THE script returned (almost) to normal as the four higher-ranked teams moved through to the NAB League semi-finals – but not without the minor premier Gippsland receiving a massive scare and the second-ranked Tasmania also being massively challenged at Ikon Park on Saturday.

There was less drama at Mars Stadium on Sunday as Dandenong and Sandringham cruised through to the last four and a date with ETU Stadium this Saturday.

Paddy Cross of the Power gets a kick away despite the desperate smothering attempts of Knights John McInerney and Jason McCormick during the NAB League Boys quarter-final between Gippsland Power and Northern Knights at Ikon Park on September 03, 2022. Picture: AFL Photos

1ST QUARTER-FINAL
1.GIPPSLAND POWER 0.5 3.6 6.8 8.13 (61)
8.NORTHERN KNIGHTS 2.3 3.5 5.7 7.9 (51)

MINOR Premier Gippsland is one win away from its first NAB League Grand Final since 2012 and two wins from its first premiership since 2005 – but not without having to pull out all the stops to see off a gallant and determined Northern Knights by 10 points at Ikon Park on Saturday.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 03: Nathan Raphael of the Knights runs with the ball during the NAB League Boys match between Gippsland Power and Northern Knights at Ikon Park on September 03, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Kelly Defina/AFL Photos)

The Knights finished the home-and-away season on the bottom of the ladder but stunned Oakleigh on the Wildcard Weekend and had the Power on the run early when they kicked the only two goals of the first term to lead by 10 points.

Having lost to Gippsland by 100 points just five weeks ago, the Knights weren’t expected to challenge the Power, but they kept control through most of the second term, extending their lead to 17 points through Jesse Dattoli in the fourth minute before two goals in two minutes to Vinnie Caia and Tom Hamilton brought Gippsland back into it and Caia’s second after the siren gave the favourites an unlikely half-time lead.

Vinnie Caia of the Power runs with the ball during the NAB League Boys match between Gippsland Power and Northern Knights at Ikon Park on September 03, 2022. Picture: Kelly Defina/AFL Photos

Jacob Konstanty goalled early in the third term to extend the lead and the Power looked to be getting on top, but Anthony Caminiti’s second and third goals either side of accurate kicks from Hamilton and Henry Howe kept the margin at seven points turning for home.

Once again Gippsland looked like winners when best-on-ground Max Walton made the margin 12 at the five-minute mark, but Northern refused to die and Nate Caddy took a great mark and converted before Rohan McKenzie made it two points the difference and set up a grandstand finish.

The underdogs kept pressing but the Power had the poise to hold them at bay and Zane Duursma’s goal after the final siren completed a victory that was a lot harder to earn than they would have expected.

Harvey Howe of the Power runs with the ball during the NAB League Boys match between Gippsland Power and Northern Knights at Ikon Park on September 03, 2022. Picture: Kelly Defina/AFL Photos

Walton was dominant running off half back for Gippsland, finishing with 28 disposals, sjx rebounds and that vital goal alongside fellow defender Jonti Schuback (22, five marks, six inside-50s), while Bailey Humphrey (26, six marks, eight entries) turned in a brilliant captain’s knock and Paddy Cross (20, five marks), Tom Hanily (19, six marks), Cooper Vickery (20) and Coby Burgiel (17) provided good run and carry.

Jacob Konstanty (19, six marks, seven tackles, 1.2) was lively up forward and Nate Pipicelli (15, five marks) was strong in defence) while Duursma started like a house on fire and finished strongly, picking up 19 touches and that last-kick goal despite sitting out most of the middle two quarters with an apparent injury problem that has rumours circulating of his availability for the semi-final.

North Melbourne supporters were left salivating at AFL games record holder Brent Harvey’s son Cooper’s prospect as he turned in a terrific display inside and out to pick up 24 disposals, five marks and five tackles, with Darcy Edmends (25 disposals), former Richmond player Chris Naish’s second son Chris (19, five marks), captain Patrick Dozzi (23, five marks), Jonathan Tomasiello (20, five tackles) and tall Flynn Riley (17, 11 hitouts, one goal) also impressing and Caminiti proving dangerous in attack with 3.2.

Cooper Harvey of the Knights breaks away from Paddy Cross of the Power during the NAB League Boys match between Gippsland Power and Northern Knights at Ikon Park on September 03, 2022. Picture: AFL Photos
Colby McKercher of Tasmania runs with the ball under pressure from Oskar Smartt of the Pioneers during the NAB League Boys match between Tasmania and Bendigo Pioneers at Ikon Park on September 03, 2022. Picture: Kelly Defina/AFL Photos

2ND QUARTER-FINAL
2.TASMANIA DEVILS 1.3 6.6 10.9 13.16 (94)
7.BENDIGO PIONEERS 2.6 4.8 5.12 9.15 (69)

BENDIGO also put in a massive effort against much-higher fancied opponent but couldn’t pull it off for a full four quarters as Tasmania’s class sealed a 25-point victory at Ikon Park on Saturday.

