WITH all bar one Under 18 representative squad announced, Coates Talent League prospects continued to up their games in Round 7. A massive six games played out on Sunday following a standalone clash on Saturday, leaving plenty of talent to highlight in the latest Scouting Notes instalment.

>> 2024 CTL Round 7: Snapshot | POTW | TOTW | Votes

Tasmania Devils 13.15 (93) def. Dandenong Stingrays 6.7 (43)

TASMANIA DEVILS:

#4 Geordie Payne
Midfielder/Forward | 184cm | 06/11/2005

Stats: 29 disposals, 8 tackles, 1 goal

Another industrious performance from Payne only sees him further prove his case as a mid-season draft candidate. The over-ager was ultra competitive throughout four quarters, hunting the ball and opponents on the inside, and displaying good energy and speed on the outer. His toughness was a feature at the contest where he fed others with clean hands, while also impacting up forward with a couple of scores. He’s a real tone setter for the Devils, and potentially the Allies soon.

#13 Oliver Depaoli-Kubank
Forward | 178cm | 24/07/2006

Stats: 28 disposals, 6 marks, 8 inside 50s

A prolific few weeks have seen Depaoli-Kubank rewarded with selection in the Allies squad. He played the high forward role well on Saturday, venturing high up the ground to be a chain in transitional play, while also making himself a threat inside 50. With good moments of agility, he registered six scoring shots but only managed to put one through the big sticks, with strength and that finishing touch among his areas for improvement.

#21 Lenny Douglas
Forward/Midfielder | 179cm | 03/07/2006

Stats: 19 disposals, 6 tackles, 3 goals

Douglas brought the heat once again in Round 7 and was arguably the Devils’ most dangerous forward. He made a menace of himself at ground level, pressuring the opposition defensively and surging the ball forward with repeat running. Douglas’ turn of speed was a factor for two of his goals, with the third coming from an opportunistic shot off the deck to highlight just how dangerous he can be when scoring opportunities present.

#24 Oscar Van Dam
Midfielder | 189cm | 20/04/2005

Stats: 30 disposals, 8 tackles, 14 inside 50s

Returning to the Tasmania Devils after a well travelled few months and strong TSL form, Van Dam made an instant impact. He was thrown straight into the midfield mix and came away with more disposals than anyone afield, credit largely to his work rate. The over-ager ran hard all day and propelled his side into attack, combining that kind of play with strong work on the inside.

DANDENONG STINGRAYS:

#2 Harvey Langford
Midfielder/Forward | 190cm | 15/03/2006

Stats: 24 disposals, 10 tackles, 7 inside 50s

It was a tough day’s work for Langford, who did his best to shift the tide at stoppages and impose himself on the match. Plenty of tough tacklers shone and that was no different for the Dandenong co-captain, as he got his hands dirty going both ways and used his size to advantage. Langford’s contested craft was sound and he tried to use his power to break into attack, often bringing opponents along for the ride.

#5 Riak Andrew
Defender/Ruck | 192cm | 17/02/2005

Stats: 14 disposals, 7 tackles, 7 hitouts

Andrew is somewhat of a blank canvas when it comes to draft prospects, and has plenty of upside to harness. His primary role on Saturday was as a tall defender, where he faced stiff opposition but competed really well aerially and held his own in one-on-one jostles. The over-ager then showcased his athleticism with a move to the ruck, while also rotating forward to cap off a versatile outing.

#8 Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves
Forward | 185cm | 16/11/2007

Stats: 11 disposals, 4 marks, 3 goals

Somewhat of a ‘moments’ player at this stage, Hibbins-Hargreaves put his potential on show with a second straight bag of three goals for the Stingrays. He did his best work inside 50, displaying great finishing skills to bag two majors on the run with nice bursts of speed. The bottom-ager is a tough matchup, holding his own as a medium marking target, but also proving nimble across the ground.

