ROUND 17 of the Coates Talent League season gets underway on Saturday morning as the Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels and Gippsland Power do battle in Port Melbourne. We preview the all-Country clash before taking a look around the grounds at this weekend’s fixtures.

Saturday August 3, 11:30am @ ETU Stadium

IN A NUTSHELL

Gippsland Power will be keen to avenge their 37-point Round 7 loss to GWV when the two sides meet on neutral ground in Port Melbourne on Saturday. Since that result back in May, the Power have won five of their last six games, while the Rebels are finding form having won two games on the trot before a one-point loss last week.

RECORDS

GWV Rebels: 12th | 3-9 | 87.2%
Gippsland Power: 5th | 8-3 | 98.4%

STREAK

GWV Rebels: LLLL | W | LLLL | WW | L
Gippsland Power: W | L | WW | L | WWW | L | WW

LAST TIME

2024 Coates Talent League Round 7
GWV Rebels 17.7 (109) def. Gippsland Power 10.12 (72)

ONES TO WATCH

Gippsland lays claim to arguably the top couple of prospects in this game, namely captain Xavier Lindsay and tall defender Alix Tauru. The latter may line up down back alongside usual forwards Ricky Mentha and Asher Eastham, who have recently shown great development in new roles.

From a bottom-age perspective, the Power is led by utility Willem Duursma, while Jobe Scapin, Mitchell Stevens, and Brodie Atkins are others to watch. There’s also a chance Vic Country Under 16 teammates Wil Malady and Cody Templeton both turn out at Under 18 level this week.

GWV spearheads Jonty Faull and Floyd Burmeister promise to form a dangerous tall pairing up forward. They are two of five Rebels set to take the field who earned National Draft Combine invites this week, alongside Harry Charleson, Rhys Unwin, and Jack Ough.

A pair who missed out on said honours, Mitchell Lloyd and Wil Rantall, will likely combine to hold up the defence. Meanwhile, small utility Oliver Hannaford offers the kind of pace, energy and intensity that could prove telling in what shapes as being an evenly contested match.

PREDICTION

Don’t let the record fool you, GWV has quality players at its disposal and should run out the season strongly. The Rebels are hitting form at the right time, but will be up against it given Gippsland’s recent run. Both teams have a good spread of talent so it will be a question of who bats deeper. Power by 10.

AROUND THE GROUNDS

Eastern Ranges welcome back top prospect Josh Smillie for their clash with Western Jets at Box Hill City Oval on Saturday. The midfielder will reconvene with fellow onballer Christian Moraes through the engine room as their side looks to snap a five-game losing run.

Murray Bushrangers and Dandenong Stingrays are next up for their meeting in Shepparton. The Bushrangers’ forwardline is humming, even in the midst of Joe Berry‘s midfield move, and their tall stocks only get stronger with the inclusion of Zac Harding.

Dandenong is fresh off the biggest win of Round 16 and boasts arguably the best midfield combination in the league. Namely, Larke Medallist Harvey Langford and fellow 190cm jet Cooper Hynes are in menacing form, while over-age ruck Jordan Doherty continues to emerge.

Tasmania and Calder round out Saturday’s proceedings when they lock horns at Kingston Twin Ovals. The Devils welcome back speedy forward Lenny Douglas and Under 16 All Australian Charlie Bovill, who is capable of impacting at either end of the ground.

While Tasmania lost for the first time in eight outings last week, Calder is riding a five-game win streak. The Cannons boast some seriously in-form players, including forward-turned-midfielder Isaac Kako, captain Damon Hollow, midfielder Nash King, and Patrick Said.

Sunday’s lone fixture sees ladder leader Geelong take on Bendigo in Werribee. The Falcons have won four of their last five games to sit top via percentage, while the Pioneers have not featured on the winners list since Round 6 after starting the season 4-0.

ROUND 17 FIXTURE

Saturday August 3:

GWV Rebels vs. Gippsland Power
11:30am @ ETU Stadium

Eastern Ranges vs. Western Jets
2:00pm @ Box Hill City Oval

Murray Bushrangers vs. Dandenong Stingrays
2:10pm @ Deakin Reserve

Tasmania Devils vs. Calder Cannons
2:10pm @ Kingston Twin Ovals

Sunday August 4:

Geelong Falcons vs. Bendigo Pioneers
1:10pm @ Avalon Airport Oval

Bye: Northern Knights, Oakleigh Chargers, Sandringham Dragons