LAST year’s Coates Talent League finalists meet in a top-of-the-table clash to open Round 3, before an epic Country triple-header takes place in Ballarat on Sunday. We preview all six of the weekend’s fixtures with a look at the players to watch, and where each team stands.

Saturday April 6, 11:00am @ RSEA Park

WHERE THEY STAND

Sandringham Dragons – 1st | 2-0 | 191.9%
Eastern Ranges – 2nd | 2-0 | 173.7%

IN A NUTSHELL

A 2023 Grand Final rematch opens Round 3, with the stakes only made higher by its top-of-the-table status. Reigning premier and current ladder leader Sandringham hosts Eastern in what is set to be the game of the round, with plenty of star prospects taking the field.

ONES TO WATCH

Sandringham has only bolstered its midfield with the inclusion of over-ager Cooper Lord. After notching 23 touches for North Melbourne in the VFL last week, he comes in to accompany the likes of Levi Ashcroft, Murphy Reid, Taj Hotton, and Nathaniel Sulzberger on-ball.

The Dragons will also be buoyed by the return of tall forward Harry Armstrong, who should form a dangerous marking duo with bottom-ager Archie Ludowyke. The hosts’ defence will have to make up for the absence of National Academy member Luke Trainor, though.

There are no such worries for Eastern, who regain over-ager key back Cooper Trembath. The Ranges’ midfield features one of the league’s best one-two punches in Christian Moraes and Josh Smillie, while small forward Jak Ryan is emerging as an energetic talent.

PREDICTION

The first two rounds have been a relative procession for Sandringham, and a third straight game at RSEA Park with a relatively full strength squad bodes well for the reigning premier. Eastern plays well as a unit and has the midfield class to challenge here. Should be a close one, Dragons by 5.

Saturday April 6, 11:30am @ Highgate Recreation Reserve

WHERE THEY STAND

Calder Cannons – 8th | 1-1 | 78.7%
Northern Knights – 7th | 1-1 | 93.4%

IN A NUTSHELL

Northern and Calder will look to shift their respective records into the positive when they lock horns in the first match of a Craigieburn double-header. Both side’s lone win for the season came against Western, with the Knights triumphing by 43 points in Round 1 while Calder saluted by 10 last week.

ONES TO WATCH

The King is back for Calder. Top prospect Nash King has been named to make his first appearance of the year, starting in midfield alongside Cannons captain Damon Hollow. Elsewhere, watch for Essendon NGA members Jayden Nguyen and Isaac Kako to add spark at either end of the ground.

Northern has been led capably by co-captain and star midfielder Zak Johnson. He, along with crafty forward Jesse Dattoli and hard-running wingman Lucas McInerney have been the region’s standouts. Spearhead Thomas Sims is also emerging as one to watch as a ruck-forward.

PREDICTION

Football maths may do the talking here, if either sides’ results against Western are anything to go by. King’s inclusion should give Calder a big boost, but the winner of this match will require their lesser lights to shine. Expect some heat, Knights by 6.

Saturday April 6, 2:00pm @ Highgate Recreation Reserve

WHERE THEY STAND

Oakleigh Chargers – 12th | 0-2 | 56.8%
Tasmania Devils – 11th | 0-1 | 73.0%

IN A NUTSHELL

Oakleigh and Tasmania are searching for their first wins of the season, and barring a draw, one side will find it when they lock horns in Craigieburn. The Chargers have fallen to Metro rivals Eastern and Sandringham, while Tasmania lost to Murray in Round 1 but should be fresh coming off a bye.

ONES TO WATCH

The Chargers missed Finn O’Sullivan and Tom Gross last week, leaving plenty of onus on Jagga Smith in the midfield rotation. Wingman Patrick Retschko and defender Blake Leidler may be thrown in there again, while Jasper Alger and Kobe Askew will hope to continue their scoring form.

Tasmania will be without National Academy member Oliver Dean, though over-age tall Max Mapley should provide a handy chop-out in the ruck. Watch for Geordie Payne and Lenny Douglas to liven up the forward line with speed and dare before also shifting into midfield.