#15 Kane Hurst
Defender | 188cm | 13/08/2006

Stats: 20 disposals, 9 marks, 5 rebound 50s

Hurst was a key member of the Dandenong defence which was made to withstand 56 defensive 50 entries. He stood tall as a solid intercept marker, playing slightly above his 188cm listing but also taking a matchup on speedy small, Douglas. In both scenarios, Hurst could hardly be faulted for effort and did well to win the possession back in precarious situations.

Lions Academy 12.16 (88) def. Calder Cannons 6.8 (44)

LIONS ACADEMY:

#20 Daniel Annable
Midfielder | 183cm | 05/04/2007

Stats: 26 disposals, 6 tackles, 2 goals

While a terrific accumulator who works hard all game, hurt factor is an area Annable can enhance and he showed great signs of doing so on Sunday. The bottom-ager booted two goals in the third quarter, the first being a lovely snap around the body, to make an impact on the game. Annable also got busy at the contest as usual and looked use his running capacity to chain more possessions together on the attack, or outside of stoppages.

#37 Ty Gallop
Key Forward | 194cm | 09/02/2006

Stats: 12 disposals, 4 marks, 3 goals

Gallop offers great presence inside 50 and was prominent as the Lions’ spearhead tall. Bringing his goalkicking tally up to eight in three games, the 194cm forward posted seven scoring shots with three sailing through the big sticks. He was strong aerially and imposed his physicality to worry the opposition, showing good closing speed and willingness to apply contact.

#39 Billy Richardson
Key Defender | 195cm | 10/12/2005

Stats: 15 disposals, 8 marks, 1 tackle

Having been tried in each third of the ground, Richardson found a home down back in his latest outing. The over-ager took a tough matchup against Calder debutant Cooper Duff-Tytler, but dominated with his sound reading of the play. He looked comfortable behind the ball and applied himself well off the back shoulder, reading the play for plenty of intercepts among his eight marks.

#41 Tom Gillett
Ruck/Forward | 201cm | 09/01/2006

Stats: 26 disposals, 8 marks, 1 goal

Gillett put up outstanding numbers for a key position player on Sunday and showcased his points of difference at 201cm. He covered the ground exceptionally well to rack up 26 touches and eight marks, playing the basics well with sound fundamentals as a great outlet between the arcs. He also swept back to support the defence and looked confident in marking around the ground, even bagging a goal in the second quarter.

CALDER CANNONS:

#2 Isaac Kako
Forward/Midfielder | 175cm | 07/03/2006

Stats: 17 disposals, 4 inside 50s, 2 behinds

On a day where Calder’s attacking flair was limited, Kako provided the bit of spark that kept his side in the game for a half. The small forward got going in term two, moving into the centre bounces and using his pace to break the lines. He applied a great rundown tackle and burst out of the front of stoppages several times, but had few opportunities forward of centre as the Cannons kicked only two goals after half time.

#3 Jayden Nguyen
Small Defender | 177cm | 27/07/2006

Stats: 15 disposals, 6 marks, 3 rebound 50s

Others accumulated more possessions in Calder’s defence, but Nguyen was one who looked to take the game to Brisbane. Whether it was driving his legs or taking on aggressive kicks, the top-ager showed a willingness to take risks and put pace on the ball. While his decisions and execution were not always polished, the intent was there as always.

#10 Damon Hollow
Defender/Midfielder | 180cm | 30/03/2006

Stats: 17 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles

Being trialled in defence ahead of the National Championships, Hollow was another aggressive ball user who looked to launch into transitional play. While some of his usual run, carry, and kicking was blanketed by pressure, the Calder captain used his penetrative boot to pick out a few nice long passes over Brisbane’s defensive line. He tried hard until the end and was thrown into midfield for the final quarter, operating at a high gear all game.

