THE 2024 Coates Talent League season got underway over the weekend, headlined by the Oakleigh-Eastern clash which featured a handful of top 10 prospects. Catch up on what went down across the six fixtures in our Round 1 snapshot.

NORTHERN KNIGHTS 5.4 | 9.5 | 14.5 | 19.9 (123)
WESTERN JETS 4.0 | 7.3 | 11.5 | 12.8 (80)

IN A SENTENCE…

Northern outlasted Western in a season-opening shootout at Trevor Barker Oval, booting nine of the game’s last 11 goals to win by 43 points.

WHERE IT WAS WON:

Northern won the disposals (325-218), handballs (142-83), and marks (90-56)
Western won the tackles (52-37), inside 50s (41-38), and hitouts (41-23)

BY THE NUMBERS:

Northern Knights

Lucas McInerney – 28 disposals, 7 marks, 2 goals
Zak Johnson – 28 disposals, 10 marks, 4 inside 50s
Thomas Sims – 14 disposals, 7 marks, 5 goals

Western Jets

Lucca Grego – 22 disposals, 6 tackles, 6 inside 50s
Lucas Impey – 17 disposals, 7 tackles, 37 hitouts
Xavier Kardachi – 15 disposals, 8 tackles, 5 inside 50s

UP NEXT:

Northern vs. Eastern Ranges | Friday March 29, 1:30pm @ Belvedere Reserve
Western vs. Calder Cannons | Friday March 29, 11:00am @ Highgate Recreation Reserve

MURRAY BUSHRANGERS 4.3 | 7.4 | 13.6 | 14.10 (94)
TASMANIA DEVILS 1.1 | 4.5 | 5.7 | 10.7 (67)

IN A SENTENCE…

After leading by as many as 49 points in the final quarter, Murray settled on a comfortable 27-point win over Tasmania where the Bushies’ forwards fired.

WHERE IT WAS WON:

Murray won the handballs (123-87), inside 50s (47-38), and hitouts (40-19)

BY THE NUMBERS:

Murray Bushrangers

Jack Whitlock – 20 disposals, 7 marks, 4 goals
Joe Berry – 16 disposals, 3 marks, 4 goals
Joshua Murphy – 10 disposals, 4 marks, 4 goals

Tasmania Devils

Connor Ling – 21 disposals, 4 marks, 6 tackles
Geordie Payne – 16 disposals, 7 marks, 3 goals
Max Mapley – 14 disposals, 6 hitouts, 2 goals

UP NEXT:

Murray vs. Bendigo Pioneers | Friday March 29, 1:00pm @ Deakin Reserve
Tasmania – Bye

SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS 2.3 | 9.4 | 10.6 | 16.14 (110)
CALDER CANNONS 4.0 | 5.0 | 8.6 | 9.6 (60)

IN A SENTENCE…

Sandringham dominated one end of RSEA Park with 13 of its 16 goals kicked with the breeze to overcome a slow start and defeat the combative Calder by 50 points.

WHERE IT WAS WON:

Sandringham won the inside 50s (65-26), scoring shots (30-15), and marks (94-47)

BY THE NUMBERS:

Sandringham Dragons

Murphy Reid – 28 disposals, 10 marks, 6 inside 50s
Levi Ashcroft – 21 disposals, 3 marks, 2 goals
Nathaniel Sulzberger – 18 disposals, 5 tackles, 2 goals

Calder Cannons

Jayden Nguyen – 24 disposals, 5 tackles, 8 rebound 50s
Damon Hollow – 20 disposals, 9 inside 50s, 1 goal
Isaac Kako – 12 disposals, 3 tackles, 2 goals

UP NEXT:

Sandringham vs. Oakleigh Chargers | Saturday March 30, 1:00pm @ RSEA Park
Calder vs. Western Jets | Friday March 29, 11:00am @ Highgate Recreation Reserve

OAKLEIGH CHARGERS 3.3 | 5.6 | 6.8 | 7.12 (54)
EASTERN RANGES 4.0 | 8.1 | 11.2 | 13.4 (82)

IN A SENTENCE…

In an assembly of pick one contenders, Eastern took its chances with less scoring shots to lead at every break and beat Oakleigh by 28 points.

WHERE IT WAS WON:

Eastern won the disposals (281-256), marks (60-43), and rebound 50s (36-22)
Oakleigh won the inside 50s (43-36) and scoring shots (19-17)

BY THE NUMBERS:

Oakleigh Chargers

Jagga Smith – 30 disposals, 22 kicks, 8 inside 50s
Tom Gross – 26 disposals, 8 tackles, 1 goal
Finn O’Sullivan – 15 disposals, 4 tackles, 5 inside 50s

Eastern Ranges

Christian Moraes – 25 disposals, 7 marks, 2 goals
Josh Smillie – 24 disposals, 3 marks, 2 goals
Cooper Trembath – 22 disposals, 7 marks, 5 rebound 50s

UP NEXT:

Oakleigh vs. Sandringham Dragons | Saturday March 30, 1:00pm @ RSEA Park
Eastern vs. Northern Knights | Friday March 29, 1:30pm @ Belvedere Reserve

GWV REBELS 3.3 | 3.11 | 6.11 | 7.13 (55)
BENDIGO PIONEERS 3.5 | 6.5 | 8.11 | 10.13 (73)

IN A SENTENCE…

A second quarter which yielded eight behinds proved costly for Greater Western Victoria, who was bested to the tune of 18 points by Bendigo on home turf.

WHERE IT WAS WON:

Bendigo won the disposals (291-267), marks (65-47), and rebound 50s (42-26)

BY THE NUMBERS:

GWV Rebels

Connor Weidemann – 21 disposals, 7 marks, 3 goals
Harry Charleson – 21 disposals, 2 tackles, 9 inside 50s
Oliver Hannaford – 19 disposals, 4 tackles, 4 inside 50s

Bendigo Pioneers

Tobie Travaglia – 30 disposals, 10 marks, 4 tackles
Tom Evans – 24 disposals, 5 inside 50s, 2 goals
James Barrat – 14 disposals, 7 marks, 3 goals

UP NEXT:

GWV vs. Geelong Falcons | Thursday March 28, 7:10pm @ GMHBA Stadium
Bendigo vs. Murray Bushrangers | Friday March 29, 1:00pm @ Deakin Reserve

GEELONG FALCONS 1.0 | 3.3 | 5.5 | 9.6 (60)
DANDENONG STINGRAYS 3.4 | 5.6 | 7.7 | 8.9 (57)

IN A SENTENCE…

After leading for 97 out of 100 minutes of game time, Dandenong was felled by the final kick of the game in a three-point loss to Geelong.

WHERE IT WAS WON:

Geelong won the kicks (187-159), marks (79-59), and tackles (66-51)

BY THE NUMBERS:

Geelong Falcons

Lachie Jaques – 25 disposals, 5 marks, 6 rebound 50s
Noah Tullio – 20 disposals, 3 marks, 2 goals
Xavier Ivisic – 20 disposals, 4 tackles, 5 inside 50s

Dandenong Stingrays

Ben Hopkins – 27 disposals, 5 marks, 3 rebound 50s
Cooper Hynes – 25 disposals, 5 tackles, 9 inside 50s
Harvey Langford – 21 disposals, 7 marks, 3 goals

UP NEXT:

Geelong vs. GWV Rebels | Thursday March 28, 7:10pm @ GMHBA Stadium
Dandenong vs. Gippsland Power | Friday March 29, 11:00am @ Belvedere Reserve