EFNL Division 2: ‘We belong in the division’, Knox coach declares following East Burwood upset

The Falcons aren’t done in the Eastern league’s Division 2 just yet after an upset win on Saturday, boosting their hopes of avoiding relegation ...

KNOX senior coach Steve Buckle has declared his group belongs in the Eastern league’s Division 2 following its upset win on Saturday.

The Falcons stunned East Burwood to the tune of 28 points to boost their hopes of avoiding relegation at season’s end, with the bottom two clubs set to drop to Division 3.

Tipping the Rams out of the top five, the result lifts Knox to a 3-12 record in ninth spot of the division’s 10 teams, closing the gap on The Basin (eighth) to just four points and percentage.

Upper Gully occupies 10th with one win from 15 starts.

Knox coach Steve Buckle. Picture: Davis Harrigan

“I’ve always thought that we belong in the division,” Buckle said.

“I’ve been reiterating the point for the last couple of weeks that we belong in this division and I really don’t want to go down.

“We’re going to learn more by staying up, even if it is tough again next year.

“With the improvement and growth we’ve seen in the players from the start of the year to where we are now, if we keep getting that and next year surround ourselves with some more quality as well, then there’s no reason we can’t compete really strongly next year.”

Buckle said the victory looked like his side’s “best four-quarter performance of the year”, with the group wary its “season was on the line”.

The Falcons led by 20 points at half-time before extending the margin to 40 at the final change, as Aaron Taylor kicked three goals and 18-year-old winger Jett Marget starred as best afield.

“We had a big build-up and I think it’s going to be that way for the remaining three weeks,” Buckle said.

“We set a plan that basically this was our ‘war’ and we targeted a few of their players to try and take away a few of their strengths.

“I know they had a few out so that didn’t help East Burwood, so I’m understanding and realistic about that.

“To go out, execute the way we did and have that complete buy-in … it was probably our best four-quarter performance for the year, really.

“Every quarter we just came out firing.”

The final-round clash with The Basin could decide the fate of both clubs. Picture: Davis Harrigan

The win shapes the club’s final-round meeting with The Basin as a potential relegation match.

The Bears hold an advantage of some 13 per cent on the Falcons, with Buckle’s men to also meet the Waverley Blues (second) and Templestowe (third) in the run home.

The Basin’s final three weeks features Heathmont (fourth) and the Blues.

“We knew we had to get another one (win) at least before we meet The Basin in the last round,” Buckle said.

“With the way the ladder sits, we presumed The Basin were going to take care of Upper Gully (on Saturday) which they did, so they win that, that puts them two games clear and if we didn’t get another win (on the weekend) then we were no hope.

“We knew we had to get one and hopefully we can snag another couple before we meet The Basin … it’s going to be a relegation game no matter what, unless they sneak one.”