Western Jets 12.12 (84) def. by Eastern Ranges 12.15 (87)

By: Adrian Dixon

WESTERN JETS:

#3 Lucca Grego
Midfielder | 184cm | 15/09/2006

Stats: 24 disposals, 8 marks, 1 goal

Grego again rotated between the midfield and forward line where he provided an option as a hit up target, being able to find space easily. In the midfield Grego continued to provide a physical presence and his kicking in play looks to have improved compared to the previous weeks, weighing the length of them a lot better. His ability to read the play and intercept were on again, however he can work on his set shot goal kicking from in directly in front and on angles, as he missed a few gettable chances that should have been goals.

#28 Xavier Kardachi
Midfielder | 186cm | 15/06/2006

Stats: 29 disposals, 4 inside 50s, 1 goal

Kardachi was the most influential player for the Jets as he was prominent around the contest all day, managing to accumulate plenty of the footy especially from reading the play at stoppages. He showed his great kicking power by going long constantly and also with a great snap shot to snare the first goal of the day for the Jets. His decision making was excellent and it was highlighted by his vision to find and set up Matofai-Forbes for a goal late in the game to make another late lead change.

#33 Keighton Matofai-Forbes
Forward | 188cm | 02/02/2006

Stats: 21 disposals, 8 marks, 3 goals

The captain started off slowly however settled into the contest as soon as he kicked his first goal of the game in the second quarter to bring his side back into the contest. His ability to find space was on show while his work rate was there again with his coverage of the ground, pushing up the field to help his defenders. He has great closing speed where he made a tackle forcing a turnover. When he manages to find space and loses his man in attack, he is dangerous and that was proven when he kicked a goal from the forward pocket in the last quarter to put the Jets in the lead again. Set shot kicking on the angle is an area that still needs improvement.

EASTERN RANGES:

#4 Jak Ryan
Small Forward | 176cm | 25/07/2006

Stats: 20 disposals, 9 marks, 1 goal

Ryan continued to work hard all day, playing a linking role up forward and moving up the ground well to provide an option, especially when the ball was coming out of defence. His aerobic running was excellent and once again he delivered the ball well inside 50. He made the most of his opportunities up forward too, kicking a goal off the ground from a loose ball.

#7 Cody Anderson
Midfielder | 181cm | 30/01/2006

Stats: 19 disposals, 6 inside 50s, 2 goals

Not his most prolific game, however Anderson managed to play his normal way providing his constant physical presence and tackle pressure around the contest. He worked well with Smillie again and while his ball delivery inside 50 was inconsistent, it was still delivered into dangerous spots. Anderson had plenty of team involvements and one-percenters, and his two-way running was good. He also showed great goal sense, highlighted by him kicking the first goal of the game roving off a pack.

#8 Lachy Dovaston
Small Defender | 176cm | 29/05/2007

Stats: 26 disposals, 6 rebound 50s, 1 goal

Dovaston showed excellent composure and evasiveness with the footy in hand, especially early when he dodged and weaved, baulking a few opponents in the process to kick a nice long goal. Dovaston covered the ground exceptionally well throughout the day and his execution and distribution of the ball by foot was excellent. While his decision making still can do with some improvement, when he makes the right decisions and the risks he takes come off he is damaging. He showed quick hands once again and his tackle pressure around the contests was strong while providing plenty of dash out of defence.

#9 Christian Moraes
Midfielder | 183cm | 08/11/2006

Stats: 33 disposals, 5 marks, 3 inside 50s

Moraes provided excellent defensive pressure throughout the day with excellent closing speed, while his play reading ability saw him intercept and force turnovers. His ball delivery was reasonable inside 50, however his kicking does require some improvement despite managing to accumulate plenty of the ball and demonstrating great agility throughout the day.

#26 Josh Smillie
Midfielder | 194cm | 17/05/2006

Stats: 33 disposals, 13 inside 50s, 2 goals

Smillie was a constant thorn in the Jets’ side. He found space easily to find the footy and used his big frame to shrug off opponents. His kicking off one step was lethal, especially when it came to delivering into the forward line – either you’d see him hit a target or it would result in chaos ball deep inside 50. Resting up forward, he would eventually kick two goals for the game including one in the last quarter which gave the Ranges the lead. His running through the middle of the ground was excellent and overall he made it look too easy at times, especially with his agility and composure with ball in hand.

