IT was an ideal weekend for home sides in the Coates Talent League, which kicked off with a bumper eight-game opening round on Saturday. All eight hosts joined the winners list in Round 1 as the Northern Academies jetted south to take on Victorian counterparts. We recap all the action in a snapshot.

NORTHERN KNIGHTS 5.19 (49) def. GIANTS ACADEMY 6.6 (42)

IN A SENTENCE…

Goalkicking inaccuracy failed to bite the Northern Knights in a scrappy seven-point win against the Giants Academy, which was sealed by Charlie Naish.

WHERE IT WAS WON:

Northern won the inside 50s (49-33), marks (87-76), and hitouts (37-20)
GWS won the disposals (329-315), rebound 50s (42-27), and tackles (86-75)

BY THE NUMBERS:

Daniel Gauci (Giants Academy) – 32 disposals, 14 tackles, 6 rebound 50s
Harvey Thomas (Giants Academy) – 30 disposals, 17 tackles, 4 inside 50s
Jackson Savage (Giants Academy) – 27 disposals, 4 tackles, 6 rebound 50s
Zak Johnson (Northern Knights) – 22 disposals, 5 marks, 5 inside 50s, 1 goal
Charlie Naish (Northern Knights) – 15 disposals, 7 marks, 1 goal, 3 behinds
Kristian Ferronato (Northern Knights) – 22 disposals, 10 tackles, 6 inside 50s

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Harvey Thomas (Giants Academy)
4 – Zak Johnson (Northern Knights)
3 – Jackson Savage (Giants Academy)
2 – Daniel Gauci (Giants Academy)
1 – Charlie Connell-Tobin (Northern Knights)

UP NEXT:

Northern Knights vs. Murray Bushrangers | Saturday April 1, 2:00pm @ Wangaratta
Giants Academy vs. Bendigo Pioneers | Saturday April 1, 11:00am @ Craigieburn

SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS 12.13 (85) def. EASTERN RANGES 10.11 (71)

IN A SENTENCE…

In a high quality, tight encounter that was pegged as match of the round, Sandringham Dragons kicked away late to defeat the Eastern Ranges by 14 points.

WHERE IT WAS WON:

Sandringham won the disposals (338-312), marks (70-68), and inside 50s (52-41)
Eastern won the tackles (49-46), rebound 50s (38-30), and hitouts (32-24)

BY THE NUMBERS:

Ryley Sanders (Sandringham Dragons) – 28 disposals, 4 tackles, 1 goal
Levi Ashcroft (Sandringham Dragons) – 24 disposals, 5 tackles, 2 goals
Will Brown (Sandringham Dragons) – 24 disposals, 3 marks, 10 inside 50s
Cam Nyko (Eastern Ranges) – 28 disposals, 5 marks, 6 rebound 50s
Josh Smillie (Eastern Ranges) – 26 disposals, 5 inside 50s, 1 goal
Nick Watson (Eastern Ranges) – 17 disposals, 5 marks, 2 goals

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Levi Ashcroft (Sandringham Dragons)
4 – Josh Smillie (Eastern Ranges)
3 – Cooper Trembath (Eastern Ranges)
2 – Will Brown (Sandringham Dragons)
1 – Ryley Sanders (Sandringham Dragons)

UP NEXT:

Sandringham Dragons vs. Calder Cannons | Saturday April 1, 11:00am @ Craigieburn
Eastern Ranges vs. Suns Academy | Sunday April 2, 12:00pm @ Craigieburn

WESTERN JETS 10.7 (67) def. SWANS ACADEMY 13.17 (95)

IN A SENTENCE…

The Swans Academy came home with a wet sail in their 28-point win against Western, booting the last seven goals of the game with the wind.

