THE 2023 Coates Talent League season resumes tonight, as the Dandenong Stingrays and Oakleigh Chargers lock horns under lights. A bumper seven-game weekend caps off this year’s Talent League stint for three northern academies, but there is plenty of action left for the full-time regions. We preview each matchup.

>> Refresher: 2023 Talent League Round 1-6

Friday May 19, 7:00pm @ Kinetic Stadium

IN A SENTENCE

Dandenong Stingrays are out to make it four wins on the trot, while Oakleigh Chargers will hope to notch their first win against a full-time region at the third time of asking.

FORM

Though all sides are coming off a month-long break, the likes of Dandenong and Oakleigh have had plenty of players ply their trade at high levels – whether it be in the state leagues, representative trials, school football, or in their local seniors.

The Stingrays found their groove before the break with three consecutive wins, all coming by progressively higher margins. They sit 3-1, while the 2-2 Chargers have handily only knocked off a pair of northern academies to date, otherwise losing comfortably.

ONES TO WATCH

Dandenong has a bunch of potential Vic Country reps in the side, with co-captains Cooper Simpson and Harry De Mattia leading that department. Billy Wilson had been in good form off half-back, and he’ll be joined there by debutant Riak Andrew – the brother of Gold Coast’s Mac.

Oakleigh looks a much different lineup to what was on offer in the first block of the season, though National Academy member Nathan Philactides remains at half-back. Mid-season draft fancy Will Elliott has also been named to start in  the ruck.

PREDICTION

Dandenong came into the year as one of the great finals hopes and looks like holding a relatively strong side through the tough mid-season period. There should be too much class there for a much different looking Oakleigh lineup to handle. Stingrays by 30.

Saturday May 20, 1:00pm @ Highgate Recreation Reserve

IN A SENTENCE

The 2-2 Eastern Ranges can break to a positive record by defeating the Lions Academy, who will be hungry for a breakthrough win in their final Talent League outing.

FORM

Eastern looks like being one of the teams to beat this season but has been felled by two quality opponents thus far to sit 2-2 overall. The Ranges’ last outing was a 19-point away loss to Tasmania. Meanwhile, Brisbane is winless from four games with an average losing margin of 30 points.

ONES TO WATCH

Eastern loses the quality of Nick Watson to school football, but gains some back in the form of bottom-age midfielders Josh Smillie and Christian Moraes. The likes of Cody Anderson and Cam Nyko have also not been named, though Ry Cantwell is an exciting addition up forward. Meanwhile, mid-season draft prospect Clay Tucker lines up in the ruck.

The Lions will be without Owen Collins and Sam Marshall in midfield, with their tall stocks arguably the best feature of the side. Captain Bradley McDonald partners Billy Richardson in defence, while Patrick Snell and bottom-ager Tom Gillett can play a range of roles.

PREDICTION

Though Brisbane will be eager to have some points to show for their largely competitive outings in 2023, Eastern remains a side with plenty of class. Travel is a factor which works against the Lions here, Ranges by 40 points.

Saturday May 20, 1:00pm @ Morwell Football Ground

IN A SENTENCE

The Gippsland Power and Western Jets can both put disappointing first blocks of the season behind them when they clash in Morwell on Saturday afternoon.

FORM

Both sides come into this clash with one win to their name, though Gippsland has only turned out thrice thus far. The Power’s most recent result was a 17-point loss to Bendigo.

Conversely, Western picked up a win last time out, the Jets’ first of the season. It came to the tune of 19 points against the Lions Academy to counter three losses by an average of 22 points.

ONES TO WATCH

It’s quite easy to highlight National Academy members Archer Reid and Zane Duursma as ones to watch in this game. Liam Serong is a notable addition for his first game of the year, though the relatively tall Power side will be without top mid-season draft talent Ryan Maric this week.

Western will also be missing some star power with spearhead Logan Morris suffering a knee injury in his VFL debut for Werribee. Jovan Petric takes on the goal kicking load in his absence and should be served well by a consistent midfield featuring bottom-ager Lucca Grego.

PREDICTION

Gippsland will be a team which gets better as the season wares on, and playing at home in Morwell for the third time in four games should provide an edge against the 1-3 Jets. Power by 20.

Saturday May 20, 1:00pm @ Wangaratta Showgrounds

IN A SENTENCE

Sandringham Dragons put their perfect record on the line with top spot up for grabs in a clash against Murray Bushrangers on the road.

FORM

The Dragons were arguably the best side across the first block of the season and while they sit second at 4-0, are definitely the number one seed. They beat three quality full-time regions off the bat, before thumping the Giants Academy by 57 points last time out.

Murray is 1-3, with its only win coming by 61 points – also against the Giants Academy. It came off the back of a heartbreaking seven-point loss to Northern.

