By Tara Murray
Northern Knights are through to the NAB League finals after a convincing win against the Bendigo Pioneers on Saturday.
Having been knocked out at this stage last season, the Knights were keen to avoid a repetition.
On the scoreboard, it was an even first half, then the Knights took charge in the second half to record a 15.7 (97)-7.13 (55) win.
Knights coach Justin Wenke said they had put in a mountain of work to try and beat the Pioneers. He said the win meant a lot.
“We were pretty well prepared,” he said.
“We were beaten quite convincingly in our home game against them. You learn more from your losses than wins.
“We put things in place to fix what we didn’t do well last time.”
Wenke said Preston City Oval was quite windy, with a five goal breeze affecting one end, but plenty of time spent training at the ground had worked in their favour.
“They didn’t kick straight in the first quarter with it [the breeze],” he said.
“We also missed a few opportunities, but we were getting the ball inside 50.
“The second quarter was OK. It was almost as if we were starting again at half-time, the only difference having a five-point lead.”
Having put the game on even terms at the main break, the Knights stepped it up in the second half, kicking 10 goals to three to run away with the win.
Wenke said the third quarter when they were kicking against the wind was the catalyst.
“We defended well in the third quarter and were able to outscore them kicking into the breeze.
“We kept them to three goals, while kicking five goals. It was a really convincing performance in the end.
“Not everything was going our way early and we stuck with it.”
Liam McMahon kicked three goals, while Jack Boyd, Koby Davies and Ryan Sturgess kicked two goals each.
The midfield duo of Adam Carafa and Sam Philp were best on ground for the Northern Knights.
“Carafa did a bulk of the work on the inside, while Philp, with his speed, was able to get it out on the outside,” Wenke said.
“It was a pretty even contribution outside of that.”
