Eastland 2025 Season Review | Knox Falcons

By Josh Ward.

It was yet another strong season for the Falcons across both football and netball, with its senior men’s and women’s sides making prelims while all three of their netball sides made finals.

Senior Men’s

Ladder Position: 3rd (11-7, 113.06%)

Leading Goalkicker: Harrison Greaves (32 goals in 20 games)

Best and Fairest: Tom Weir

Summary

Knox’s senior men’s side were yet again contenders in Division 3 despite their depth being tested at times during the season.

Things started off promising with four wins from their first five games before they lost three games between rounds five and 10.

They would then win five of six games between rounds 11 and 16 before dropping their last two games to The Basin and Donvale, resulting in a third-placed finish for a second consecutive season.

After putting together an impressive display in their Qualifying Final win over Scoresby the Falcons then lost their next two finals to the Vales and the Magpies, ending their season for the second consecutive year on preliminary final weekend.

Best Win: Qualifying Final: Knox 13.9 (87) defeated Scoresby 5.11 (41) @ Jubilee Park

Whilst they had an impressive win against Silvan midway through the year, it’s hard to go past this one given who it was against.

After kicking one goal and six behinds in the opening term, the Falcons kicked two goals but conceded three to enter the main break on level pegging with the Magpies.

Steve Buckle’s men then took charge in the third with a five goal to one term before adding another five goals to their tally enroute to a statement win over the eventual premiers.

Harrison Greaves starred in attack with five goals while Charlie Young had an impressive game alongside James Fisher.

Key Players -

Fisher was yet again impressive for the Falcons, earning himself a spot in the Division 3 Team of the Year.

Star defender Tom Weir was even more excellent though, claiming both Team of the Year honours and the Falcons Best and Fairest.

Harrison Greaves starred in attack, claiming another leading goalkicker award for the Falcons, while Charlie Young had an impressive first season in Knox colours.

What’s Next?

Plenty to like about the Falcons despite their injury and unavailability issues during the season, with their offseason well and truly underway.

Key players such as Weir, Young, Braeden Barlow, Jordan Love and Zac Hanlen have all re-signed whilst Jack Weir has signed on from Rowville, adding to their tall stocks.

There’s plenty of depth too, with their Under 19s convincingly winning the Division 3 flag and their reserves making the finals too.

While they’ll be without James Fisher, who has departed for division rivals Donvale, there’s plenty to like about the Falcons who look set to challenge again in 2026, particularly if they add more talent to their list.

Senior Women’s

Ladder Position: 2nd (7-6-1, 76.45%)

Leading Goalkicker: Haylee Gasparroni (15 goals in 14 games)

Best and Fairest: Zali Wagner

Summary

It was the Falcons strongest season since their 2022 Division 2 Premiership, playing finals for the first time since that year.

After losing and drawing in the opening two rounds of the season, the Falcons then went on a four game winning streak between rounds three and six.

Losing to North Ringwood in Round 7, they then won their next three games before losing their last four games in a period where they were seriously hit hard by injuries.

Their growing injury list resulted in the Falcons forfeiting their first final against North Ringwood before they got back on the park against Surrey Park in the Division 1 Preliminary Final, a game which they would lose.

Best Win: Round 9 - Knox 8.4 (52) defeated Surrey Park 5.4 (34) @ Knox Gardens Reserve

A crucial win in the context of the Falcons season as it boosted their hopes of earning a double chance in finals against an eventual finalist in Surrey Park.

Things started off slowly for Knox after a one-goal to three opening quarter before they turned the tables in the second, reducing their deficit to two points at half time.

Conceding the first goal of the second half, Mike Tyson’s side then kicked the final four goals of the game to secure a three-goal triumph over the Panthers.

Young gun Haylee Gasparroni starred in attack with a current career-high four-goal outing while Holly Gibson and Zali Wagner impressed.

Key Players -

Gibson and Wagner were yet again prominent for the Falcons, with Gibson earning another Team of the Year selection in defence alongside Jasmine Stocks while Wagner took home the Falcons Women’s B&F.

Danielle Brotto was also a consistent contributor in attack in her first season with the Falcons, kicking 14 goals in 11 games to make another Team of the Year.

Haylee Gasparroni in the end finished as the Falcons leading goal scorer while Taylor Prentice and Ellie Weldon were also solid.

What’s Next?

It’s been a quiet offseason so far, with no re-signings or signings announced as of yet, including that of their coach Mike Tyson.

They could be bolstered by the inclusion of some of their U18 Girls who made a Grand Final this past season.

Despite having multiple coaches over the past couple of years, the Falcons have continued to improve and will look to do so again next year, particularly if they keep and add to their current list.

Netball 

Team by Team

Knox Falcons (Division 2)

After winning last year’s Division 2 premiership, the Falcons were yet again prominent in the same division during the 2025 Ringwood Mazda Winter Netball season.

Starting the season in Division 1 where they lost their first three games, Knox started off well in Division 2 with two wins and two draws in their opening four games in the Division.

They’d then win their final six games after losing to eventual minor premiers and runners up Surrey Park Black in Round 8, resulting in a fourth-placed finish and a finals berth.

The Falcons were unable to build on their impressive end to the season in their only final, going down to Mitcham Yellow by six goals in the Ringwood Mazda Division 2 Elimination Final.

Jennifer Gardner finished the season as the side’s leading goalshooter as well as their Best and Fairest, acquiring a total of 216 goals. Laura Kruize was also solid, finishing runner up in the Falcons B&F.

Knox Falcons Black (Division 11)

The most successful of the three Knox netball sides, the Falcons Black were able to put together a consistently strong season.

After starting off with a loss, they’d then win 12 games on the trot, with 10 of those wins coming by 10 goals or more.

Finishing the season off with a loss to Mount Evelyn, they’d knock off the minor premiers in the first week of finals to book their ticket to the Division 11 decider.

They would once again face Mount Evelyn and were unable to repeat the dose on Grand Final night, going down by four goals.

Georgia Kann took home both the Falcons Best and Fairest and Leading Goalshooter award, tallying 185 goals across 13 games. Kat Mackie and Grace Gilbert were also key contributors, with Mackie scoring 147 goals during the season.

Knox Falcons Red (Division 14)

Plenty to like for the Knox Falcons Red side who put together an excellent campaign in Division 14.

They’d win their opening seven games of the season before dropping two of their next three games to eventual grand finalists Coldstream Pink and Scoresby.

The Falcons Red side would then win their final two games of the season to finish the season in third, resulting in a meeting with Ringwood Red in the first week of finals.

After drawing with the Redbacks midway through the season, the Falcons claimed the chocolates in their finals meeting. However they were unable to overcome their next hurdle in Coldstream Pink in the Preliminary Final, ending their season with a 21-goal loss.

Alex Phillips, Abby Hainsworth and Lily Moore took home the sides Best and Fairest award while Keira Bourke had a sublime season in attack, scoring 223 goals in 12 matches.