OAKLEIGH Chargers have a pick one contender and an array of Vic Metro hub members pushing to be drafted in what promises to be another huge year for the metropolitan based side. Falling short of a third straight flag, the Chargers have some club-tied players as well as family links to the top level and should produce another handful of draftees in 2026.

LAST SEASON

Played: 14
Wins: 11
Losses: 3

After winning back-to-back flags, Oakleigh Chargers’ dynasty came to an end at the hands of Dandenong Stingrays in the preliminary final. Having derailed the Stingrays’ premiership chances in year’s gone by, it was the Chargers’ turn to watch on at the grand final, and while not lifting the cup in 2025, still enjoyed plenty of highlights and gearing up for a big year in 2026.

FIXTURE

Round 2: vs. Eastern Ranges | April 12 @ Kennedy Community Centre
Round 3: vs. Sandringham Dragons | April 18 @ Kennedy Community Centre
Round 4: vs. Dandenong Stingrays | April 26 @ Kinetic Stadium
Round 5: vs. Sydney Swans Academy | May 2 @ TBA
Round 6: vs. Sandringham Dragons | May 9 @ Trevor Barker Beach Oval
Round 7: vs. Western Jets | May 16 @ Warrawee Park
Round 9: vs. Murray Bushrangers | May 30 @ Wangaratta Showgrounds
Round 10: vs. Dandenong Stingrays | June 6 @ Warrawee Park
Round 13: vs. Eastern Ranges | June 27 @ Kennedy Community Centre
Round 15: vs. Northern Knights | July 11 @ Preston City Oval
Round 17: vs. Geelong Falcons | July 25 @ West Oval Reserve
Round 19: vs. Calder Cannons | August 8 @ Warrawee Park
Round 20: vs. Gippsland Power | August 15 @ Morwell Recreation Reserve
Round 21: vs. Eastern Ranges | August 22 @ TBA

Oakleigh opens and closes the season against rivals Eastern Ranges, while also tackling the Dandenong Stingrays and Sandringham Dragons twice as well. The Chargers take on the Sydney Swans Academy and travel all around the state, with just three games at the new Kennedy Community Centre, and three at their old stomping ground of Warrawee Park.

TOP-AGE PLAYERS TO WATCH

Headlining the Oakleigh top-age brigade this year is pick one contender Bailee Martin. The goalkicking machine was a nightmare in front of goals for opponents last season and will likely kick plenty of bags in 2026 as well. She was named vice-captain of the side under fellow top talent Zoe Curry who will skipper the team.

The Giants Academy member will still juggle her time between the Allies and Chargers this season, but looms as a readymade midfielder/forward talent in a similar vein to Charlie Rowbottom. On top of the pair of National Academy members, the Chargers have inside midfielder Isabella Mazzei and a pair of wingers in Isabelle Godfrey and Leni Lockyer.

Lockyer is of course the daughter of Tarkyn and is eligible to the Magpies after her dad played 227 games for the black and white stripes. She is not the only top-age father-daughter eligible player with former Murray utility Sophia Green tied to Carlton. Her dad Peter played 226 less games than Tarkyn, but under the father-daughter rules his one game in 1994 for the Blues was enough for Carlton to have first look at selecting the talented ball-winner.

Outside of the Vic Metro hub group, Molly Phillips showed plenty of potential in a couple of different roles last year and could be a name to watch, while small forward Grace To is a Next-Generation Academy member for the Pies.

FUTURE NAMES TO REMEMBER

Oakleigh has a plethora of bottom-age talls to keep tabs on for the 2027 season including Scarlett Bown, the younger sister of recent Crows draftee, Chloe. Cleo Barbakas showed great promise as a ruck/forward too and will likely provide another marking contest inside 50. Ruby Douglas and Lily Parker are among a number of other names who return to the club and will have a couple of seasons to develop.

SUMMARY

Oakleigh Chargers will be a premiership threat once again and are looking for their third flag in four seasons. With a balance of talls and smalls, the Chargers have no shortage of players to watch in 2026 and should kick some big scores with the likes of Martin, Bown and Barbakas spearheading the forward 50 once again.