The Northern Knights’ best team of the past 25 years features several AFL legends

Bont, Cotch, Montagna, Grimes, Shaw … there’s elite talent on every line. The Northern Knights’ best team of the past 25 years is surely one of the strongest.

Northern Knights' best team since 2000.

There’s no doubt the Northern Knights have been an elite pathway this millennium.

The Coates League club has turned out some of the absolute superstars of the game.

There’s more than a few unlucky omissions.

Plus, the likes of Kane Lambert, Lachie Murphy, Sam Switkowski and Ben Long weren’t considered after bring drafted more on their VFL exploits.

The future looks bright too with talents such as Nate Caddy, Josh Ward, Nick Cox, Anthony Caminiti and Jackson Archer sure to push their cases in the coming years.

A special mention too to Anton Woods who won a Morrish Medal but was overlooked by AFL clubs.

There is one small controversy, with a lack of tall forwards we’ve selected an undrafted talent at full forward but with good reason as you’ll see.

Check out the Northern Knights’ best team since 2000 below.

Jayden Short in action for Richmond. Picture: Michael Klein

Nick Vlastuin juggles the mark. Picture: Michael Klein

BACKS

JAYDEN SHORT (Richmond)

Drafted: No.11, 2015 Rookie Draft

Plucked out of Mill Park with a rookie selection, the star defender would go on to become a two-time premiership winner and won the Tigers’ best-and-fairest Jack Dyer Medallist in the 2020 flag-winning season. Has twice led the AFL in kicks (2020 and 2022). Currently has 176 games under his belt.

DYLAN GRIMES (Richmond)

Drafted: No.2, 2009 Pre-Season Draft

Another shrewd draft selection by the Tigers, picking up the future club captain in the pre-season draft. The Hurstbridge junior would go on to play 234 games before retiring at the end of 2024. Finished with three premierships, a Jack Dyer Medal, one All-Australian blazer and an AFLPA Most Courageous award.

NICK VLASTUIN (Richmond)

Drafted: No.9, 2012 National Draft

Rounds out an all-Richmond last line. Unlike his two teammates, Vlastuin was a top-10 draft pick. The Eltham junior has certainly lived up to that billing, becoming one of the best defenders in the league. Has 235 games under his belt and three premierships in the trophy cabinet. Has podiumed twice in the Tigers’ best-and-fairest and finished fourth twice more, underlining his influence.

HALF-BACKS

HEATH SHAW (Collingwood, GWS Giants)

Drafted: No.48, 2003 National Draft (father-son)

A superb 325-game career across two clubs for the boy out of Diamond Creek. Won a premiership at Collingwood in 2010, playing 173 games in black and white before heading north to the GWS Giants. Made another 152 AFL appearances and won a club best-and-fairest Kevin Sheedy Medal and two All-Australian blazers. Twice led the AFL in total kicks (2015-16).

MICHAEL HURLEY (Essendon)

Drafted: No.5, 2008 National Draft

The Macleod junior was a two-time Under-18 All-Australian, so it was no surprise when Essendon snapped him up with the fifth overall selection. Was twice All-Australian, 2015 and 2017, both times named at centre half-back. Called time on his career in 2022 after 194 games and, despite playing predominantly as a defender, 109 goals.

DARCY WILMOT (Brisbane Lions)

Drafted: No.16, 2021 National Draft

Still only 21 but has packed a lot into his first three seasons. The dashing half-back-wingman has played in two AFL Grand Finals, winning a premiership in 2024. The Yarrambat junior played just the three games in his debut season but hasn’t missed a game since, the grand final triumph over Sydney last year was his 56th match.

Darcy Wilmot in action for Brisbane Lions in the 2024 AFL Grand Final. Picture: Michael Klein

CENTRES

LEIGH MONTAGNA (St Kilda)

Drafted: No.37, 2001 National Draft

One of the many talents picked up in the 2001 Super Draft. The kid from Balwyn would go on to play 287 games for the Saints, eighth most in his stacked draft class - as well as five International Rules Tests for Australia. Played in three grand finals without success but was a two-time All-Australian, finished on the Saints’ best-and-fairest podium five times and won a couple of pre-season premierships.

BRENT STANTON (Essendon)

Drafted: No.13, 2003 National Draft

The Banyule junior was one of Essendon’s most reliable players for more than a decade. Finished with 255 games - and two International Rules appearances for Australia. Came close to a Bombers best-and-fairest on multiple occasions, finishing second in 2011, third in 2005 and 2008-09, fourth in 2006 and 2012 and fifth in 2010.

DAVID ZAHARAKIS (Essendon)

Drafted: No.23, 2008 National Draft

In just his fourth career game kicked one of Essendon’s most famous goals to snatch an epic Anzac Day victory in 2009. The Eltham junior would finish with 226 matches before retiring in 2021. Had a breakout season in 2011 and was rewarded with a Crichton Medal as the Bombers’ best-and-fairest, pipping Stanton.

Kyle Langford celebrates a goal for Essendon.

HALF-FORWARD

JACK NEWNES (St Kilda, Carlton)

Drafted: No.37, 2011 National Draft

An under-rated player at St Kilda and Carlton, making 207 AFL appearances before his time was up. The Ivanhoe junior played a club record 123 consecutive games at St Kilda, underlining his durability. Then moved to Carlton, where he famously kicked a match-winning goal after the siren from 50m outside the boundary line against Fremantle in the COVID-affected 2020 season.

