ALL six Coates Talent League metropolitan regions will converge on Mars Stadium tomorrow as Wildcard Round gets underway. Under the format, all 13 teams are in with a chance to play in the three-week finals series. We preview Saturday’s trio of fixtures, which should offer some close contests.

>> EXPLAINER: Coates Talent League Wildcard Round

Saturday August 31, 10:30am @ Mars Stadium

IN A NUTSHELL

The Metro conference bookends meet in what is set to be a hotly contested start to Wildcard Round. Calder finished top of the lot with a perfectly opposite record (11-4) to Oakleigh, who fielded an enormous depth of players in 2024. The Cannons went on a superb run in the back-end of the season to win seven of their last eight games, while three of the Chargers’ four victories have come in their last five outings.

RECORDS

Calder Cannons – 2nd (1st Metro) | 11-4 | 112.6%
Oakleigh Chargers – 13th (6th Metro) | 4-11 | 72.5%

STREAK

Calder Cannons – L | WWW | L | W | L | WWWWWW | L | W
Oakleigh Chargers – LL | W | LLLLLLL | WW | LL | W

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Round 10 @ Windy Hill:
Calder Cannons 11.13 (79) def. Oakleigh Chargers 6.7 (43)

SQUADS

Calder Cannons:

B: #3 J. Nguyen – #21 T. Barnett – #45 J. Ryan
HB: #13 K. Gallagher – #43 G. Papal – #15 H. Albon
C: #6 H. Allison – #17 N. King – #28 D. Shepherd
HF: #16 N. Scott – #12 A. McQuire – #25 C. Herbert
F: #37 H. El Achkar – #5 R. Leedham – #19 T. Legudi
FOL: #56 C. Duff-Tytler – #27 P. Said – #10 D. Hollow

INT: #26 H. Bird, #31 F. Kneipp, #34 W. Hanegraaf, #48 H. Pearce
23rd: #22 J. Laidler

EMG: #32 J. Barber, #39 O. Watt, #57 C. El Khodr

Oakleigh Chargers:

B: #46 M. Kondogiannis – #45 L. Callaghan – #6 T. McCarthy
HB: #21 B. Leidler – #38 S. Grlj – #35 T. Wenzel
C: #4 P. Retschko – #15 N. Yze – #25 S. Allen
HF: #3 K. Askew – #27 W. Davey – #1 J. Alger
F: #9 T. Gross – #32 B. Dowling – #8 C. Richardson
FOL: #11 L. Emmett – #7 J. Smith – #5 F. O’Sullivan

INT: #20 Z. Cochrane, #23 L. Tovey, #24 K. Emery, #63 Q. McKay
23rd: #31 J. Ison

EMG: #17 K. Stewart, #49 J. Milner, #60 Z. McCarthy

ONES TO WATCH

The main event is Oakleigh’s midfield mix, featuring top pick contender Jagga Smith. The likes of Tom Gross, Zane Cochrane, and Noah Yze will also help conduct what shapes up as quite a robust engine room. Though, the late exclusion of Finn O’Sullivan (hip flexor) looms as a huge blow.

Bottom-ager Louis Emmett gets the pleasure of rucking to them, and will likely battle it out against Calder’s frontliner, Cooper Duff-Tytler. Both could be top 10 prospects by this time next year. Oakleigh also gets over-age tall Boston Dowling back, fresh off VFL experience.

Not only will Oakleigh likely afford their forwards quick and frequent entries via midfield, but also through strong transitional running. Watch for wingman Patrick Retschko and dashing defender Blake Leidler to connect the field, along with high forwards like Jasper Alger.

Calder goes in without key men Isaac Kako and Harry O’Farrell. Structurally, the latter will arguably be harder to replace as a tall swingman. Meanwhile, Kako’s fellow Essendon Next Generation Academy member Hussien El Achkar provides ample pace and smarts in the small forward slot.

The Cannons’ on-ball group is tough and should hold its own on the inside with the likes of clearance specialist Nash King and fearless leader Damon Hollow. Utilities Patrick Said and Noah Scott are also likely to roll through between the midfield and forwardline.

PREDICTION

Calder’s run home has been terrific, though Oakleigh has some serious quality in its full-strength lineup and is beginning to jell at the right time. The Chargers’ win over reigning premier, Sandringham inadvertently handed Calder the top Metro spot. The nature of the competition means home-and-away records and the previous meeting between these sides means little, as they look much different now. A major upset will shake up the rankings, Chargers by 10.

