A SPECIAL Friday night fixture greets two metropolitan teams as a host of star midfielders return to their Coates Talent League sides off the back of Vic Metro’s 94-point belting of the Allies. Western Jets host Northern Knights at Skinner Reserve from 6:30pm tomorrow in what should see some top-end talent on show.

Friday, July 5
Skinner Reserve | @ 6:30pm

FORM:

Northern Knights have shown they are more than capable of pushing the top teams and have being competitive all season. Though entering last round off a disappointing streak of three losses, they had a hard-fought performance against Oakleigh and got back on the winner’s list with a comprehensive 64-point thrashing of Sandringham Dragons.

Western Jets got on the board in season 2024 with back-to-back wins over Northern Territory and Calder Cannons – coming from behind both times – before crashing back to earth against a full-strength Eastern Ranges outfit a fortnight ago.

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Western Jets:

Coming off another impressive game outside Jets colours and this time for Vic Metro, midfielder Sierra Grieves returns to the number nine to look to take control on-ball and get her team plenty of forward chances. As a natural accumulator she will find the football, but can also get forward and hurt opposition sides on the scoreboard too.

Alex McBride-Loane has been consistently strong in defence and rolling through the ruck, while wing Charlotte Miller and midfielder Olivia Castello have also had their moments. Under 16s forward Kiara Boyd is an exciting talent.

Northern Knights:

After being utilised in defence for Vic Metro, Zoe Hargreaves has been named in the centre for the Knights, while fellow Metro representative Holly Ridewood could start forward, with the Northern skipper having played a key wing role for the ‘Big V’.

The Knights will be without the third Metro representative in ruck Isobella Hishongwa-Gibb, though the likes of Kira Lemire and Scarlett Johnson provide strong hands inside 50, and bottom-ager Marlo Graham will be ready when called upon to step up to Metro’s Under 18s program.

PREDICTION

Northern Knights have a bit more depth across the board and have shown they can be competitive even against the best. Though scoring at times has been a little lower, they dispelled that last week with a huge total, and the Jets will need to really control the midfield in order to come away with the four points.