2024 Coates Talent League quarter finals locked in
TEN of the 13 Coates Talent League regions will be represented across the upcoming finals series in either or both the boys and girls competitions. Four regions – GWV Rebels and Calder Cannons for the boys and Tasmania Devils and Eastern Ranges for the girls – will solely focus one one side in the post-season, while the Dandenong Stingrays, Geelong Falcons, Gippsland Power, Northern Knights, Oakleigh Chargers and Sandringham Dragons will be represented across both leagues.
The AFL released the venues for the weekend’s quarter finals, with the four boys finals held at ETU Stadium across Saturday and Sunday in a pair of double-headers. Meanwhile the girls have the same setup but at Shepley Oval in Dandenong, with double-headers again across the Saturday and Sunday ensuring AFL and AFLW club recruiters can view each of the four relevant finals.
Both finals series have the same structure, with the top four country regions and top four metropolitan regions split up in a first-against-fourth and second-against-third setup. The winners will then crossover, where if the favourites in each match win, would see the top ranked country side play the second ranked metropolitan side, and vice-versa in the preliminary finals. The winners of those preliminary finals will go on to face-off in the grand final.
The venue/s for the preliminary finals which will be held across the weekend of September 14-15 are yet to be decided, however the Coates Talent League Grand Finals will take place at Ikon Park on Saturday, September 21.
In the boys, Sandringham Dragons – the top ranked metropolitan side – is gunning for its third straight flag, while in the girls, Oakleigh Chargers – also the top-ranked metropolitan side – will eye off back-to-back premierships in the upcoming finals series.
BOYS FIXTURE
Saturday, September 7
Third Quarter Final, Geelong Falcons (Country/Tas #1) vs GWV Rebels (Country/Tas #4)
ETU Stadium, Port Melbourne, 11:30am AEST
Fourth Quarter Final, Dandenong Stingrays (Country/Tas #2) vs Gippsland Power (Country/Tas #3)
ETU Stadium, Port Melbourne, 2:00pm AEST
Sunday, September 8
First Quarter Final, Sandringham Dragons (Metro #1) vs Calder Cannons (Metro #4)
ETU Stadium, Port Melbourne, 11:00am AEST
Second Quarter Final, Northern Knights (Metro #2) vs Oakleigh Chargers (Metro #3)
ETU Stadium, Port Melbourne, 1:30pm AEST
GIRLS FIXTURE
Saturday, September 7
First Quarter Final, Oakleigh Chargers (Metro #1) vs Sandringham Dragons (Metro #4)
Shepley Oval, Dandenong, 11:00am AEST
Second Quarter Final, Eastern Ranges (Metro #2) vs Northern Knights (Metro #3)
Shepley Oval, Dandenong, 1:10pm AEST
Sunday, September 8
Fourth Quarter Final, Dandenong Stingrays (Country/Tas #2) vs Gippsland Power (Country/Tas #3)
Shepley Oval, Dandenong, 11:00am AEST
Third Quarter Final, Tasmania Devils (Country/Tas #1) vs Geelong Falcons (Country/Tas #4)
Shepley Oval, Dandenong, 1:10pm AEST
2024 COATES TALENT LEAGUE FINALS SERIES STRUCTURE
Quarter Finals
Saturday, September 7 and Sunday, September 8
First Quarter Final: First ranked Metro team vs. Fourth ranked Metro team
Second Quarter Final: Second ranked Metro team vs. Third ranked Metro team
Third Quarter Final: First ranked Country/Tas team vs. Fourth ranked Country/Tas team
Fourth Quarter Final: Second ranked Country/Tas team vs. Third ranked Country/Tas team
Preliminary Finals
Saturday, September 14 and/or Sunday, September 15
First Preliminary Final: First Quarter Final winner vs. Fourth Quarter Final winner
Second Preliminary Final: Second Quarter Final winner vs. Third Quarter Final winner
Grand Final
Saturday, September 21
Grand Final: First Preliminary Final winner vs. Second Preliminary Final winner
Venue: Ikon Park