PREDICTION

Given their winless starts, both sides should be increasingly hungry for the four points here. The Devils often punch above their weight and will have to do so again against an Oakleigh side which is finding its feet, but has some genuine talent. Chargers by 15.

Sunday April 7, 10:00am @ Mars Stadium

WHERE THEY STAND

Bendigo Pioneers – 4th | 2-0 | 113.4%
Gippsland Power – 5th | 1-0 | 117.2%

IN A NUTSHELL

One team’s 0 will go when Bendigo and Gippsland open Sunday’s Mars Stadium triple-header. The Pioneers are riding high on the back of wins by a combined margin of 20 points, while the Power downed Dandenong by 16 in their first outing of the year last week.

ONES TO WATCH

Gippsland has brought Vic Country talent hub member Jobe Scapin into its defence, while fellow bottom-ager Willem Duursma is poised to make the wing his own. Up forward, Ricky Mentha should make the highlight reel while Xavier Lindsay will have plenty to do in midfield minus Tom Hanily.

Bendigo is poised to regain star forward Archer Day-Wicks, who will go nicely next to fellow National Academy member Jobe Shanahan and prolific goalkicker James Barrat. Meanwhile, Tobie Travaglia and Lachlan Hogan should again be busy in their midfield-defence rotation.

PREDICTION

Both of these sides will only get better as the season rolls on and Bendigo is a game ahead of Gippsland in that regard. The talent spread is quite even and while the Power looked impressive in their first dig, the Pioneers may well get the job done again. Pios by 3.

Sunday April 7, 12:30pm @ Mars Stadium

WHERE THEY STAND

Geelong Falcons – 3rd | 2-0 | 166.7%
Murray Bushrangers – 6th | 1-1 | 114.8%

IN A NUTSHELL

Geelong will look to maintain its perfect start to the season against a Murray side keen to bounce back from its tight loss in Round 2. Both teams have had a thriller and a blowout across their two games to date, so should be well poised for a solid tussle in Ballarat.

ONES TO WATCH

Geelong over-agers Will McLachlan (forward) and Liam Kershaw (wing) have been prominent so far, along with top prospect Xavier Ivisic through midfield and co-captain Lachie Jaques down back. After kicking one goal in the first two weeks, key forward Zac McInnes may be due a big game.

Murray has been spearheaded by forwards Joshua Murphy and Joe Berry over the first two weeks, while tall defenders Matt Whitlock and Reuben Bourke are holding down the fort. Having shown glimpses in two 15-disposal outings, bottom-ager Ryder Corrigan is another name to jot down.

PREDICTION

This is a tough one to call. Geelong so often gets the job done and while Murray arguably has a greater spread of prospects across the ground, that should be a factor on Sunday. If the Bushies’ forwards can fire again, watch out, but Falcons by 7.

Sunday April 7, 3:00pm @ Mars Stadium

WHERE THEY STAND

GWV Rebels – 13th | 0-2 | 54.0%
Dandenong Stingrays – 9th | 0-2 | 88.8%

IN A NUTSHELL

Greater Western Victoria and Dandenong close out Round 3 in a game where both sides are gunning for their first win of the season. The Rebels sit bottom but will be happy to land back home in Ballarat, while the Stingrays have lost two tight ones by a combined margin of 19 points.

ONES TO WATCH

The Rebels have been without three key players in Sam Lalor, Jonty Faull, and Flynn Penry, but have a strong midfield group consisting of Oliver Hannaford, Harry Charleson, and Jack Ough. Down back, Wil Rantall has stood up under pressure over the first fortnight.

Stingrays co-captains Harvey Langford and Cooper Hynes will give plenty of sides trouble with their size and ability to hit the scoreboard. The addition of key back Noah Mraz proved handy, while over-age dasher Ben Hopkins is pushing his mid-season draft chances off half-back.

PREDICTION

Yet another tough game to call. Dandenong is up against it chasing its first win against GWV in Ballarat, but the Rebels haven’t quite found their groove just yet. Stingrays by 20.