Eastland 2026 Season Review | North Ringwood

By Josh Ward.

It was yet another successful and historic season for North Ringwood’s senior men’s and women’s programs, adding more silverware to the growing Quambee Reserve trophy cabinet.

Senior Men’s

Ladder Position: 1st (15-3, 144.29%)

Leading Goalkicker: Ben Livingstone (60 goals in 19 games)

Best and Fairest: Kieran Rice

Summary

Following a preliminary final appearance the year prior, the Saints entered 2026 seeking to build on that in the highly-competitive Division 1.

They started off positively, winning their opening three games before going on a nine-game winning streak between losses against eventual Grand Final foe Mitcham.

Four wins from their last five games was enough for the Saints to rise from fifth in the regular season last year to winning their first minor premiership since their most recent premiership in 2014.

Facing Mitcham in the second week of finals, Matt Price’s men ultimately fell nine points short of the Tigers, whom they would meet again on Grand Final day after defeating Park Orchards the following week.

Despite trailing by 20 points at the final change, the Saints came from the clouds to secure the club’s sixth senior premiership, a second premiership on the day, and a return to Premier Division in 2027.

Best Win: Grand Final - North Ringwood 12.6 (78) def. Mitcham 7.15 (57) @ Pinks Reserve

One of the greatest Grand Final comebacks in recent memory from the Saints against a Mitcham side they hadn’t defeated all season and had won eight consecutive finals.

The Tigers were on top in the opening three quarters, holding the lead at all three changes, including by 20 points at the final break of the Division 1 season.

As Mitcham started to miss some opportunities, the Saints were well on target, kicking seven unanswered goals in the last to secure a famous premiership at Pinks Reserve.

Kieran Rice had a Grand Final for the ages, collecting 49 disposals, including 17 in the last quarter, and kicking three goals as well as collecting 20 clearances to win Best on Ground honours. Ry Cantwell also came up clutch with 34 disposals and three goals, two of which coming in the last.

Key Players

Rice took his game to another level last season. Averaging more than 34 disposals (a division-high), eight clearances and seven score involvements per game, Rice won the Saints B&F, was named at Rover in the Division 1 Team of the Year and made his VFL debut with North Melbourne.

Aiden Begg was also named in the TOTY. Despite playing only nine games due to VFL commitments and injury, Begg still averaged 25.9 disposals, 20.2 contested possessions, 13.9 clearances and 40.7 hitouts per game.

Ben Livingstone was also named at Full Forward in the TOTY after winning the Division’s leading goalkicker award. Averaging 3.5 goals per game during the regular season, Livingstone also averaged a division-high 3.7 marks inside 50, 2.3 contested marks and 6.9 score involvements per game.

The Viking Oliver McKenzie also showed plenty of promise in his first full year of senior footy, averaging just under 25 disposals per game and providing a presence all across the ground.

What’s Next?

A return to the Premier Division awaits a young Saints side that still has plenty of upside.

They’ll be without some of their senior heads, including Aaron Fenton who has signed with Coldstream as a playing assistant coach.

But they have been swift to add players to their squad, including star mid/forward Jaidyn Stephenson who, if he signs full-time, comes to the Saints following a 48-goal year at the VFL level with Coburg.

Star mid/defender Kaiden Schreiber has also crossed from Premier Division rival Balwyn, bringing with him recent experience with Collingwood’s VFL side and the Northern Bullants.

They’ve got plenty more youth coming through, with their 19s going through the year undefeated from start to finish. Their reserves also played off in finals too for a second consecutive year.

With their age demographic, and some of the talent coming into the squad, the Saints are well-equipped to stay up and challenge in Premier next year.

Senior Women’s (Premier Division)

Ladder Position: 5th (6-7-1, 132.95%)

Leading Goalkicker: Georgie Marsden (13 goals in 12 games)

Best and Fairest: Jess Begg

Summary

Following their second senior women’s premiership in 2025, the Saints made the move up into the Premier Division of the Deakin Uni women’s competition for the first time in their history.

They started off with a loss, a win and then a draw before splitting their next two games entering the halfway point of the season.

It was a similar story in the back half of the year, winning two of their three games after the Kings Birthday break before winning one of their last four games to finish three games behind fourth-placed Boronia.

Best Win: Round 10 - North Ringwood 6.3 (39) def. Boronia 6.1 (37) @ Miller Park

In the end their only victory against a finals opponent this year, one that would go one to play off in the Grand Final and had entered that game following a win against top-of-the-table South Croydon.

The contest started off evenly, with both sides kicking two goals apiece in the opening term, before a three-goal to one second term saw the Hawks hold a two-goal buffer at the main break.

North Ringwood then tied the scores at the final break with a two-goal to nil third quarter, before a 1.3 to 1.1 final term in favour of the Saints was enough to keep their finals hopes alive in a thrilling contest.

Jess Begg was at her best again alongside Matilda Broadhurst and Carli Forbes. Rebecca Carter led the way in attack with two goals, with four others, including Begg, also impacting the scoreboard.

Key Players

Returning to the Saints full-time this past year, Begg was just as, if not more, phenomenal than her brother Aiden. Listed in the best in 13 of a possible 14 occasions, Begg won the Premier Division Best and Fairest and was named at Centre in the Premier Division Team of the Year.

