OEFN 2025: In-depth Premier Division club-by-club preview

The coaches agree: OEFN Premier Division is as wide open as it’s ever been. Here’s how every club shapes up for 2025...all the ins, outs and coaches comments.

OEFN Premier Division will be hotly contested in 2025.

Watch the contenders emerge in OEFN Premier Division this season.

Upwey Tecoma, Mt Evelyn and Olinda Ferny Creek all look capable of serving it up to the likes of Wandin and Woori Yallock.

All coaches agree, it’s going to be a tightly-fought competition this year.

Clubs have recruited well and prepared diligently.

Upwey Tecoma’s new-look, bigger forward line, featuring Jack McKay and Spencer Richards-West, will stretch opposition defences.

Standby for surprises, stunning footy — and, ultimately, a new premier.

David Johnson takes a kick for Emerald. Picture: Valeriu Campan

EMERALD

Coach: David Johnson

Captain: Jake Pedder

Vice captains: Josh Rich and Ethan Grose

Last year: 5-13

IN: Ethan Grose (returning), Luke Spaulding (Yarra Junction), Jordan Donadel (Upper Ferntree Gully), Wil Gazzard (Scoresby), Mitchell Gottschalk (Scoresby), Jye Raistrick (Gembrook Cockatoo), Luka Pukitis (returning), Steven Paull (returning), Aidan Grose (Rowville), Bailey Grose (Rowville), Jake Wallace (Bunyip)

OUT: Callum White (Rosebud), Ben Pola (Cranbourne), Nick Russo (Cranbourne), Jake Cawsey (Chirnside Park), Anthony Fischer (Cranbourne), Michael Richardson (Doveton)

Coach says: “The boys are fit, we have a new game plan, players are playing in their preferred positions and it’s an enjoyable place to be around. I believe if we stick to all of this we will challenge the top sides. Woori at Woori in round one will be a great test.’’

Marley Williams of the Kangaroos celebrates a goal. (AAP Image/Michael Dodge)

GEMBROOK COCKATOO

Coach: Michael Firrito

Last year: 5-13

IN: Marley Williams (Port Melbourne Colts), Robbie Nahas (North Ringwood), Ash Beck (Monbulk), Lachlan Devenish (Beaconsfield), Nick Adams (Beaconsfield), Joey Verna (Noble Park), Jacob Goicoa (Noble Park)

OUT: Myles Wareham (Hampton Park), Ryan Hillard (retired)

Coach says: “We’ve strengthened our list and are pretty healthy. We’ll know after the first month of footy where we fit into it but I’d like to think we’ll be highly competitive. We competed last year but we probably weren’t there with the top three or four sides. I’d like to think we can more than compete.’’

HEALESVILLE

Coach: Ryan Webster

Last year: 16-3 (Premiers in Division 1)

IN: Rodney Van Riet (Newport)

OUT: Luke Potts (Oakleigh District), Aaron Edwards (Reservoir), Levi Greenwood (Reservoir), Zac Fawdry (Yea), Liam Senti (South Croydon)

MONBULK

Coach: Matt Cunningham

Captain: Pat Barge

Vice-captains: Josh Spencer and Nick Wall

Last year: 7-11

IN: Ryan Burleigh (Heathmont)

OUT: nil

Coach says: “We are looking at building off our improved second half of 2024. We are excited by the addition of Ryan Burleigh and he has been a terrific fit to the team culture so far. We are looking at driving further improvement from continuity of our playing group and internal development of the young players on our list. Lachie Sheppard returns after missing the last 11 games due to a hand injury which is exciting. Ziggy Hatherley has had a massive pre-season and continued to physically develop.’’

MT EVELYN

Coach: Connor O’Sullivan

Captain: Daimon Kift

Last year: 8-11 (6th)

IN: Tommy Burkitt (Mitcham), Daniel Chamberlin (Montrose), Jason Want (South Croydon), Lucas O’Neill (South Croydon), Ryley Mckernan (Montrose), Cooper Beckwith (Lillydale), Jaymin Townsley (Lilydale), Nathan Arena

OUT: Cooper Colee (Seville), Max Kleverkamp (Old Peninsula), Lachlan Sinnott (moving overseas)

Coach says: “We need to keep ourselves grounded and take it one game at a time. I’d like tothink we could put ourselves in a position to play finals and then win a final, but it’s such a long way away. And there’s a lot of good teams in our competition who are striving for the same thing. We won’t know until the first few rounds, and then you get a really good gauge of the competition.’’

OFFICER

Coach: Nathan Allen

Last year: 7-11

IN: Nathan Allen (Meeniyan Dumbalk United), Ash Allen (Meeniyan Dumbalk United), Max Welsh (Orbost Snowy Rovers), Matt Di Biase (Koo Wee Rup)

OUT: Brenton Hillard (Warragul Industrials), Jeremy Monckton (Warragul Industrials), Zakery De Bono (Pakenham), Zack Charles (Doveton)

OLINDA FERNY CREEK

Coach: Dylan Wilson

Captain: Lachlan Taylor

Last year: 10-10

IN: Lachlan Kennedy (Ferntree Gully Eagles)

OUT: Ben Watson (Upwey Tecoma)

Coach says: “I think the competition across the league will be really stiff this year. We’ll be aiming to build on a really positive season last year. The boys are bringing great energy and enjoyment to their footy.”

Jack McKay (right) rucking for Fitzroy. Picture : George Salpigtidis

UPWEY TECOMA

Coach: Stuart Hill

Last year: 12-7 (5th)

IN: Jack McKay (Fitzroy), Spencer Richards-West (South Belgrave), Bailey Oates (returning), Ben Watson (Olinda Ferny Creek), Hudson Solomon (Fitzroy), Liam O’Connor (returning), Sean Freeman

OUT: Sam Wicks (South Croydon)

Coach says: “It’s a bit of an unknown. I think we’ll be a totally different team in terms of our line up and maybe our strengths as well. There will certainly be some changes in how we go about it. We’re pretty excited. We think we can take it up to Wandin and Woori.’’

Macauley Beckwith in action for Wandin. Picture: Valeriu Campan

WANDIN

Coach: Nick Adam

Last year: 18-4 (Runners-up)

IN: Daniel Willis (Echuca), Ben Johnson (Montrose), Cayden Black (South Belgrave), Joel Garner (VFL)

OUT: Clint Johnson (retired), Max Le Fevre (Kilsyth), Jack Manson (moved back to Adelaide), Daniel Hirst (season off)

Coach says: “Every year there’s turnover and we’ve lost some important ones but I think we’ve been fortunate to be really purposeful in what we’ve brought in and I think they’re going to help us considerably in 2025.’’

Taylor Gibson celebrates a goal for Woori Yallock. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

WOORI YALLOCK

Coach: Brendan Donovan

Last year: 16-4

IN: Ryley Monkhorst (Mooroolbark)

OUT: Bailey Syswerda (The Basin), Kynan French (Lilydale), Joshua Neal (Mooroolbark), Baylin Spencer (South Croydon), Jak Ryan (Mooroolbark), Mason O’Neill (Seville), Jake Calvert (Doveton)

Coach says: “We still like we’ve got a really strong 30. I’m happy to play kids. We’ve got a really good strong older group of senior players. It will be a bit of a blend of old and young and it should put us in pretty good stead.’’