On Saturday 29th August the Northern Knights played their final home and away game of 2015 against Gippsland Power at Ikon Park in Carlton. The match began in gloomy overcast conditions with Gippsland getting away to a fast start. The Powers two tall forwards proved a handful for the Knights in the first quarter and gave Gippsland a 27 point lead at quarter time. The pattern continued early in the second term with the Power stretching their lead out to seven goals before a move was made to send Michael Tilmouth-Turner into defence to match up the Gippy talls. The move coupled with the wet weather conditions allowed the Knights to begin to fight back. Northerns smaller running players began to have more impact and their ability to get forward and create chance from stoppage inside 50 got them back into the game. Kieran Malone was starting to look dangerous up forward while Jade Gresham and Brayden Fiorini were getting on top through the middle. By half time the Knights had fought back to 23 points behind. Kicking against the breeze in the third term the Knights were able to restrict Gippsland to only three goals while added a further three themselves to set up a chance to win in the final quarter. A Chas Roberts contested mark and goal at the start of the final quarter gave the Knights the belief they needed and when Gresham slotted a long running from outside 50 doubts began to creep into the minds of the Power players. Gresham’s second goal of the final quarter from boundary on the 50 metre line gave the Knights the lead for the first time in the match as the last quarter entered time on. A desperate battle then began as Gippsland threw everything they had at the Knights who were able to hold on and record a thrilling one point victory.
Brayden Fiorini and Jade Gresham were outstanding for the Knights all day particularly when the game was on the line. Darcy Macpherson and Tyrone Leonardis also played good games through the midfield while Kieran Malone was a constant threat inside 50. Unfortunately the win wasn’t enough to see the Knights play in the TAC Cup finals this year but wins in the final two rounds was just reward for the competitiveness shown in the second half of the season after a disappointing start to the year.
Last Modified on 01/09/2015 12:24