Northern Knights secure first win of the NAB League season in thriller

Northern Knights pipped Murray Bushrangers in a thriller, just reward for work and development says coach Leigh Clarke.

Molly McErlain in action for the Northern Knights. Picture: Stuart Milligan

The Northern Knights are on the board in 2022 and it’s just reward for a hard-working playing group.

The Knights have faced an daunting opening six weeks of the NAB League season, playing four of the top six teams, but finally broke through against Murray Bushrangers on Saturday in Yarrawonga.

In a tense arm-wrestle, the visitors secured a thrilling 4.2 (26) to 3.7 (25) victory.

Likely Vic Metro midfielder Ava Jordan starred with 23 disposals, five marks and six tackles.

Meanwhile, 16-year-old Suwindi Buckley established herself as one to watch with 11 tackles after having an astonishing 15 the week before.

FT:
What a nail biter 😱
We get our first win of the season by one point!
🔵⚫️⚪️ 💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽

Bushrangers 3.7 (25)
Knights 4.2 (26) #UKNIGHTED#NABLeagueGirls

— Northern Knights (@NthKnights) February 26, 2022

Knights coach Leigh Clarke said it was great reward for a young group.

“The girls have been working really hard … they’ve held themselves in games but due to the maturity of our list they haven’t been able to stick with the bigger girls,” he said.

“On the weekend they were able to put together four quarters of footy for that one-point win and they certainly celebrated, which is one of the values we hold in high regard.

“We’ve debuted 25 or 26 girls over the last five or six weeks.

“We’re pretty positive about where our list profile sits and they’re a young, developing group.

“The backs to their credit did a whole heap of defending, I think we were -18 in inside 50s.

“Our defensive end has held up really strongly all year, we just need to polish things up forward of centre.”

Jess Fitzpatrick, Ella Smallacombe, Isabella Parnell, Evie Lee scored the goals in the win.

Michaela Molenberg and Lulu Beatty both picked up 19 touches, with Beatty also laying seven tackles, while Parnell finished with 18 disposals.

Keeley Skepper (26 disposals), Zarlie Goldsworthy (26) and Zara Hamilton (23) were the Murray Bushrangers’ best.

With Vic Metro’s opening game of the Under-19 National Championships on March 20, there are several players putting their hands up.

“Ava’s been outstanding, she continues to do what Ava does,” Clarke said.

“She came second in the league best-and-fairest as a 16-year-old last year and has continued that form.

“She’s probably getting a little bit more attention that she has in the past but she’s a great character and is able to work her way through that.

“In the back half, Tannah Hurst is pushing her way through and consistently putting good game on top of good game and Mia Haas, who’s new to our program, we think deserves an opportunity with Vic Metro this year.”

Buckley was the only major injury concern from the match, suffering a concussion in the dying minutes in a potentially match-saving effort.

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“A big head knock for one of our up-and-coming stars, Winny Buckley,” Clarke said.

“She’s a bottom-age girl, a bright, smiley face but a brutal competitor, the polar opposite to her personality and it’s something she really prides herself on.

“There was a contest with a couple of minutes to go where they could have really opened us up and Winny cracked in with her entire body basically to force a contest and copped a head clash.”

The Knights have the bye this weekend before hosting Sandringham Dragons on Monday, March 14 at Parade College.