The Northern Knights have gone for a youthful squad for the boys Coates Talent League season.
Fifteen players from last season have returned to the Knights for this season out of a total of 46 players named in the squad.
The rest are getting their first opportunity at this level as they try and take their football up a gear.
Zak Johnson, who was part of the under-18 Vic Metro squad is one of the stars for the Knights this season.
Bundoora’s Christian Mardini was another of the standouts from last season to be back this season. He was named the Knights’ player’s player at the club’s best and fairest.
Ivanhoe’s Jesse Dattoli played in the AFL under-17 futures game last season alongside Johnson and is another expected to take the next level.
Banyule’s Riley Ormerod, who was named the Knights rising star next season, is another one who is back.
Bundoora’s Aaron Doyle and Jordyn Gillard have both been named in the Knights squad, as has Yarrambat’s Alex Kirkopolous and Ned Nihill.
Laurimar’s Carter McCall will get his chance as will Whittlesea’s Finley Skehan, South Morang’s Jesse Christidis, Lucas Yacoub and Tyson Gresham. Gresham is the younger brother of Essendon’s Jade Gresham.
Epping’s Josh Bawden and Mitchell Moate are also in the squad.
The others in the squad are Heidelberg’s Callan Healy, Zac Harwood and Lucas McInerney Old Ivanhoe’s Charlie Opie, Fitzroy’s Duncan Mckie, Warrandyte’s Gabriel Stumpf, St Marys’ Ryan Commandeur, Tom Eames, Ty Kitchell, William Dean, Isaac Dugdale and Josh Carelli, Bevelery Hills’ Jack Stone, Montmorency’s Sean Tyrell, Zachary Broadbent, Sebastian Murphy, Jake Woodward, James Allison, Thomas Sims, Thomas Vrkic and Nick Canavan, Eltham’s Jet Williams and Nicholas Driscoll, Diamond Creek’s Jett Mclaughlan and Taj Logan, Watsonia’s Kristian Lawson, Diamond Creek’s Kyle Templeton and Liam Farrar, and Blackburn’s Patrick Downie.
The Knights will kick off their season on March 23 against the Western Jets at Trevor Barker Beach Oval.
