EFNL 2021: Knox breaks through for maiden victory of 2021

The Falcons are on the board under new coach Brendan Whitecross, and the ex-Hawk says it’s more than just four premiership points.

Lachlan Stuckey booted two majors as Knox posted its first win of the season out at Templestowe on Saturday.

Knox has broken through for its first win under new senior coach Brendan Whitecross, and the former Hawk says it’s a significant step in his young side’s development.

The Falcons rallied an early challenge from Templestowe to run out 14.8 (92) to 9.4 (58) winners, in a match where both sides were shooting for their maiden victory of the season.

But an array of goalkickers helped Knox ensure leads of 20 points at quarter time, 26 at half time and 35 at the final change to keep the Dockers at bay.

Josh Stefnutti, Brad Wylde, Lachlan Stuckey and Lucas Woodward all booted two each for the Falcons, among a spread of 10 individual goalkickers.

Whitecross credited his side’s four-quarter effort in the 34-point win, following losses against Boronia, Ringwood and The Basin to open the season.

“It’s been a bit of a tough three weeks – we’ve done a lot of things right but with the group that we’ve got, a lot of inexperience, our maturity levels are still developing each week,” he said.

“Our ability to stick out games is something that’s been noted, so it’s really good that the players bought in, understood what we’re trying to work on and understood what we need to get better at.

“We were able to put it together for a large majority of the game, there were stages where we still didn’t get it quite right, but all in all we were able to execute it for a large part and went a long way to winning the game.”

The Falcons fell 12 points short of an undefeated The Basin last round, and Whitecross praised his side’s physicality in the encounter which it brought into the Dockers clash on Saturday.

Whitecross praised his side’s physicality on Saturday.

“Our physicality (against The Basin) was probably the best it’s been for a long time,” Whitecross said.

“That was a big plus for us was taking that physicality and understanding that even though we’re a young group with not a lot of big bodies, we were able to bring that physicality.

“The learning from it was that what we’re doing works, it’s just about being able to execute it for four quarters.

“Unfortunately, when the game was there to be won (last week), we probably went away from what we were doing well and allowed the opposition back in the game.”

But for Whitecross, Saturday’s result is about more than just four premiership points, pointing to the victory as a major morale-booster for his developing group.

“The belief’s been high … it’s not just great to have a win on the board, but great to have that belief and confidence that what we’re doing is right and we’re very capable of winning games of footy,” he said.

Mitch Greaves, Matt Stein, Will O’Brien, Lucas Woodward, Luke Meagher and Tom Gardiner all featured among the Falcons’ best.

Mark Palloozzi, Callum Bradley, Matt Nagel, Max Taratuta, Jesse Wilson and John-Paul Malietzis finished best afield for the Dockers, with Nagel booting three majors alongside Alex Brown and Jack Cripps with two each.

While Whitecross admits the Falcons’ build “might be a bit of a slow burn”, he said the upside in the long-term was cause for optimism and excitement.

Whitecross flies for Box Hill in his playing days. Picture: Michael Dodge/AFL Media/Getty Images

The Division 2 outfit fielded eight debutants in Round 1 among “five or six” under-19 players to have earned a shot at senior level this season.

And it’s a process the former Hawthorn defender says has reignited his passion for footy after an injury-plagued career in the top-flight.

“I lost a bit of love and passion for the game, but this club’s certainly found that for me again,” Whitecross said.