The Pioneers jumped the Devils off the blocks with a terrific first term but couldn’t put their dominance on the board, missing their first six shots and paying the price when Will Splann took a strong mark and converted for the first goal of the game in the 18th minute, but they responded with majors to Malik Gordan and Michael Kiraly to grab a nine-point lead at the first break.

Will Splann of Tasmania fends Tait Poyser of the Pioneers after marking the ball during the NAB League Boys match between Tasmania and Bendigo Pioneers at Ikon Park on September 03, 2022. Picture: Kelly Defina/AFL Photos

Despite Noah Long giving it a 15-point lead early in the second term, Bendigo’s missed chances came back to bite it as Tasmania slammed on the next four goals including a wonderful finish from Sam Banks-Smith after a terrific coast-to-coast passage down the broadcast wing before the Pioneers’ best player Harvey Gallagher got one back in the shadows of half-time.

Tasmania put the foot down in the third quarter, kicking 4.3 to 1.4 to push the margin out to 27 points at the final change and the Devils were able to cruise to the line in the final term, adding 3.7 to 2.3, although their wastefulness could come back to bite them in bigger games.

Oliver Poole of the Pioneers kicks the ball during the NAB League Boys match between Tasmania and Bendigo Pioneers at Ikon Park on September 03, 2022. Picture: Kelly Defina/AFL Photos

Captain Lachie Cowan was the driving force out of defence for Devils, picking up 27 touches, five marks and a whopping 13 rebounds, giving opportunities further up the ground to Tom Beaumont (25, five entries), Liam Jones (22, seven tackles), Colby McKercher (21, five tackles) and Seth Campbell (19, five marks, five entries), although the last two kicked five behinds between them without a major.

Tasmania’s forwards were almost as influential as Cowan, however, led by elusive pair Brandon Leary (15, five marks, 4.3), Jack Callinan, (15, five marks, five entries, 2.0) and Splann (five marks, 3.1).

Charlie Hillier of the Pioneers runs with the ball under pressure from Thomas Beaumont of Tasmania during the NAB League Boys quarter-final between Tasmania and Bendigo Pioneers at Ikon Park on September 03, 2022. Picture: Kelly Defina/AFL Photos

Gallagher was simply everywhere for the Pioneers, kicking in from full-back, rebounding, setting up scoring chances and taking them himself as he racked up 28 touches, eight rebounds and a remarkable six shots at goal out of the back pocket, with his only blight being his finishing as he kicked 1.5.

Wingman Jason Gillbee (22, six marks, five entries, five rebounds), Kiraly (20, two goals), Long (24, one goal), Charlie Hillier (19, one goal) and Ben Cameron (18, one goal) also impressed.

Bottom-agers Harley Reid and Archer Day-Wicks produced the best play of the weekend, with the former taking a screamer on the half-back flank and progressing the play down field where Day-Wicks kicked a remarkable dribbler from the boundary that was only denied a goal by Kiraly getting a toe on it on the line.

Charlie Barnett of the Pioneers and Will Clifford of Tasmania compete for the ball during the NAB League Boys quarter-final between Tasmania and Bendigo Pioneers at Ikon Park on September 03, 2022. Picture: Kelly Defina/AFL Photos

3RD QUARTER-FINAL
3.DANDENONG STINGRAYS 4.4 7.6 12.9 18.11 (119)
6.WESTERN JETS 0.2 2.8 3.9 6.10 (46)

HARRISON Jones produced his third five-goal bag of the season as Dandenong stormed into a semi-final with Tasmania with a 73-point thrashing of Western Jets in their quarter-final at Mars Stadium on Sunday.

The match was tight early with Jones’ first goal being the only one in the first 20 minutes, but once he kicked his second the floodgates opened and they slammed on six in the next 19 minutes to blow the contest wide open.

Harry Miller kicked two majors in the last five minutes of the second term, including one after the siren, to get Western on the board but the Stingrays slammed on another five to one in the third and the first four of the last to turn the game into a cakewalk, with Western’s three late goals only serving to put respectability on the scoreboard.

Jones booted 5.1 from 16 disposals in a quality display up forward, capping off a stunning performance from second-gamer Luke Bailey, whose 33 disposals (and six entries) were nine more than the next best player on the ground and 13 more than the next most prolific Stingray.

Jaxon Binns (20, five marks, seven entries, two goals) and Cooper Simpson (20, five entries, two goals) also starred for the Stingrays, while Ned Moodie (16, six marks, seven rebounds) was almost impassable in defence.

Ned Conway (24, nine marks), Billy Kolyniuk (19, eight marks, six rebounds) and Tom Rowland (20, five rebounds) shone against the tide in defence for the Jets, with Jaelen Pavlidis (19) being their best midfielder.

Anthony Caminiti of the Knights is tackled by Lachlan Rathjen of the Power during the NAB League Boys quarter-final between Gippsland Power and Northern Knights at Ikon Park on September 03, 2022. Picture: Kelly Defina/AFL Photos

4TH QUARTER-FINAL
4.SANRINGHAM DRAGONS 3.1 8.8 12.11 17.13 (115)
5.CALDER CANNONS 1.3 2.3 5.4 8.6 (54)

SANDRINGHAM sent an ominous warning to the flagging Gippsland with a 61-point belting of Calder in the second Mars Stadium quarter-final on Sunday.

