Yarra Valley Water InFocus 2026 | Park Orchards

By Christopher Kourtis.

Park Orchards have their eyes set on premiership glory for both senior programs, whilst the club have announced the instatement of a second women’s team.

Park Orchards senior men’s side came agonisingly close to promotion to Premier Division in 2025, a second-straight season in which they’ve fallen short at the final hurdle.

The Sharks have once again backed in their list, trusting that they will have what it takes to get the job done this time around. All of their Team of the Year talents will return to Domeney Reserve – Prosenak, Keppel, Haythorne, Blakey and Webb all recommitting ahead of the season. 

For senior coach Paris Harvie, there was never any doubt that he’d be going into war with the same soldiers around him.

“Our whole club philosophy is built on home-grown kids that come through our junior program into our senior program, and we stick with them and try and build through that,” Harvie said.

Park Orchards will travel to Norwood for their season opener, before facing a tough stretch of games through the next month: North Ringwood, Montrose, Beaconsfield and Mitcham. 

Despite having confidence in his side, Harvie understands that nothing is promised in Division One.

“We’re under no illusion – it’s going to be a massive challenge again this year.

“[All those clubs] are going to be massive challenges and we’d like to think that for them it’s a massive challenge playing against us too.”

Coming off consecutive grand final appearances, the Sharks faithful are hoping that third time’s the charm. To do that though, they understand how important it is to get off to a good start to the season.

“In the first nine rounds, you want to have as many wins in the win column as you can, because there’s no doubt… you’re going to get injuries throughout the year,” Harvie said.

“[Our goal is] finals again… finals and going as deep into finals as we can”.

The Park Orchards senior women’s team also have their aim locked on finals footy, as the side look for a third consecutive premiership. 

Coming off a premiership in their first season in Premier Division, senior coach Dave Boell understands that the side cannot waste time patting themselves on the back.

“We’ve had a massive recruiting drive on the back of last year’s success,” Boell said.

“It’s not like we’re just rolling our arm over with the same people. We do have a whole lot of new girls there that will play in the senior side”. 

Amongst the new arrivals will be many of the same faces, as Alannah Panza, Jade Hutchinson and Kristen Bertoldi headline the side’s re-signings. The Sharks will be without dual-premiership player and 2025 Premier Division Team of the Year half-back Dakota Hoen, who will step into a coaching role with the club’s new second side in the upcoming season. 

The senior women’s side will face newly promoted North Ringwood in Round 1, followed by key fixtures against South Croydon (Round Three) and the Eastern Devils (Round Four). 

“They’re all quality teams, as they were last season,” Boell said.

“[We have to] respect our opposition… until you actually play, there’s no way to get a feel for what teams might have gotten stronger.”

Park Orchards’ second senior women’s side will have the same outlook, entering Division Two in their first ever season. 

The instatement of this second side is a massive achievement for the club. The side are likely to face some growing pains, however, as it will be a mixture of new arrivals and some of the Park Orchards junior girls who will make the step up to senior football.

“We’ve got a big influx of our youth girls from last year, and they’re also back-to-back premiers,” premiership coach Boell said.

“A big challenge will be, and it really comes with the integration of the new girls, getting them familiar with our style”. 

The Division Two side will play their first game away to Rowville, before hosting a strong Montrose side on ANZAC Day. While they’d love to have the same kind of success that the Premier Division side had in a new division, those at the club understand that it’s all about getting the building blocks in place in 2026.

“We’re going to set the bar at that we win more than we lose and be competitive in Division Two,” Boell said. 

Above all else, Boell sees the importance in bringing the two senior sides together for the good of the club.  

“It’s really important that everyone feels as one – that we’re all still one women’s department”.