Mali Neale and Matilda Broadhurst were as consistent as ever, with both being named in the best on 10 occasions and playing all 14 games in 2026.

Georgie Marsden led the way in attack with 13 goals across 12 games while Gemma Oglivy and Ebony Ireland provided more scoreboard pressure, kicking 10 and nine goals respectively.

Despite missing games this past season, Ella Rhodes was also reliable when available alongside the ever reliable Carli Forbes.

What’s Next?

The Saints have solidified their spot in the Premier Division for another year following a solid foundation-building year in 2026.

Keeping its list intact will be crucial, which they’ve done so well over the past few seasons and has seen their senior women’s program become the deepest in the EFNL.

They’ll have some more youth girls come through, with their combined Under 18 girls side with Montrose playing off in a Grand Final this year against Templestowe.

If they’re able to add a few key pieces, particularly in attack where they averaged the fifth highest in the Division, then they’ll no doubt challenge for a finals spot next year.

Senior Women’s (Division 3)

Ladder Position: 1st (13-0-1, 416.67%)

Leading Goalkicker: Shannon Harris (21 goals in 15 games)

Best and Fairest: Amelie Walters

Summary

North Ringwood’s second senior women’s side made a return to Division 3 this past season after making a preliminary final the year prior.

They were hard to stop during the regular season, going through undefeated and with just one draw to their name against eventual Grand Final opponent South Croydon Red in Round 9 where they kicked 2.8 to the Bulldogs 3.2.

North Ringwood Red kickstarted their finals campaign with a thrilling four-point victory over the Bulldogs, securing a first-ever Grand Final berth in the process.

The Saints would then meet the Bulldogs once again on the big stage, going on to win a historic first premiership in only their third-ever season as a side.

Best Win: Grand Final - North Ringwood Red 5.6 (36) def. South Croydon Red 3.4 (22) @ Mulgrave Reserve

The first of two historic Grand Final days for the North Ringwood Football Club, with this decider coming at Mulgrave Reserve against a familiar foe.

North Ringwood Red started off the strongest, kicking two goals to just three behinds in the opening half to hold a 14-point lead at the main break.

After the Bulldogs kicked three of the next four goals to reduce the margin to one point, the Saints composed themselves and managed to kick the last two goals to secure the first piece of silverware for North Ringwood this year.

Lauren Harris had an exceptional performance in ruck, collecting 54 hitouts, 18 disposals and a game-high two goals to earn Best on Ground honours. Amelie Walters also had 27 disposals and 10 clearances whilst she also impacted the scoreboard.

Key Players

Lauren Harris put together an exceptional campaign for the Saints. Named in the best on six occasions, Harris was named at ruck in the Division 3 Team of the Year.

Joining her in the TOTY at Rover was Emily Kane who was also named skipper of the side having been named in the best on 11 of a possible 13 occasions this year.

Shannon Harris once again led the way in attack, finishing as the Division’s leading goalkicker with 20 during the regular season. She was named in the TOTY alongside Asha Pongho who, after playing in a Division 1 flag last year, played a key role in the Saints charge to a Division 3 premiership.

Amelie Walters was also a key contributor for the Saints Division 3 side, named in the best on 10 of a possible 16 occasions which saw her take home the side’s B&F.

Senior Women’s (Division 5)

Ladder Position: 3rd (10-4, 283.46%)

Leading Goalkicker: Kyla McMahon (18 goals in 15 games)

Best and Fairest: Myah Goodwin

Summary

2026 saw history made for the Saints as they became the first senior women’s program to field a third side in the Deakin University Women’s competition.

They started off positively with a win in their opening game against eventual premiers Upper Gully before losing their next two to Templestowe and Heathmont Blue respectively.

The Saints then won their next four before dropping their next two against the Kings and Dockers before going on to win their last five games of the year to finish in third in their first year as a side.

Facing the Jets second side in the opening week of finals, the Saints held the lead for majority of the day before they heartbreakingly went down in Golden Point at Silvan, putting an end to an excellent campaign.

Best Win: Round 1 - North Ringwood Black 5.4 (34) def. Upper Ferntree Gully 5.3 (33) @ Quambee Reserve

A massive win to kickstart a historic day at Quambee Reserve and a massive season for the Saints third women’s side against the eventual premiers.

They started off brightly with two goals in the opening term for each side before one behind apiece in the second saw the Saints hold a one-point lead at the main break.

North Ringwood Black then made a move in the third with two goals to one before holding off a late Upper Gully surge where the Kings even hit the front in the last to secure their first-ever win as a side.

Myah Goodwin kickstarted an excellent first campaign of senior footy for herself with a best on ground performance while Madeline Leahy and Kyla McMahon led the way in attack with two goals each.

Key Players

In her first year of senior footy, Ella Wightman was a consistent contributor throughout the year. Named in the best on 10 occasions, Wightman was the only Saint named in the Division 4 + 5 Team of the Year.

Myah Goodwin was just as consistent as Wightman. Kicking 11 goals and getting a mention in the best in 12 games, Goodwin won the first ever North RIngwood Black Best and Fairest.

Kyla McMahon also had an excellent first venture into senior footy, finishing as the sides leading goalkicker with 18 goals.

Annaliese Foster and Cassie Surgeon were also excellent, with Surgeon named in the best on 10 occasions while Foster kicked 12 goals to finish second leading goalkicker.