WHERE IT WAS WON:

Swans Academy won the disposals (311-271), inside 50s (58-37), marks (74-61), and tackles (66-50)

BY THE NUMBERS:

Logan Morris (Western Jets) – 14 disposals, 8 marks, 4 goals
Diesel Moloney (Western Jets) – 25 disposals, 4 tackles, 5 rebound 50s
Lucca Grego (Western Jets) – 21 disposals, 5 marks, 6 inside 50s
Indhi Kirk (Swans Academy) – 28 disposals, 7 marks, 11 inside 50s, 1 goal
Caiden Cleary (Swans Academy) – 28 disposals, 7 tackles, 6 inside 50s
Tye Gander (Swans Academy) – 14 disposals, 5 marks, 3 goals

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Indhi Kirk (Swans Academy)
4 – Logan Morris (Western Jets)
3 – Tye Gander (Swans Academy)
2 – Caiden Cleary (Swans Academy)
1 – Jake Smith (Western Jets)

UP NEXT:

Western Jets vs. Tasmania Devils | Saturday April 1, 5:45pm @ Dial Park
Swans Academy vs. GWV Rebels | Saturday April 1, 11:00am @ Marty Busch Reserve

GWV REBELS 11.10 (76) def. BENDIGO PIONEERS 9.6 (60)

IN A SENTENCE…

The GWV Rebels shot out of the blocks with five first quarter goals to lead at every break in their 16-point win over Bendigo Pioneers.

WHERE IT WAS WON:

GWV won the disposals (268-236), inside 50s (45-32), marks (53-44), and tackles (84-68)

BY THE NUMBERS:

Alex Molan (GWV Rebels) – 27 disposals, 5 marks, 8 tackles, 1 goal
Khy Jess (GWV Rebels) – 22 disposals, 5 marks, 9 tackles, 5 inside 50s
Ethan McKercher (GWV Rebels) – 16 disposals, 3 tackles, 3 goals
Harley Reid (Bendigo Pioneers) – 21 disposals, 4 marks, 5 inside 50s, 2 goals
Tom Evans (Bendigo Pioneers) – 17 disposals, 4 marks, 3 tackles, 2 goals
Bailey Cain (Bendigo Pioneers) – 17 disposals, 5 marks, 7 rebound 50s

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Harley Reid (Bendigo Pioneers)
4 – Alex Molan (GWV Rebels)
3 – Lachlan Charleson (GWV Rebels)
2 – Luamon Lual (GWV Rebels)
1 – Tom Evans (Bendigo Pioneers)

UP NEXT:

GWV Rebels vs. Swans Academy | Saturday April 1, 11:00am @ Marty Busch Reserve
Bendigo Pioneers vs. Giants Academy | Saturday April 1, 11:45am @ QEO

GEELONG FALCONS 13.9 (87) def. DANDENONG STINGRAYS 8.9 (57)

IN A SENTENCE…

Five unanswered goals across the second and third terms helped the Geelong Falcons down the Dandenong Stingrays by 30 points.

WHERE IT WAS WON:

Geelong won the kicks (200-164), inside 50s (51-42), and hitouts (35-15)
Dandenong won the handballs (128-104) and rebound 50s (37-32)

BY THE NUMBERS:

Patrick Hughes (Geelong Falcons) – 28 disposals, 9 inside 50s, 1 goal
Angus Hastie (Geelong Falcons) – 25 disposals, 3 marks, 8 rebound 50s
Michael Rudd (Geelong Falcons) – 17 disposals, 6 marks, 3 goals
Kobe Shipp (Dandenong Stingrays) – 28 disposals, 7 marks, 6 rebound 50s
Matthew Nelson (Dandenong Stingrays) – 24 disposals, 8 marks, 5 inside 50s
Harry De Mattia (Dandenong Stingrays) – 14 disposals, 5 marks, 3 goals

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Patrick Hughes (Geelong Falcons)
4 – Kobe Shipp (Dandenong Stingrays)
3 – Michael Rudd (Geelong Falcons)
2 – Xavier Ivisic (Geelong Falcons)
1 – Harry De Mattia (Dandenong Stingrays)

UP NEXT:

Geelong Falcons vs. Oakleigh Chargers | Saturday April 1, 1:00pm @ Deakin University
Dandenong Stingrays vs. Lions Academy | Saturday April 1, 1:00pm @ Craigieburn

OAKLEIGH CHARGERS 14.17 (101) def. LIONS ACADEMY 7.12 (54)

IN A SENTENCE…

The Oakleigh Chargers proved much too classy in the face of the Lions Academy’s scrappy pressure game, storming home in the final term for a 47-point victory.

