Northern Knights travel south, claim four points against Tasmania Devils
Northern Knights’ future was on show in NAB League Futures week as they claimed an impressive win over Tasmania Devils in Hobart while two young guns pressed their draft cases.
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Northern Knights’ journeyed south on Saturday and returned with a hard-earned four points.
The trip to Hobart bore fruit, not just with a nine-point win over Tasmania Devils, but the development of several Knights’ young stars.
In Futures Week, each NAB League club must play a minimum of 11 bottom-age players and the Knights featured 15 16 or 17-year-olds at Kingston Twins Oval.
Ruckman Zac Reichert. standing 201cm tall, impressed with 25 hitouts, six disposals and three tackles in his first NAB League game of the season.
Top-agers Sam Philp and Josh D’Intinosante excelled in midfield with 30 possessions apiece, while Lorne Waldron and Zane Costello kicked two goals each.
Knights coach Justin Wenke said the entire weekend had been positive for his team.
“It was a great experience for our boys, getting to get on a plane and go interstate to play,” he said.
“Against a big and strong, physical Tassie team and the boys were up for the challenge.
“Sam Philp was good again, he was probably the best player on the ground for us.
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“He was really well supported by Josh D’Intinosante and our captain, Jackson Davies, had his best game for the year.
“Jacko intercepted the ball really well and held us up down back and the opposition had to put a bit of time into him late to try and nullify his influence.”
Davies finished with 27 disposals, a game-high 10 marks, four tackles and 11 rebound 50s.
After an even first half, the Knights held a six-point lead at the main break but took control in the second half.
A five-goal-to-one burst set up a commanding 33-point lead early in the fourth quarter before the Devils charged home to add some respectability to the scoreboard.
“It was a low scoring game in the first half. We had a really good third quarter and were able to hold on in the last for a really good victory for the club,” Wenke said.
“We were in a commanding position … and to Tassie’s credit they came back pretty hard.
“To beat Dandenong (in Round 10), who were unbeaten back to Round 5 last year, I think our boys took a lot of confidence.
“We should have beaten Oakleigh, who are pretty highly rated, and then were a kick a half to the Cannons, when we felt we had our chances to win, so realistically our form over the last seven weeks has been pretty strong.”
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