STAR AFL Draft prospects Josh Smillie and Jagga Smith have stepped onto the Rookie Me Central Medal podium after polling votes in Round 6 of the Coates Talent League. Smillie was best afield in Eastern’s tense win over the Lions Academy, while Smith played a lone hand as Oakleigh was handily beaten.

>> SCROLL for the Round 6 votes & leaderboard

The pair now sit level on seven votes apiece, equal-third on the overall leaderboard alongside Tasmanian midfielder-forward Lenny Douglas and our Player of the Week, Cooper Hynes. The latter joined Smillie in nabbing a full allotment of votes on Sunday, posting 23 disposals, six marks and five goals.

Meanwhile, Northern Knights utility Zak Johnson has moved clear atop the standings after claiming a vote for his 28-disposal performance against Smith’s Oakleigh. Johnson is the only player to have polled in four games this season, including over the last two weeks with a move to defence.

Calder Cannons captain Damon Hollow did not add to his tally despite a solid outing over the weekend, and is now placed second on eight votes – only one behind Johnson. Along with Smith and Smillie, the leading pair are part of Vic Metro’s Under 18 squad for the upcoming National Championships.

Rounding out the top 10 after six rounds are four players tied for seventh on six votes. Namely, they are Joe Berry (Murray Bushrangers), Ned Hawkins (Swans Academy), Will McLachlan (Geelong Falcons), and Tobie Travaglia. Of them, only Travaglia did not poll votes over the weekend.

Aside from Hynes, perhaps the most notable performance among the three-vote range was that of Northern key forward Thomas Sims. The 199cm goal kicker was clinical, booting seven goals in the second half to propel his side to a thumping victory.

>> 2024 CTL Round 6: Snapshot | POTW | Scouting Notes

ROUND 6 VOTES

Murray Bushrangers 18.11 (119) def. Giants Academy 7.7 (49)
By: Michael Alvaro

3 – Cohen Paul (Murray Bushrangers)
2 – Matt Whitlock (Murray Bushrangers)
1 – Joe Berry (Murray Bushrangers)

Gippsland Power 10.17 (77) def. Western Jets 8.6 (54)
By: Michael Alvaro

3 – Xavier Lindsay (Gippsland Power)
2 – Tom Hanily (Gippsland Power)
1 – Lachlan McArthur (Western Jets)

Swans Academy 5.7 (37) def. Tasmania Devils 10.8 (68)
By: Michael Alvaro

3 – Ned Hawkins (Swans Academy)
2 – Lenny Douglas (Tasmania Devils)
1 – Geordie Payne (Tasmania Devils)

Northern Knights 19.14 (128) def. Oakleigh Chargers 3.12 (30)
By: Michael Alvaro

3 – Thomas Sims (Northern Knights)
2 – Jagga Smith (Oakleigh Chargers)
1 – Zak Johnson (Northern Knights)

Eastern Ranges 12.7 (79) def. Lions Academy 11.9 (75)
By: Michael Alvaro

3 – Josh Smillie (Eastern Ranges)
2 – Cody Anderson (Eastern Ranges)
1 – Daniel Annable (Lions Academy)

Dandenong Stingrays 15.8 (98) def. Suns Academy 10.9 (69)
By: Declan Reeve

3 – Cooper Hynes (Dandenong Stingrays)
2 – Leonardo Lombard (Suns Academy)
1 – Zeke Uwland (Suns Academy)

Geelong Falcons 11.5 (71) def. by Calder Cannons 13.12 (90)
By: Adrian Dixon

3 – Thomas Barnett (Calder Cannons)
2 – Jack Ryan (Calder Cannons)
1 – Will McLachlan (Geelong Falcons)

GWV Rebels 11.7 (73) def. by Bendigo Pioneers 10.14 (74)
By: Michael Alvaro

3 – Jobe Shanahan (Bendigo Pioneers)
2 – Archer Day-Wicks (Bendigo Pioneers)
1 – Oliver Hannaford (GWV Rebels)

TOP 10 LEADERBOARD

1st. Zak Johnson (Northern Knights) – 9 [3, 2, 3, 1]
2nd. Damon Hollow (Calder Cannons) – 8 [2, 3, 3]
Eq. 3rd. Lenny Douglas (Tasmania Devils) – 7 [2, 3, 2]
Eq. 3rd. Cooper Hynes (Dandenong Stingrays) – 7 [1, 3, 3]
Eq. 3rd. Josh Smillie (Eastern Ranges) – 7 [3, 1, 3]
Eq. 3rd. Jagga Smith (Oakleigh Chargers) – 7 [2, 3, 2]
Eq. 7th. Joe Berry (Murray Bushrangers) – 6 [2, 3, 1]
Eq. 7th. Ned Hawkins (Swans Academy) – 6 [1, 2, 3]
Eq. 7th. Will McLachlan (Geelong Falcons) – 6 [2, 3, 1]
Eq. 7th. Tobie Travaglia (Bendigo Pioneers) – 6 [3, 1, 2]

LEADERS BY CLUB

Bendigo Pioneers – Tobie Travaglia (6)
Calder Cannons – Damon Hollow (8)
Dandenong Stingrays – Cooper Hynes (7)
Eastern Ranges – Josh Smillie (7)
Geelong Falcons – Will McLachlan (6)
Giants Academy – Logan Smith (4)
Gippsland Power – Tom Hanily & Xavier Lindsay (5)
GWV Rebels – Oliver Hannaford & Wil Rantall (1)
Lions Academy – Daniel Annable (3)
Murray Bushrangers – Joe Berry (6)
Northern Knights – Zak Johnson (9)
Northern Territory – Taj Murray (1)
Oakleigh Chargers – Jagga Smith (7)
Sandringham Dragons – Levi Ashcroft (5)
Suns Academy – Zeke Uwland (4)
Swans Academy – Ned Hawkins (6)
Tasmania Devils – Lenny Douglas (7)
Western Jets – Thomas McGuane (3)

CLUB LEADERBOARD

Calder Cannons – 18
Sandringham Dragons – 18
Murray Bushrangers – 17
Bendigo Pioneers – 16
Dandenong Stingrays – 16
Eastern Ranges – 16
Gippsland Power – 16
Northern Knights – 15
Geelong Falcons – 12
Tasmania Devils – 11
Swans Academy – 10
Oakleigh Chargers – 9
Suns Academy – 8
Western Jets – 8
Giants Academy – 7
Lions Academy – 4
GWV Rebels – 2
Northern Territory – 1