Yarra Valley Water InFocus 2026 | Whitehorse

By Josh Ward.

The Pioneers are looking to prove their worth this coming season as they re-enter Division Three.

Whitehorse’s senior men’s side return to Division 3 this season after claiming their third EFNL Division 4 premiership last season.

Despite some up and down form at times and their depth being tested, the Pioneers saved their best for last with a thrilling eight-point triumph in last year’s Division 4 decider against Chirnside Park.

Coach Andrew Haining, who is set for his fourth season at the helm, says there’s been a good energy around the Pioneers senior men’s side this offseason

“It’s been a really positive preseason, we’re having over 50 players on the track at training currently,” Haining said.

“We’re really looking forward to starting the season, giving it a crack and seeing how well we can go.”

A major driving force behind the Pioneers strong numbers at preseason has been players across both reserve and senior grades, as well as the club, looking to prove themselves at a higher level.

“Everyone at the club is enjoying being and playing footy together. Having the 19s helps with numbers at training as well.

“And everyone wants to be better. Our reserves side has played finals a few times and been unlucky to miss out on Grand Final day. They’re hungry and they really want to be competitive as well this season.”

With improved numbers, as well as the reintroduction of their U19s program, Haining says the club is in better shape entering Division 3 this time around.

“Our squad is better, we’ve got a younger profile on our list currently and we also have those 19s as well now. The list has got 60 players signed up for this season too.”

Most of last year’s list has been retained, with the only key departure being that of Harrison Prout to Barwon Heads.

Whitehorse have also been able to add to their list too, bringing back goalkicking champion Andrew Padbury after he spent the past three seasons in country Victoria playing footy.

“He’s really matured the past few years, he reached out and said he wants to come back and share his wealth of experience and knowledge to the young playing group we’ve got.

“It’s really exciting that he’s come back as well as his best mate Rob Macdougall. If we were honest with ourselves our backline was a little bit weaker than other lines last season.

“Having Rob and Andrew come back, and being able to swing them both forward and back, it opens up (the possibility of us) being a lot more flexible this season.”

Tim Law and Chris McDougall also return to the Pioneers alongside Blackburn Under 19 player Adam Harrison plus ex-Preston Bullants player and twin brother of Daniel Horvat, Luke.

Matt Hodges and Ben Rowe also cross from neighbouring club Surrey Park and NFNL club Old Eltham Collegians respectively, with both settling in well to life at Springfield Park.

“It’s been really good to get a couple of these new recruits and old Whitehorse people back to the club to help this new, young group that we’ve got that we really want to set up the club for long-term success.

“We’re building around the likes of Joel Savy, Sam and Patrick Carroll plus Caleb Parsons. Some of these guys aren’t even 20 yet, so it’s really exciting to build our squad around those guys.

“And then we’ve got seven players in the 19s who I can see playing senior footy this year. A couple of them have already played senior footy, but they’ve come along even further this preseason.”

With its improving list, its youth and players coming to the club this offseason, Haining’s overall objective this season is to be consistent and competitive in Division 3 this year

“Making sure that we’re competitive every single week and then through that being as consistent every single week.

“Our finals series was probably the best football we’d played all season. For us we know what we’re capable of, and having players being confident in knowing what they’re capable of, and bringing that through to the regular season.”

Whitehorse will unfurl its Division 4 flag in their first game of the season against Oakleigh District at Springfield Park.

Meanwhile the Pioneers women’s side will compete once again in the top flight of the EFNL senior women’s competition.

Whilst they showed some promise at times last year, the Pioneers only won two games against bottom-placed and relegated side The Basin.

This season sees them enter the highly competitive Premier Division with a new look following the departures of key names such as Georgia Fisher, Jemma Laffey, Phoebe Joy, Georgia Tait and Eliza O’Neill.

However they have brought in some new faces, including current Box Hill Hawks-listed player and former Whitehorse junior Amy Cariss-Brett from Old Scotch.

Sufia Kashani also crosses from Templestowe’s Under 18s program having also played a small number of senior games with the Dockers in Division 5.

Annie Clarke and Gabby Rolls-Harris also join the Pioneers, with Clarke boasting experience in the VAFA while Rolls-Harris is set to play her first ever season of footy.

Whitehorse is set to kick off the season with an away fixture against South Croydon before welcoming division newcomers North Ringwood to Springfield Park on ANZAC Day.