Hawks' Reserves claim the flag as Seniors fall one game short in title defence
After being a Premiership fancy throughout 2026, Eaglehawk's defence of its 2025 senior premiership ended one game short of the grand final after a loss to eventual premiers, Gisborne.
The Burra still finished 2026 with a flag after their Reserves capped off a magnificent season, winning the 2026 Drummond Golf Reserves Premiership beating Sandhurst 8.8.56 to 7.7.49 in an absolute nail-biter.
The Reserves finished second at 13–3 and lost the qualifying final to Sandhurst. They answered with a 55-point first semi-final win over Strathfieldsaye, a 10-point preliminary final win over minor premiers South Bendigo and then turned the tables on Sandhurst on grand final day.
The Seniors finished third at 11–5 after winning their last seven home-and-away games. They beat Strathfieldsaye by 29 points at Harry Trott in dominate fashion and many expected them to go on with it but a close loss to Sandhurst by just 4 points in the second semi-final booked them a date with Gisborne in the Preliminary Final with the Bulldogs finishing too strong for the two-blues.
Eaglehawk’s netball department continue to show improvement with four of the six squads making Finals including the club’s inaugural 15 & Under team who would win their elimination final against Strathfieldsaye 36–22 before falling to South Bendigo in the 1st Semi-Final.
The Burra’s A Grade, A Reserve and 17 & Under all bowed out in elimination finals but continue to show incremental improvements through internal growth and strong recruiting.
Eaglehawk’s Under 18 footballers finished seventh with four wins.
A clear highlight of the season is club favourite, Ben Thompson claiming the 2026 Michelsen Medal in thrilling fashion with a 3-vote game in the final home & away match. It caps a remarkable season for the star midfielder who was also named as Vice-Captain of the BFNL’s Senior Interleague Squad.
Running machine, Oscar White also represented the Blue & Gold at Interleague level.
Thompson wasn’t the only medallist from Canterbury Park as their Reserves Captain, Ethan Hanley ran away with the 2026 McDonald Medal and the Reserves Best & Fairest player.
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Team
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W–L–D
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Finish
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Finals / best result
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Seniors (football)
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11–5–0
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3rd
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Won QF v Strathfieldsaye by 29; lost 2nd semi v Sandhurst by 4; lost PF v Gisborne by 20
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Reserves (football)
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13–3–0
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2nd
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PREMIERS: d Sandhurst 8.8.56 to 7.7.49
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Under 18s (football)
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4–12–0
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7th
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Won 7.15.57 to 5.3.33 v Kangaroo Flat (R3); includes a forfeit win (R15)
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A Grade (netball)
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8–8–0
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5th
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Lost elimination final 54–67 v South Bendigo
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A Reserve (netball)
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6–7–1
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5th
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Lost elimination final 44–71 v Sandhurst
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B Grade (netball)
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4–11–1
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7th
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Won 68–31 v Castlemaine (R16)
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B Reserve (netball)
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6–10–0
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6th
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Lost 30–33 v Sandhurst (R1)
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17 & Under (netball)
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8–7–1
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4th
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Lost elimination final 44–47 v South Bendigo
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15 & Under (netball)
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6–6–0
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4th
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Won EF 36–22 v Strathfieldsaye; lost 1st semi 25–37 v South Bendigo
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