The Dragons trailed narrowly until midway through the first quarter, but once 15-year-old wunderkind Levi Ashcroft gave them the lead in the 16th minute it was all one-way traffic as they banged on seven of the next eight goals to blow the Cannons off the park.

It was a bit tighter in the second half with nine goals to six, but Sandringham was never seriously threatened as it booked a clash against the Power for a spot in Friday week’s Grand Final.

The younger Ashcroft showed nerves of steel as he shook off efforts to intimidate him to have 18 disposals, five marks, five entries and three goals, with Will showing his protective older brother side while also picking up a team-high 28 touches, five tackles, seven entries and a goal.

The Dragons’ star-studded midfield was far too much for the Cannons to handle, with the Ashcroft brothers being well supported by Cam McKenzie (24, five marks, five tackles, nine entries), Ryley Sanders (22, seven tackles) and wingman Mitchell Rowe (21, five entries).

They were also dominant in defence, with Nathan Scollo (22, five marks) and Jakob Anderson (19, five marks) intercepting beautifully and Archie Roberts (16) providing dash and holding last week’s goal hero Carlos Egan to just six touches and no score, while Charlie Clarke and Jamie Hope both proved elusive up forward with three goals each including one spectacular strike apiece.

The only worry for the Dragons was Harry Sheezel (hip), Olli Hotton (corky), Gus McLennan (knee) and Will Ashcroft (knee) all sitting out the last 10 minutes, but they are all expected to be fit for the semi-final, while Ben Hempel and Mitch Ryan are expected to prove their fitness to return from injury as well.

By contrast, Calder appeared a little disjointed and struggled with its decision making, although its first-year players showed plenty of promise.

Matt Foley was comfortably the Cannons’ best player, picking up a game-high 29 disposals and 14 rebounds while holding the injury-hampered Sheezel to two goals from just five touches, with late-season recruit Harry Rowston completing an impressive cameo with 26 possessions and six marks.

Declan Willmore moved into the middle and put in a strong shift with 21 disposals, seven entries and a goal, captain Paul Pascu (15, nine tackles) again read the play well and applied strong pressure while tall forward Jordan Croft (three goals) and Isaac Kako (two) showed moments of brilliance in attack and Luca Alessio took seven marks in defence and outstanding in the second quarter in particular.

Seth Campbell of Tasmania handballs under pressure from Oliver Poole of the Pioneers during the NAB League Boys match between Tasmania and Bendigo Pioneers at Ikon Park on September 03, 2022. Picture: Kelly Defina/AFL Photos

THIS WEEK

Saturday, September 10: Preliminary Finals: 2.Tasmania Devils v 3.Dandenong Stingrays (ETU Stadium, 11am); 1.Gippsland Power v 4.Sandringham Dragons (ETU Stadium, 1.30pm).

NEXT WEEK: Friday, September 16: Grand Final, PF1 Winner v PF2 Winner (Ikon Park, 5.10pm)

(All games are streamed live on the NAB League app except for the Herald Sun game, which is on that website).

William Green of the Knights and Joel Scholtes of the Power compete for the ball during the NAB League Boys match between Gippsland Power and Northern Knights at Ikon Park on September 03, 2022. Picture: Kelly Defina/AFL Photos

NAB LEAGUE LEADING GOALKICKERS

34: Aaron Cadman (GWV) * (1st after home and away)
33: Brandon Leary (Tasmania) 4
31: Logan Morris (Western) 0
30: Zane Duursma (Gippsland) 1
30: Will Splann (Tasmania) 3

Brandon Leary of Tasmania kicks a goal during the NAB League Boys match between Tasmania and Bendigo Pioneers at Ikon Park on September 03, 2022. Picture: Kelly Defina/AFL Photos

29: Harry Sheezel (Sandringham) 2
26: Charlie Clarke (Sandringham) 3
26: Jovan Petric (Western) 1
23: Brady Wright (GWV) *
21: Ingo Dammersmith (Oakleigh)
20: Jack Callinan (Tasmania) 2
20: Euriah Hollard (Geelong) *
20: Bailey Humphrey (Gippsland) 0
20: Jason McCormick (Northern) 0
19: Fletcher Hart (Murray) *
19: Harrison Jones (Dandenong) 5
19: Harry Miller (Western) 2
19: Beau Tedcastle (GWV) *
18: Nate Caddy (Northern) 1
18: Brayden George (Murray) *
18: Tom Gillet (Geelong) *
18: Nick Watson (Eastern) *
17: Carlos Egan (Calder) 0
17: Jacob Konstanty (Gippsland) 1
16: Anthony Caminiti (Northern) 3
16: Joeve Cooper (Murray) *
16: Toby Murray (Murray) *
16: Riley Weatherill (Eastern) *
15: Vinnie Caia (Gippsland) 2
15: Seth Campbell (Tasmania) 0
15: Jerome Lawrence (Oakleigh) *
15: Amin Naim (Calder) 1

* Season complete