WHERE IT WAS WON:

Oakleigh won the handballs (159-94), inside 50s (51-34), and scoring shots (31-19)
Brisbane won the marks (108-77) and tackles (41-37)

BY THE NUMBERS:

Jagga Smith (Oakleigh Chargers) – 28 disposals, 5 marks, 1 goal
Tom Gross (Oakleigh Chargers) – 27 disposals, 5 marks, 4 inside 50s
Billy Hicks (Oakleigh Chargers) – 26 disposals, 6 marks, 2 goals
Samuel Marshall (Lions Academy) – 30 disposals, 7 marks, 5 tackles
Joshua Cooper (Lions Academy) – 29 disposals, 13 marks, 6 rebound 50s
Tom Gillett (Lions Academy) – 23 disposals, 8 marks, 5 hitouts, 1 goal

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Jagga Smith (Oakleigh Chargers)
4 – Tom Gross (Oakleigh Chargers)
3 – Finn O’Sullivan (Oakleigh Chargers)
2 – Billy Hicks (Oakleigh Chargers)
1 – Will La Motte (Oakleigh Chargers)

UP NEXT:

Oakleigh Chargers vs. Geelong Falcons | Saturday April 1, 1:00pm @ Deakin University
Lions Academy vs. Dandenong Stingrays | Saturday April 1, 1:00pm @ Craigieburn

GIPPSLAND POWER 14.10 (94) def. MURRAY BUSHRANGERS 8.9 (57)

IN A SENTENCE…

A 10-goal second half helped the Gippsland Power surge away from the Murray Bushrangers, running out 37-point victors in front of a vocal home crowd.

WHERE IT WAS WON:

Gippsland won the handballs (152-119), inside 50s (56-45), and tackles (48-41)
Murray won the marks (97-82) and rebound 50s (42-36)

BY THE NUMBERS:

Zane Duursma (Gippsland Power) – 24 disposals, 6 marks, 5 tackles, 1 goal
Ryan Maric (Gippsland Power) – 23 disposals, 9 marks, 6 inside 50s, 4 goals
Archer Reid (Gippsland Power) – 17 disposals, 9 marks, 3 goals
Darcy Wilson (Murray Bushrangers) – 29 disposals, 10 marks, 8 inside 50s, 3 goals
Oscar Ryan (Murray Bushrangers) – 25 disposals, 4 marks, 8 rebound 50s
Coby James (Murray Bushrangers) – 24 disposals, 5 marks, 6 inside 50s

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Ryan Maric (Gippsland Power)
4 – Archer Reid (Gippsland Power)
3 – Zane Duursma (Gippsland Power)
2 – Darcy Wilson (Murray Bushrangers)
1 – Wil Dawson (Gippsland Power)

UP NEXT:

Gippsland Power – Bye
Murray Bushrangers vs. Northern Knights | Saturday April 1, 2:00pm @ Wangaratta

CALDER CANNONS 8.9 (57) def. Suns Academy 5.7 (37)

IN A SENTENCE…

Another scrappy contest at Craigieburn saw the Calder Cannons down the Suns Academy by 20 points after leading at every break.

WHERE IT WAS WON:

Calder won the inside 50s (50-43), scoring shots (17-12), and hitouts (45-19)
Gold Coast won the disposals (381-329), kicks (230-190), and marks (119-80)

BY THE NUMBERS:

Ryan Eyre (Calder Cannons) – 25 disposals, 8 marks, 6 rebound 50s
Nash King (Calder Cannons) – 22 disposals, 4 tackles, 3 inside 50s
Mahmoud Taha (Calder Cannons) – 20 disposals, 9 tackles, 5 inside 50s
Leonardo Lombard (Suns Academy) – 25 disposals, 9 marks, 1 goal
Will Graham (Suns Academy) – 23 disposals, 5 marks, 11 tackles
Jed Walter (Suns Academy) – 17 disposals, 6 tackles, 2 goals

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Will Graham (Suns Academy)
4 – Ryan Eyre (Calder Cannons)
3 – Nash King (Calder Cannons)
2 – Jed Walter (Suns Academy)
1 – Corey Barbaro (Calder Cannons)

UP NEXT:

Calder Cannons vs. Sandringham Dragons | Saturday April 1, 11:00am @ Craigieburn
Suns Academy vs. Eastern Ranges | Sunday April 2, 12:00pm @ Craigieburn