KYLE LANGFORD (Essendon)

Drafted: No.17, 2014 National Draft

Out of Macleod, Langford took his time finding his feet at AFL level but is now one of the most reliable key forwards in the game. Has been Essendon’s leading goalkicker in the past two seasons with hauls of 51 and 43 and finished second in the club best-and-fairest in 2023 after a career-best year. Currently has 154 games and 173 goals to his name.

JOSH CADDY (Gold Coast, Geelong, Richmond)

Drafted: No.7, 2010 National Draft

The Eltham junior was Knights captain before being drafted. One of the most well travelled draftees of the millennium. After being selected with a top-10 pick he would play 24 games for the Suns before moving to Geelong. Played 71 games for the Cats before being traded to Richmond. Was a part of the Tigers 2017 and 2019 premiership triumphs. Called time mid-way through 2022 after 174 games.

FORWARDS

JADE GRESHAM (Essendon)

Drafted: No.18, 2015 National Draft

The small forward averages almost a goal a game in his 160 matches to date. Out of South Morang, he played 136 games and kicked 136 goals for St Kilda before moving to Essendon last year. Has also represented Victoria in the 2020 Bushfire Relief Match and the Indigenous All-Stars in 2025.

TIM BONGETTI

Undrafted

You can’t just slot anybody in at full forward, it has to be a key forward and he has to have kicked plenty of goals. It could have been Jack Anthony, he had one good season at Collingwood. However, despite not getting an AFL opportunity, we can’t go past Bongetti. In two seasons at the Knights he kicked 103 goals to become the TAC/NAB/Coates League’s all-time leading goalkicker. That’s impressive enough for us.

JASON CASTAGNA (Richmond)

Drafted: No.29, 2014 Rookie Draft

Another rookie draft pick that would go on to become a triple premiership player at Richmond. The Warrandyte junior had to wait until the 29th pick in 2015 but has since forged a decorated career that has seen him play 134 matches and kick 127 goals.

Northern Knights top draft picks (from left) Trent Cotchin and Matthew Kreuzer with West Coast’s No.3 pick Chris Masten.

FOLLOWERS

MATTHEW KREUZER (Carlton)

Drafted: No.1, 2007 National Draft

The one and only No.1 draft pick out of the Knights after winning the Morrish Medal and Brent Harvey Medal in 2007. Considered injury-plagued by the big man played 15 or more games in a season seven times in 13 years. A foot injury ultimately forced his retirement in 2020 after 189 games.

TRENT COTCHIN (Richmond)

Drafted: No.2, 2007 National Draft

Kruezer’s great mate and the No.2 selection in the same year. The first time any club had the No.1 and No.2 picks. The West Preston-Lakeside junior would go on to have one of the greatest careers in Richmond history. A three-time premiership captain, Brownlow Medallist, three-time Jack Dyer Medallist, AFLCA Player of the Year but strangely just one All-Australian blazer. Also captained Victoria in the 2020 Bushfire Appeal match. Retired after 306 matches.

MARCUS BONTEMPELLI (Western Bulldogs)

Drafted: No.4, 2013 National Draft

The Eltham native is vying for the greatest Northern Knights graduate with Cotchin. The Western Bulldogs captain is currently on 241 games and 232 goals. Despite being drafted in 2014 - and playing predominantly as a midfielder - he’s kicked the most goals of any Knights draftee since 2000. A 2016 premiership player, three-time Leigh Matthews Trophy AFLPA MVP winner, AFLCA Player of the Year, six-time Charles Sutton Medallist, six-time All-Australian and AFL Rising Star runner-up. Perhaps only a Brownlow is missing from his resume and he’s finished second twice.

Patrick Lipinski flies high for Northern Knights.

Aiden Corr in action for Northern Knights.

INTERCHANGE

JUSTIN McINERNEY (Sydney)

Drafted: No.44, 2018 National Draft

Out of Macleod, the midfielder has established himself as a key member of the high-flying Sydney side. Played one game in 2019 and nine in 2020 before totalling 21, 22, 19 and 20 in the last four seasons. Was a part of the Swans grand final team in 2022 and 2024.

PATRICK LIPINSKI (Western Bulldogs, Collingwood)

Drafted: No.28, 2016 National Draft

Watched his boyhood club, Western Bulldogs, win the 2016 premiership and then was wearing red, white and blue a couple of months later after being drafted out of Eltham. Had to bide his time behind a strong midfield but managed 56 games before being traded to Collingwood. Has flourished with opportunity, playing 64 games in three seasons. Won himself an AFL premiership in 2023.

AIDEN CORR (GWS Giants, North Melbourne)

Drafted: No.14, 2012 National Draft

A first-round draft pick but struggled to cement himself in a strong Giants line-up. Had a career-best year in 2017, playing 23 matches. He was again in and out of the team in the following years but did play in the club’s 2019 grand final defeat. After 98 matches was traded to North where he’s racked up another 65 appearances.

BRAYDEN FIORINI (Gold Coast)

Drafted: No.20, 2015 National Draft

A first-round selection by the Suns and has been in and out of the side for the past eight years. Has played 20-plus games once but has never played less than 10, except for the 2020 COVID season. Currently has 105 AFL games to his name.

UNLUCKY: Ricky Dyson, Jack Grimes, Ivan Soldo, Darcy Macpherson, Jack Petrucelle, Jack Anthony