EZYAIR 2026 Season Review | Oakleigh District
By Ryan Long.
A challenging season for Oakleigh District, just one win for the year in Division Three as they re-set over the off-season before entering Division Four in 2027.
SENIOR MEN’S
Summary:
Ladder Position: 9th (1-15, 34.73%)
Best and Fairest: Connor Cochrane
Leading Goal Kicker: Connor Cochrane
A difficult season for Oakleigh District with significant change in season 2026, ultimately finishing ninth and facing relegation to Division Four.
The club moved on from new Senior Coach Craig Mulcock early in the season, with Simon Black appointed senior coach for the remainder of the season.
A tough year defensively for the group, conceding an average of 131 points per game.
Oakleigh’s one win for the year came in Round Eight at Wally Tew Reserve.
Best Win: Round Eight – Oakleigh District 9.9 63 def. Ferntree Gully 8.7 55 @ Wally Tew Reserve
Breaking a seven-game losing streak, Oakleigh District held off a fast-finishing Ferntree Gully outfit for the side’s first win of 2026.
It was Connor Cochrane up forward who dominated the game, six goals from 15 touches. Ten marks, five of those taken inside 50.
Cammeron Hansen led the disposal count for the Oaks with 27 disposals, six tackles and five clearances to go with it.
Key Players:
Connor Cochrane had an outstanding season, a Division Three Team of the Year, kicking 49 goals from 16 games. A great recipient of the Jack Hogan Medal, the club’s Best and Fairest.
Midfield star Luke Potts took out the Runner-Up award in the Best and Fairest. Potts averaged over 28 disposals per game.
Cammeron Hansen, in his second year at the club, continued to be one of the more reliable players of the side.
What’s Next?
An exciting post-season announcement for the club: Nick Batsanis appointed as the 2027 Senior Men’s Coach. Most recently, Batsanis coached Templestowe in Division Two, taking the club to their first senior Grand Final in nine years.
A fantastic choice for coach, who has the ability, respect and connections to bring some key players to the club as they enter Division Four for the first time.
The biggest inclusion thus far is no doubt, Templestowe’s Beau Mitchener. A ten-time Team of the Year ruck joins the group, set to have a massive impact for the Oaks. One of the best and most experienced rucks in the comp, it’s a huge get for the club to lock him in at this time of year.
Another recruit from the Dockers is Jai Hardwick, last playing in 2025. A long-term connection with Batsanis and another solid pickup who can add some further experience to the side.
There’s no doubt that it will be a challenge for the club; the top four to five teams in Division Four have all been super competitive, but the side is in a good position to make significant improvements on-field in 2027.
NETBALL
Division Seven: (5th, 6-8, 95.39%)
Division 12: (4th, 9-5, 115.85%)
Oakleigh District returned to the Ringwood Mazda Netball competition in 2026, with two teams competing in both Division Seven and 12.
The Division Seven side just missed out on finals, with percentage seeing them miss out on fourth place. Ashleigh Hunt won the side’s Best and Fairest award, playing 13 of 14 games of the season.
The Division 12 group played off in the finals after finishing the regular season in fourth. They ran the eventual premiers, Fairpark, close for three quarters before they blew the margin out late.
Samantha Runnells not only won the side’s MVP best and fairest award, but also secured a spot in the Division 10-12 Team of the Year.
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