EFNL 2021: Jackson McDonald, Jackson Anderson, Jarryd Hall sign at Knox for 2022

Knox looks set for better fortunes next season after welcoming a trio of Premier Division names for 2022.

Knox’s bid to bounce back in 2022 has received a major boost with the addition of a trio of Premier Division names.

The Falcons finished sixth of Division 2’s eight teams this season with a 3-9 record, but the inexperienced outfit is set to benefit from the signatures of Jarryd Hall, Jackson Anderson and Jackson McDonald crossing from Rowville.

McDonald joined the Hawks at the end of 2017 following a VFL stint with Casey, and made an immediate impact.

Jackson McDonald joins Knox with a huge reputation. Picture: AAP Image/James Ross

He tied for Rowville’s best and fairest in 2018, in a season where he made the top division team of the year, and represented the Eastern league and Vic Metro in community championships.

But the midfielder/forward has been hampered in recent seasons, undergoing two ankle operations among battling other injuries, before a hamstring injury ended his campaign after one match this year.

Anderson is touted to slot in across half-back and through the midfield with his “elite foot skills”, bringing experience from VFL level following time at Casey. He played seven of Rowville’s eight matches this season.

Hall, a hard-nosed midfielder, links up with mates at the club and had been on the Falcons’ radar for “the last couple of years”, according to Knox football operations manager, John O’Brien.

He’s coming off a shoulder reconstruction and has played the majority of his football at the Hawks, having also had a stint with South Belgrave.

O’Brien said the trio’s addition followed a recent trend of players dropping back from the league’s top division.

“A lot of blokes don’t want to play Premier Division anymore … Division 2 seems to be the go-to division at the moment, and there seems to be a lot of recruits heading that way,” O’Brien said.

“We were competitive (this season) but not overly … we probably should’ve won six or seven but we had a really young group and by getting these boys through, I think it’s going to really help us.”

And there could be more names to come.

“Hopefully in the next week or two, we’ve got another two we’re going to sign up as well,” O’Brien said.

O’Brien said numbers were strong at pre-season training with “a minimum of 40” on the track on any given night, while there’s upwards of “65 to 70” on the list for next season.

While he’s under no illusions that the Falcons’ build is a work in progress, he remained bullish his club could climb the ladder next season.

“We’re really excited about where we’re headed … we know it’s not going to happen overnight and we’re all on the same page and ready to strike,” O’Brien said.

Knox opens its season away to East Burwood on April 2.