#59 Cooper Trembath
Key Defender | 193cm | 17/10/2005

Stats: 17 disposals, 8 marks, 5 rebound 50s

Trembath again proved to be a constant rock in defence with his ability to intercept and his athleticism to take strong overhead marks repelling constant forward thrusts, especially with his long kicking. Trembath stood up in the second half when the Jets were making a charge and showed great movement and agility whenever he had the footy in his hands.

GWV Rebels 17.7 (109) def. Gippsland Power 10.12 (72)

GWV REBELS:

#2 Harry Charleson
Midfielder | 182cm | 26/06/2006

Stats: 21 disposals, 4 marks, 6 inside 50s

Sunday’s win was great reward for effort for Charleson, who has consistently been a prominent figure for the Rebels this season – never dipping below 20 touches across his five games. The midfielder had little trouble finding the ball as usual, doing so in dangerous launch zones as GWV looked to attack. He also made an impact at the stoppages with his fair share of clearance work in another steady performance.

#6 Jack Ough
Wing | 194cm | 15/12/2006

Stats: 16 disposals, 7 marks, 5 rebound 50s

Returning to the fold after missing last week, Ough slotted straight back into his customary wing role. He provided great coverage on the defensive end, sweeping back behind halfway to get involved in slow play and move the ball on without fuss. While he was efficient, there wasn’t as much flair or contributions in open play from Ough, though he performed strongly and made few errors.

#7 Oliver Hannaford
Defender | 180cm | 01/09/2006

Stats: 18 disposals, 2 tackles, 4 inside 50s

As far as effort and toughness go, few have them in equal amounts to Hannaford. The combative defender was aggressive both with and without possession; looking to carry the ball forward into advanced positions on the ground, while also cracking in when his name was called in contests. Hannaford’s high-pace style sometimes led to rushed decisions and execution, but he hurt the opposition when things came off well.

#19 Mitchell Lloyd
Tall Defender | 192cm | 15/03/2006

Stats: 19 disposals, 6 marks, 9 rebound 50s

Lloyd had a cracker of a game as GWV’s deepest defender, clunking some strong intercept marks and consistently repelling Gippsland’s attacks. His competitiveness was there against some willing opponents who could match him aerially, with Lloyd working hard to at least split one-on-one contests. He read the play well and benefitted from being drawn to the ball, popping up everywhere across defensive 50.

#20 Floyd Burmeister
Key Forward | 198cm | 04/05/2006

Stats: 7 disposals, 3 marks, 3 goals

Burmeister screams raw potential and while he only had seven touches, was one of four Rebels to finish with three goals. The mobile 198cm talent troubled the opposition with his movement, presenting well on the lead and proving dangerous when the ball hit the deck. He could have been a little stronger in holding his marks, but does things other talls can’t – like crumbing front and centre for a goal in the third quarter.

GIPPSLAND POWER:

#3 Xavier Lindsay
Midfielder | 183cm | 03/08/2006

Stats: 32 disposals, 7 marks, 9 inside 50s

A standout for the Power once again, Lindsay led from the front by leading all comers through midfield. The Gippsland captain was a class above at times, displaying great agility to step around opponents or take the ball on the move before unleashing line-breaking long kicks. While he could have lowered his eyes a little more going inside 50, Lindsay’s vision was terrific up the field and his attacking intent always put Gippsland in a good spot to score.

#7 Willem Duursma
Wing/Forward | 191cm | 21/06/2007

Stats: 13 disposals, 6 marks, 3 goals

Duursma has been exposed to a range of roles with Gippsland and his education continued via a rotation up forward from the wing. The bottom-ager stood out in the early stages with his punchy field kicking, showcasing unbelievably good vision, decision making, and skill. Duursma’s aerial ability made him a threat inside 50 and while clunking overhead marks didn’t come easy, he hit the scoreboard with three second half goals.

