Eastland 2026 Season Review | Fairpark
By Ryan Long.
The new-look Lions had a hot start to life in Division Four, but came up short come finals time, while their Netball program went two from two on Grand Final Night.
SENIOR MEN’S
Summary:
Ladder Position: 4th (11-5, 191.17%)
Best and Fairest: Mitch Neid
Leading Goal Kicker: Bryce Galvin (74 Goals)
The highly fancied Lions were the talk of the off-season after a big recruiting haul as they entered Division Four for the first time since 2019.
Mark Fisher took the reins as senior coach at Fairpark and the side was quick out of the blocks, winning their first six games of the year.
Unfortunately, the Lions lost a few key players from the line-up, including star recruit Mitch Jackson, with a season-ending ACL injury.
Finishing out the year with a record of 11-5, Fairpark faced Bulleen Templestowe in the first week of the finals. The Elimination Final marked the end of the line in season 2026 season for the Lions, going down to the Bullants by 49 points.
Best Win: Round One - Fairpark 16.14 110 def. Chirnside Park 15.12 102 @ Fairpark Reserve
The new-look Lions kicked off the season in spectacular fashion with a thrilling come-from-behind victory over last year’s Grand Finalists.
The weekend’s Match of the Round lived up to expectations; a high-scoring shootout saw 16 goals kicked combined in the first half.
No more than three points separated both sides at each change, before the Panthers broke away to a 17-point lead at the 26-minute mark of the last quarter. With the game appearing to be all but over, the Lions stormed home with four late goals to pinch victory. Mitch Jackson, who had 28 disposals on the day, booted the sealer after the siren.
Bryce Galvin was key with six goals, while Kyle Hird asserted his dominance in the ruck with 57 hit-outs.
Key Players:
Mitch Neid continues to elevate himself, another club best and fairest, a Team of the Year position and a top five finish in the league best and fairest. Neid averaged 28 disposals per game and fought incredibly hard for Fairpark in their finals campaign, with 30 disposals and two goals in the Elimination Final.
The experienced Ben Searle was one of the best pick-ups over the off-season, and the former Bayswater star did not disappoint. Averaging 30 disposals and 10 intercepts per game, Searle was a lock for the Team of the Year back six.
With the second-best-ranked attack in the division, Bryce Galvin and Hayden Schroeder played a significant role in their success. Galvin finished the year with 74, Schroeder with 65. Both finished in the top-five leading goalkickers and had bags of 11 or more in multiple games.
The number one ruck in the division, Kyle Hird, recorded an average of 48.8 hitouts per game. His most in a game this season came in the Elimination Final with 62.
What’s Next?
The Lions at full strength will be one of the premiership front-runners in season 2027. They possess one of the more experienced lists of the Division Four teams, and have had some strong re-signing announcements including both Mitch and Bed Neid, Ben Searle, Kyle Hird, Oscar Lunny and Charles and John Stewart.
If they can introduce a bit of talented youth to the line-up, they’ll be quite well positioned.
Mitch Pierce, who was massive for Forest Hill this season, joins the Lions; he is coming off back-to-back Team of the Year appearances. A big get for an already talented midfield line-up when at full strength.
Forest Hill midfielder Jarryd Lynch also signs with the Lions, as well as former senior coach Stuart Pierce as a new senior assistant coach.
On the right track, next season once again presents itself as a big opportunity for the Lions.
SENIOR WOMEN’S
Summary:
Ladder Position: 6th (3-1-8, 54.33%)
Best and Fairest: Kahlia Sommers
Leading Goal Kicker: Elizabeth Hall (10 Goals)
A challenging year for the Lions, who fought hard for their three wins in Division Four.
The Lions got on the board in Round Five with their first win of the season coming against the Eastern Devils at Mulgrave Reserve. 69-point winners, keeping the Devils scoreless all morning.
It started a strong patch of the year for the Lions, going on to defeat Bayswater two weeks later, followed shortly by a draw with future finalists, Boronia Gold.
A 105-point win at home against the Eastern Devils in Round 12 was the side’s third win of the year, with Elizabeth Hall and Stephanie Quang combining for nine majors.
Best Win: Round Seven – Fairpark 5.9 39 def. Bayswater 4.8 32 @ Fairpark Reserve
Coming up against a side who at the time was a major finals contender, the Lions had one of their most memorable wins in the last couple of seasons.
After conceding a 17-point quarter-time lead, Fairpark hit back in the second term, cutting back the margin to six points. They pinched the lead prior to the final change and managed to keep Bayswater Goalless in the second half.
Hollie Pogorzelski was listed best-on for the Lions, while Maya Kimpton and Maxie Stokes both finished with two goals each.
Key Players:
Kahlia Sommers was outstanding for the Lions, winning the club’s best and fairest award.
Sommers finished ahead of runner-up Stephanie Quang, who was selected in the Division Four & Five Team of the Year, alongside Kimi Quang.
After missing most of the 2025 season, Elizabeth Hall was key for the Lions as their leading goal kicker, with her best haul against the Devils where she booted five.
What’s Next?
Division Four became a little tougher in season 2026 with both Wantirna South and Warrandyte leading the way, and the emergence of Boronia Gold.
The Lions will hope to add to their current list to make strides up the ladder next season.
NETBALL
Fairpark Red (Division Eleven): 2nd, 11-2
Fairpark Blue (Division Twelve): 3rd, 10-4
Summary:
How could you ask for anything more for the Lions Netball program? Two teams, two premierships.
The Division Eleven side, Fairpark Red, won 11 games from 13 to finish second on the ladder. The Lions managed to knock off Minor Premiers Upper Ferntree Gully in the first final before a 12-goal Grand Final win over Montrose.
Matilda Emmett won the club’s league best and fairest, a Team of the Year spot in the Goal Defence.
Fairpark Blue managed to win the Grand Final from the long route after finishing third on the ladder. The Lions comfortably defeated Oakleigh District in the first final before pulling away late in the Preliminary Final to beat Coldstream.
On Grand Final Night, the Lions came up against a strong Ringwood side who had lost just one game for the year.
Not only did Maya Bruni win the club’s best and fairest, but also the Division Twelve Netball League Best and Fairest. Ruth Smythe was the club’s leading goal shooter with 407 goals for the season.
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