Yarra Valley Water 2025 Season Review | Croydon

The Blues Senior Men's battled consistency in 2025, while a dominant Premier Division Netball campaign saw Croydon break through for the premiership.

Senior Men’s

Ladder Position: 8^th (7-11, 79.19%)

Leading Goalkicker: Blake Podesta (25 Goals)

Summary:

After the heights of 2024, making the Division Two Grand Final, the Blues slipped back down the ladder in 2025 in a year full of challenges.

Croydon won seven games for the season in a division that threw a few curveballs.

The Blues looked likely to be back in the September action after their two-point win over the Jets in Round Eleven. At that stage, their record was 6-5, placing the Blues inside the top five with some breathing room.

Unfortunately for Croydon, the injury toll rose, and the form dropped as they lost six of the last seven games for the season to slip to a final position of eighth.

The Blues Reserves side’s finals run was a highlight of the season, getting back to the Division Two Grand Final for the second year running.

Best Win: Round Three – Croydon 11.13 79 def. Surrey Park 4.7 31 @ Croydon Oval

Arguably their most complete performance of the season, the Blues handed the Panthers their first loss in Division Two with a 48-point victory at home.

In tough wet conditions, neither side kicked a major in a dour opening term. After the first break, it was all Croydon who extended their lead at every change.

Riley Britton was a major force up forward, kicking three majors, Blake Podesta and Luke Sparkes with two goals each.

Key Players:

Fraser Smith was once again a major force for the Blues, a clear pick for the EFNL Division Two Team of the Year at Centre Half Back.

Averaging over 22 disposals, Matt McKenzie had another big season through the midfield as did Andrew Carter when available, missing six games.

After a big season leading the Blues to the Under 19.5’s premiership in 2024, Blake Podesta played 17 games in the seniors, kicking 25 goals for the year after starting in the Reserves in Round One.

Riley Britton was another key target up forward, 19 goals and was listed in the best a total of ten times.

What’s Next?

There's a fair bit to work on for the Blues this off-season ahead of the 2026 season.

A trend over the last several years has been Croydon’s lack of scoring power. Ranked ninth in points for, the Blues desperately missed senior coach Rhett Jordon for majority of the season as he recovered from an ACL injury suffered in the 2024 Preliminary Final against Mulgrave.

Take away their two losses to Templestowe and Wantirna South, defensively the side held up well once again.

There isn't a dramatic difference between the top five sides and the bottom five sides but they'll certainly be eager to recruit well this off-season as well as the improvement from within.

Netball

Team by Team:

Premier Division: 1^st (13-0)

After multiple near misses, Croydon reached the pinnacle of Premier Division EFNL Netball, winning the 2025 premiership.

A flawless season as the Blues went through the year undefeated, winning 13 games straight in the Home and Away season. Only one side during the season, East Ringwood, was able to get within 20 points of Croydon this year, the side putting up scores of 96, 76, 75 and 71.

Croydon went straight through to the Grand Final after a 27-goal win over East Ringwood. The two teams met on Grand Final Night, the Blues winning by 15 points after a tight first half.

Sarah Szczykulski starred with 33 goals, while Ellarnah Hanlen finished with 27 of her own.

Szczykulski scored 384 goals for the season in just nine games. This included four games scoring 50 goals or more.