EFNL Division 3 2024: Knox ends Donvale’s 31-game winning streak
Donvale was on one of the longest-standing winning streaks in local footy – before Knox put a thrilling end to it on Saturday.
Eastern
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It’s been the most sought-after scalp across the past two seasons.
Knox ended Donvale’s 31-game winning streak with a 6.11 (47) to 6.6 (42) victory in Eastern’s Division 3 on Saturday.
The Vales last lost in Round 3, 2023 before motoring to 17 consecutive wins on the way to the flag.
The Falcons led at all changes, including by 14 points at the half and four at three-quarter time before weathering a final-quarter push from the reigning premier in wet and wintry conditions.
Knox senior coach Steve Buckle declared wet weather or not, his players were up for the challenge of toppling Division 3’s juggernaut.
“I’m under no illusions that the more games Donvale were winning, at some stage, whether it was this year, it had to come to an end,” he said.
“Nothing against what Donvale were doing on the weekend, but I don’t think it would’ve mattered if it was dry conditions or wet – our boys were locked in and knew we had to keep winning, because we’re not guaranteed anything.
“They’re (Donvale) clearly the benchmark but we just had everything together … we had all 22 boys buy in.
“It (the conditions) just allowed our boys to get to work and get down and dirty for the day.”
Leading by less than a kick deep into time-on of the final term, Buckle lauded his side’s steely resolve in resisting a Donvale outfit known to “find a way late”.
“The challenge for us was to have some belief and momentum … and they dug in,” Buckle said.
“Every time they got it close, we were able to respond.
“We’ve gone through scenarios at training where we’ve run it against the clock, a goal up, three points up or three points down.
“The boys just got everything right on the weekend with their setups and being able to lock the ball down in that last couple of minutes.”
Zan Hanlen took control in the ruck for the Falcons while Mitch Greaves had a “super impact” according to the coach, providing plenty of run and drive out of defence.
Buckle said Greaves’ intercept marking and work at ground level gave the opposition a few headaches.
“He just reads the game so well and we know how potent their (Donvale’s) forward line is … we tried to get a little bit of help behind the footy as well to allow Mitch to play his own game,” he said.
“They tried to put a defensive forward on him, but it just allowed Mitch to run his own game.”
Meanwhile, Harrison Greaves finished with two crucial goals in the low-scoring scrap.
Donvale, which was without powerhouse ruckman Zac Haig, remains eight points ahead on top of the ladder, while the victory lifts Knox to 12 points clear in third.
Buckle said there was a wary optimism building at the club ahead of its first finals series since 2017, having also beaten second-placed Surrey Park.
“We walk out of this game knowing that’s the scalp we wanted but they (Donvale) have got (Haig) to return,” Buckle said.
“We’ve found some form and now the boys have got that belief … we’ve knocked off Donvale, we’ve knocked off Surrey and we are a serious contender.
“It’s just nice to see the smiles on the boys’ faces and knowing they’re starting to believe.”
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