THERE were miraculous comebacks and comprehensive thumpings alike in Round 2 of the 2023 Coates Talent League season, with another eight games played across Victoria and Tasmania. Catch up on all the weekend’s action in a snapshot.

GWV REBELS 9.12 (66) def. SWANS ACADEMY 9.8 (62)

IN A SENTENCE…

Greater Western Victoria booted the last five goals of the game in a 12-minute patch to come back from 26 points down in the final term and beat the Swans Academy by four.

WHERE IT WAS WON:

GWV Rebels won the disposals (293-256) and tackles (69-59)
Swans Academy won the marks (50-40) and hitouts (57-16)

BY THE NUMBERS:

George Stevens (GWV Rebels) – 32 disposals, 4 marks, 6 rebound 50s
Joel Freijah (GWV Rebels) – 23 disposals, 3 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s
Sam Lalor (GWV Rebels) – 16 disposals, 12 tackles, 2 goals
Indhi Kirk (Swans Academy) – 21 disposals, 7 tackles, 1 goal
Caleb May (Swans Academy) – 15 disposals, 6 marks, 42 hitouts
Max Rider (Swans Academy) – 9 disposals, 2 tackles, 3 goals

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Indhi Kirk (Swans Academy)
4 – Luamon Lual (GWV Rebels)
3 – Caiden Cleary (Swans Academy)
2 – Sam Lalor (GWV Rebels)
1 – George Stevens (GWV Rebels)

UP NEXT:

GWV Rebels vs. Geelong Falcons | Thursday April 6, 7:00pm @ CE Brown Reserve
Swans Academy vs. Oakleigh Chargers | Saturday April 15, 11:00am @ Swinburne Centre

CALDER CANNONS 10.9 (69) def. by SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS 11.9 (75)

IN A SENTENCE…

A spirited final quarter fightback was not enough to drag the Calder Cannons to parity against Sandringham, as the Dragons led at every break and held on to win by six points.

WHERE IT WAS WON:

Sandringham won the handballs (171-103), marks (75-52), and rebound 50s (33-23)
Calder won the inside 50s (43-34) and tackles (65-55)

BY THE NUMBERS:

Nash King (Calder Cannons) – 23 disposals, 3 tackles, 6 inside 50s
Hugo Garcia (Calder Cannons) – 19 disposals, 7 tackles, 1 goal
Amin Naim (Calder Cannons) – 11 disposals, 2 marks, 3 goals
Ryley Sanders (Sandringham Dragons) – 34 disposals, 8 tackles, 1 goal
Archie Roberts (Sandringham Dragons) – 30 disposals, 4 marks, 4 rebound 50s
Will Brown (Sandringham Dragons) – 21 disposals, 6 inside 50s, 1 goal

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Will Brown (Sandringham Dragons)
4 – Ryley Sanders (Sandringham Dragons)
3 – Archie Roberts (Sandringham Dragons)
2 – Nash King (Calder Cannons)
1 – Harvey Johnston (Sandringham Dragons)

UP NEXT:

Calder Cannons vs. Western Jets | Friday April 7, 2:00pm @ Craigieburn
Sandringham Dragons vs. Oakleigh Chargers | Friday April 7, 5:30pm @ RSEA Park

BENDIGO PIONEERS 19.10 (124) def. GIANTS ACADEMY 6.6 (42)

IN A SENTENCE…

The Bendigo Pioneers shot out of the blocks to deliver the most comprehensive win of Round 2, with 12 individual goalkickers dining out in their 82-point demolition of the Giants Academy.

WHERE IT WAS WON:

Bendigo won the kicks (191-151), inside 50s (54-37), and scoring shots (29-12)
Giants Academy won the handballs (117-102) and hitouts (41-28)

BY THE NUMBERS:

Tom Evans (Bendigo Pioneers) – 25 disposals, 5 marks, 2 goals
Harley Reid (Bendigo Pioneers) – 21 disposals, 7 tackles, 7 inside 50s, 1 goal
Tobie Travaglia (Bendigo Pioneers) – 17 disposals, 3 marks, 1 goal
Jack Glanvill (Giants Academy) – 24 disposals, 4 marks, 1 goal
Luke Lawrence (Giants Academy) – 20 disposals, 7 marks, 7 rebound 50s
Harvey Thomas (Giants Academy) – 17 disposals, 8 tackles, 1 goal

