See the Northern Knights’ 2021 NAB League Under-19 boys squad here

New Northern Knights coach Leigh Clarke knows a thing or two about developing AFL talent and he’s liking the potential on show in his squad for 2021. SEE THE SQUAD

New Northern Knights coach Leigh Clarke helped develop some of the AFL’s finest talents during his time at Oakleigh Chargers.

So it carries weight when he expresses his excitement around the Knight’s potential ahead of the new NAB League season.

Clarke is confident the northern suburbs-based club has several players capable of being drafted later this year.

SEE THE FULL 2021 NORTHERN KNIGHTS SQUAD BELOW

The likes of rangy forward Liam Kolar and Western Bulldogs father-son prospect Ewan Macpherson were considered unlucky not to be picked up last year and return as 19-year-olds.

Jack Rossimel, Josh Ward, Ned Long, James Nadalin and Darcy Wilmot are all on the draft radar after being selected in the Vic Metro Under-16s squad in 2019, while Joel Fitzgerald, Jackson Bowne and Ben de Bolfo are also highly talented youngsters.

Jackson Archer has been named in the Northern Knights squad. Picture: Alex Coppel

The Knights have also included North Melbourne father-son prospect Jackson Archer who made headlines with a strong showing for the Kangaroos’ VFL team and Mackenzie Hogg, son of Carlton 1995 premiership star Matthew.

“They’re looking excited, the boys. They’ve very energetic at the moment,” Clarke said.

“I’m really buoyant about this group. They’ve been an incredibly strong group.

“They’ve been able to pick up ball movement really quickly, I do things slightly different to what was done previously, but they’re really coachable and hard working.

“The more you give them – they’d train everyday if you let them – but we’ve also got to manage expectations and make sure we take the pressure off.”

Joel Trudgeon – brother of Carlton AFLW’s Paige – will captain the Knights this season.

The Knights kick off their 2021 season at Highgate Reserve in Craigieburn against the Western Jets in the second game of a Good Friday double-header.

After missing out in 2020, Clarke said there were no results-based expectations this season, only development.

“My hopes are we get through the season, I know that’s starting at the bottom, but I really hope family, staff and players get back into the game and get to do something we love,” he said.

Joel Trudgeon tries to duck out of a tackle.

“If we do what we do well then the result will look after itself.

“We set metrics and parameters around how we’re going to assess our performance each week and the scoreboard wasn’t among the four things we’ll keep coming back to.

“Our focus is on development, if it means playing a kid where he’s uncomfortable or playing a kid where he will be challenged or where a recruiter wants to see him play, we’ll do that.”

Kolar will miss Round 1 as he recovers from an ankle injury sustained in a practice match with Carlton, while de Bolfo will also be unavailable as he continues his recovery from a shoulder reconstruction.

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NORTHERN KNIGHTS 2021 NAB LEAGUE BOYS SQUAD

Ned Long (Fitzroy)

Josh Ward (Fitzroy)

Brodie Jones (Montmorency)

Rhys Seakins (Fitzroy)

Ewan Macpherson (Diamond Creek)

Patrick Dozzi (Montmorency)

Darcy Wilmot (Montmorency)

Ben De Bolfo (Lower Plenty)

Joel Fitzgerald (St Mary’s)

Heath Ramshaw (Fitzroy)

Brock Binion (Montmorency)

Fletcher Parkinson (Montmorency)

Kyle Kankaanpaa (Montmorency)

Liam Kolar (Bundoora)

Liam Chambers (Banyule)

Lorne Waldron (Eltham)

Rinaudo Emilio (West Coburg)

Sam House (Hurstbridge)

Jackson Archer (Park Orchards)

Jack Rossimel (Park Orchards)

Darcy Jones-Hughes (Beverley Hills)

Regan Uwandu (Macleod)

Jackson Bowne (Bundoora)

Cooper Barbera (Hurstbridge)

Aiden Biddle (Eltham)

Dominic Akuei (Old Trinity)

Joel Trudgeon (Macleod)

Angus Seivers (Greensborough)

Josh Sticca (Balwyn)

Ben Major (Diamond Creek)

James Nadalin (Heidelberg)

Mackenzie Hogg (Heidelberg)

Owen Mulady (Park Orchards)

Josh Watson (Collegians)

Tom McMahon (Mernda)