Northern Knights into NAB League Girls grand final after nail-biting victory over Eastern Ranges

Minor premier Northern Knights were pushed to the brink by a brave Eastern Ranges in the NAB League Girls preliminary final on Saturday before prevailing in a thriller.

Northern Knights players celebrate a goal.

Northern Knights were pushed to the brink by a brave Eastern Ranges in the NAB League Girls preliminary final on Saturday.

The undefeated minor premiers held their nerve in a nail-biting final five minutes to prevail by six points and book a second straight grand final appearance.

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Nell Morris-Dalton continued her sensational form, kicking four goals, to lead the Knights home, 7.7 (49) to 7.1 (43), at Dandenong’s Shepley Oval.

The Knights were expected to breeze past the Ranges and coach Marcus Abney-Hastings praised his team’s ability to hold their nerve when challenged.

“The last five minutes were really tight and we haven’t been in that type of position in a while,” he said.

Gabrielle Newton in action for Northern Knights.

Ellie McKenzie in action for Northern Knights.

“I’ve been in football long enough to know preliminary finals are hard to win and we knew Eastern were a formidable team that match us really well.

“It’s a great reward for everyone involved with the Northern Knights, on and off the field.”

The Knights took a slender one-point lead into quarter time and three points at half-time with Eastern’s accuracy in front of goal keeping them in touch.

Three goals to one in the third quarter broke the game open and it looked like the Knights were ready to run away with the win.

However, the Ranges held Northern goalless in the final quarter and a goal in the dying minutes reduced the margin to one straight kick but the underdogs weren’t able to find the equaliser.

Tallia Pulcino gets away with the ball. Picture: Stuart Milligan

Abney-Hastings was proud of the even spread of contributions in the win.

“Nell, to be honest, that was the best game I’ve seen her play,” he said.

“Her four goals were fantastic but more importantly her work around the contest and her work rate to get around the ground.

“We could have put any number of girls in the best, Maeve Chaplin and Phoebe Chisholm were excellent and in her first year of football Steph Fell took some really important marks late in the game.”

The Knights will face Calder Cannons in the grand final at Princes Park on Saturday.

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