NORTHERN Knights continue to set the benchmark in this year’s Talent League campaign after a 38-point win over Dandenong on Sunday afternoon. The ladder leaders led at every break and had no trouble scoring into the wind, thanks largely to their array of forward marking targets.

Knights tall Harrison Leeder filled his boots with four goals, while diminutive utility Sonny Caruso (26 disposals, three goals) was a less heralded name to stand out. Despite having its four-game winning run snapped, Dandenong would have been buoyed by the return of small forward Marcus Prasad.

We took note of the top prospects from either side.

DANDENONG STINGRAYS 2.0 | 5.3 | 8.3 | 11.4 (70)
NORTHERN KNIGHTS 5.5 | 8.7 | 12.11 | 16.12 (108)

GOALS:
Dandenong Stingrays: N. Wisken 3, L. Salopek 2, J. Bedson, J. Emerson, J. Phillips, M. Prasad, M. Toner, J. Vaughan
Northern Knights: H. Leeder 4, S. Caruso 3, S. Gayfer 2, J. Callegari, H. Cooke, R. Ratkovic, X. Rowley, L. Shepherd, H. Van Hattum, A. West

BEST:
Dandenong Stingrays: G. Kennedy, W. Antrobus, M. Prasad, D. Szerszyn, J. Phillips, K. Sullivan
Northern Knights: K. Parker, S. Caruso, H. Cooke, H. Van Hattum, H. Leeder, S. Gayfer

DANDENONG STINGRAYS:

#1 Darcy Szerszyn
Tall Defender | 188cm | 20/05/2008

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

Szerszyn seemed to get better as the game wore on and played an important role in attempting to shut down Northern’s array of marking forwards. His biggest matchup was on Harrison Leeder, although he did some good work when given the freedom to join the attack and show his athletic qualities. Szerszyn was brave when attempting to mark overhead and with the flight, while translating that trait to some of his kicking on the rebound. He turned a couple of early dropped marks and kicking errors into cleaner work after half time.

#3 Gus Kennedy
Defender/Midfielder | 186cm | 21/02/2008

Stats: 22 disposals, 4 tackles, 3 clearances

Kennedy’s impactful bursts were felt throughout the day as he was trusted to get his side going out of defence. He showed a great ability to chain together possessions on the rebound, and while prone to error at times, brought the kind of impetus Dandenong needed against both the wind and a stiff opposition. Kennedy’s constant forward momentum was also an asset through midfield where his clean and powerful work helped break open the congestion. An explosive counterattacker.

#4 Marcus Prasad
Small Forward | 167cm | 23/03/2008

Stats: 24 disposals, 5 inside 50s, 1 goal

Making his long-awaited return to action, Prasad picked up right where he left off. The crafty left-footed forward was like a bee in a bottle, proving near-impossible to catch as he weaved through traffic and wheeled out onto his favoured side. Prasad’s improvisational ball use was outstanding at times, crafting well weighted kicks to find teammates only he could see under pressure. He snapped a classy goal in term two and ended up with several direct assists, even getting a late run on-ball.

#8 Wil Antrobus
Defender | 182cm | 18/04/2008

Stats: 25 disposals, 7 marks, 6 rebound 50s

Antrobus was the best ball user afield, credit to his piercing left boot. The rebound defender mixed up his delivery, capable of blasting rebound kicks long to the wing but just as readily going short with the intention of doubling up his disposals. Antrobus gained plenty of territory through either method and hardly put a foot wrong when pulling the trigger. Pleasingly, he also showed plenty of strong defensive tropes, intercepting strongly and tackling hard when his number was called.

#11 Jackson Phillips
Wing/Forward | 182cm | 30/01/2008

Stats: 19 disposals, 5 marks, 1 goal

One of the most eye-catching prospects in this year’s pool, Phillips had no trouble adapting to having his magnet moved. He started in a forward/wing rotation before spending the third quarter on-ball, when Dandenong was searching for a response. The smooth moving midfielder showcased incredible handling and poise to impact at stoppage, cutting through congestion and seamlessly bringing the ball to the outside. Phillips was deadly when given time and space to use his foot skills, as proven by his goal on the run in the opening quarter.