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Harley Reid (Bendigo Pioneers)
4 – Tom Evans (Bendigo Pioneers)
3 – Eli Pearce (Bendigo Pioneers)
2 – Tobie Travaglia (Bendigo Pioneers)
1 – Jack Glanvill (Giants Academy)

UP NEXT:

Bendigo Pioneers vs. Tasmania Devils | Saturday April 8, 1:00pm @ Arden Street Oval
Giants Academy vs. Murray Bushrangers | Thursday April 6, 6:00pm @ Lavington

GEELONG FALCONS 13.7 (85) def. OAKLEIGH CHARGERS 6.10 (46)

IN A SENTENCE…

Nine second half goals to Oakleigh’s three saw the Geelong Falcons soar to a 39-point victory over the highly fancied Chargers on home turf.

WHERE IT WAS WON:

Geelong won the kicks (193-161), marks (70-45), and tackles (67-50)
Oakleigh won the disposals (309-305) and handballs (148-112)

BY THE NUMBERS:

Thomas Anastasopoulos (Geelong Falcons) – 18 disposals, 7 marks, 7 inside 50s, 5 goals
Malachi White (Geelong Falcons) – 24 disposals, 10 inside 50s, 2 goals
Angus Hastie (Geelong Falcons) – 17 disposals, 6 marks, 8 rebound 50s
Jagga Smith (Oakleigh Chargers) – 26 disposals, 6 inside 50s, 1 goal
Finn O’Sullivan (Oakleigh Chargers) – 25 disposals, 4 tackles, 5 inside 50s
Tom Gross (Oakleigh Chargers) – 25 disposals, 5 tackles, 5 inside 50s

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Tom Anastasopoulos (Geelong Falcons)
4 – Malachi White (Geelong Falcons)
3 – Angus Hastie (Geelong Falcons)
2 – Jagga Smith (Oakleigh Chargers)
1 – Finn O’Sullivan (Oakleigh Chargers)

UP NEXT:

Geelong Falcons vs. GWV Rebels | Thursday April 6, 7:00pm @ CE Brown Reserve
Oakleigh Chargers vs. Sandringham Dragons | Friday April 7, 5:30pm @ RSEA Park

DANDENONG STINGRAYS 10.15 (75) def. LIONS ACADEMY 8.9 (57)

IN A SENTENCE…

The Lions Academy returned another spirited showing, but were ultimately outclassed by the Dandenong Stingrays who accelerated to an 18-point win with six goals in the third quarter.

WHERE IT WAS WON:

Dandenong won the handballs (130-95), inside 50s (45-37), and tackles (68-50)
Lions Academy won the kicks (185-180), marks (87-84), and hitouts (34-18)

BY THE NUMBERS:

Billy Wilson (Dandenong Stingrays) – 24 disposals, 7 marks, 9 rebound 50s
Sam Frangalas (Dandenong Stingrays) – 23 disposals, 7 marks, 5 inside 50s, 1 goal
Harry De Mattia (Dandenong Stingrays) – 20 disposals, 8 marks, 6 inside 50s, 1 goal
Sam Marshall (Lions Academy) – 29 disposals, 9 marks, 5 tackles, 1 goal
Joshua Cooper (Lions Academy) – 23 disposals, 5 marks, 7 rebound 50s
Tom Gillett (Lions Academy) – 17 disposals, 3 marks, 16 hitouts, 1 goal

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Harry De Mattia (Dandenong Stingrays)
4 – Billy Wilson (Dandenong Stingrays)
3 – Sam Frangalas (Dandenong Stingrays)
2 – Josh Cooper (Lions Academy)
1 – Sam Marshall (Lions Academy)

UP NEXT:

Dandenong Stingrays vs. Gippsland Power | Friday April 7, 1:00pm @ Morwell
Lions Academy vs. Western Jets | Saturday April 15, 1:30pm @ Swinburne Centre

MURRAY BUSHRANGERS 12.8 (80) def. by NORTHERN KNIGHTS 13.9 (87)

IN A SENTENCE…

After leading from the first goal, the Murray Bushrangers coughed up a 28-point buffer in the final term as Northern stormed to a seven-point victory with as many goals in the fourth quarter.

