We took note of the top prospects from either side.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n NORTHERN KNIGHTS 2.3 | 4.8 | 6.12 | 10.14 (74) GOALS: BEST:<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n NORTHERN KNIGHTS:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n #5 <\/strong>Harvie Cooke<\/a> Stats: <\/strong>27 disposals, 8 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 1 goal<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cooke was once again tasked with doing much of the grunt work in Northern\u2019s midfield, prising six centre clearances and 15 contested possessions. The bash-and-crash bull often locked horns with Archie Spencer<\/strong> and fared well in one-on-one battles against all comers. He handled the ball cleanly on the inside and drove his legs to the outside, combining well by hand and lowering his eyes nicely to hit kicks on the run. Cooke posed a threat in transition where his hard running and creativity shone, continuing his streak among the Knights’ best players.<\/p>\n\n\n\n #9 <\/strong>Logan Shepherd<\/a> Stats: <\/strong>21 disposals, 5 marks, 6 tackles, 4 goals<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was a genuine breakout game from Shepherd, who has flown under the radar since representing Vic Metro at Under 16 level in 2024. He looked dangerous from the outset, providing great energy and pressure initially as a forward. On the back of smothers, rundown tackles and strong one-on-one marks inside 50, he was rewarded with two goals in the opening half. Shepherd went on to add another two to help ice the game in term four, showing pure power and class throughout the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n #12 <\/strong>Chas Woodward<\/a> Stats: <\/strong>16 disposals, 2 marks, 4 inside 50s<\/p>\n\n\n\n Woodward played a typical wingman’s game, providing width and plenty of dash on the outside. He racked up 13 handball receives, often providing an outlet on the perimeter of packs and using his leg speed to blaze a path forward. Woodward showed a strong ability to hit slick passes while moving at full tilt and was near-uncatchable at times. Perhaps a product of his role, he only won a single contested possession and can continue to work on his physical application at the contest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n #15 <\/strong>Lewis Houndsome<\/a> Stats: <\/strong>12 disposals, 3 marks, 9 hitouts<\/p>\n\n\n\n Van Hattum\u2019s return saw Houndsome start up forward before providing a chop-out in the ruck. His ground level pressure and ability to crash aerial packs helped elevate his presence and impact beyond possessions alone. Houndsome\u2019s moments were eye-catching, including a terrific contested mark up on the wing and one particularly stylish centre ball-up hit to advantage. He handled the pill well in each phase of play and utilised his physical gifts in both roles – looking mobile and strong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n #16 <\/strong>Harrison Leeder<\/a> Stats: <\/strong>13 disposals, 8 marks, 2 goals<\/p>\n\n\n\n Leeder was an important focal point for the Knights, providing a mobile target both up the field and closer to goal. While lightly framed, the nimble tall extended well overhead and did his best to reel in marks under pressure, even if he needed two or three grabs at it. He was also quite clean below his knees, with plenty of entry kicks falling short or delivered low into his leading lane. Leeder bagged two goals but could easily have ended up with more. His set shot conversion remains a key area for improvement, along with his strength in the air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n #18 <\/strong>Sam Gayfer<\/a> Stats: <\/strong>15 disposals, 4 marks, 4 inside 50s, 1 goal<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Knights shook up their midfield mix after Jamison Leeson<\/strong>‘s early injury, and Gayfer was part of that – he tended to start quarters in the centre before rotating forward. The versatile tall leant on his mobility to search up the ground, offering aerial presence to go with his competitive work in general play. Gayfer\u2019s pressure and physicality tended to make the opposition panic, and he showed great kick penetration when unleashing long balls forward. Despite booting a goal, he tended to have less impact deep inside 50 than usual. <\/p>\n\n\n\n #20 <\/strong>Harry Van Hattum<\/a> Stats: <\/strong>24 disposals, 11 hitouts, 11 