#11 Tom Hanily
Midfielder/Forward | 178cm | 31/05/2005

Stats: 16 disposals, 4 marks, 2 goals

After posting five scoring shots for one major last week, Hanily broke through for his first two-goal outing this season. The crafty midfielder-forward was evasive and creative at his best, thriving at ground level with little bursts of speed. He did a bit of everything in the third quarter, bagging two goals, nearly taking a screamer, and flying for a super diving smother.

Murray Bushrangers 11.15 (81) def. Oakleigh Chargers 9.5 (59)

MURRAY BUSHRANGERS:

#5 Alex Swinnerton
Small Defender | 175cm | 06/03/2006

Stats: 21 disposals, 8 marks, 4 rebound 50s

In his most prolific outing for the year, Swinnerton controlled the game in Murray’s defence both on turnovers and restarts. He used his turn of speed in spurts on the rebound, but also to shut down Oakleigh attacks. With eight marks and some of the kick-in duties, Swinnerton set up and transitioned play as one of the Bushies’ better ball users.

#9 Joe Berry
Small Forward | 180cm | 18/04/2006

Stats: 13 disposals, 6 marks, 4 goals

Sunday marked Berry’s fourth haul of four goals in five games this season, showcasing incredible consistency and forward craft. The creative small produced a scintillating second quarter, putting on a clinic inside 50 with three majors against a willing opponent in Luke Quaynor. Berry’s read of the ball, overhead marking, and finishing were on show as he accounted for three of Murray’s six goals in the breakaway term. He does his best work deep inside 50.

#18 Cohen Paul
Midfielder | 193cm | 07/06/2006

Stats: 21 disposals, 5 inside 50s, 1 goal

Continuing his run in Murray’s midfield, Paul made his size a factor by ripping the ball free from the inside, but also made use of penetrative kicking when exiting the contest. He arguably left his best moment for the last quarter, launching a bomb to the hot spot from around 75m out, only for the ball to bounce over the back and through for a goal. At 193cm, Paul has some nice points of difference and a readymade frame.

#24 Matt Whitlock
Key Forward | 199cm | 16/05/2006

Stats: 10 disposals, 2 marks, 1 goal

While it wasn’t quite a five-goal performance like last week, Whitlock showed more promising signs in his move to the forward line. He gave his direct opponent headaches with his movement, leading him to the ball countless times and displaying a willingness to carry or change direction like few talls can. Clean at ground level, the nimble swingman also did well to clunk a mark on the lead in term three before slotting his lone goal of the game. More strength and consistency are the next steps.

OAKLEIGH CHARGERS:

#7 Jagga Smith
Midfielder | 181cm | 28/01/2006

Stats: 33 disposals, 5 inside 50s, 5 rebound 50s

Smith was once again head and shoulders above all comers when it came to pure quality on Sunday. The smooth moving midfielder played a lone hand at centre stoppages and had little trouble finding the ball in each third of the ground. He tried to bring teammates into the play but getting them on the same wavelength was difficult at times, though Smith’s vision and instinctual skill execution by hand and foot was excellent. He’ll be a real weapon in transition and around the ball for Vic Metro.

#29 Charlie Whitehead
Forward | 191cm | 29/03/2007

Stats: 13 disposals, 4 marks, 1 goal

In just his second game for Oakleigh this season, Whitehead showed some nice signs as an athletic and versatile prospect. The dual-footed bottom-ager moves well for a raw and rangy 191cm player, and looked to set off quickly with ball in hand. His end product was inconsistent but certainly served him well with a smooth crumb and snap for goal in the third quarter.

#33 Luke Quaynor
Defender | 179cm | 17/03/2006

Stats: 17 disposals, 4 marks, 3 rebound 50s

Quaynor has had some tough jobs in Oakleigh’s defence of late but has proven resolute. The Collingwood NGA prospect competed hard and continued his good form aerially – albeit at 179cm – while distributing the ball relatively safely from restarts. His offensive output waned after half time, perhaps losing a bit of confidence after Murray bagged a string of goals in the second quarter.