WHERE IT WAS WON:

Northern won the handballs (131-102), rebound 50s (35-27), and hitouts (34-24)
Murray won the inside 50s (47-40), marks (81-68), and tackles (51-42)

BY THE NUMBERS:

Coby James (Murray Bushrangers) – 22 disposals, 7 inside 50s, 2 goals
Oscar Ryan (Murray Bushrangers) – 22 disposals, 6 marks, 7 rebound 50s
Connor O’Sullivan (Murray Bushrangers) – 16 disposals, 9 marks, 6 tackles, 2 goals
Jesse Dattoli (Northern Knights) – 16 disposals, 5 marks, 4 goals
Charlie Naish (Northern Knights) – 20 disposals, 9 marks, 5 inside 50s
Nate Caddy (Northern Knights) – 13 disposals, 5 marks, 2 goals

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Jesse Dattoli (Northern Knights)
4 – Charlie Naish (Northern Knights)
3 – Coby James (Murray Bushrangers)
2 – Nate Caddy (Northern Knights)
1 – Connor O’Sullivan (Murray Bushrangers)

UP NEXT:

Murray Bushrangers vs. Giants Academy | Thursday April 6, 6:00pm @ Lavington
Northern Knights vs. Eastern Ranges | Friday April 7, 10:30am @ Preston City Oval

TASMANIA DEVILS 10.10 (70) def. WESTERN JETS 8.7 (55)

IN A SENTENCE…

Fresh off a Round 1 bye, the Tasmania Devils jumped Western with six goals to one in the opening term, before seeing out a 15-point victory on the Apple Isle.

WHERE IT WAS WON:

Tasmania won the disposals (343-311), inside 50s (56-31), and tackles (74-62)
Western won the rebound 50s (45-23) and hitouts (43-31)

BY THE NUMBERS:

Thomas Beaumont (Tasmania Devils) – 38 disposals, 7 tackles, 11 inside 50s, 1 goal
Colby McKercher (Tasmania Devils) – 31 disposals, 5 marks, 5 tackles, 5 inside 50s
Jack Callinan (Tasmania Devils) – 19 disposals, 4 marks, 6 inside 50s, 3 goals
Jovan Petric (Western Jets) – 12 disposals, 4 inside 50s, 4 goals
Diesel Moloney (Western Jets) – 33 disposals, 7 marks, 11 rebound 50s
Jake Smith (Western Jets) – 22 disposals, 5 marks, 5 tackles, 4 inside 50s

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Colby McKercher (Tasmania Devils)
4 – Tom Beaumont (Tasmania Devils)
3 – Jack Callinan (Tasmania Devils)
2 – Logan Morris (Western Jets)
1 – Diesel Moloney (Western Jets)

UP NEXT:

Tasmania Devils vs. Bendigo Pioneers | Saturday April 8, 1:00pm @ Arden Street Oval
Western Jets vs. Calder Cannons | Friday April 7, 2:00pm @ Craigieburn

EASTERN RANGES 16.10 (106) def. SUNS ACADEMY 7.7 (49)

IN A SENTENCE…

The Eastern Ranges kicked nine of the first 10 goals against the Suns Academy en route to a 57-point thumping of the travelling Queenslanders.

WHERE IT WAS WON:

Eastern won the disposals (333-299), inside 50s (46-32), and scoring shots (26-14)
Suns Academy won the rebound 50s (28-25) and tackles (67-56)

BY THE NUMBERS:

Josh Smillie (Eastern Ranges) – 27 disposals, 6 marks, 7 tackles, 11 inside 50s, 2 goals
Nick Watson (Eastern Ranges) – 27 disposals, 6 marks, 5 tackles, 1 goal
Christian Moraes (Eastern Ranges) – 24 disposals, 9 marks, 6 inside 50s, 1 goal
Jake Rogers (Suns Academy) – 27 disposals, 9 tackles, 2 inside 50s
Will Graham (Suns Academy) – 24 disposals, 6 marks, 4 tackles
Jed Walter (Suns Academy) – 17 disposals, 4 marks, 2 goals

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Josh Smillie (Eastern Ranges)
4 – Nick Watson (Eastern Ranges)
3 – Will Graham (Suns Academy)
2 – Riley Weatherill (Eastern Ranges)
1 – Jake Rogers (Suns Academy)

UP NEXT:

Eastern Ranges vs. Northern Knights | Friday April 7, 10:30am @ Preston City Oval
Suns Academy vs. Northern Knights | Sunday April 16, 2:30pm @ Craigieburn