NORTHERN Knights held on in an incredible final stanza against the Sandringham Dragons at Trevor Barker Oval, winning by just two points despite the Dragons having 23 scoring shots to 15. It was a tough watch for the Dragons late who had numerous chances in the fourth only to kick 1.6 and 5.18 (48) for the game while the Knights finished with 7.8 (50).

We took note of some of the eye-catchers across both sides.

SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS:

#1 Isla Mattsson
Forward | 158cm | 21/09/2009

Stats: 24 disposals, 3 marks, 1 tackle, 4 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 1 behind

The pocket rocket always finds away to be involved be it quick, flick handballs or surging it forward, Mattson was really lively in attack, particularly through the second term. She set up a number of scoring chances and even had a shot on goal herself that hit the post. Clean and tough, Mattsson catches the eye with her movement.

#5 Grace Perrett
Midfielder/Defender | 178cm | 08/04/2008

Stats: 25 disposals, 2 marks, 6 tackles, 3 clearances 2 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s

Arguably Perrett’s best performance of the season, standing tall and using her frame to advantage in the middle where she started on-ball every quarter. A natural defensive player, the 178cm top-ager found herself drifting back into defence where she could mop up and help out with a couple of strong marks and some seriously clean hands. A no-nonsense player with a booming kick.

#7 Luella Hall
Midfielder | 173cm | 17/10/2009

Stats: 15 disposals, 1 mark, 1 tackle, 5 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 goal

Took the move from a wing to the inside well, looking like a natural in there and dictating with her burst speed and ability to transition the ball forward. She hit the scoreboard from a great piece of forward craft to find the space run onto a tap forward from Storey and nail the goal with a classy finish. Her elite athletic traits are hard to miss, and she generally uses the ball effectively. Hall’s 15 touches always feel more like 25.

#14 Chloe Shipton
Midfielder | 166cm | 30/04/2008

Stats: 23 disposals, 2 marks, 9 tackles, 1 clearance, 1 inside 50, 4 rebound 50s

One of Shipton’s better two-way performances with the midfielder absorbing some bumps and bruises, while handing them out in equal measure. She used her burst to get out of trouble from stoppages, though she tended to bounce the ball earlier than required and it lost the distance she had gained from exiting the stoppage. As a whole, Shipton found plenty of the ball but also had impact with it and provided run all over the ground.

#51 Sophie Storey
Tall Forward | 179cm | 30/09/2009

Stats: 13 disposals, 5 marks, 1 tackle, 2 inside 50s, 2 goals, 3 behinds

The bottom-aged tall forward looked like completely breaking the game open early, kicking two goals from Northern turnovers with a kick across the attacking 50 and then an opposition centre clearance going the wrong way that fell in her lap. She had her chances after that and arguably could have had two or three more goals, but often found herself under pressure and rushed. She clunked a number of strong grabs to have an aerial impact too, which made her a real threat anywhere inside 50.

NORTHERN KNIGHTS:

#1 Somer McCormack
Midfielder/Forward | 162cm | 22/01/2008

Stats: 19 disposals, 5 marks, 4 tackles, 3 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s, 1 goal, 1 behind

McCormack was a lively force through the middle and then went forward and kicked a classy goal on the move during the third term. She should have kicked another just prior to that with a great run-down tackle in the attacking 50 but the shot went well wide. Continued to get involved all over the ground and found the right spots to win the ball and then transition it into scoring positions.

#5 Lola Stone
Forward | 172cm | 27/05/2008

Stats: 19 disposals, 5 marks, 5 tackles, 1 clearance, 2 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s, 2 goals, 1 behind

Looked dangerous in the front half where she was able to kick consecutive goals in the second term and take her side from four points down to eight points up in the blink of an eye. She clunked a great mark back with the flight in the third and showed she has a booming kick when Stone launched from just inside 50 but it went well wide for a behind. Linked up with teammates well and pushed up the ground to assist the defence too.

#14 Emily Webb
Forward | 167cm | 04/05/2008

Stats: 21 disposals, 2 marks, 3 tackles, 1 inside 50, 2 goals, 1 behind

Another multiple goal-kicker for the Knights, the top-age forward has enjoyed some nice form of late and again she managed to kick a couple of goals and set up some others. Her first was an accurate snap late in the first term, before midway through the second quarter Webb took a mark just outside the goalsquare and made no mistake. She read the ball drop well with her forward craft on display. Could have had a third later in the game but her snap across her body missed to the right for one behind.

#23 Grace Robinson
Midfielder | 165cm | 03/02/2010

Stats: 25 disposals, 2 marks, 11 tackles, 2 clearances, 9 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

A standout for the Knights in an even team performance, the bottom-ager had the keys to the midfield and was ultra-attacking with ball in hand, always looking to pump it forward. She set up a goal to Maighan Arnold in the second term and looked to keep speed in transition through flick handballs or kicks going forward. A hard runner with elite defensive traits, but also able to hurt teams when having her sights set forward.