CALDER Cannons ruck-forward Cooper Duff-Tytler is our Coates Talent League Player of the Week after a stuffing the stats sheet in Round 18. He posted a remarkable 30 disposals, 10 marks, 17 hitouts, and two goals as his side went down by 21 points to Dandenong Stingrays on Saturday.

The emerging tall returned to Calder’s lineup in emphatic fashion, fresh off representing Vic Metro in the Under 17 Futures series. It was his third Coates Talent League appearance for the season and clearly the best, breaking new ground across the board as he continues to improve game by game.

At 199cm, Duff-Tytler is dominant aerially and incredibly mobile, presenting a broad scope for improvement. The 17-year-old is also a talented basketballer and much like the leading ruck prospect in this year’s draft crop, Alex Dodson, will have a decision to make between pursuing either sport.

He did a bit of everything in Saturday’s clash at Shepley Oval, arguably getting the better of Dandenong over-ager Jordan Doherty in the ruck. While Duff-Tytler’s primary opponent bagged three crucial goals to help steer his side to victory, the bottom-ager showcased superior craft at the source.

Duff-Tytler and the Cannons move on to face Western Jets at Highgate Recreation Reserve in the final home-and-away round of the season. Calder (10-4) currently sits pretty in third spot with eyes on a top two berth should final weekend results go the region’s way.

A pair of Sandringham stars also put up big numbers over the weekend. Co-captain Levi Ashcroft (46 disposals) and fellow top five prospect Murphy Reid (39) filled their boots as the Dragons snatched back top spot from Geelong.

On the same day at RSEA Park, Round 9 Player of the Week Jagga Smith was outstanding with 42 touches in Oakleigh’s loss to GWV. Chargers ruck Louis Emmett (28 disposals, eight marks, two goals) also stood tall, while Rebels forward Oliver Hannaford booted five goals.

Speaking of goals, a Murray Bushrangers trio dined out in their side’s 94-point thumping of Western. Joshua Murphy led the way with 6.4 and 11 marks, while twins Jack (5.3) and Matt Whitlock (4.1) also impacted the scoreboard in a big way. Murphy now leads the league for total goals with 30.

2024 COATES TALENT LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Round 1: Josh Smillie (Eastern Ranges)
Round 2: Taj Hotton (Sandringham Dragons)
Round 3: Will McLachlan (Geelong Falcons)
Round 4: N/A
Round 5: Bailey McKenzie (Sandringham Dragons)
Round 6: Cooper Hynes (Dandenong Stingrays)
Round 7: Xavier Lindsay (Gippsland Power)
Round 8: Geordie Payne (Tasmania Devils)
Round 9: Jagga Smith (Oakleigh Chargers)
Round 10: Jonty Faull (GWV Rebels)
Round 11: Tobie Travaglia (Bendigo Pioneers)
Round 12: Joshua Murphy (Murray Bushrangers)
Round 13: Zane Cochrane (Oakleigh Chargers)
Round 14: Zac Harding (Murray Bushrangers)
Round 15: Cooper Ward (Geelong Falcons)
Round 16: Jack Ough (GWV Rebels)
Round 17: Elwood Peckett (Dandenong Stingrays)
Round 18: Cooper Duff-Tytler (Calder Cannons)