#15 Louis Salopek
Forward/Midfielder | 186cm | 16/02/2009

Stats: 17 disposals, 6 tackles, 2 goals

There has been plenty of fanfare surrounding Salopek, who has made a steady return from injury. The Port Adelaide-tied prospect produced moments of class, impacting the scoreboard and showing his craft in tight spaces. Starting the game up forward, Salopek marked over the back and converted the opening goal, going on to slam home a second from long-range in the third term. He was consistently strong at the contest, prising four clearances, but began to get more expansive as the game wore on. That was aided by a brief move to the wing before shifting back on-ball.

NORTHERN KNIGHTS:

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

Stats: 24 disposals, 7 tackles, 6 clearances, 1 goal

Cooke was typically busy throughout the day and showed an uptake in his foot skills heading inside 50. Normally a little scrappy when it comes his finishing touch, the top-ager lowered his eyes nicely and executed just as well to deliver some terrific passes to Northern’s forwards. That kind of play complimented Cooke’s usual crash-and-bash style which he brought to the engine room. His work rate was noticeable from contest to contest, and he showed good power to drive his legs or stand up in tackles. He was also a threat when resting deep forward, booting a goal in term three.

#11 Sonny Caruso
Midfielder/Forward | 177cm | 28/08/2008

Stats: 26 disposals, 6 clearances, 11 inside 50s, 3 goals

Caruso was a score involvement machine on Sunday and helped ice the game after Dandenong’s fourth quarter push. The diminutive prospect booted two late goals and assisted another to cap off a fine day, defined by his running power and creativity. Caruso was consistently able to find space over the back, working hard in the attacking phase to help his side connect into forward-50. His speed and energy were infectious, constantly driving the ball into dangerous areas.

#15 Lewis Houndsome
Ruck/Key Forward | 198cm | 29/05/2008

Stats: 6 disposals, 4 tackles, 26 hitouts

Handed the primary ruck duties, Houndsome was a dominant presence at stoppages. He leapt strongly at the centre ball-ups and was physically imposing in ruck duels around the ground, winning an array of clear hits. The towering tall played with authority and covered the ground reasonably well, although didn’t quite have the same impact away from the contest. Nonetheless, he was clean below his knees and provided a target inside 50 when rotating forward.

#16 Harrison Leeder
Key Forward | 193cm | 03/12/2008

Stats: 8 disposals, 4 marks, 4 goals

Leeder cashed in on Northern’s territorial dominance to kick a game-high four goals. Two of them were joe-the-goose types over the back, but the mobile tall also coolly converted a pair of grabs via set shots. Having struggled to gain separation and hold onto his marks under physical pressure, Leeder began to get on his bike and use his athleticism to have a greater impact up the ground. It helped give him more freedom closer to goal, kicking three of his majors after half time.

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

Stats: 12 disposals, 3 marks, 2 goals

Gayfer is becoming renowned for being a fast starter and once again set the tone for his side with two early goals. He was a threat when posted one-out deep inside 50, positioning expertly off the back shoulder, applying a touch of bodywork, and extending nicely overhead to mark out the back. While patchy at times, he applied great pressure at ground level and was just as competitive in forward-50 ruck contests. Gayfer also dished out a couple of direct assists and advanced further up the ground in an attempt to showcase his mobility.

#20 Harry Van Hattum
Key Forward/Ruck | 205cm | 01/07/2008

Stats: 16 disposals, 6 marks, 26 hitouts, 1 goal

Van Hattum started the day up forward and took some time to build up to the right intensity. Once he crashed a couple of packs and clunked his first mark – a terrific intercept – it was like a switch had flicked. The top-end prospect bagged a goal late in the opening term and carried his confidence into the ruck, where his leap was outstanding. Van Hattum really came into his own after half time, taking several strong marks around the ground and laying a couple of outstanding tackles on much smaller players. He wasn’t shy of a bit of niggle and played with great presence.

#21 Kai Parker
Tall Defender | 189cm | 17/10/2008

Stats: 20 disposals, 3 marks, 7 rebound 50s

It was somewhat fitting that Parker’s final act for the day was a strong spoil over the boundary line, albeit one which pulled his shoulder out of its socket. The versatile defender was terrific in the air, shutting down Mitch Toner on the lead and settling down the line to become an interceptor. Just as capable at ground level, Parker brushed off a couple of errors to back his leg speed and foot skills to drive the ball forward with strong attacking instincts. At his height, he’s wonderfully dynamic.