Northern Knights coach Anthony Rocca gives us the inside word on every CTL Boys player
The Northern Knights will look to continue the success of two first-round draft picks last year. Coach Anthony Rocca gives us the inside word on every player.
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Northern Knights had two players selected in the first round of the AFL Draft last season.
The club will look to repeat on the success of Josh Caddy (Essendon) and Will Green (Sydney), while also expanding its depth of talent.
The Knights have Zak Johnson and Jesse Dattoli in the Vic Metro talent hub, while the likes of Tom Sims, Liam Farrar and Gabriel Stumpf are also regarded as draft prospects.
Coach Anthony Rocca takes us through the Coates League list for 2024.
AARON DOYLE (Bundoora)
Medium-tall defender with good physical attributes.
ALEX KIRKOPOLOUS (Yarrambat)
Top-aged midfielder-cum-forward, nice left-foot kick.
CALLAN HEALY (Heidelberg)
Is coming off an injury, so he’s looking to get fit and will then fight to be our No.1 ruck.
CARTER McCALL (Laurimar)
In the program for the first time, very good defensively and we’ll look to him to give good run out of the backline.
CHARLIE OPIE (Old Ivanhoe)
A strong inside midfielder who’s got great running capacity. Looking to be a midfield bull.
CHRISTIAN MARDINI (Bundoora)
Won’t play until the middle of the year due to shoulder surgery but we’re looking forward to him having an impact when he’s fit.
DUNCAN McKIE (Fitzroy)
A medium to tall back, bottom-ager, who’s got great promise for this year and next year.
FINLEY SKEHAN (Whittlesea)
A medium to tall defender but suffered a shoulder injury last week and will miss a few weeks.
GABRIEL STUMPF (Warrandyte)
Tall forward, very quick, very athletic and very good on the lead.
ISAAC DUGDALE (St Mary’s)
A defender who possesses great power and a very good left-foot kick.
JAKE WOODWARD (Montmorency)
Medium sized back, who’s a very good kick and a very good leap.
JAMES ALLISON (Montmorency)
Bottom-aged, contested inside mid, good size and has got good running qualities.
JESSE DATTOLI (Ivanhoe)
Elite ball-user and football nous. Will play forward and mid. Needs a consistent year to be drafted.
JESSE CHRISTIDIS (South Morang)
A small forward with good speed and decision-making.
JET WILLIAMS (Eltham)
Tall midfielder with good size and a good decision-makers.
JETT McLAUGHLAN (Diamond Creek)
A fit onballer, winger with good inside grunt.
JORDYN GILLARD (Bundoora)
Inside mid, left-footer, can play multiple roles who can be a good link-up player.
JOSH BAWDEN (Epping)
Raw bottom-age ruckman who provides a great contest and looking to develop his football this year.
JOSH SHEPHERD (Research)
A natural forward. Good speed, hits the packs hard and finishes well.
JOSH CARELLI (St Mary’s)
Speedy high small forward that possesses good intensity and finishing craft.
KRISTIAN LAWSON (Watsonia)
On onballer with great capacity to rack up possessions and is a good leader.
KYLE TEMPLETON (Diamond Creek)
Raw key defender who is learning the craft.
LIAM FARRAR (Diamond Creek)
High medium to tall forward with very good endurance and defensive qualities for a forward.
LUCAS McINERNEY (Heidelberg)
A winger with elite decision-making and skills.
LUCAS YACOUB (South Morang)
Speedy mid-cum-winger, fantastic urgency and a want to better himself.
MITCH MOATE (Epping)
Can play anywhere on the ground. A bottom-ager with great endurance and looking to cement his spot in the team.
NED NIHILL (Yarrambat)
A hard nut, contested ball player. Really good at the contest and ball of the ball.
NICK DRISCOLL (Eltham)
A winger with good speed and endurance and a strong ability to read the play.
NICK CANAVAN (Montmorency)
Tall back or tall forward, can take a good mark and has the ability to come across and help his teammates in defence.
PATRICK DOWNIE (Blackburn)
An intense forward who’s pressure acts are outstanding.
RILEY ORMEROD (Banyule)
Winger-cum-half-back with great speed and ball use.
ROMAN MOXON (Fitzroy)
A small half-back who’s very good below his knees and a good decision-maker by foot and hand.
RYAN COMMANDEUR (St Mary’s)
Endurance and speed beast, who possesses good foot skills.
SEAN TYRRELL (Montmorency)
A bottom-aged ruckman who’s still learning the craft but can make an impact at the contest.
SEBASTIAN MURPHY (Montmorency)
A small to medium forward or midfielder who possesses good decision-making
TAJ LOGAN (Diamond Creek)
One of our co-captains, good leadership and good understanding of the game. Very good endurance runner.
TOM SIMS (Montmorency)
Strong tall forward, good mark of the footy and loves being physical against his opponent.
TOM EAMES (St Mary’s)
Medium to tall back, learning the craft as a defender.
TOMMY VRKIC (Montmorency)
A tall back who impacts coming third across. Will be an outstanding player.
TY KITCHELL (St Mary’s)
Can play anywhere, a good kick and makes good decision.
TYSON GRESHAM (South Morang)
Brother of Essendon’s Jade. A small forward who’s attributes pressure the opposition.
WILLIAM DEAN (St Mary’s)
Winger or forward with good skills.
ZAC HARWOOD (Heidelberg)
Medium to tall defender who uses the ball really well.
ZACHARY BROADBENT (Montmorency)
Medium to tall defender who uses the ball really well.
ZAK JOHNSON (Old Ivanhoe)
A midfielder who uses the ball really well. One of our co-captains with good leadership.
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