ONES TO WATCH

Murray boasts the only two AFL Academy members in this game, with the silky skilled Darcy Wilson and versatile tall Connor O’Sullivan both coming in fresh off national duties. Midfielder Jedd Longmire is a handy addition, having featured for Collingwood VFL and the Young Guns.

Sandringham has a much different look in the wake of the school football season’s commencement. Skipper Will Brown leads a side which still boasts quality in the form of Harvey Johnston, Calsher Dear, and Tarkyn O’Leary among a raft of fresh faces.

PREDICTION

The question of how quickly Sandringham’s additions can jell is the main factor in how this match will swing. Murray has the individual quality to make a difference and should be favoured by playing at home in Wangaratta. Perhaps an upset is on the cards, Bushrangers by 1.

Saturday May 20, 5:00pm @ Blacktown ISP

IN A SENTENCE

In the second game of a double-header between the regions, Tasmania will hope to hold onto top spot against a plucky Swans outfit which has comfortably been the best performed northern academy.

FORM

Tasmania sits pretty atop the Talent League ladder after a 4-1 start, with the Devils’ only loss coming against Bendigo. Other than that result, they have travelled well and are unbeaten at home, with their last game yielding a 119-point win on the Gold Coast.

The Swans have been competitive for two wins and two losses, which could well have been three wins if not for a collapse against GWV. Last time out, they beat the Lions Academy by 37 points in Queensland.

ONES TO WATCH

Tasmania will again have National Academy stars Colby McKercher and Jack Callinan at their disposal, leading a well oiled and even side which has settled into the season nicely. There are few weaknesses, and many players come in fresh off senior experience in the TSL.

Sydney also has two AFL Academy members available and one of them – Caiden Cleary – will slot into midfield alongside Indhi Kirk. Christian Webster has recovered from an ankle knock in time to play, and 2022 U16 MVP Mitchell Woods is a handy inclusion.

PREDICTION

Tasmania fared well on an even longer trip up north last time out and looks a hard team to beat in any arena. Sydney has proven its ability to compete against good sides but will be up against it here. Devils by 23.

Sunday May 21, 11:00am @ Queen Elizabeth Oval

IN A SENTENCE

Boasting almost identical records, the Bendigo Pioneers and Geelong Falcons will be vying for ascendancy in the finals race when they do battle at Queen Elizabeth Oval.

FORM

Buoyed by a rare finals appearance last year, Bendigo has been one of the surprise packets of season 2023. The Pioneers have strung together three straight wins after a Round 1 loss, with their most recent a 17-point victory over Gippsland in Morwell.

Geelong was also in good shape heading into the break at 3-1, with the Falcons’ average winning margin sitting at 38 points. Their only loss of the season to-date came to GWV by a mere seven points in wet conditions.

ONES TO WATCH

While many players are returning to action this week, top prospect Harley Reid won’t be after suffering a head knock while representing the AFL Academy. Versatile over-ager Eli Pearce has been named in the middle along with usual wingman Oliver Poole, while Archer Day-Wicks is a lively type in the mid-forward rotation.

For Geelong, over-ager Archie Sinnott teams up with Patrick Hughes in midfield after the two opposed each other in the Young Guns game. Hamish Pierson is in the same boat with Angus Hastie across a strong half-back line which also features bottom-ager Brady Hall.

PREDICTION

This is a tough one to predict, but the quality that Bendigo is missing in Reid may be a telling factor over Geelong’s absentees. The Pios have proven us wrong before and may have to do so again on home turf. Falcons by 10.

Sunday May 21, 2:30pm @ Ikon Park

IN A SENTENCE

The GWV Rebels and Suns Academy see out Round 7 with a clash on neutral territory, with the Rebels looking to make moves amid a mid-table bottleneck.

FORM

GWV is one of six sides in the top eight with a 3-1 record, but that lone loss came in the Rebels’ last outing – by 34 points against Dandenong. Conversely, Gold Coast notched its first victory to the tune of 99 points two weeks later and have some high-end players in serious form.

ONES TO WATCH

Leading the Rebels’ cause as co-captains are Joel Freijah and Luamon Lual, while National Academy skipper George Stevens has been named at the heart of midfield. Though after four goals for Vic Country against the Young Guns, Lachlan Charleson is set to miss.

Gold Coast has access to three in-form AFL Academy members in Jake Rogers, Ethan Read and Jed Walter. Will Graham and Leo Lombard also make up a strong midfield which, on paper, should compete well against the Rebels.

PREDICTION

The Suns have some serious talent at their disposal and should be in high spirits after their last performance. GWV is a different kettle of fish though and with travel again in store for the Queenslanders, it may be a long day ahead. Rebels by 28.