NORTHERN Knights coach Anthony Rocca says his side is champing at the bit to get into competitive action, boasting “a good blend of team attributes” and prospects across each age group. He’s confident that Northern’s contested work will surprise a few teams, and helped us preview the region’s season.

PRESEASON

“The boys were training really well before Christmas, they’re training really well after Christmas and we’re at the point where we just want some opposition now. Instead of hurting them we’re doing some match sim stuff and the boys are going really hard, which is good, but I’m afraid sometimes it looks like they’re going to hurt each other so we’re looking forward to some opposition now.”

TOP-AGE VIC METRO HUB MEMBERS

Tyson Gresham
Small Forward/Midfielder | 169cm | 21/06/2007

Carlton NGA

“‘Gresh’ is training really well. He’s one of our co-captains which is fantastic and his leadership has stood out, [he’s] training with real intensity. He’s probably one of the shortest players in our group but he’s got one of the biggest hearts, so he’s going pretty well.”

ONES TO WATCH

“Isaac Dugdale has been really good off half-back. Ryan Commandeur, the same off half-back, Roman Moxon too – we’ve got a lot of half-backers to tell you the truth. Roman Moxon has had a really good preseason, he’s been really composed with the footy and pretty strong over the footy as well. Mitchell Moate has come back from an ACL last year and probably still won’t play for a few weeks… James Allison is one who played a fair bit last year as a bottom-ager, he’ll be a mainstay in our midfield mix. He’s pretty tough and runs well and can play back, forward or mid. So, we’ve got a good blend of team attributes. I wouldn’t say anyone individually has stood out, but as a team we’ve really gelled well together.”

BOTTOM-AGERS

“We’ve got big Harry Van Hattum in the [Vic Metro] group and Tate Hodgson who is injured… they’re going well. We’ve just got to be mindful of how much we load them because they all just want to play footy. It’s going to be an interesting year for them because we might pull them back a little bit, because next year is obviously the most important year. But there’ll probably come a time where we just have to unleash the shackles.”

RETURNING OVER-AGERS

“We’ve got Gabriel Stumpf. He was probably close to getting drafted last year but just missed out, so he’ll be given an opportunity. Hugh White came into our program really late last year, I think he only played three or four games. Hasn’t been in the Talent League system – it’s different to the school system and he’s learnt a few things. He’s training at Richmond as well. Tommy Vrkic is a tall back, ruck, tall forward who will get another opportunity. Liam Farrar is another boy who missed out on getting drafted last year, played mainly forward. He’s got a really good tank so we’re going to throw him up on the wing. He’s been playing at Carlton VFL and been playing up on the wing as well. We’ll give those four boys some opportunities and see where it lands them.”

LEADERSHIP GROUP

Co-captains: Sebastian Murphy, Tyson Gresham
Leadership group: Roman Moxon, Tommy Vrkic, Mitchell Moate, Tate Hodgson

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Northern Knights (@nthknights)

STYLE OF PLAY

“We’ll see how we go, a bit of everything… all these boys come from their local footy clubs with a great ambition to be attacking. That’s something that they don’t really need to be taught. We focus a lot on defence before Christmas and we implement offence after Christmas. So, hopefully we jell as a team in both aspects. I think the contest stuff is going to surprise a few teams this year and how tough we are on the inside.”

GOALS

“As normal we just want to develop the players as best as we can, try and make them into better footballers and better men. We’ve got a really keen bunch of boys who have already shown a willingness to improve and develop their individual skills. We’ve got a whole bunch of young bottom-agers who we want to develop for next year, which we’re really bullish about. We’ve come together pretty well as a team, so just looking forward to how the year pans out.”

ROUND 1

vs. Eastern Ranges
Sunday March 30, 3pm @ Trevor Barker Beach Oval

“We play them in a practice match just before Round 1. Eastern are always a really good side, got great individuals and come together really well as a team. We’re just looking forward to the contest in the end.”