Yarra Valley Water InFocus 2025 | Templestowe

By Josh Ward.

The Dockers senior men’s side will be looking for more consistency in 2025 whilst their women’s side is set to make a return this coming season.

It was yet another finals appearance for the Dockers but ultimately they fell to eventual Grand Finalist Croydon in the first week of finals.

Nick Batasanis returns for his second full season as Templestowe’s head coach, saying that preparation for season 2025 has gone well so far.

“We’ve had a big emphasis on offence this preseason, we’ve tweaked a little bit of our game plan and how we want to play against opposition, which we feel is going to be a lot better for us for the long run,” Batsanis said.

Their offence is set to be boosted with some of the recruits they’ve brought in, which includes Daniel Cooper and Matthew Mariani.

Mariani returns to the club from East Burwood having last played with the Dockers in 2017 while Cooper joins after a 30-goal season with South Croydon.

“Their footy knowledge and to take charge when things aren’t going our way, that’s the most exciting part about (them signing).”

Stefan and Giorgio Papahronis alongside Kristian Trkulja have also crossed from neighbours Doncaster East.

“The (Papahronis’) bring a really good skill set by hand and foot and they bring us some real toe on the outside.

“(All) these guys have come across from Premier and they have a very high standard of training as well, that helps the group in terms of where we want to be.”:

Joel Woods has also signed along with brother Jarrod from Northern club Diamond Creek along with Connor Walsh from Elmore.

“We’re big bodied, we’re good on the inside, but we always got caught on the outside. 

“We feel we’ve filled that void now and we’ve got the players that can play a brand of footy that we know will stack up in Division 2.”

It hasn’t been an offseason without its losses though, with Matthew Nagel, Bailey Griffiths, Jake McSwain, Steven Schwarzer crossing to the NFNL along with Matthew Jessup to EFNL incomer Bulleen Templestowe.

However, plenty of its list has been retained, with players such as Josh Warren and Michael Fogarty looking set for big seasons this year.

“All the boys have come back pretty fit. Hopefully we can stay fit and healthy, with a bit of luck, we should be ok.”

And whilst he knows their best is good enough, Batsanis is hoping the Dockers can be more consistent than they have been in previous years.

“We don’t want to go on stretches where you win five, you lose five, we just want to be consistent with how we play week in week out.

“And just make sure we’re there at the pointy end and fit and healthy to be able to launch into finals.”

Templestowe kicks off its season with a trip to H.E. Parker Reserve to face 2023 Division 2 Grand Finalist Heathmont.

This season is also set to see Templestowe reintroduce a women’s side into the competition having last played its first and only season to date in 2019.

Templestowe life member Travis Wason has been appointed coach of the side, saying that excitement is slowly building about the side’s return.

“We’re very young, we’re coming from a junior base. A lot of the girls are just finishing school or started uni over the last couple of years,” Wason said.

“There’s a lot of hype and excitement about it.”

Majority of the group is set to be made up of girls who’ve previously been coached by Wason along with players who’ve played junior girls footy with the Dockers.

“It’s been a mixture of (all those groups) and we’ve been training with our current Under 18 group as well.”

Introducing that Under 18 group into senior footy is set to be on the agenda this season for Wason, something which has become prominent across the women’s competition

“I see names pop up that are young girls who played at Surrey Park, Park Orchards and Warrandyte that we’ve played against that are playing seniors.

“The intent is that we’ll roll some players in, we’ve spoken to the younger girls about the opportunity to play senior footy.”

Those Under 18 girls are also set to be a major source of influx for the group not just this season, but next season.

“Definitely during school holidays because most of the girls in that team are Year 12 girls so they’ll be wanting to come and play in the senior team.”

With a young group heading into their return to the women’s competition, Wason says this season is about establishing its program.

“We just want to get out there, get playing, establish our numbers and establish a bit of an understanding of (the competition).”