Yarra Valley Water 2025 Season Review | Mitcham

By Josh Ward.

It was a brief return to Premier Division for the Tigers while its senior women came so close to yet another finals appearance.

Senior Men’s

Ladder Position: 10th (1-17, 65.98%)

Leading Goalkicker: Lucas Marro (26 goals in 18 games)

Best and Fairest: Jesse Uren

Summary

A tough return to the top flight for the Tigers, with injuries, departures and unavailabilities seeing them finish at the foot of the Premier Division table.

Their first win evaded them in the opening half of the season, putting together promising performances for the majority of that period but ultimately falling short.

After winning their first game in Round 9 against Berwick they continued to be competitive. However they also started to fade away as their fate became sealed.

Best Win: Round 9 - Mitcham 14.13 (97) defeated Berwick 10.12 (72)  @ Walker Park

Their only win of season 2025 in the end as well as their first win in the Premier Division since the 2006 season.

Following a low scoring opening term the Tigers then kicked five goals to Berwick’s four in the second to increase their advantage from eight points to 17 at the main break.

Berwick reduced the margin to nine points at three quarter time after a three goal to two third term in their favour. However the Tigers finished off strongly, kicking five goals to two in the last to secure a famous 25-point victory at home.

In his return to the side Jake Parente led the way in attack with there goals and had 11 score involvements. VFL-listed talent Max Donohue acquired 25 disposals and seven clearances while Lucas Marro and Nathaniel Barnes also had solid games.

Key Players

Captain Jesse Uren yet again led from the front in midfield. Averaging 21.9 disposals, 12.5 contested possessions and 6.8 clearances, Uren took home a second consecutive Wishart Medal for the Tigers B&F.

Tom Lovell also showed his potential with another solid season, averaging more than 16 disposals, 12 contested possessions, 17 hitouts and two contested marks per game.

Lucas Marro was back to his best in attack while young VFL-listed guns Max Donohue, in his first season at Mitcham, and Jack Baldwin also showed plenty of promise.

What’s Next?

A return to Division 1 awaits the Tigers, a division which they’ve been strong in having won two flags and played finals in every year between 2022 and 2024.

Neil Winterton is set for an 11th season at the helm of the Tigers having re-signed back in August.

Key players such as Nathan Crampton, Zach Elms and Alex Barton-Smith have also re-signed alongside young guns such as Nathaniel Barnes, Baldwin and Donohue.

Their list has also been strengthened with some inclusions, including the full time return of Josh May and the inclusion of noted ex-VFL and NEAFL goalkicker Mitch Johnson.

Jackson Liddle has also signed on from Officer alongside Dylan Budarick while Guy Laughlin is set to return to Walker Park after a season in Western Australia.

Whilst it’ll be a tricky proposition returning to Division 1, the Tigers will go in confident knowing what they’ve done in recent seasons at that level.

Senior Women’s

Ladder Position: 6th (6-8, 67.49%)

Leading Goalkicker: Georgia Fairbairn (22 goals in 12 games)

Best and Fairest: Riley Holloway

Summary

So close but yet so far for Mitcham yet again, falling a game (plus percentage) short of a return to Division 3 finals.

It was another slow start for the Tigers who dropped four of their opening five games of the season by an average margin of 38.5 points.

After dropping two games between rounds six and eight they then returned to form with four wins from their next five games.

Still a sniff of playing finals in the final round, the Tigers ultimately fell five points short of the Saints, which ended their late run for finals in heartbreaking circumstances.

Best Win: Round 13 - Mitcham 6.2 (38) defeated South Croydon Red 2.2 (14) @ Cheong Park

A crucial win for the Tigers which kept their finals hopes well and truly alive against a consistent Division 3 performer in recent years.

They started off well with a two goal to no score opening term. Despite conceding the only goal of the second, Mitcham still held a one-goal advantage at the main break.

After both sides scored a goal each in the third quarter the Tigers nearly doubled their score in the last, kicking three goals to just one behind to secure a four-goal triumph away from home.

Georgia Fairbairn was the only multiple goalscorer for Mitcham, who were well led by Bronte Coxhill and Riley Holloway, the latter one of five goalkickers on the day for the Tigers.

Key Players

Holloway took her game to another level again this past season. Kicking seven goals and being named in the best on seven occasions, Holloway took home the Searl-Linney Medal for the Tigers senior women’s B&F.

Playing coach Jess Grace had another superb campaign alongside leading goalkicker Fairbairn and Coxhill, with all three named in the Division 3 Team of the Year.

Paige Frost also showed some promise alongside Lucy Griffiths and Alex Lovelock, the latter two in their first seasons with Mitcham.

What’s Next?

Mitcham is set to have a new coach in its senior women’s side, with ex-Waverley Blues and Kilsyth coach Clint Martin signing on.

While Grace will hang up the whiteboard, she’ll still continue to play with the Tigers having re-signed alongside key players such as Holloway and Fairbairn.

