Oak Park and Hillside will go to battle in this week’s Strathmore Community Bank Division One grand final at Coburg City Oval.
In what promises to be quite the spectacle, there’s no doubt this mouth-watering matchup features the two best sides of 2025.
The minor premiers, Oak Park, are one win away from capping off what has been a remarkable season and making their long-awaited return to the top division.
In just their second season back in Division One, the Kangaroos are shooting for their second premiership in three years and are firmly in the box seat to do this.
Fifteen wins and just the three losses in season 2025 was an impressive effort from these Roos, but what was perhaps even more convincing was the way they dismantled their opponents in the Sharks, two weeks back.
Hillside earned their chance to play the Roos in the qualifying semi final after putting pay to West Coburg in week one of the finals, but were dealt a harsh blow from the minor premiers on this particular day.
After a largely even first half of football, the Roos produced an emphatic six unanswered goals in the third quarter, to which the Sharks could not recover from.
Oak Park has now already beaten Hillside three times this season, with the Roos claiming both of their in-season clashes.
The slate is wiped completely clean this week though, with just one win all that matters for both sides.
Hillside on the other hand, are looking to move up into the top flight for the first time in club history.
The Sharks have not tasted premiership success since 2013 and have been a pillar of the Division One competition since then.
After an uncharacteristic start to the season where they tasted defeat in the opening three rounds, these Sharks have bounced back and are looking to cause a boil over this week.
They finished the season in third position on the ladder, with 12 wins and six losses, but critically, they won 12 out of their last 15 matches and came into the finals as one of the more dangerous, in-form sides.
After going down to their opponents here two weeks ago, the Sharks rallied back last week to glide past Craigieburn by 59 points and book their ticket to the big dance.
WHERE WILL THE GAME BE WON?
Oak Park are the number one ranked team in the competition for loose ball gets, with 61 a game, and this could prove to be a winning factor on the weekend.
Their ability to turn up to contest ahead of their opponents and then support in numbers has been a trademark of their season so far.
The Sharks must break even in this facet of the game if they are to be a winning chance.
On the other hand, Hillside’s strength lies in their ball movement off intercept possessions.
The Sharks sit at the top of the competition for intercept possessions, with 71 per game, and rely on this area of their game to kick-start their ball movement and launch into offense.
THE KANGAROOS THAT COULD SKIP AWAY
Oak Park big man Josh Hotchkin is the one to keep an eye on from a Roos perspective.
In his first season back at the club since crossing over from Aberfeldie, Hotchkin has been a brute force in the ruck for 2025.
He was brilliant in their win over the Sharks two weeks ago with 24 disposals, 65 hit outs, and 11 clearances, and will no doubt look to make his presence felt early here.
Another one that could break this game open is young gun Paul Pascu.
Pascu is a strong, big-bodied inside midfielder who pushes forward when the Roos are in need of some dynamite in front of the sticks.
One of the hardest players in the competition to tackle, his strength and power is made for big games, and they don’t come bigger than this.
THE CIRCLING SHARKS TO WATCH
Youngster Nick Fluke has been elite in the intercepting area for the Sharks.
Fluke is a strong, medium-sized defender who accumulates the most intercept possessions a game for the entire competition with an average of eight per outing.
He is often the one kick-starting the Sharks' offense and is brilliant at taking off as soon as the footy hits his hands.
And of course, all eyes will be on star-forward Josh Covelli this week as he closes in on the magical 100-goal mark.
The seasoned but ever-so-dangerous key forward sits on 98 goals for the season so far and is inches away from achieving back-to-back triple figure seasons.
It’s set to be a sensational spectacle at Coburg City Oval if Covelli is to achieve this.
THE FINAL HURDLE
The last day of the Strathmore Community Bank Men’s Division One season promises to be an epic.
In what is shaping to be quite the spectacle for a number of reasons, one thing is for sure – one of these teams is about to punch their ticket into the top flight of EDFL football.
