Eastland 2025 Season Review | North Ringwood

Plenty of success for North Ringwood across the men’s and women’s programs, with more premiership cups added to the Quambee Reserve trophy cabinet.

Senior Men’s

Ladder: 5th (9-7, 108.59%)

Leading Goalkicker: Taylor Davidson (31 goals in 18 games)

Best and Fairest: Kieran Rice

Summary

An excellent season under a new coach for the Saints, playing finals for the second time in the past three seasons.

Things started off inconsistently for North Ringwood, winning two of their opening three games before dropping three on the trot prior to their first bye

They then clicked into gear after their first bye, winning five of their next six games after their initial bye, including against eventual premiers South Belgrave.

After splitting their final two games to book their finals ticket, the Saints then went on to convincingly win their first final against Boronia before just defeating Beaconsfield the following weekend.

Their late season run came to a halt though at the hands of their fellow Saints, falling 13 points short of South Belgrave in the Preliminary Final.

Best Win: Round 13 - North Ringwood 13.9 (87) defeated South Belgrave 11.10 (76) @ Quambee Reserve

Their finals win against Boronia was an excellent and well-rounded performance, but this win against the all-conquering South Belgrave is one of North Ringwood’s biggest victories in recent history.

After trailing by seven behinds at quarter time the Saints of North Ringwood then hit the front at half time by eight points following a four goal to two second quarter.

Conceding the lead at three quarter time with a four goal to one term in favour of the eventual premiers, Matt Price’s men then came storming home with a five goal to two final quarter to consign South Belgrave to their first loss of season 2025.

Luke Patterson, Harry Flynn and Kieran Rice were all excellent, with Patterson kicking four goals alongside Taylor Davidson.

Key Players

Kieran Rice took his game to another level in midfield. Averaging over 30 disposals and eight clearances per game, whilst being named in the best on 12 occasions, Rice earned himself a wing position in the Division 1 Team of the Year.

Joining him in the team was Ry Cantwell and ex-AFL big man Aiden Begg, with Begg averaging more than 30 hitouts and 15 disposals per game while Cantwell averaged 21 disposals per game.

Taylor Davidson was also excellent in his first season with North Ringwood, taking home the side’s leading goalkicker award, while Harry Flynn was also excellent.

What’s Next?

Plenty of promise to build on for North Ringwood after their first season under former Dromana premiership coach in Matt Price.

Former Coldstream champion Price is set to go around again as the Saints head coach over the next two seasons having re-signed back in July.

It’s been a quiet start to the offseason for the Saints, with only a few players who predominantly played reserves departing the club.

Whilst they should improve next season, particularly if they keep their core group together, add a bit more experience then the Saints could be one of the benchmark sides of Division 1 in 2026.

Senior Women’s (Division 1)

Ladder Position: 1st (12-1-1, 280.31%)

Leading Goalkicker: Eliza Wilson (26 goals in 11 games)

Best and Fairest: Matilda Broadhurst

Summary

It was a near flawless season for the Saints in Division 1, adding another premiership to the Quambee Reserve trophy cabinet.

Things started off strongly for Jake Ireland’s side with six convincing wins plus a draw in the opening half of the season.

That theme continued for the majority of the second half of the season before they dropped their first and only game of the season in the final round to neighbours East Ringwood.

Qualifying first for the Division 1 decider (after Knox forfeited their Qualifying Final meeting), the Saints then claimed their second senior women’s premiership with a hard-fought 26-point triumph over Surrey Park.

Best Win: Grand Final - North Ringwood 7.6 (48) defeated Surrey Park 3.4 (22) @ H.E. Parker Reserve

After suffering heartbreak in the previous year’s Division 1 decider, the Saints were able to flip the result this time around in the 2025 Grand Final against Surrey Park.

It was an evenly poised first half, with the Saints holding a one-goal buffer entering the half time break.

With fresher legs though they were able to break the game open in the second half, kicking four goals and conceding just two scoring shots in that period to secure a memorable 26-point triumph on Grand Final Day.

