Northern Knights development changes aimed at improved showing during year and at draft

Northern Knights hope a slimmed down pre-season will help it better develop its class of 2019 with several young stars selected to be a part of the new-look AFL Academy system. SEE THE 2019 SQUAD HERE

Northern Knights hope a slimmed down pre-season will help it better develop its class of 2019.

The Knights reduced their pre-season training squad with the hope more one-on-one training would pay dividends during the NAB League campaign and come draft night.

After finishing 10th last year, the Knights had two players drafted in 2018 — Justin McInerney (No.44, Sydney) and Tom McKenzie (rookie, North Melbourne).

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However, talent manager Rhy Gieschen is confident the new approach will improve the club’s talent pathway.

“It’s a deliberate approach this year to bring in 62 players for pre-season training,” he said. “Traditionally, we’ve had up to 80 players over summer but with more individual coaching — a better player-to-coach ratio — we believe we can get more individual improvement.”

Adam Carafa flies high but can’t hold the mark. Picture: Jason Sammon

The Knights will have five players in the AFL Academy squad in 2019 with Ryan Gardner, Adam Carafa, Lachlan Potter, Ryan Sturgess and 17-year-old Ben Major to be coached by North Melbourne premiership player Brett Allison.

Gieschen is confident the Knights can develop another batch of talented youngsters ready for the next level.

“Sunny Brazier is one of our returning 19-year-olds. He has been doing a pre-season with Northern Blues and is a part of Carlton’s Next Generation Academy,” he said.

“He played every game last year, finished sixth in our best-and-fairest and won the goalkicking. He’s 190cm and we’re going to play him through the midfield this year.

Sunny Brazier in action for Northern Knights.

“Josh D’Intinosante won our best-and-fairest last year as a bottom-ager, he plays with a great mix of determination and courage but also has natural talent. He’s 175cm tall and can go through the midfield but will also spend a fair bit of time playing as a small forward.”

Richmond could have another Naish on its list with Xavier Naish, the brother of 2017 draftee Patrick and club great Chris, on the father-son radar.

Adam Castagna — brother of Tiger Jason — is also coming through the system.

Bailey Leonard, a 200cm developing ruckman, and Oli Simpson, who played with Oakleigh in 2018, will also play as 19-year-olds this season.

The Knights meet Western Jets at Princes Park in the opening round of the season on Sunday.

NORTHERN KNIGHTS v WESTERN JETS

B: Jaden Collins, Regan Uwandu, Ryan Sturgess

HB: Jackson Davies, Nikolas Cox, Lachlan Potter

C: Ryan Gardner, Sunny Brazier, Nick Kitchell

HF: Charlie Simonsen, Liam McMahon, Oliver Simpson

F: Josh D’Intinosante, Zane Costello, Ben Nikolovski

Foll: Nathan Howard, Adam Carafa, Sam Philp

I/C: Dominic Akuei, Kobe Brandt, Bailey Leonard, James Lucente, Ewan Macpherson, Josh Mazzarella, Xavier Naish, Lucas Perry, Joel Trudgeon

NORTHERN KNIGHTS 2019 NAB LEAGUE SQUAD

Dominic Akuei (St Mary’s)

Cooper Barbera (Hurstbridge)

Xavier Bateman (Banyule)

Jackson Bowne (St Mary’s)

Jack Boyd (Warrandyte)

Kobe Brandt (Macleod)

Sunny Brazier (Fitzroy)

Adam Carafa (Banyule)

Aaron Castagna (Marcellin Old Collegians)

Ethan Cheesewright (Ivanhoe)

Jaden Collins (Eltham)

Zane Costello (St Mary’s)

Nikolas Cox (Montmorency)

Will Crouch (Mernda)

Arben Dani (Banyule)

Jackson Davies (St Mary’s)

Koby Davies (Montmorency)

Joshua D’Intinosante (West Preston)

Will Dower (Diamond Creek)

Jack Duncan (Greensborough)

Charlie Faubel (Fitzroy)

Kane Francis (St Mary’s)

Ethan Frawley (Laurimar)

Ryan Gardner (Montmorency)

Hayden Gill (Research)

Mackenzie Hogg (Research)

Sam House (Laurimar)

Nathan Howard (Greensborough)

Jake Ireland (North Ringwood)

Julian Janev (Mill Park)

Nicholas Kitchell (Diamond Creek)

Bailey Leonard (Ivanhoe)

James Lucente (Macleod)

Ewan Macpherson (Diamond Creek)

Ben Major (Diamond Creek)

Connor Martin (Warrandyte)

Josh Mazzarella (Whittlesea)

Matthew McInerney (Heidelberg)

Liam McMahon (Eltham)

Thomas McMahon (Mernda)

Cooper Meadows (Montmorency)

Joshua Moylan (Parkside)

Xavier Naish (Ivanhoe)

Ben Nikolovski (Ivanhoe)

Aidan Pearse (Greensborough)

Lucas Perry (Northcote Park)

Sam Philp (St Mary’s)

Jonah Potter (Diamond Creek)

Lachlan Potter (South Morang)

Heath Ramshaw (Fitzroy)

Zac Reichert (Laurimar)

Izac Rossi (Old Carey)

Rhys Seakins (Fitzroy)

Charlie Simonsen (Ivanhoe)

Ollie Simpson (Old Carey)

Marcus Sindrivanis (Mill Park)

Owen Sloan (Whittlesea)

Ryan Sturgess (St Mary’s)

Joel Trudgeon (Research)

Regan Uwandu (St Mary’s)

Lorne Waldron (Eltham)

Josh Watson (Fitzroy)

Darcy Watt (Banyule)

Jonathon Zapantis (Fitzroy)