Chloe North-Coombes was a standout of this side, averaging over 25 goals per game. 

Park Orchards White (Division Three):

The White side put together a very strong season but ultimately fell short in the finals. They finished third but were just one win off first and less than two percentage points off second. The Division Three side beat East Ringwood in Semi Final 1 before losing the Preliminary Final by 10 goals to Vermont. Sophie Papadopoulos led the side with 244 goals in twelve games.

Park Orchards Red (Division Four):

Park Orchards Red finished the season in second, winning ten games. The finals didn't go to plan though, exiting in straight sets. Gabrielle Hooper scored an impressive 301 goals for the season. 

Park Orchards Blue (Division Seven):

It was a tough season for the Division Seven side. The team went winless, only coming close to a victory in Round 9 when they lost to Chirnside Park by a single goal. 

Park Orchards Green (Division Nine):

The Green side managed to sneak into finals after finishing 7-7. They failed to make much of an impact from there though, losing to Whitehorse by five goals in the Semi Final. Britney Purcell was the shining light of this side, winning the division Best and Fairest award.