Suns Academy 9.11 (65) def. by Geelong Falcons 10.12 (72)

SUNS ACADEMY:

#4 Zeke Uwland
Utility | 178cm | 24/04/2007

Stats: 16 disposals, 5 marks, 3 rebound 50s

A genuine utility who can play anywhere on the ground, Uwland switched between the wing and centre bounces, and also found the ball inside both 50m arcs. The diminutive bottom-ager had a few of his weapons blanketed on Sunday, but still had moments of class – like his terrific ground ball crumb and snap goal at a forward stoppage in the first quarter. Uwland’s exploits for the Suns have been recognised with selection in the Allies Under 18 squad as one of six bottom-agers.

#8 Leonardo Lombard
Midfielder/Forward | 178cm | 05/10/2006

Stats: 22 disposals, 6 inside 50s, 1 goal

A real leader amongst the Suns’ group, Lombard seems to demand high standards and lives up to them himself. The powerful midfielder-forward stepped up in the premiership quarter, displaying his quality with energetic runs and passages which helped set up what should have been a decisive lead at the final break. Lombard’s ability to chain possessions, fend off opponents and make things happen in transition ensured he could hurt the opposition when it mattered.

#21 Jai Murray
Wing | 183cm | 09/03/2007

Stats: 21 disposals, 5 marks, 1 goal

Murray is the kind of player you want to feed the ball, as his class on the outside is evident. He hardly wasted a touch, executing great skills and making sound decisions once released. The bottom-ager balanced his work by hand and foot, holding his width and pouncing on a free kick in the opening quarter to kick the game’s first goal.

#26 Zai Millane
Defender | 188cm | 13/01/2006

Stats: 19 disposals, 6 marks, 4 rebound 50s

A member of the Allies squad, Millane owned Gold Coast’s defensive 50 as a versatile and balanced player. Able to play on talls and smalls, or attack and defend, the top-ager impacted across all phases of the game. He intercepted well and provided some drive on the rebound, waxing well with teammates as plenty of the Suns’ transitional play went through him. That waned a little in the second half, but Millane was still solid.

GEELONG FALCONS:

#2 Noah Tullio
Midfielder/Forward | 169cm | 23/03/2006

Stats: 23 disposals, 8 inside 50s, 2 goals

Tullio may be small, but packs a punch and impacted Sunday’s game at the right time. His vision, agility and evasiveness were factors throughout the four quarters, but his biggest moment came at the death as he sunk a long-range set shot to complete Geelong’s comeback win. Tullio also hit the scoreboard in term two and utilised his kicking to advantage with creative exits from congestion.

#20 Lachie Jaques
Defender | 184cm | 01/06/2006

Stats: 15 disposals, 3 marks, 5 rebound 50s

A lot of Geelong’s rebound play goes through Jaques and he again assumed plenty of responsibility down back. The medium defender made his kicking a weapon from the restarts, taking quick metres and sending the ball beyond 50m. He also provided some run and carry up the field, taking it on to add some spark to the Falcons’ transitions.

#24 Will McLachlan
Forward | 185cm | 13/04/2005

Stats: 12 disposals, 4 marks, 2 goals

Known for his forward craft and aerial exploits, McLachlan showcased more of his ground level work on Sunday. The mid-season draft prospect was less of a marking factor but stayed active when the ball hit the deck, proving nimble and looking to create scoring chances. His bread and butter comes with marking and converting goals though, which he did twice against the Suns.

#29 Joe Pike
Ruck | 203cm | 17/05/2005

Stats: 19 disposals, 23 hitouts, 1 goal

Pike only strengthened his chances of going in the mid-season draft with an imposing fourth quarter. Down at the final change, Geelong benefitted greatly from the over-ager’s early lift and strong work at stoppages. He hit the scoreboard and overall covered the ground nicely, which has been a big improvement this year. Pike dropped back to support the defence with several intercept marks, positioning well behind the ball.