Saturday August 31, 1:00pm @ Mars Stadium

IN A NUTSHELL

For the second time in as many weeks, Metro regions Eastern Ranges and Northern Knights will face off – only, this time a finals spot is on the line. The third-ranked Ranges have beaten their fourth-ranked counterparts twice this season with an average margin of 40 points. Eastern comes in having won its last two games, while Northern went down in its final two home-and-away fixtures.

RECORDS

Eastern Ranges – 8th (3rd Metro) | 7-8 | 93.7%
Northern Knights – 9th (4th Metro) | 5-9-1 | 100.6%

STREAK

Eastern Ranges – WW | LL | WW | L | W | LLLLL | WW
Northern Knights – W | LL | WWW | LLLLL | D | W | LL

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Round 2 @ Belvedere Reserve
Eastern Ranges 17.14 (116) def. Northern Knights 9.6 (60)

Round 19 @ Preston City Oval:
Northern Knights 12.7 (79) def. by Eastern Ranges 15.12 (102)

SQUADS

Eastern Ranges:

B: #17 J. Baldwin – #38 X. Taylor – #18 R. White
HB: #34 B. Spencer – #31 A. Barker – #25 O. Taylor
C: #29 M. Porter – #35 B. Lloyd – #3 L. Wilson
HF: #44 S. MacDonald – #64 C. Sizer – #4 J. Ryan
F: #12 J. Hider – #55 R. MacLean – #8 L. Dovaston
FOL: #49 L. Monteath – #9 C. Moraes – #26 J. Smillie

INT: #7 C. Anderson, #16 O. Greeves, #20 J. Armitage, #47 Z. McGown
23rd: #27 B. Chambers

EMG: #1 J. Mooney, #6 J. Galstians, #42 L. Wright

Northern Knights:

B: #32 C. Mardini – #26 T. Vrkic – #49 T. Hodgson
HB: #13 R. Ormerod – #8 A. Doyle – #44 R. Commandeur
C: #5 T. Logan – #19 T. Kitchell – #11 L. McInerney
HF: #4 L. Farrar – #45 S. Murphy – #3 T. Gresham
F: #34 J. Gillard – #6 N. Canavan – #23 G. Stumpf
FOL: #18 T. Sims – #1 J. Dattoli – #14 K. Lawson

INT: #12 N. Driscoll, #43 J. Allison, #48 R. Moxon, #55 H. White
23rd: #33 M. Downes

EMG: #10 S. Tyrell, #17 C. Opie, #46 Z. Hardwood

ONES TO WATCH

Eastern’s one-two punch of Josh Smillie and Christian Moraes will be tough to beat through the middle, no less with the likes of Cody Anderson and Oliver Greeves also running through there. Together, they offer a great blend of size, power, attacking flair, and defensive intent.

That group will hope to control the engine room and offer the right service for spearhead Remy MacLean up forward. At his feet are a fleet of dangerous smalls, including Lachy Dovaston and Jordan Hider who thrive at ground level. Jak Ryan is another who will help connect the field.

Northern will be without star midfielder and co-captain Zak Johnson, though Jesse Dattoli has taken the mantle of number one prospect since returning to the fold. He, and the ruck/forward duo of Thomas Sims and Gabriel Stumpf will be integral if the Knights are to kick a winning score.

Emerging talent is also a watch for the lower-ranked Northern outfit. Defender Tate Hodgson and forward Max Downes has established themselves in the side as Under 16s playing up, while bottom-agers Tyson Gresham, Nick Canavan, and Sebastian Murphy pose a threat in attack.

PREDICTION

Northern did well to close the gap on Eastern last week compared to the two side’s previous meeting. Though, the Knights have suffered a big blow with co-captain Johnson not named for the clash. Both teams have a relatively even spread of top-end talent, albeit in different roles, so whichever side can adjust quicker to the Ballarat conditions stands the best chance. Ranges by 15.

Saturday August 31, 3:30pm @ Mars Stadium

IN A NUTSHELL

Two Metro regions yet to face off in 2024 lock horns to cap off a bumper day of Wildcard Round action. Sandringham comes in off two losses in its last three games, but is usually a powerhouse at full strength and has a third-consecutive flag to chase. Western’s squad undergoes less change throughout the year but the Jets have lost six of their last seven games, including five in a row.

