Yarra Valley Water 2026 InFocus 2026 | Oakleigh District

By Christopher Kourtis.

2026 marks the start of a new era for the Oakleigh District Football Club. 

The off-season has brought with it plenty of change at Princes Highway Reserve, as Craig Mulcock takes over the senior coaching role after holding assistant roles at Noble Park and Beaconsfield. 

The change comes off the back of Blake Pearson’s move to Premier Division club East Ringwood. The playing coach and 2025club leading goal kicker is not the only big name leaving the club though, as 2011 Brownlow Medallist Dane Swan’s cameo reaches its end.

With a new coach and a fairly new list, the senior men’s side have not shied away from the challenges that lie ahead of them.

“It’s been a fantastic learning time for us,” Mulcock said.

“The boys have really embraced it. They’ve embraced the change, embraced the different drills, embraced a different philosophy in playing footy.”

The District have recruited strongly over the off-season. The incomings are headlined by ex-VFL ruckman Michael Sikora and dual premiership forward Adam Amin.

Amin tallied an 89-goal haul in the division last season for premiers Scoresby and is set to terrorise defences once again in 2026.

Alongside the key arrivals are the re-signings of some of Oakleigh District’s key contributors over the years. Club best and fairest winner Luke Potts has signed on, alongside captain Mitch Potts and exciting forward Connor Cochrane, who finished second in the club’s goal-kicking charts. 

“We’re pretty happy with what we’ve got, what we’ve picked up and recruited,” Mulcock said.

“We’ve got our centre half-forward Connor (Cochrane) going really well as well – I think he’s going to have a breakout year.”

Mulcock is looking to play towards the side’s strengths, announcing an offense-centric play style that will excite the fans.

“It’s pretty much been a whole new game plan. It’s a really attacking game plan which I’ve seen success with.

“It’s been a massive change, and it’s been a defensive structure change as well, just the way we’re going to move the ball and everything else.”   

Oakleigh District will open their account away to Whitehorse before facing Donvale and Coldstream.

While the fixture against Donvale will prove a massive test, the prospect of a newly promoted Whitehorse in Round One will raise its own challenges. 

“I’m very big on not being too reactive to the opposition coach – I want to play our style of football,” Mulcock said.

“The Whitehorse one is going to be an interesting one. It’s on a small postage stamp, so they defend it very well. 

“We’ll have a way to get around it, and we’ll just adjust accordingly on the day.”

The opening fixtures will be a great indicator of where this side is at. Mulcock is adamant that his team will have what it takes to challenge the big boys of the competition and be there at the pointy end of the season. 

“I want to push finals… push as deep into the year as we possibly can.

“[It’s about] keeping that momentum going, taking some scalps along the way and seeing how it all dishes up.”