NORTHERN Knights continued their perfect start to the Talent League season, notching a fifth consecutive win after thumping the GWV Rebels by 63 points in Ballarat on Sunday. The visitors trailed at half time but piled on seven unanswered goals in term three, including five from spearhead Sam Gayfer.

Gayfer ended up with six majors in the victory as his side posted a whopping 34 scoring shots from 76 forward 50 entries. The Rebels were without several key players amid Vic Country trials, and now fall to a 1-4 record on the season. We took note of the top performers and prospects from either side.

GWV REBELS 3.0 | 5.2 | 5.2 | 9.2 (56)
NORTHERN KNIGHTS 3.4 | 4.8 | 12.15 | 17.17 (119)

GOALS:
GWV Rebels: D. Rizzoli 3, H. Prentice 2, L. Petrie, N. Prevett, J. Stevens, H. Welsh
Northern Knights: S. Gayfer 6, M. Kayrooz 4, R. Ratkovic 3, S. Caruso 2, X. Rowley, S. Tyrrell

BEST:
GWV Rebels: M. Hughes, P. McKenna, J. Stevens, O. Henderson, L. Munyard, J. Sobey
Northern Knights: S. Gayfer, H. Lawrence, J. Leeson, T. Krasna, S. Caruso, K. Parker

GWV REBELS:

#1 Patrick McKenna
Defender | 182cm | 15/01/2009

Stats: 14 disposals, 2 marks, 2 rebound 50s

McKenna was less prolific on Sunday but had much of the same impact as usual, especially during the first half. The bottom-ager operated in perpetual motion, surging up the ground to provide an option on the overlap and generating plenty of forward momentum. He was full of running and showed his agility under pressure, although sometimes got himself into spots of bother. With a bit more polish on his disposal at full tilt, he looms as a dangerous rebound defender for next year.

#3 Michael Hughes
Midfielder | 181cm | 17/07/2008

Stats: 21 disposals, 8 marks, 4 rebound 50s

With skipper Ethan Drever out of the side, Hughes assumed plenty of responsibility in midfield. Despite his primary position, the top-ager spread hard to accumulate outside of the contest, particularly in the defensive half. There, he played his natural game as a support outlet while GWV picked a way forward. Hughes’ run and combination play caught the eye, even when tested by oncoming pressure. In those instances, he had to improvise with his typically sharp ball use.

#5 Lachlan Pring
Defender | 187cm | 06/08/2009

Stats: 16 disposals, 5 marks, 6 tackles, 6 rebound 50s

Pring was well and truly up against it, matching up on a red-hot key forward who had around 10cm of height on him. The bottom-ager battled admirably despite the mounting margin, pouncing on each opportunity to shut his opponent down. Pring tackled hard and did his best to compete aerially, but was simply outgunned in the latter department. It didn’t stop him from giving everything he had, with his persistence highlighted by a strong holding-the-ball tackle in term three – after the main onslaught. In possession, he was composed and showcased neat foot skills to work the ball out of defence.

#6 Harrison Welsh
Midfielder/Forward | 179cm | 23/08/2009

Stats: 10 disposals, 4 tackles, 4 clearances, 1 goal

It was by no means a high-volume game from Welsh, but he caught the eye with each possession. The bottom-ager started well, sharking the first centre clearance and cutting through traffic before launching inside 50. That kind of passage was a staple of Welsh’s play, showcasing his core strength and sharp turn of foot. He reacted well to the flow of the game to track both ways and finished off with a great long goal on the run after bursting through a tackle.

#24 Levi Munyard
Midfielder | 181cm | 18/10/2008

Stats: 13 disposals, 9 tackles, 5 clearances

Munyard brought a bit of grunt to the midfield battle, displaying his competitiveness with strong work on the inside. He immediately imposed himself with dogged tackles, and while overzealous at times, thrived on being able to bury opponents. Munyard also won his own ball and showed his speed with a few stoppage breakaways, driving forward with intent. He tended to stay upright through physical pressure and even produced a spin or fend after gathering the loose ball.

NORTHERN KNIGHTS:

#3 Toby Krasna
Wing/Midfielder | 182cm | 28/02/2008

Stats: 24 disposals, 4 tackles, 6 inside 50s

The Knights have been high on Krasna for his running patterns on the wing, but he earned an opportunity to show his wares through the middle on Sunday. While lightly framed, the top-ager was agile enough to cut through tight spaces and quick enough to wheel into space. He started out by holding his width well and racking up the ball via short and sharp possessions. Krasna’s combination work then gave way for more direct forays in the second half, darting forward and releasing kicks on both feet. His strong running and evasive technique made him hard to tie down all day.

#5 Harvie Cooke
Midfielder | 176cm | 12/04/2008

Stats: 25 disposals, 6 tackles, 5 clearances, 9 inside 50s

Cooke is an absolute scrapper at the contest and it is no surprise he has thrived in wet conditions this season. It was dry on Sunday, giving him the opportunity to show a bit of polish. He still tended to hack the ball forward from stoppage, but could not be faulted for his repeat efforts and ball-winning ability. Cooke’s clean handling and darting steps saw him accelerate out of traffic on several occasions, opening up avenues to launch the ball inside 50. As a first possession midfielder, he had no trouble accessing the ball or shutting down opposition rovers.

#12 Chas Woodward
Midfielder/Wing | 186cm | 08/01/2008

Stats: 16 disposals, 8 inside 50s, 2 behinds

There are plenty of quick players in the Talent League, but ones who can hit targets while moving at full tilt are a rarer breed. Woodward showed his ability to do so on Sunday, leaving opponents in his wake before delivering sharp kicks inside 50. His raw pace and acceleration were impressive enough, but to be able to stay composed and identify targets without having to steady made him all the more deadly. Woodward also showed sharp lateral movement and was able to take the ball at speed, immediately losing his marker and putting pressure on GWV’s defenders.

#14 Campbell Rooks
Defender | 181cm | 10/04/2009

Stats: 29 disposals, 10 marks, 5 inside 50s

Rooks led all comers as a brick wall across the defensive half, forming a formidable line which GWV struggled to cross. The bottom-ager was consistently in position to intercept long kicks out of the contest, settling himself under the ball and bravely competing overhead. He more than held his own in that capacity and read the play beautifully. With ball in hand, Rooks showed great poise to buy time with baulks and deft side-steps before looking to release by foot. His ball use wasn’t always pinpoint but he backed himself to pick out targets, kicking 21 times from 29 touches.

#18 Sam Gayfer
Key Forward | 194cm | 21/05/2008

Stats: 22 disposals, 10 marks, 6 goals

Gayfer produced one of the most dominant quarters the competition has seen, kicking 5.3 to spearhead Northern’s third term breakaway. The Knights kicked 8.7 in that time, with their main forward target putting on a clinic deep inside 50. He took toll with a size advantage on his direct opponent, using his superior aerial strength to reel in many of his five contested marks and turn them into scores. While unable to always clunk the ball with one grab, he extended nicely overhead and was dangerous on the lead, proving a route-one avenue to goal. The ironic thing is, Gayfer was a little wayward at times and could well have ended up with double-digit scoring shots, settling for 6.3. Elsewhere, his bodywork and tackle pressure showed a strong competitive side.