Hillside has absorbed the exits of three stars to show it is far from a Community Bank Strathmore Premier Division easybeat.
The Sharks had been tipped to struggle to survive in the top flight this year after last season's Division One premiership triumph.
But while there is plenty of hard work to be done in an unforgiving competition, the club achieved a slice of history on Saturday with a rousing one-point win over 2025 preliminary finalist Airport West.
The success marked Hillside's first men's Premier Division victory since it was established in 1999 and came after three consecutive - but competitive - defeats.
The Sharks were outgunned by talent-laden Pascoe Vale on Good Friday in a 58-point defeat after leading at half-time, before dropping games to Deer Park (12 points) and Greenvale (30 points).
But coach Mo Kaakour said the away win over the Eagles was a major milestone as his newcomers look to compete with the EDFL's elite.
"It's a big moment for the footy club. It's been a long time coming and it was good to get a result," Kaakour said.
"It was on the back of the first three weeks and how competitive we've been. We knew a win wasn't too far away. It was just about the process and getting that right, and I thought the boys played a really good game over four quarters.
"The ground (Hansen Reserve) didn't really suit us, but we adapted really well."
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Along with the challenge of promotion, Hillside waved goodbye to a trio of leading players over the off-season in what appeared a hammer blow to its hopes of making an impact in Premier.
Premiership captain Zak Wunhym and back-to-back 100-goal spearhead Josh Covelli crossed to Tullamarine, while decorated veteran Nat Caruso retired.
"It's been tough," Kaakour said of the departures.
"We still say we lack a key pillar and Josh and Nat played those roles for us as that get-out kick.
"I think we've just gone about spreading the workload a lot more. I think everyone's buying in to what we're about and we've been really good in sharing roles and just playing roles."
In their absence, seasoned guns Robbie Castello and Fort Caruso have continued to show their class, Kaakour describing the duo as "like another coach" on the ground.
Both were named in the best in the win over Airport West, with Castello helping himself to a season-best four goals.
"He (Castello) is a difficult match up because he's good overhead and if he's one on one, he's good at ground level. He's just so smart and he can direct," Kaakour said.
"We played him a bit deeper on the weekend and got everyone up, and just him directing players where to stand and where to run ... Robbie's still definitely got it, that's for sure."
Lucas Failli has also enjoyed an impressive start to the campaign and contributed three goals against Greenvale, while vice-captain Ryan Lojko has been important across half-back.
The Sharks also have no shortage of young talent coming through as they look to establish themselves as a long-term Premier Division club.
Khalil Kaakour put his name up in lights with a best-afield performance in last season's grand final win against Oak Park.
New skipper Tristan Rudic, Noah Asciak, Nick Fluke, Jackson McMenamin, and Riley Miksa are also blossoming.
"We've got a few good kids coming through and we'll continue to build around them," Kaakour said.
Kaakour said Hillside had not made any significant changes to its game plan in a bid to cover the key outs for the step up to the top grade.
"We've just tweaked it a little bit - not anything out of the ordinary - just been working on what we're good at and continuing to improve," he said.
Kaakour said reigning premier Strathmore remained the team to beat in Premier Division.
"I've been watching a bit of vision of them and they look like they're the yardstick, along with Marby, who have recruited really well," he said.
"We thought Pascoe Vale round one were really good and the competition's really strong. I reckon it's a lot more even than what it's been in the last few years.
"Every game that we go into, we think we're a massive chance to not only compete but obviously go deep into games and knock off some sides.
"I'm sure every side has got the same sort of thinking."
The Sharks will next host an Essendon Doutta Stars outfit fresh off a convincing win over powerhouse Keilor.