Carli Forbes took home Best on Ground honours after an excellent performance. Rachel Iacuone was also terrific in the win alongside Ella Rhodes and Matilda Broadhurst.

Key Players

Broadhurst put together her best season of senior footy to date. Named in the best in 13 of a possible 15 matches, Broadhurst took home the side’s B&F whilst also earning a spot in the Division 1 Team of the Year midfield.

Joining her in the team was Rhodes, leading goalkicker Eliza Wilson and VFL-listed star Jess Begg, with Rhodes named in the best on 14 of 15 matches while Begg kicked 10 goals in her seven matches this past season.

Wilson added another 26 goals to her growing goal tally across her senior career while Jake Ireland was also named as the Team of the Year coach after another excellent season at the helm.

What’s Next?

Premier Division footy awaits the Saints now having been so close to being promoted over the past couple of seasons.

Ireland is set for another year at the helm alongside senior assistant Luke Higgins, with the former also gaining experience recently as Hawthorn’s AFLW Development Coach.

Much like their senior men’s side there hasn’t been too much movement for the Saints senior women’s side so far this offseason.

But, with how strong they’ve been the past couple of seasons in Division 1, they’ll head into Premier Division chock full of confidence, particularly after what their local rivals Park Orchards did this past season.

Senior Women’s (Division 3)

Ladder Position: 3rd (8-6, 89.69%)

Leading Goalkickers: Jasmine Dane and Shannon Harris (12 goals each)

Best and Fairest: Rhiannon Green

Summary

In their second season, North Ringwood’s sDivision 3 side showed plenty of improvement after a promising 2024.

It was an evenly balanced opening half of the season, defeating the sides below them but ultimately falling short of fellow contenders in the first nine rounds.

After dropping three consecutive games to South Croydon Red, Heathmont and Ferntree Gully the side regathered and won their final two games to secure a first finals berth in only their second season.

Winning their first final against South Croydon Red at Silvan, they then fell short of Coldstream, a side they had defeated three weeks prior in the Division 3 Preliminary Final.

Best Win: Semi Final 1 - North Ringwood Red 3.14 (32) defeated South Croydon Red 2.1 (13) @ Silvan Recreation Reserve

Had an impressive win a couple of weeks prior against Coldstream, but this one would’ve meant a little bit more given it was the side’s first-ever final.

After kicking the only goal of the opening term they then conceded the only goal of the second quarter, but still held a three-point lead at the main break.

From there they took complete control, having 12 scoring shots to just one in the second half to secure a famous victory despite some inaccurate kicking.

Rhiannon Green starred alongside Ellisha Bett and Ruby Crowe while Alice Harris led the way in attack with a two-goal performance.

Key Players

Green had a stellar season for the Saints when she played in their Division 3 side. Named in the best on 11 of 14 occasions, Green took home the side’s Best and Fairest as well a selection in the Division 3 + 4 Team of the Year.

Emily Kane was also a consistent contributor while Olivia Murley, Jade Grybas and Ellisha Bett were also solid, the latter two in their first season of senior footy.

Shannon Harris and Jasmine Dane led the way in attack, with Dane’s 12 goals coming in nine games and in her first season of senior footy.

What’s Next?

Much like the Saints now Premier Division side, there’s plenty to build at the Division 3 level for them.

Both sides should get an influx of Under 18 girls this season, which should improve their depth and make the Saints even more formidable at the Division 3 level.

Veteran Men’s

Ladder Position: 3rd (7-2)

Another successful season for the Saints in the BJS Veteran Men’s competition despite not winning the minor premiership for the first time since 2021.

After winning their opening four games they then went on to lose twice in the final five rounds of the season to the eventual top two in Scoresby and Moorolbark to finish the regular season in third.

Defeating Scoresby in their first final, they then went on to win the decider to claim their third consecutive premiership in the Veteran’s Men competition.

Paul Florance finished as the competition’s leading goalkicker with 24 goals in 11 matches while Evan Johnson took home the side’s Best and Fairest.