EFL 2019: Park Orchards reveals its bold plan to reach the Eastern Football League Premier division

Park Orchards has declared it wants to join the Eastern Football League’s Premier division for the first time in club history by the start of the 2022 season.

Michael Prosenak will be a valuable addition in 2019 after missing most of last year through injury. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

Park Orchards has declared it wants to join the Eastern Football League’s Premier division for the first time in club history by the start of the 2022 season.

The Sharks secured their first piece of silverware in 2017, when they won the Division 3 flag, six years after the senior club was formed.

Now Park Orchards wants to win a Division 1 premiership in the next three years and advance to the competition’s top flight.

EFL: VERMONT LEGEND OPENS UP ON RETURN TO EAGLES

EFL: BEST AND FAIREST WINNER AMONG DEPARTURES FROM ZEBRAS

EFL: EX-MELBOURNE SKIPPER JOINS EASTERN LEAGUE CLUB

EFL: DECORATED WAFL STAR JOINS PREMIERSHIP FANCY

EFL: SWAG OF ONE-POINT PLAYERS RETURN TO FERNTREE GULLY

The Sharks finished with a respectable 9-9 record last year, their first season in the EFL’s second tier, and announced in September former Carlton forward Dennis Armfield would serve as their playing coach for 2019.

Dennis Armfield will be Park Orchards’ playing coach this year. Picture: Will Russell/AFL Media/Getty Images

Park Orchards president Jeremy Thomas said the club’s young talent had the ability to reach Premier division in three years.

Its junior program is considered among the best in the competition, winning a string of under-19 premierships.

“For us, we’ve had our sights set on playing at the highest level we can as a club,” Thomas said.

“With our strong junior pathway program we’ve got and the guys that come up each year in the under-19s … we believe that if we continue to develop them and teach them how to be senior football players and transition their success from under-19s to senior footy, you can’t have your sights set any lower than that.”

Pacy wingman Tom Jacotine has returned to Domeney Reserve this season after a stint at Vermont, where he was on the fringe of senior selection.

Jacotine played junior football at Park Orchards and featured in Vermont’s reserves premiership last year.

Park Orchards celebrates its Division 3 premiership.

Alex Minoni and Scott Houghton have also joined the club and will provide Division 1 experience.

Midfielder Minoni made nine senior appearances for Norwood last year and has been aligned with VFL club Coburg for the past two years, while 211cm forward Houghton will provide a significant presence in the forward line.

Houghton last played at Koo Wee Rup in 2016 but had stints at Balwyn and Wantirna South.

Park Orchards will also be boosted by the return of 2017 best and fairest winner Michael Prosenak, who kicked 38 goals and was named among the best players nine times in the premiership year but missed most of last season through injury.

The Sharks also hope Christian Feher, the brother of captain Tom, will be able to make an impact after travelling for the past two years.

Park Orchards may also see games from Northern Blues vice-captains Kane Keppel and Mason Blakey.

Park Orchards opens its season against Upper Ferntree Gully on April 6.

AROUND THE LEAGUES:

NFL: FITZROY STARS PRIMED FOR RETURN TO FINALS

RDFL: NEW INTERLEAGUE COACH APPOINTED

VFL: AFL TRIO BACK COBURG’S MEMBERSHIP DRIVE

OFF-SEASON HQ: THE LATEST PLAYER AND COACHING MOVES
VFL: SWAG OF BOX HILL HAWKS RETURN TO EASTERN LEAGUE