By Josh Ward.
It was another strong season for the Hawks senior men’s side whilst the club also brought back its netball program for the first time in five years.
Senior Men’s
Ladder Position: 3rd (12-6, 134.8%)
Leading Goalkicker: Maverick Taylor (42 goals in 21 matches)
Best and Fairest: Nik Schoenmakers
Summary:
Another finals appearance for the Hawks, this time falling a game short of returning to Bayswater Oval on the final day of the EFNL season.
It was an up and down season at times, particularly against finals sides where they had some strong performances but also had some off days against them.
In the end they just snuck into finals, with a win over Noble Park in the final round locking in a double chance.
A 51-point domination over South Croydon was sandwiched in between their two finals losses to Balwyn and East Ringwood, the latter ending the Hawks premiership defence.
Key Players:
Nik Schoenmakers continued to prove why he’s one of the best rucks in Premier Division, taking home the Hawks B&F whilst also earning a spot in the Team of the Year.
Star midfielders Anthony Brolic and Lachlan McDonald also earned Team of the Year honours, Brolic averaging 24.7 disposals and McDonald 26.5 disposals per game.
Young guns Mav Taylor and Callum Verrell also earned a spot alongside Brolic, McDonald and Schoenamkers, with Taylor the Hawks leading goalkicker and Verrell a pillar in defence.
Best Win: Round 12 - Rowville 20.11.131 defeated Vermont 11.5.71 @ Seebeck Oval
Honourable mentions to their one finals win and their victory over Balwyn but this victory was a complete performance from the Hawks.
In front of a packed Seebeck crowd on a Sunday afternoon Rowville dominated from the word go against a Vermont side who had won seven of their last eight games heading into their matchup.
The performance was led by Anthony Brolic, Lachlan McDonald and Lachlan Stapleton, with all three combining for 105 disposals, 48 contested possessions, 37 clearances and 29 score involvements.
Lachlan Wynd also thrived with no James Ross, kicking five goals from nine disposals, while Mav Taylor also chipped in with three goals and eight score involvements.
Off-Season Focus:
Not much has happened so far this offseason for the Hawks in terms of recruiting, but they have retained their core group of players.
Ben Wise has also signed on for another season while ex-Hawthorn player Josh Bennetts has also aligned with Rowville after signing with Collingwood’s VFL side.
They’ll certainly be tested again with their VFL-listed players but they do have the depth that’ll keep them pushing for finals spots.
Netball
Rowville Hawks Navy (Division 6) - 4th (8-4-1, 102.28%)
Rowville Hawks Gold (Division 7) - 5th (8-4, 114.24%)
This season saw the Hawks enter two netball sides into the 2024 New Balance Netball Competition for the first time in five years.
Both finished with identical records, with their Division 6 side the only one to make finals. Unfortunately they bowed out in the first week of finals to eventual premiers Balwyn by 10 goals.
Juniors
19 sides took to the field for Rowville this past season in the Junior Competition.
Eight sides would go on and play finals, with their Under 15C and Under 17D teams the only sides to win premierships whilst its Under 16A and Under 16C side would fall short in their Grand Finals.