Yarra Valley Water InFocus 2026 | Croydon North MLOC

By Josh Ward.

After putting together their strongest season to date in the EFNL, the KangaRams are eager to make further history in the highly-competitive Division 4 this coming season.

Ben Oakes’ side claimed seven wins last season, defeating sides such as Kilsyth, Warrandyte and eventual premiers Whitehorse Pioneers along the way.

However they fell just match ratio (and percentage) short of playing a historic first senior men’s finals series for the club, with a final round loss at Warrandyte sealing their fate.

Oakes returns for a fourth season as the KangaRams senior coach, saying there’s been strong numbers so far this offseason.

“Senior wise we’ve had a bit of turnover this year, we’re going to look a bit different to what we did last year,” Oakes said.

“We’ve brought some players in, some players returning after 12 months away due to injury. We’re shaping up well.”

Most of Croydon North’s group has come back fitter this offseason, with a major driving force behind their fitness being how close they got to finals last year.

“(The group’s) very motivated to succeed this season and I think that’s what it takes. If they came back less motivated, we’d be a bit worried.”

This season the KangaRams will be without talls Konrad Bendrups and Tom Galway who’ve departed for Division 2 clubs Scoresby and East Burwood respectively.

And EFNL legend Leigh Odermatt has also decided to hang up the boots at senior men’s level and play in the EFNL Veteran Men’s competition.

More recruiting has been done too by Croydon North, highlighted by Andrew Doyle who boasts recent experience with VAFA top flight club Old Brighton.

“You bring in someone with his credentials, arguably the most credentialed player we’ve had come into the club, it gives everyone a boost in morale.

“Guys are going to be able to learn off Andy, we’re excited to see what he can put into 2026. He’s a big but lovely fella, we’re looking forward to seeing him taking the field for the KangaRams.”

There’s also been a strong focus on bringing in youth, with many players crossing to Hughes Park having played the past few seasons at the Under 19 level.

“We’ve recruited, for example, a kid from Norwood in Cameron West who’s an ex-Talent League player, he brings tremendous leg speed.

“For us, players of that ilk, that’s what we’re looking for. We want to be able to contend with the quick teams like Chirnside, Bulleen Templestowe, we’re anticipating Fairpark will be quick too.”

That youth is also set to be boosted by the introduction of an Under 19s side for the first time in Croydon North’s history, with a coach, Wayne Burton, and 19 players already signing on.

“To be able to generate enough interest for players to want to come and play Under 19s under the Croydon North banner I think it’s a huge win for us.

“In the next few years we expect a lot of those players to push for senior football, there’s a few there already I can see playing a couple of games at least this year.”

With more depth being built, as well as the re-signing of key figures, Oakes believes the KangaRams are primed for a finals charge this coming season

“We’re here to win games of footy and we’re here to play finals. A par year would be those seven wins again so we haven’t taken a regression…

“If we win eight games and miss out on finals we can say we’ve taken another little step forward. But we’re here to play finals, there’s no doubt about that.”

Croydon North kicks off its season with a trip to Ted Ajani Reserve to face off with a Bulleen Templestowe side that suffered the same fate as they did last season.