Karl Brown provided the catalyst for the Calder Cannons’ tight escape against the Northern Knights on Saturday in the TAC Cup at RAMS Arena in Craigieburn.
The Cannons looked to be cruising early on, kicking seven goals in a row from midway through the first quarter until late in the second term.
The two teams went goal-for-goal in the third quarter before the Knights turned it on to level the scores in the fourth.
With his eighth goal Brown put the Cannons back in front. It turned out to be the winning goal.
Final scores were 12.11 (83) to 11.11 (77).
For the Knights, Bailey Jordan kicked three goals while captain Jade Gresham was their best player.
Cannons coach Andrew Johnston said his side allowed the Knights back into the game.
“Our message at the start of the day was to not give them time and space and our blokes seemed to drop off that,” he said.
“There’s a lot of positives [but] a long way to go for these blokes to learn how to play well for four quarters.”
Cannon Thomas Burnside left the field on a stretcher with a neck injury in the first quarter, while Hisham Kerbatieh only played three minutes of the second half after copping a corkie.
Johnston said it was good to see Brown perform and he believed he would get better once he gained full fitness.
“We know he is a really strong guy ,” Johnston said.
“He will beat most full-backs.”
