FULL-TIME action resumes in the Coates Talent League this weekend, with an allotment of six games splitting Victorian and Allies representative fixtures. We preview all six games, with a look at each region’s form and the players to watch.

Saturday June 24, 11:00am @ Mars Stadium

IN A SENTENCE

GWV Rebels and Dandenong Stingrays do battle in a return leg to kick off Round 11, with both sides boasting a strong number of representative stars.

FORM

Dandenong is one of five teams with the equal-second most wins (five) this season, while GWV sits a game off said pack at 4-3. Both sides have notched three-game win streaks at different stages, but only the Stingrays come into this fixture off a win. In the Round 4 reverse fixture, Dandenong ran out 34-point victors to become the first team to beat GWV in 2023.

ONES TO WATCH

Both sides have a strong amount of Vic Country representatives, and the Rebels’ group is arguably more important to their side compared to a relatively even Dandenong lineup. George Stevens looks set to continue his midfield venture, supported by rotating forward Lachlan Charleson.

Meanwhile, Joel Freijah will start out on a wing and Luamon Lual may have a point to prove across half-back. Speaking of, the likes of Jacob Grant and Riak Andrew will hope to show enough to crack the Vic Country 23, joining a bunch of teammates who did so in game one.

Harry De Mattia will skipper alone in the absence of Cooper Simpson (corkie), fresh off a strong performance in Vic Country’s defeat to South Australia. Kobe Shipp and Billy Wilson were others to have impressed, named on the half-back line for tomorrow’s game.

PREDICTION

Home conditions will play into GWV’s hands and with the likelihood of rain, that factor is amplified. This looks like being a tough, low-scoring affair, which both sides have had a couple of this season. Perhaps a slight upset is in the offing, Rebels by 10.

Saturday June 24, 1:00pm @ Morwell Recreation Reserve

IN A SENTENCE

Two teams in winning form will look to respectively build streaks when they meet in Morwell on Saturday afternoon.

FORM

Sandringham is the only team playing in Round 11 which also turned out on the King’s Birthday weekend, where the Dragons snapped a two-game losing streak. Gippsland has won two of its three games after the break, including a convincing 49-point victory over GWV last time out. The Power are 2-2 in games at Morwell Recreation Reserve this season.

ONES TO WATCH

Gippsland will hope Zane Duursma carries on his outstanding form in the midfield-forward rotation, while talls Archer Reid and Wil Dawson can certainly lift on their recent output. Lachlan Smith is also out to impress with a potential Vic Country call-up in the offing.

Sandringham will likely shuffle a few magnets on the weekend. Bottom-age Allies representative Sam Marshall comes in for his first game with the Dragons, potentially shifting Tarkyn O’Leary to a more conventional wing role. Evasive midfielder-forward Harvey Johnston is another to watch.

PREDICTION

It’s difficult to gauge just how good Gippsland is at home and Sandringham is a rather even side which doesn’t rely on a select few to perform. The Dragons are very much depleted but should still very much challenge Gippy and at least match it in the tall department. Dragons by 13.

Saturday June 24, 1:15pm @ Box Hill City Oval

IN A SENTENCE

Calder Cannons will be gunning for five-straight wins when they face an Eastern Ranges side hot on the heels of the top six sides.

FORM

Calder is sitting pretty in second spot at 5-1 having only suffered defeat at the hands of a very strong Sandringham side before the break. The Cannons very every bit the contender, but Eastern may have a point to prove in the same vein having suffered a thumping upset loss to Western last time out. The Ranges are currently 4-3 with their positive record on the line this week.

ONES TO WATCH

There are some strong storylines among the Calder side. Jordan Croft and Mahmoud Taha are fresh of representative duty with Vic Metro, while Isaac Kako just won the ACC title with Parade College, and fellow bottom-ager Kayne Rutley snared five goals in his last Talent League match.

