IT comes with little surprise that as each Allies contingent descended on the Gold Coast this past weekend, that a high of seven Suns Academy players would feature in the Round 6 Coates Talent League Team of the Week. All six sides who took the field are represented by at least two players each – check out who made the cut!

DEFENCE

B: Christian Webster (SS) – Josh Zanker-Close (GC) – Jackson Savage (GWS)
HB: Geordie Payne (TD) – Patrick Snell (BL) – Nelson Belkoff-Smart (GC)

There’s a good deal of height in our hypothetical back six this week, pillared by key position Queenslanders Josh Zanker-Close and Patrick Snell. The former had a slightly more enjoyable time of it in Gold Coast’s 99-point win, while the latter fared well in an altered role as Brisbane was defeated.

Swans Academy over-ager Christian Webster could also have filled either slot at 193cm, but instead slots in on the last line, while solid Giants Academy operator Jackson Savage takes his place in the opposite pocket.

Up at half-back is where rebound runners shine, and that’s what Tasmania’s Geordie Payne and Gold Coast’s Nelson Belkoff-Smart did in Round 6. The latter is the only bottom-ager to feature in this week’s defence.

MIDFIELD

C: Liam Ling (TD) – Colby McKercher (TD) – Tye Gander (SS)
FOL: Ethan Read (GC) – Caiden Cleary (SS) – Owen Collins (BL)

Two sides take up four of the six midfield slots this week, starting with the Tasmania Devils. Standout prospect Colby McKercher starred once again through the middle, while gutsy bottom-aged wing/forward Liam Ling impressed enough to slot in on the outside.

On the opposite wing is dynamic Swans Academy over-ager Tye Gander, who usually plies his trade as a marking forward. He’s joined by teammate Caiden Cleary in the side after the bull-like ball winner produced another prolific outing.

Rounding out the on-ballers is Lions Academy prospect Owen Collins, who made his maiden Talent League appearance this year after four VFL games with Brisbane. Fellow Queenslander Ethan Read is the designated ruck, and the third National Academy member in this week’s midfield group.

FORWARD

HF: Jake Rogers (GC) – Jed Walter (GC) – William Rowlands (NT)
F: Jack Callinan (TD) – Will Groom (TD) – Waylon Davey (NT)

Three teams are represented evenly across the forward line, which hosts two of three Northern Territory Academy guns. Namely, William Rowlands and bottom-ager Waylon Davey made the cut having both hit the scoreboard and spent time in midfield during the Thunder’s heavy defeat to Gold Coast.

Both players would have been familiar with Suns Academy standouts Jake Rogers and Jed Walter, the latter of whom earned Player of the Week honours with a bag of eight goals. Rogers was his usual speedy self too, rotating forward from midfield and using his speed both ways.

Finally, two Tasmanians round out the starting side. Will Groom was impossible to overlook after dining out with five goals as the Devils won by 110 points, while Jack Callinan had another busy game with three majors from 22 disposals and plenty of score involvements.

INTERCHANGE

INT: Marlin Corbett (GC), Lenny Douglas (TD), Jack Glanvill (GWS), Will Graham (GC), Indhi Kirk (SS), Orlando Turner (NT)

With only three games played this week, you’d have to be pretty stiff not to make the cut in our six-player bench. Gold Coast’s seven-man contribution is rounded out by midfielders Marlin Corbett and Will Graham, while Tasmania, GWS, Sydney, and the Northern Territory boast one more representative each.

Among them, Swans father-son prospect Indhi Kirk did some nice things in his side’s second win for the season, while exciting NT forward Orlando Turner brought the count of National Academy members up to seven for Round 6.