Bendigo Pioneers 10.9 (69) def. by Northern Knights 16.12 (108)

BENDIGO PIONEERS:

#2 Archer Day-Wicks
Forward/Wing | 186cm | 13/05/2006

Stats: 12 disposals, 3 marks, 1 goal

After a terrific outing last week, Day-Wicks was a little quieter against Northern but still had his moments of class. Playing the high forward role, he worked up the ground and looked to utilise his kicking skills in slow play. The top-ager’s connection between the arcs makes him an asset, and he also displayed his ability to score with a strong mark and set shot conversion in the second quarter. Day-Wicks was shifted up to the wing after half time but may have run out the game with a slight knock, having come up a little sore at the end of term three.

#3 Tobie Travaglia
Defender/Midfielder | 187cm | 26/10/2006

Stats: 31 disposals, 4 inside 50s, 2 goals

A monster performance from Travaglia saw him keep Bendigo in the hunt with two goals in term three. The rangy defender accumulated possessions behind the ball and provided aggressive run in transition, with the latter factor proving useful once he moved on-ball. Travaglia’s drive and pace made him a threat and showed good game awareness as the result began to slip away from his side.

#12 Jobe Shanahan
Key Forward | 194cm | 02/08/2006

Stats: 14 disposals, 4 marks, 3 goals

Shanahan continues to improve and showcase his strengths, booting three goals from six scoring shots on Sunday. The mobile tall was typically dominant aerially, where he clunked marks in range of goal and owned front position with strong hands and bodywork. Shanahan also did well to earn one of his goals with a holding-the-ball tackle inside 50, and usually has quite a good radar, but faded a touch after half time.

NORTHERN KNIGHTS:

#3 Tyson Gresham
Small Forward | 168cm | 21/06/2007

Stats: 13 disposals, 5 marks, 2 goals

One of the smallest but craftiest players afield, Gresham was typically nifty in the attacking half. The bottom-aged Carlton NGA prospect played the high forward role and provided opportunities for other with his use by foot, while also pouncing on his own chances. Gresham’s highlight for the day was an unreal checkside goal in the final quarter as Northern began to kick away to victory.

#7 Zak Johnson
Defender | 185cm | 24/12/2006

Stats: 28 disposals, 8 marks, 4 inside 50s

Johnson is so automatic and efficient at times that you barely notice just how well he’s playing. The midfielder-turned-defender hit targets with typical aplomb on Sunday and looked more polished than just about anyone afield. His ball use was complimented by aggressive positioning and some sound intercept marks, which he can use as another weapon while playing down back.

#13 Riley Ormerod
Small Forward | 173cm | 07/04/2006

Stats: 14 disposals, 5 tackles, 6 goals

It was Ormerod’s day on Sunday, with the diminutive utility booting six goals – including four in the second quarter. He helped Northern win the early shootout with great conversion and shrewd positioning at the fall of the ball. Whether it was tracking into space, drawing free kicks, or stepping past opponents, Ormerod got into scoring positions and took advantage when fed the ball. Perhaps he has found his position having previously played up the ground.

#18 Thomas Sims
Key Forward | 199cm | 12/05/2006

Stats: 14 disposals, 4 marks, 2 goals

Fresh off a seven-goal haul, Sims took somewhat of a back seat when it came to scoring but maintained his streak of kicking a goal in every game this season. The imposing big man provided a contest in the air which not only led to his own two majors, but also allowed smalls like Ormerod to feast at the fall of the ball. Sims was prominent in the first half before spending more time in the ruck and fared well on a game opponent in Zaydyn Lockwood.

#23 Gabriel Stumpf
Key Forward | 196cm | 23/11/2006

Stats: 8 disposals, 3 marks, 3 goals

Stumpf continues to show promise as one of Northern’s many attacking outlets, bagging a second-straight haul of three goals. His movement is the most appealing trait at 196cm, with Stumpf able to get separation on the lead and look comfortable with ball in hand. He cantered over the back for his first goal and was somewhat of a fourth midfielder when rotated through the ruck, breaking clear for a couple of centre clearances.