EFNL 2025: ‘Point to prove’ – Park Orchards’ flag hunt unshaken in hot start

Park Orchards has barely put a foot wrong following its Division 1 grand final capitulation last September, with the weekend netting yet another scalp. Here’s who has fired.

Park Orchards sits second with a 6-1 record at its mid-season break. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

Last December, Park Orchards co-captain Kane Keppel declared season 2025 a “redemption year” following Division 1 grand final heartbreak.

That vision hasn’t wavered.

The Sharks, fresh off a 17-point victory over Boronia on Saturday, sit second on the ladder with a 6-1 record heading into the mid-year break.

Keppel said his club was well aware of the stiff competition surrounding his side for this year’s prize.

“We’ve got a point to prove and once you make it to the big dance and don’t get the job done … more so after you lose one, it’s the only thing you want,” he said.

“Our coach (Paris Harvie) says it every year, that Division 1 is the most competitive division which I tend to agree with. If you don’t rock up on any week, you can lose to anyone – everyone’s competitive.”

Park Orchards coach Paris Harvie. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

Just one blemish fills the loss column for the Sharks – a 42-point defeat to unbeaten ladder-leader South Belgrave in Round 1.

“South Belgrave are looking like the team to beat at the moment, and they’ve gone away and come back with some changes – we’re really hunting them as well as keeping our focus on any other team we’re playing week to week,” Keppel said.

Saturday’s 8.14 (62) to 6.9 (45) victory came as young defender Henry Ameer finished best afield, keeping Hawks livewire Josh Begley to just one goal.

“He’s really coming on – he’s had a couple of jobs early on some better forwards as he’s a lockdown defender,” Keppel said of Ameer.

“It (his job on Begley) was a huge win, so we were stoked for him.”

Alex Magnano was among the Sharks’ best on Saturday. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

Meanwhile, Essendon Doutta Stars import Lewis Downie continued his hot start to the season with four majors – lifting his season total to 25 from seven matches, ranked second in the competition.

“He’s been a great pick-up for us – he’s our leading goalkicker by a mile,” Keppel said.

“He’s always requesting to come further up the ground, but he’s kicking us goals – and half our score on the weekend.”

And they haven’t been the only ones impressing.

“Cristian Ciampa … he’s come back from an ACL and a year off and he’s been so good for our pressure up forward … and it’s good to have (Josh Chappell) back in the ruck, and our stalwart defenders Liam Cridland and Matt Haythorne are always good,” Keppel said.

But the Sharks will be without Mclaren Spiteri for the rest of the season after a Lisfranc injury.

Lighting it up across all areas of the ground last season, the young gun won a spot on North Melbourne’s VFL list this year.

“He was looking good and it was going to be a huge year … but he’ll come back bigger and better no doubt,” Keppel said.

Park Orchards’ premiership push could also have an ace up its sleeve, with ex-AFL Cat James Parsons touted as a potential inclusion following the mid-season bye.

Keppel said the 28-year-old has been “on and off the track” amid just four matches this season after an Achilles rupture kept him sidelined last year.

But a bye this week followed by the King’s Birthday weekend off could aid his return after last featuring on May 17.

“Once he’s back in full force, he’ll be a dominant player … hopefully the three weekends off is going to be enough to get him back in the team.”

Park Orchards hosts Beaconsfield and South Belgrave following the King’s Birthday weekend.