EZYAIR 2026 Season Review | Lilydale
By Christopher Kourtis.
Lilydale were the biggest climbers in Division Two this season, while their netball sides had mixed results.
SENIOR MEN’S
Ladder Position: 5th (9-9, 95.79%)
Best and Fairest: Riley Clausen
Leading Goal Kicker: Zac Cileceken (33 goals)
You’d have never picked that this was the same side that finished dead last in 2025.
Lilydale’s decision to invest in youth brought a massive return. Zac Cileceken was the side’s leading goal kicker, as Jake Vippond (eight times) and Jesse Brown (seven times) frequented the best on votes.
Lilydale got off to a flyer, beating premiership contenders Templestowe and Mulgrave on the way to a 5-2 start.
The Falcons lost seven of their last ten games though, before finishing with a narrow Round 18 win against Scoresby.
Their season ended the next week though, losing the Elimination Final to the Waverley Blues by 28 points.
Best win: Round 5 – Templestowe 6.10 46 def. by Lilydale 12.5 77 @ Templestowe Reserve
Round Five was a massive statement for what this side had to offer.
Lilydale led Templestowe at all breaks. If you didn’t know anything about the division, you would’ve thought the premiership favourites were the ones in blue and yellow.
The Falcons put together an undeniable second quarter, holding the hosts goalless to take a 58-9 lead into half-time.
It was all academic from there as Lilydale won by 31 points and improved to 3-2.
Riley Clausen was voted best on ground, recording 26 disposals and nine clearances. Marc Massarotti kicked a game-high three goals to go along with 23 touches.
Key players:
Zac Carolan lead the league in best on votes (fifteen) in a stellar season in defence. The full-back averaged 26.9 disposals and 5.3 intercept possessions a game, earning a Team of the Year berth.
Riley Clausen was also in the Team of the Year. Clausen stuffed the stat sheet, putting up 29.9 disposals, 7.4 clearances and 6.7 intercept possessions a game. The midfielder was in the best thirteen times.
Harry Evans was named on the Team of the Year half-back line. Evans was dominant down back, averaging 7.2 intercept possessions, 3.2 intercept marks and 2.6 spoils a game.
What’s next?
This side showed plenty of promise throughout 2026, so why not stick with what works? Plenty of re-signings have already been announced with Clausen, Cileceken, Carolan and Evans amongst those to commit to another season.
Already with plenty of prospects set to improve once again, it would be nice to see some higher division talent come in to top up the list.
Should they find the right balance, Lilydale will be set up to win their first final since 2018.
NETBALL
Lilydale Gold finished ninth in Division Four. Beating the two teams below them and a sixth-placed Blackburn, Taylah Barr was a shining light for the side. Barr was named best and fairest and was listed on the Team of the Year interchange.
Lilydale Blue picked up eight wins in Division Nine, landing them in fourth. Unfortunately, the side lost the Elimination Final to eventual premiers Mt Evelyn by six goals. Chloe Zanon won the Best and Fairest award, as Mackenzie Lee earned a Team of the Year slot on the interchange.
Lilydale White went winless in Division Fourteen. Nicole Neagle was named best and fairest.
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