Not much has happened on the recruiting front for the side. If they add in a senior player or two then the Tigers could be one to keep an eye on in 2026.

Netball

Team-by-Team

Mitcham Amber (Division 1)

Ladder: 4th (7-6-1)

A strong season for the Tigers in Division 1, making and winning a final.

After an up and down start they found their groove toward the backend of the season, winning five consecutive games, including their elimination final with Glen Waverley Hawks, before eventually bowing out in the penultimate week of the season.

Jess Grace had an excellent season on the netball court as well. Finishing as the Division’s leading goalshooter with 424 goals, Grace finished runner up in the Division 1 League B&F.

Mitcham Yellow (Division 2)

Ladder: 3rd (8-3-3)

Plenty of positives for Mitcham’s Division 2 side who had a similar season to their Division 1 compatriots.

Starting the season off undefeated in their opening 11 games, which included a streak of three consecutive draws, they then ended the season with three consecutive losses to slip to third. Regathering and winning their first final, they fell five goals short of eventual premiers Norwood Gold in the preliminary final.

Hannah McArdle led the way in attack with 242 goals and was provided with some solid support by Tenielle Black who also acquired 189 goals

Mitcham Ebony (Division 4)

Ladder: 8th (2-10-1)

A slightly tougher season for Mitcham’s Division 4 side, claiming just the two wins to finish third last on the table.

Both their wins came in games against Park Orchards Red and The Basin Kodiaks in rounds seven and eight after an opening six rounds where they showed a bit of promise.

They were unable to build on a promising middle third though, where they also drew with Ferntree Gully Gold in Round 9, dropping their final four games of the season, including their last two by single digit margins.

Mitcham Jets (Division 5)

Ladder: 3rd (9-5)

It was also an excellent season for Mitcham’s Division 5 side, who additionally made finals.

After dropping their first three games the Mitcham Jets then won nine of their final 11 games to finish the season in third on the table. They were unable to build on a four game winning streak to end the season, going down to Heathmont Jets in the elimination final which ended their season.

Erin Sanguinetti was terrific for the side all season long, which saw her claim the league best and fairest for Division 5.

Mitcham Sabers (Division 6)

Ladder: 8th (1-13)

A much tougher season for the Mitcham Sabers, only claiming the one win for the season.

That win came in the opening fortnight of the season where they also put up a strong fight against eventual grand finalist Chirnside Park Amber. It all went downhill from there though, losing their final 12 games to finish at the foot of the Division 6 table.

Al Delany-Smith and Lisa Anderson led the way in attack while Natalie Horua, Lauren Ewart and Rachel Piper all had impacts in attack when they played.

Mitcham Gold (Division 7)

Ladder: 5th (8-6)

So close yet so far for Mitcham Gold, ultimately falling percentage short of playing finals.

After losing their first two games they then won five of their next six games before going on a three-game losing streak between rounds nine and 11.

They then won their final three games, however it wasn’t enough to book their finals ticket as their divisional counterparts Mitcham Stripes heartbreakingly failed to defeat fourth-place Boronia Hawks.

Mitcham Stripes (Division 7)

Ladder: 7th (3-11)

Some promise was shown from the Tigers other Division 7 side, but their season wasn’t as fruitful as Mitcham Gold’s was.

Losing eight of their opening nine games, the first three of which in Division 6, they then won their round 10 and 11 games before dropping their final three games, including to Boronia in the final round by a goal in a game which sealed the Hawks finals spot.

Alexandra Gilpin had an excellent season in attack with 107 goals and was well supported by Ellie Campbell who scored 82 goals, including 61 in Division 7.

Mitcham Ravens (Division 8)

Ladder: 8th (2-12)

Also a tough season for Mitcham in Division 8, finishing at the bottom of the table with just two wins to their name.

Those two wins came on separate occasions, with their first coming in Round 3 against Silvan Blue while their Round 12 win against South Croydon Red ended an eight-game losing streak.

Madison Marshall had an excellent season in attack, scoring 301 goals to finish atop the Division leading goalshooter charts by the end of the regular season.

Mitcham Black (Division 11)

Ladder: 5th (4-10)

Some promise shown from Mitcham Black, who ultimately fell five games short of playing Division 11 finals.

Losing seven of their opening eight games, three of which in Division 10, they then split even the wins and losses in their final six games of the season to finish in fifth.

Rachel Thompson had a solid season in attack with 125 goals while Emily Couch and Rebecca Heinjus scored 106 goals and 90 goals respectively to provide Thompson support.

Mitcham Suns (Division 12)

Ladder: 7th (4-10)

After a brightful start, Mitcham Suns found it tough towards the end of the season in Division 12.

Winning three of their opening five games of the season, including one in Division 11, they then lost eight of their last nine games to finish in second last on the Division 12 table.

Julie Thompson led the way in attack with 134 goals across both divisions while Samantha Runnalls provided excellent support, scoring 114 goals herself.