clearances, 1 goal<\/p>\n\n\n\n With key Essendon personnel in attendance, Van Hattum showcased his points of difference in the ruck. The athletic bigman prised a game-high 11 clearances among his 20 contested possessions, applying great bodywork and distributing cleanly to the outside. Van Hattum\u2019s handling was impressive, as was his mobility to get involved as a fourth midfielder as Northern broke clear of congestion. He also covered the ground well to provide aerial support down back and was quick off the mark when leading inside 50. The pick one fancy\u2019s kicking technique looked sound, although he was a little hit-or-miss on the day – as were many others, in fairness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n EASTERN RANGES:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n #2 <\/strong>Baxter Sruk<\/a> Stats: <\/strong>28 disposals, 5 tackles, 7 inside 50s, 1 goal<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sruk may already be Eastern\u2019s best player as a bottom-ager and arguably was on Saturday. He picked up possessions in all areas of the ground, looking most threatening when able to facilitate combination play between the arcs. Sruk was also clean and composed on the inside, using his body strength to absorb pressure and agility to evade it. He showed his competitiveness with a terrific rundown tackle on Van Hattum, while further outlining his power with an effortless 55-metre set shot goal in the final term. A genuine star.<\/p>\n\n\n\n #7 <\/strong>Jordan Knapp<\/a> Stats: <\/strong>26 disposals, 8 marks, 8 inside 50s, 1 goal<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was an indifferent kind of day for Knapp, although he stepped up in an attempt to drag Eastern over the line in term four. He ran at just 29 per cent efficiency by foot, making some uncharacteristically poor decisions and executing below his usual level. Pleasingly, he put those errors behind him to continually be competitive and work hard around the ground. He had little trouble finding the ball, utilising intelligent running patterns to rack up uncontested marks and lifting with some clean work out of stoppage. He even took his moment with a crucial late goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n #8 <\/strong>Archie Spencer<\/a> Stats: <\/strong>22 disposals, 7 marks, 7 tackles<\/p>\n\n\n\n Spencer\u2019s surge style was a feature of his game, able to get Eastern going in waves of possession. The midfield bull linked up well by hand and was able to drive his legs on occasion, also showcasing a sharp side-step. His power was felt in strong tackles and key one-on-one wins, while using his spring when competing in the air. Spencer ended up switching to defence in the final term, where he was so effective for Vic Metro during the national carnival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
EASTERN RANGES 3.4 | 4.8 | 4.10 | 9.10 (64)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Northern Knights: <\/strong>L. Shepherd 4, H. Leeder 2, S. Caruso, H. Cooke, S. Gayfer, H. Van Hattum
Eastern Ranges: <\/strong>H. Chapman, M. Grant, J. Knapp, M. Krasnadamskis, J. Lawrence, H. Ryan, R. Shalders, B. Sruk, B. Wilson<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Northern Knights:<\/strong> L. Shepherd, H. Cooke, H. Van Hattum, H. Leeder, L. Houndsome, C. Woodward
Eastern Ranges: <\/strong>B. Sruk, A. Spencer, Z. Antonellos, M. Krasnadamskis, J. Lawrence, J. Knapp<\/p>\n\n\n\nNorthern Knights<\/h5>
<\/li><\/ul><\/div>Eastern Ranges<\/h5>
<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
Midfielder\/Forward | 176cm | 12\/04\/2008<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Forward\/Midfielder | 182cm | 18\/07\/2008<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wing | 186cm | 08\/01\/2008<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Key Forward\/Ruck | 198cm | 29\/05\/2008<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Key Forward | 193cm | 03\/12\/2008<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Key Forward\/Midfielder | 194cm | 21\/05\/2008<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ruck\/Key Forward | 205cm | 01\/07\/2008<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Midfielder\/Forward | 181cm | 18\/07\/2009<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Midfielder | 179cm | 05\/01\/2008<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Midfielder | 181cm | 24\/09\/2008<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n