By Tara Murray
The Northern Knights are through to a second straight grand final, after holding off the Eastern Ranges in the NAB League Girl’s preliminary final.
Having beaten the Ranges during the regular season, the Knights entered Saturday’s final as the favourites.
In the first half there was nothing between the teams, with the Knights leading by three points.
A three goal to one third term opened the margin out to 18 points, before the Ranges responded in the final term.
Keeping the Knights goalless, the Ranges closed the gap but weren’t able to get the three goals needed.
The Knights winning, 7.7 (49)-7.1 (43).
Knights’ Female Talent Coordinator Zoe Slatter said the group was really excited to have made the grand final.
She said they were thrilled with how the side responded when they were tested late in the game.
“The game was very tight in the last five minutes,” she said.
“We hadn’t been tested on the scoreboard since the draw against the Oakleigh Chargers. We were interested to see if they could step up and bring it home.
“It was great they could respond and they will take confidence from it.
“We know they will work hard this week to try and bring home the premiership.”
Nell Morris-Dalton kicked four goals for the Knights in a best on ground performance.
Slatter said that Morris-Dalton had taken her game to the next level.
“It’s one of the best games I’ve seen her play,” she said.
“Not only did she kick four goals, her ground coverage and work rate was impressive.
Slatter said Gabrielle Newton played a captain’s game, while Phoebe Chisholm and Sarah Sansonetti were strong down back.
She said Stephanie Fell, in her first season of competitive football, was another standout.
The Knights will be looking to go one better than last season when they finished runners-up to the Geelong Falcons, in the then TAC Cup competition.
While the main focus for the Knights this season has been on player development, they are keen to take home the trophy.
Slatter said they were hopeful the experience of last season would hold them in good stead.
“We emphasise winning isn’t everything, but part of the program is learning to perform under pressure.”
They will face the Calder Cannons in the grand final, after the Cannons upset the Geelong Falcons. The Knights and Cannons haven’t faced each other this year.
Slatter said while they hadn’t played the Cannons, they had been able to get a look at them on Saturday, with their final being played after theirs.
The grand final is being held on Saturday afternoon at Ikon Park at 2 pm.
It’s been a big week for some of the Knights’ girls, with several named in the Vic Metro squad for the under-18 national championships.
Britney Gutknecht, Alyssa Bannan, Sarah Sansonetti, Ellie McKenzie, Nell Morris-Dalton and Gabrielle Newton have been named in the initial squad of 30 to be coached by former St Kilda captain Nathan Burke.
The Northern Knights boy’s team suffered a low scoring loss against the Oakleigh Chargers. It was a close game all day, with scores level at the first two breaks.
The Chargers saved their best for last, kicking three goals to one in the final quarter, to snatch the win, 6.10 (46)-5.10 (40).
MORE NAB LEAGUE NEWS
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/calder-cannons-in-grand-final/
