Following North VFL’s 52-point win over Coburg on Sunday afternoon, North Media spoke with senior assistant coach Ben Dyer about some of the stand-out performances.

Taylor Garner | 27 disposals | 8 marks | 4 goals | 1 tackle

“He was terrific. His pressure is something we’ve come to know and love from him, but I thought on the weekend he just made really early decisions to go and pressure the opposition and it turned into some really good offensive opportunities for him as well.

“He was able to get back inside 50, and sometimes through his workrate he was able to jump at the ball unopposed.

“For the times he’s come back to the VFL level, that’s as comfortable as he’s looked. It’s a good platform for him to hopefully go forward and play in the seniors pretty soon.”

Chris Jansen (VFL-listed) | 27 disposals | 7 marks | 7 tackles | 1 goal

“His work rate and ability to half contests in the middle was pretty important.

“He brings a bit of everything for us. There’s leadership and the inside stuff, but he can also get outside and find it as well.

“Like a lot of the VFL boys, he’s still fine-tuning our methods and setups, but that’s really improving from week-to-week, and we’re liking what we’re seeing from him.”

Sam Wright | 26 disposals | 10 marks | 5 rebound 50s | 3 inside 50s

“He looked pretty good. He looked like he read the ball in flight pretty well, and that’s always been a strength of Sam’s.

“For a guy that’s trying to build and get back into the AFL, you like to see the things that they’re good at on show at VFL level.

“I thought he used the ball as well as he probably has since he’s come back.

“He gives it his all, and he’s really invested in our VFL setup.”

Mason Wood | 22 disposals | 7 marks | 6 goals | 2 tackles

“He was terrific. Probably for the first time in the season and VFL practice games he was able to get some really good separation on his opponent.

“When Mason is able to get into space, the things he does well really take over. He was able to hit the scoreboard, he was able to mark on the lead and all that stuff that we’ve seen from him in the past that make him a pretty special player.

"He had a little interruption when he missed a week, but I think he showed everyone that he’s well and truly back on track.”

Braydon Preuss | 11 disposals | 5 marks | 1 goal | 35 hit-outs

“We threw him forward in the first quarter to give us a bit of a different look at the start. It worked almost straight away, he marked that ball and kicked a goal from the boundary.

“We’ve been really tall at times down there, so to plonk another big bloke down there can stretch the opposition defence for a little bit.

“He presents a challenge for the opposition, and it’s good for Braydon to try and develop that part of his game as well.”

Nick Larkey | 9 disposals | 7 marks | 3 goals | 2 inside 50s

“I think a real strength of his is when he has the chance to run and jump at the ball and mark it at his highest point.

“He was able to do that fair bit, and he’s doing a bit of work on being able to body-up in that contested situation. So we were able to see him put some of those new techniques into play as well.

“He’s had a good start to the year so hopefully he can keep it up.

“For a big fella, his defence is pretty sound. He chases really well and he’s able to pressure the front-half with some method as well, and our forwards need to be able to do that when they play in the AFL as well.”

Alex Morgan | 13 disposals | 3 marks | 4 tackles | 4 rebound 50s

“It’s probably the best we’ve seen of him since he got here. He’s quick and he’s able to break the line for us as well.

“Sometimes you can get pegged in your back 50 a bit, but when you get someone who can take the opposition on, it enables you to get the ball over the back, we’re able to get some good looks forward because of his work from half-back.”

Individual player stats

Mitchell Hibberd | 22 disposals | 3 marks | 2 tackles | 5 clearances
Paul Ahern | 22 disposals | 2 tackles | 5 clearances | 2 inside 50s
Josh Williams | 19 disposals | 5 marks | 1 tackle | 3 rebound 50s
Tom Murphy | 19 disposals | 5 marks | 1 tackle | 3 rebound 50s
Will Walker | 16 disposals | 4 marks | 2 tackles | 3 inside 50s
Nathan Hrovat | 16 disposals | 3 marks | 4 tackles | 2 clearances
Jordan Harper | 15 disposals | 2 marks | 1 goal | 3 inside 50s
Fraser Cameron | 14 disposals | 5 marks | 2 inside 50s | 1 rebound 50
Michael Close | 13 disposals | 9 marks | 2 goals | 2 tackles
Kyron Hayden | 12 disposals | 3 marks | 3 tackles | 3 clearances
Tristan Xerri | 11 disposals | 7 marks | 10 hit-outs | 4 inside 50s
Sam Durdin | 9 disposals | 3 marks | 3 rebound 50s
Daniel Nielson | 8 disposals | 3 marks | 4 tackles | 1 rebound 50
Ben McKay | 8 disposals | 6 marks | 2 blocks
Oscar Junker | 7 disposals | 2 tackles | 3 clearances | 2 inside 50s