Eastern has even more Metro guns in the form of Josh Smillie, Caleb Windsor, Cam Nyko, and Brayden LaPlanche, while tall forward Riley Weatherill is among the players hoping to crack a representative berth. Elsewhere, look for bottom-ager Christian Moraes to impress.

PREDICTION

Calder has looked ominous of late and despite Eastern’s wealth of representative guns, should have too strong a spread across each third of the ground. Though, keep in mind Calder has only once played away from Craigieburn this season. Still, Cannons by 15.

Saturday June 24, 2:00pm @ Wangaratta Showgrounds

IN A SENTENCE

A third consecutive win is on the table for Western Jets when they travel to face fellow bottom half side, Murray Bushrangers in Wangaratta.

FORM

After starting the season 1-4, the Jets have strung together their first winning streak of the season and will look to extend it against a 2-5 Murray side which is ranked lowest of the Country regions. The Bushrangers have lost their last two games but were competitive in a couple of close ones earlier in the year and were the first team to knock off Sandringham.

ONES TO WATCH

Murray will be massively buoyed by a few inclusions this week, with Allies representatives Connor O’Sullivan and Phoenix Gothard returning to the fold. The former will be joined in defence by Coby James, with star man Darcy Wilson poised to enjoy increased midfield minutes.

It’s much of the same for Western, who were well served by spearhead forward Logan Morris in his return against Eastern. Fellow tall Jovan Petric looks set to continue his venture in defence alongside bottom-ager Lucca Grego, who is part of a talented Vic Metro squad.

PREDICTION

Despite what the form guide suggests, Murray’s added star power in this clash should come very much in handy for the home side. Admittedly, Western has gotten better every week and is a competitive unit, but this is a tough road trip. Bushrangers by 20.

Sunday June 25, 1:00pm @ Queen Elizabeth Oval

IN A SENTENCE

This year’s top draft prospect is back in action as his Bendigo Pioneers look to snap a three-game losing run against the streaking Northern Knights.

FORM

With perfectly opposite form lines over their last three outings, these sides are on much different trajectories. Northern has only lost once this season and has won its last three games, while Bendigo has stalled after a 3-1 start to fall to 3-4. Typically, though, the Pioneers get better with continuity throughout the season.

ONES TO WATCH

Harley Reid makes his long awaited return to the Talent League and will be better for his appearance with Vic Country last week. After missing a couple of games, Northern forward Nate Caddy is also back in action to add to Sunday’s star power.

The Knights have also called upon Richmond father-son prospect Charlie Naish after his VFL debut with the Tigers, while skipper Will Green is in the best form of his season to date. For Bendigo, Oskar Smartt comes in fresh of Country duties and Archer Day-Wicks is a bottom-ager to watch.

PREDICTION

Form tells the tale in this one despite the disjointed nature of the Talent League season. Northern has only strengthened its side and while Bendigo has done the same this week, this is a tough ask. Knights by 18.

Sunday June 25, 1:00pm @ Kingston Twin Ovals

IN A SENTENCE

Tasmania defends top spot on home turf when the Geelong Falcons come to town looking for a fourth-straight victory.

FORM

Albeit with at least one game in hand on the rest of the competition, Tasmania is clear atop the table at 6-2. The Devils returned to the winners list last time out and are undefeated on the Apple Isle this season. Geelong has won its last three games and is one of five sides in hot pursuit of the Devils, currently sitting third at 5-1.

ONES TO WATCH

Tasmania has called upon some big names, with National Academy members Colby McKercher and Jack Callinan returning alongside fellow Allies representatives James Leake and Tom Beaumont. Squad members Heath Ollington and Arie Schoenmaker will also be among the Devils to watch.

Geelong will be without Vic Country representative Angus Hastie, but has tall pair Tom Peirce and Hamish Pierson to prop up the back line. At the other end, Michael Rudd has hit form and ruck Joe Pike has shown his wares at the level.

PREDICTION

Geelong is a well drilled team but travel and a massively boosted Tasmanian outfit make extending its win streak a tough ask. The home side should stay top for another week. Devils by 7.