RECORDS

Sandringham Dragons – 4th (2nd Metro) | 10-5 | 123.9%
Western Jets – 10th (5th Metro) | 5-10 | 95.6%

STREAK

Sandringham Dragons – WWWW | LLL | WWWWW | L | W | L
Western Jets – LL | W | LL | WWW | L | W | LLLLL

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Yet to meet in 2024.

EXTENDED SQUADS

Sandringham Dragons:

#1 Oliver Green
#2 Jack Dalton
#3 Levi Ashcroft
#6 Harrison Oliver
#8 Owen Bater
#11 Nathaniel Sulzberger
#12 Harry Armstrong
#15 Lennox Hofmann
#20 Adrian Cole
#22 Murphy Reid
#23 Luke Trainor
#24 Brodie Findlay
#31 Bailey McKenzie
#32 Miles Tyrer
#33 Mitchell Kirkwood-Scott
#36 Samuel Marshall
#42 Benjamin Seers
#45 Luke Kennedy
#46 Zach Travers
#47 Lachlan Voss
#52 Aaron Taylor
#55 Charlie Rozenes
#59 Sam Linder
#68 Archie Ludowyke
#70 Jess Mildenhall
#77 Arki Butler

Western Jets:

#1 Massimo Raso
#3 Lucca Grego
#4 Jack Gerardi
#5 Darcy Weeks
#7 Thomas McGuane
#10 Thomas Burton
#12 Lachie McArthur
#13 West Barker
#14 Lachlan Fitzgerald
#21 Kobe Williams
#22 Kane Sexton
#25 Oskar Ainsworth
#28 Xavier Kardachi
#30 Angus Tippett
#32 Noah Asciak
#35 Jacob Marron
#37 Macauli Buck
#41 Edwin Nyembo
#43 Oscar Greenshields
#44 Rani Pavlidis
#45 Miller Harvey
#46 Daniel Gilham
#47 Christian Olivieri
#52 Ayden McCarroll
#53 Lachlan Hicks

ONES TO WATCH

Sandringham’s depth of talent is near-endless. The midfield group is stacked with big names, no more so than Murphy Reid and Levi Ashcroft. Allies representatives Samuel Marshall and Nathaniel Sulzberger also provide great fold through the middle along with Luke Kennedy.

Luke Trainor returns to sure up the bookends of the side, complimenting Adrian Cole and Lennox Hofmann as aerialists down back. Up forward, Harry Armstrong spearheads the Dragons and should have some heat taken off him by fellow marking targets Archie Ludowyke and Bailey McKenzie.

A battle between two Under 16 Vic Metro teammates is in the offing. Mercurial forward Arki Butler has been named for the Dragons fresh off a three-goal debut game, while midfielder and MVP Lachlan Hicks also makes his second appearance at the level in Western Jets colours.

The Jets’ leading prospect is captain Lucca Grego, who looks set to lead from midfield. He may well have the prolific bottom-age duo of Thomas Burton and Thomas McGuane in support, with the pair offering hard running and slick ball use in each third of the ground.

Xavier Kardachi is another key part of Western’s engine room. Elsewhere, they have over-ager Lachlan McArthur as the primary distributor from defence, while small forward Jack Gerardi leads the side for goals with 26 – good enough for third on the league’s goalkicking list.

PREDICTION

Coming off a shock loss to rival Oakleigh last week, Sandringham will be keen to quickly make amends a jell at the pointy end of the season. Western has proven capable of competing with the top sides in patches, but against such a quality outfit with such a fearsome depth of talent, the Jets may just not have enough. Dragons by 40.

WILDCARD ROUND FIXTURE

Metro Conference:

Calder Cannons (1) vs. Oakleigh Chargers (6)
Saturday August 31, 10:30am @ Mars Stadium

Eastern Ranges (3) vs. Northern Knights (4)
Saturday August 31, 1:00pm @ Mars Stadium

Sandringham Dragons (2) vs. Western Jets (5)
Saturday August 31, 3:30pm @ Mars Stadium

Country/Tasmania Conference:

Gippsland Power (4) vs. Murray Bushrangers (5)
Sunday September 1, 12:00pm @ La Trobe University

Tasmania Devils (3) vs. GWV Rebels (6)
Sunday September 1, 1:00pm @ Kingston Twin Ovals

Dandenong Stingrays (2) vs. Bendigo Pioneers (7)
Sunday September 1, 2:30pm @ La Trobe University

Bye: Geelong Falcons (1)