Kicking more goals than your opponent in a Grand Final will normally see you celebrating a premiership at games end. It was not the case for Knox last year.
After winning five games on end to finish fourth in Division 1, the Falcons swept through the finals with wins over North Geelong and Seaford to earn an unexpected Grand Final berth against Cranbourne. Despite scoring less goals than Knox, the Eagles prevailed by a single point, spoiling in the most heartbreaking way possible what would have been an incredible fairy-tale season.
In any other year Knox would have nothing but revenge on their mind. However, their promotion to the new state league has given them cause to readjust their sights.
Mel Kuys, entering her third season in the Knox colours and coming off a pre-season as part of the AFL Victoria Women’s Academy alongside El Downey and Chanelle Slater, says the players are first and foremost looking to adjust to the higher standard.
“Improving is going to be our biggest thing,” Kuys stated.
“After every game, we’ll really have a look at what we did right, what we did wrong.”
Kuys and her fellow Knox players will be entering the season with a new coach at the helm in Clint Martin. Martin, who has previous coaching experience at Kilsyth, says he is relishing the opportunity to coach female football for the first time. Adam Moon, Martin’s assistant at Kilsyth, will be Knox’s dedicated development coach in the 2016 season.
“I’ve already had feedback from the girls and they’ve reported back that they’ve seen marked improvement in their own fitness and also enjoyment of the drills during pre-season training,” Martin said.
“They’re looking forward to moving up into the state league, which is going to be a bit of a challenge, but I think that this year the girls are going to rise to the occasion and move forward.
“There’s a couple of new things that I’ve put in there this year and hopefully it’s going to make a bit of a difference.”
“If we can make our mark as Knox and the girls make some new experiences, I’ll be happy with that,”
“I think we’ll be knocking on the finals door.”
Perhaps on the back of the extra authority that has come with entering the state league, Knox has been bolstered by recruitment during the pre-season. Martin estimates that he currently has more than enough players for two teams. This has allowed the club to put a keen emphasis on developing their strong Youth Girls team into potential senior players.
Knox will face Diamond Creek away in Round 1.
WEBSITE: www.knoxwomenfootballclub.com.au
FACEBOOK: /KnoxFalconsWomensFootballClub/
TWITTER: @KnoxFalconsWFC