YvWater 2026 Season Review | Knox
By Christopher Kourtis.
Finals footy for both senior sides as Knox looks set for a deeper run into the postseason next year.
SENIOR MEN’S
Summary:
Ladder Position: 4th (9-7, 115.02%)
Leading goal kicker: Harrison Greaves (33 goals)
Knox’s fourth-placed finish was a fair assessment of where they sat in Division Three, failing to beat anyone above them while only losing to just one team below them, once (Silvan).
The Falcons had to wait until Round 4 for their first win, beating Ferntree Gully by 27 points. While they contended with the Top 3 teams in their meetings, they showed that they were still adrift of that calibre of opponent.
Knox beat Silvan in the Elimination Final by 44 points, solidifying their ‘best of the rest’ label in Division Three. Unfortunately for them, their season was ended the next week at the hands of The Basin.
Best win: Elimination Final – Knox 14.17-101 def. 8.9-57 Silvan @ Wally Tew Reserve
Knox overpowered a Silvan side that were threatening to cause an upset.
Despite a dominant yet inaccurate start, Knox won every quarter and even kept Silvan scoreless in the third on their way to an impressive finals performance.
A 44-point victory and a semi-final berth secured, Harrison Greaves was best on with four goals.
Key players:
Harrison Greaves showed great versatility throughout the season to be a threat at both ends of the field. In the Team of the Year as a full-back, Greaves still ended the season with 33 goals in 17 games. Tom Weir was the other Falcon to make the Team of the Year, alongside Greaves in the full-back line.
Noah Iliadis was terrific since joining mid-season, only missing out on best on votes in two of his twelve appearances. Fraser Smith was also a key contributor, recording 20 goals and eight times in best through fifteen games.
What’s next?
Knox have done anything but sit on their heels since season’s end. Jimmy House will take over head coaching duties from Steve Buckle, and the club have made sure to equip him with the right weapons to make some noise.
Amongst a bunch of re-signings, veteran Kris Pendlebury joins the side for 2027.
To add to the incomings is one of the greatest single-club signing hauls in recent memory. Knox have lured a whopping six players from Premier Division side Rowville; Kurtis Flakemore, Thomas Lockman, Jai Coleclough, Brock Coleclough, Kyah Cronin and Jake Phipps.
The latter five all played in Rowville’s Reserves Grand Final, with Jai Coleclough voted best on.
With a range of senior experience between them, the group is exactly what Knox needs to close the gap between them and the top of the ladder. All that’s left to do now is train and prepare for Round Onr.
SENIOR WOMEN’S
Ladder position: 2nd (10-4, 210.75%)
Leading goal kicker: Danielle Brotto (43 goals)
Knox’s senior women’s side put together a very strong season but ultimately couldn’t overcome an undefeated Balwyn.
The Falcons put together a five-game win streak between Rounds 6 and 10, helping them push out the gap between themselves and third place.
Despite the strong signs though, they bowed out of the finals in straight sets following losses to Balwyn (Semi Final 2) and East Ringwood (Preliminary Final).
Best win: Round 3 – Mooroolbark 4.2-26 def. by 5.6-36 Knox @ Mooroolbark Heights Reserve
Knox’s Round Three win was a massive step in securing the double chance for finals.
While Knox only managed ten points after half-time, their defence stood tall and restricted the Mustangs to one goal in each quarter. This show of force helped Knox secure a hard-fought ten-point victory.
Holly Mastin was voted best on as teammate Danielle Brotto kicked three goals.
Key players:
Knox dominated the Team of the Year defence, as Taylor Prentice and Holly Gibson painted the full-back line red and black. Prentice (nine times in best) and Gibson (seven times in best) were key figures in a side that built off their defensive work.
Danielle Brotto earned a spot on the Team of the Year interchange, as her 43-goal haul landed her second in the league charts. Zali Wagner was also classy throughout, recording best on votes in ten of her sixteen games.
What’s next?
While a coaching change has been confirmed, not much else needs to differ for this Knox side. Adam Sullivan takes over from Mike Tyson, coming off a 2025 Division Two Premiership with Heathmont.
If they can keep their core together, they’ll give themselves a great chance of going deep into finals – with Balwyn no longer in the picture, the Falcons will find themselves as one of the early premiership favourites going into 2027.
NETBALL
Knox Falcons put together a strong season in Division Two, finishing third with eight wins. They didn’t manage to beat any of the teams above them and eventually lost the first Semi Final to Mitcham by four goals. Jennifer Gardner (GS) and Erin Burns (C) both made the Team of the Year.
Knox Black finishing eighth. Their one win came against Donvale in Round 2, keeping them off the bottom for the rest of the season.
Knox Red finished seventh in Division Thirteen yet showed that they can hang with the best.
They handed second-placed Vermont one of their only two losses but failed to make much of an impact throughout other parts of the season. Taylah Diedrich (GA) was listed as the Division Thirteen to Fifteen Team of the Year captain, as teammate Bindi Bates accompanied her on the interchange.
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