A strong season for the Sharks, with four grand final appearances along with just one side missing out on finals across its football and netball programs.
Senior Men’s
Ladder Position: 1st (17-1, 161.72%)
Leading Goalkicker: Kane Keppel (40 goals in 21 matches)
Best and Fairest: Kane Keppel
Summary:
It was a strong return to Division 1 for Park Orchards senior men’s side, making but ultimately falling in the Grand Final.
Their regular season set them up very nicely, losing just once to their grand final foes in Mitcham halfway through the year.
After defeating the Tigers in the final round of the regular season, they were unable to do so in their semi-final meeting at Tormore Reserve.
A preliminary final win against Beaconsfield saw them book another date with Mitcham but ultimately fell well short in tricky conditions once again.
Key Players:
The list of key players for the Sharks goes on and on, however there were none more important than captain Michael Prosenak.
Averaging 19.5 disposals, 1.8 goals and 7.1 score involvements per game, Prosenak was named captain of the Division 1 Team of the Year whilst he also took home the division’s B&F.
Kane Keppel and McLaren Spiteri were named alongside Prosenak in the Team of the Year, with Keppel winning the Sharks B&F and Spiteri starring in defence.
Jaye Witnish also had a consistent season, being named in the Sharks best on 12 of 20 occasions.
Best Win: Round 14 - Park Orchards 8.11.59 defeated South Belgrave 6.14.50 @ Belgrave South Recreation Reserve
Too many wins to choose from but this one sticks out given it was in very tricky conditions up the mountain.
Against a Saints side who had seven of its last eight prior to this game, a strong middle two quarters of the match gave the Sharks a 10-point advantage heading into the final break.
They were then able to hold on for victory and move one step closer to the minor premiership.
Kane Keppel racked up 21 disposals and 12 clearances in the match while Michael Prosenak and Connor Hickey kicked two goals each in the win.
Off-Season Focus:
Moves are already being made for the Sharks as they look to go one step further and win their second ever senior men’s premiership.
Ex-Geelong player James Parsons has committed full time as an assistant coach whilst VFL champion Tom Wilson has also aligned with Park Orchards next season.
The depth is certainly there, with their 19s making another Grand Final and their reserves making a preliminary final.
Keep those senior, reserves and 19s players then the Sharks could once again be one of the hunted sides in Division 1 next year.
Senior Women’s
Ladder Position: 3rd (9-4-1, 148.14%)
Leading Goalkicker: Elly Hartnett (13 goals in 10 matches)
Best and Fairest: Kristen Bertoldi
Summary:
A history-making season for Park Orchards women’s program, claiming their first ever premiership in the women’s competition.
The Sharks started the season off strongly, winning four of their first five, before winning another two in the middle of the season.
After winning three of their final four games of the season, they used the momentum gained in that period to win their first two finals against East Ringwood and Donvale respectively.
Grand Final day then saw their late season surge come to fruition, coming from behind to defeat North Ringwood and win an entertaining decider.
Key Players:
Like the men’s team, the Sharks women’s side had a wide spread of contributors. This was led by their B&F winner Kristen Bertoldi who had another superb season, being named in the best on 11 of 15 occasions.
This season also saw the emergence of young gun Remy Archer who was named in the best on 12 occasions whilst she also played all 17 games in her first full season of senior footy.
Archer was named on the interchange in the Team of the Year and was joined by coach Simon McAuliffe along with VFLW-listed stars Jade Hutchinson and Jorja Livingstone plus Molly Heymanson.
Best Win: Grand Final - Park Orchards 5.3.33 defeated North Ringwood 4.2.26 @ H.E. Parker Reserve
Third time’s the charm for the Sharks on Grand Final day, defeating rivals North Ringwood in front of a packed H.E. Parker Reserve.
Taking a one-point lead into half time, they then conceded two goals kicking up the hill in the third to enter the final break of the season down by nine points.
Three straight goals to two behinds in the final quarter then saw them claim their first women’s premiership in their third grand final.
Kristen Bertoldi was awarded for her strong performance with the Best on Ground medal. Jorja Livingstone and Jade Hutchinson also starred, with Livingstone kicking two goals.
Off-Season Focus:
A new dawn is upon the Park Orchards women’s side who are set to enter the Premier Division for the first time.
It’s also seen a change at the helm, with Simon McAuliffe stepping into the coaching group and David Boell becoming head coach of the sides.
Pieces are already being put into place, with key names such as Livningstone, Hutchinson, Bertoldi, Alannah Panza, Heymanson and Penny Bowman already re-signed.
They’ll be further bolstered by more juniors coming through, with their Under 18 Girls also winning a premiership in the YJFL this past season.
With the potential of having a development team next season, the Sharks look well and truly set to be a force in the ultra-competitive Premier Division
Netball
Park Orchards Black (Division 1) - 3rd (9-3-1, 121.38%)
Park Orchards White (Division 4) - 4th (8-5, 110.37%)
Park Orchards Red (Division 5) - 3rd (8-3-1, 118.87%)
Park Orchards Blue (Division 6) - 2nd (11-2, 186.36%)
Park Orchards Green (Division 8) - 7th (3-9, 68.82%)
The Sharks had a total of five sides compete in the winter netball competition this past season.
Four of those sides that competed played off in finals. While Park Orchards Black and White both made preliminary finals in Division’s 1 & 4, Park Orchards Red went down in the first week of Division 5 finals.
It’s Division 6 side, Park Orchards Blue, made it to the Grand Final, falling 10 goals short of premiers Balwyn in the decider.
Chloe North-Coombes was the only player from the Sharks to take home an award on Chandler Medal night, winning the Division Six Leading Goalshooter.
A strong overall season for the Sharks netball program, adding to the success that its football program had.