2026 DIVISION 1 MEN’S PREVIEW: CAROLINE SPRINGS
2025 RECAP
POSITION & RECORD (TIV Div 1):
Seniors: Runner up (14-4 F:2-2). Reserves: Runner up (14-4, F:2-2)
SENIOR BEST & FAIREST RESULTS:
Winner: Ben Caluzzi Runner up: Cooper Pepi
LEADING GOAL KICKERS:
Seniors: Steven Kyriazis (49 goals) Reserves: Rylan Williams (37 goals)
TEAM OF THE YEAR SELECTIONS: Alipate Bryant (BP), Ben Caluzzi (HB), Steve Kyriazis (FP), Alexander Paech (R), Cooper Pepi (W)
WHAT TO EXPECT IN 2026
SENIOR COACH: Brian Lake (4th season)
RESERVES COACH:
NOTABLE GAINS: Zen Christofi (Deer Park), Tom Fullarton (Melbourne AFL)*, Jesse Cavanagh (Albion), Cooper Renda (Keilor) – *VFL listed in 2026
NOTABLE LOSSES: Mitch Bongiovanni (Gisborne Giants), Ethan Mantas (St Albans – GFL), Keenan O’Shea (Sunbury), Lewis Tudor (Sunbury)
2026 SENIOR CAPTAIN/S: Max Tessari and Cooper Pepi (co-captains)
PLAYER TO WATCH: Zen Christofi. Returns to his junior club after spending last year with Deer Park and the prior three seasons at East Keilor. A skillful inside midfielder who loves to win the contested ball.
START TO 2026: at Werribee Districts (Rd 1: Apr 11), vs Spotswood (Rd 2: Apr 18), vs Yarraville Seddon (Rd 3: Apr 25)
FROM THE COACH – Brian Lake
How has preseason been for the group?
The boys have been challenged. We pride ourselves on getting to work throughout this period and always have really good buy in from the whole list. Our main focus like every year is preparing our players physically for a long season.
Have there been any standout moments or highlights from preseason?
Like the last couple of years our preseason camp is always a highlight and a weekend the boys always look forward too. We have some exciting returning players and also some really exciting young men that have moved across this year. I could list 6-7 players here already in the side or who are knocking down the door to be playing senior footy this year.
What has the group done to build connection off the field?
We are lucky that our list has been together for a long period now and have built a really strong connection. Yeah we have our big deposit events like the camp but itā€™s the constant small deposits they make before training, after training, weekly dinners, group chats that help to keep the group connected and invested in our goals.
What will define a successful season in 2026?
The group has built a style of play over the past few years that has brought us to finals and to the last game of the year. We want to keep improving. Looking at our whole list I would say 2-3 players are at their peak, meaning thereā€™s significant opportunity for improvement and impact across both teams. Success for the group will be defined by the standards we set and maintain ā€” how well we execute our game plan, support each other, and hold ourselves accountable both on and off the field.