Yarra Valley Water InFocus 2026 | Boronia

By Josh Ward.

After a promising 2025, the Hawks senior men’s and women’s look set to contend once again this coming season.

Boronia’s return to the second tier of the EFNL men’s competition was fruitful, finishing in fourth place with nine wins. However they bowed out in the first weekend of finals to eventual preliminary finalist North Ringwood by 55 points.

Three-time Hawks premiership coach Matt Clark has re-signed for a ninth season at the helm, saying that the group has come back strongly so far this offseason.

“We’ve had really good numbers, the guys have come back in unbelievably good nick. I’m quietly enthused that everyone’s head’s in the right space,” Clark said.

The club continues to train at Tormore Reserve, where they’ll return to play their home games at this season following a year at Miller Park.

“The club did everything in their power to make (the move to Millers) as hospitable for us as they could. We did train at Tormore but we hopped in and had our meals down at Millers. Every time we got in the car it felt a little disjointed…

“The initial impact of not playing on (Tormore) wasn’t felt until during the year. This year knowing and seeing that grandstand every training get more and more (complete) gives them a bit of energy.”

Majority of the Hawks 2025 playing group have re-signed. On top of this there’s plenty of new faces who are set to pull on the brown and gold next season.

Among Boronia’s recruits is Box Hill Hawks duo Jake Arundell and Corey Preston. While ex-Rowville star Arundell signs full time at the Hawks, ex-East Ringwood star Preston will still be on Box Hill’s list.

“Both of them are/were in the leadership group at the Box Hill Hawks so they have strong qualities both on and off the ground.

“They’ve connected to the guys, which is awesome. They’ve hit the ground running in different capacities.”

Former juniors Mason Storr and Matthew Barkas have also returned to Boronia. Storr rejoins the Hawks following back-to-back premierships with Scoresby while Barkas spent the past few seasons with the Roos.

“(Storr and Barkas) already had mates here so to get them back and give them that fresh look at footy has been really good.”

Blair Hudson has also signed on after leading Heathmont’s goalkicking last year while Josh Cullen and Harrison Kimmitt join from Vermont and Old Camberwell Grammarians respectively.

“Blair’s actually best mates with Jayden Collins. Since their Vic Metro and Eastern Ranges days, they haven’t played together. They always wanted to connect at some stage.

“He’s another one whose got a good voice, good experience and even in his Norwood days he was such a good competitor and good ball user, he’ll be invaluable for the group.

“(We have) another Kimmitt coming through the footy club. Josh Cullen, didn’t get too lucky with his body at Vermont but he’ll have a great opportunity reconnecting with his good mates in the Mellis’ and a few others.”

There could also be some opportunities for the Hawks youth to once again be unleashed after six Under 19s played in Boronia’s senior lineup last year.

“There’s a couple of 19s we’re keeping an eye on, don’t want to put too much pressure on them too early.

“We’ve got young Jon Wade from Waverley Blues. Jon’s played a bit of senior footy for them as a 17 and 18 year old. He comes into our U19 program but we expect him at some stage to get an opportunity.”

Whilst there’s no shortage of talent on Boronia’s list, Clark believes the group will need to be performing consistently once again in what is shaping up to be a highly competitive Division 1 this year.

“The guys are really realistic at the moment and know that they are gonna have to work hard this year.

“They want success, I can tell by the way they’re training, they want success. So where it ends up, we haven’t put any limitations or expectations on it, but we are absolutely driven to play finals every year we play.”

The Hawks will kick off their season with a Sunday afternoon clash at Walker Park against rivals Mitcham, renewing acquaintances with the Tigers for the first time since 2019.

“It’s finals style pressure straight up. Small ground, big crowd, big atmosphere, what a way to get your players exposed to hopefully what we’re exposed to later in the year.”

Image: Boronia Senior Men's Coach Matt Clark's Quarter Time address v North Ringwood, 2025.

The Hawks senior women’s side had a similarly promising season in the Premier Division. Under ex-VFLW premiership coach Sean Buncle, the Hawks started off strongly before fading away late to finish in fifth with six wins.

Buncle returns for his second season as Boronia’s senior women’s coach, commenting that it’s been a blast so far to be involved with the Hawks.

“I was really excited to launch last year, it was already a great program before I got there,” Buncle said.

“I guess we’ve been able to continue to elevate it and bring in some really good people from a coaching perspective.”

While former senior coaches Scott Nicholas and Tim Cavanagh remain as assistants, the Hawks have brought in former Upwey Tecoma women’s coach and life member Steve Brotja.

From a playing group perspective, the Hawks have again added plenty of talent both young and experienced into the fold

“We’re sort of up to 16 or 17 new players coming down to the club, amongst that there’s roughly 10-12 that are senior players. We’ve recruited really well.”

One of those recruits is ex-Bayswater and Vermont star Zoe Lynch who comes off consecutive Team of the Year appearances with the Waters.

Abbey Broughan plus Maddy and Sophie Stark also cross from Coldstream, with all three having played in two consecutive grand finals. Broughan and Sophie Stark have also made the last two Division 3 Team of the Years.

“They’re four that’ve come down and fit right into the culture that we want. And they’re all very good team players that work hard, they’re fitting in really well so far.”

More youth has come to the club as well, highlighted by EFNL U18A Girls Best and Fairest winner Georgia Kavanagh who has also signed with Buncle’s former VFLW club Port Melbourne.

“Hopefully she gets plenty of games at the VFLW level and we don’t see her. But if we do, I’ve got no doubt she’ll make an immediate impact at this level.”

Others such as Charity Poe, Jemima Fulton, Jazmin Stratton and Briannan Lambe, who has signed with Essendon’s VFLW side, are some of the many young players Buncle is hopeful can have an impact at the senior level.

“Just watching them at training, I expect that they’ll be playing senior footy at some point this year.

“Watching them on the track with our girls who’ve been playing Premier for many years, they seem to be matching it really well.”

The injection of recruits is one of a few things Buncle is excited about this coming season, with the side set to return to Tormore on a permanent basis having played two games there last year.

“It’s good to be at home, it’s where we train, it’s a big ground, it’s probably the biggest ground that the women play on in the Premier Division, it’s almost like our advantage.”

With their return to Tormore, as well as having a talented list at his disposal, Buncle is full of belief the side can close the gap between them and last year’s Grand Finalists in Park Orchards and South Belgrave.

“(The Sharks and Saints) are two good young teams that have really high skills. That’s the gap we’re trying to close, and I think with the list we’ve got now it’s definitely a very skilful list.

“We’ve got the belief we can do it, we don’t expect to do it, we don’t think it’s our right, but we definitely believe in everything we’ve got.

“The people at the club are our biggest indicator, we know we’ve got the mix to do it, we’ve just got to put in the work.”

Boronia kicks off their Premier Division season with two home games against two of the last three Premier Division premiers in the Eastern Devils and South Croydon.