Yarra Valley Water InFocus 2026 | Waverley Blues

By Christopher Kourtis.

The Waverley Blues return to Mount Waverley Reserve in 2026, as both sides have their eyes set on bringing finals footy to their new facilities.

The Blues’ senior men’s side are ready to put inconsistency behind them and make a finals push in their upcoming campaign.

Senior coach Sam Bates is looking to put an end to his team’s wavering form, saying that his players have wasted no time and are ready to keep the ship at even keel. 

“We identified that at the end of the season and spoke to some of our players in regards to consistency,” Bates said.

“Even when the Grand Final was being played in our division, some of our players had already set up groups where they were doing gym work together and running… they took their feedback really well.”

The Blues have announced a fantastic 35 re-signings on their socials, proving that those at the club believe they have what it takes to take that next step in 2026.

“I think the basis of our next premiership side is here – I think the players know that,” Bates said.

“[The players] are at an age now where it’s time to get to work and make a stand in this competition and not waste a year.”

Amongst the re-signings are dual Under 19.5s club Best and Fairest winners Charlie O’Mahony and Luke Daniel. Coach Bates says that it won’t be long until those two make their senior debuts.

“[O’Mahony and Daniel] have fit in really seamlessly. They’re really mature young players and I think they’re going to be exposed [to senior footy] early on in the year.”

The senior men’s side open their season away to Surrey Park before hosting East Burwood in their first game at Mount Waverley Reserve in two years, following the ground’s redevelopment.

Whilst Bates can’t wait to get back to the club’s spiritual home, he understands the importance that the Surrey Park matchup will have in his side reaching their goals.

“We’re eyeing off a finals spot no doubt,” Bates said.

“When I saw the draw come out and we got Surrey Park [in Round 1] I was wrapped… [we want to] let the competition know that we’re fair dinkum this year and we’re not going to back down from any contest.”

“The club’s really looking forward to getting into the new facility,” Bates explained when asked about the side’s return to their home ground.

“[The players] have been hanging for this day where they can get back out to Fleet Street and play their footy in front of their friends and family in a place that they’re comfortable.”

The Waverley Blues senior women’s side will also be keen to run back out onto Mount Waverley Reserve as they eye down another finals appearance in 2026.

Lucy Milkeraitis will take the reigns in her first season as head coach, stepping up from her assistant coach role with the club in 2025. She’ll have many of the same weapons at her disposal in 2026, as many of the side’s heavy hitters have signed on for another season.

“We’ve started pretty strong in our preseason… we’ve managed to maintain the majority of our list from last year and we’ve also managed to secure a few new signings both from our Under 18s program and via some other clubs and other avenues,” Milkeraitis said.

The first-year coach says that the side’s leaders have stepped up and driven the preseason so far, making the coaching change as seamless as possible. 

“Our core group of leaders that we’ve had the last couple of years have really stood out and led the group really well in preseason this year.

“Claudia Walsh has stood out, Annalise Capomolla [has] stood out, Amelia Bishop’s stood out this year, but really all our returning group have really put in a big barrel of work.”

The Blues are faced with an interesting opening run of fixtures.

They will host a newly promoted Heathmont side in the club’s first game back at Mount Waverley Reserve before travelling to Rowville to face a Hawks side in its first season back since 2022. 

“Our first couple of rounds are against teams that weren’t in our division last year, so it’s going to be a bit of a surprise packet for us,” Milkeraitis said.

“All we can control is what we are doing in our preseason and ensure that we’re right to go for those first couple of rounds, no matter what the opposition throws at us.

“We’re pretty confident with the changes we’ve made and the training we’ve done that we should be vying for a finals spot and hopefully can push a little bit further this year than the last couple.”