THREE of seven sides in the Country/Tasmania conference were eliminated in Wildcard Round, meaning the post-season debrief begins. We break down how the campaigns of Bendigo, Murray, and Tasmania panned out with a look at their star players and what’s in store for the future.

>> 2024 Coates Talent League: Stats | RMC Medal | Team of the Year

BENDIGO PIONEERS

RECORD: 12th Overall | 6th Conference | 4-11 | 80.05%
STREAK: WWWW | LLLLLLLLLLL
WILDCARD: def. by Dandenong Stingrays 7.11 (53) to 12.7 (79)

THE STORY:

Bendigo Pioneers burst out of the blocks in 2024 with four consecutive wins to start the season. Despite a presence of several top talents who earned Vic Country selection or draft combine invites, the Pios went on to lose 12-straight games, including Wildcard Round. That’s not to say they weren’t competitive, having lost four games by under two goals.

THE HIGHLIGHT:

The start. Bendigo looked bright early in the season with four wins from four, including a pair of victories by two points or less. The Pioneers beat Greater Western Victoria twice in that run, though perhaps the result which holds up best is their 24-point defeat of quarter-finalist, Gippsland in Round 3. In the Round 10 return leg, they went down by four points.

THE STAR:

Who else but Tobie Travaglia? There was some competition for this spot, but Travaglia proved a great leader an arguably the region’s top prospect. Able to play in a variety of roles on each third of the field, the 187cm utility provided plenty of drive off half-back and was not afraid to get his hands dirty in midfield. What’s more, he even managed to kick clutch goals when resting forward.

THE MAINSTAYS:

Along with Travaglia, Bendigo produced three more National Combine invitees this year in Jobe Shanahan, James Barrat, and Archer Day-Wicks. Shanahan is the most highly touted, having been the side’s spearhead before a fruitful late-season run for Essendon in the VFL. The 194cm forward kicked 23 goals in 11 games.

Barrat was his partner-in-crime to start the season before being swung to defence. The contested marking specialist booted 22 goals in 13 games, but shone with averages of 19.7 disposals, 8.9 marks, and 7.3 rebound 50s in his last seven outings down back.

Day-Wicks is one of the region’s more mercurial talents and provided glimpses of his strong aerial ability and punchy left-foot kicking. Defenders Lachlan Hogan and Connor Evans also impressed throughout the year and earned representative honours for the Allies and Vic Country respectively.

Elsewhere, captain Dayten Uerata and Oliver Poole were a couple of frequent over-age contributors. Xavier College duo Tom Evans and Archie Watt provided strong depth through midfield when available, while versatile tall Zaydyn Lockwood was accustomed to playing important team roles.

THE FUTURE:

The pickings are a little slimmer in Bendigo’s 2007-born crop compared to this year, though a trio of players – Shaun Watson, Hunter Wright, and Wil Bennett – look to have some promise. In the Under 16 category, Carlton father-son and Richmond NGA candidate Cody Walker has star potential. The Pioneers have also debuted other 2008-born talent in the likes of Sonny Beasy and Seamus Doherty.

MURRAY BUSHRANGERS

RECORD: 7th Overall | 5th Conference | 8-6-1 | 111.21%
STREAK: W | LL | WWWW | LLL | D | W | L | WW
WILDCARD: def. by Gippsland Power 6.8 (44) to 7.9 (51)

THE STORY:

After finishing bottom in 2023 despite producing several first round draft picks, Murray had its mind on generating more team success in 2024. Prospective top talent remains, and the Bushrangers maintained a positive record this season. They won a handful of their first seven games, including five in a row, and pushed Gippsland all the way in Wildcard Round but just fell short of a finals berth.

THE HIGHLIGHT:

Murray can hang its hat on having beaten the top-ranked regions win both conferences, as well as the reigning premier this season. The Bushies knocked off Metro pole sitter, Calder by a point in Round 9 and beat eventual minor premier, Geelong by 29 the very next round. Their fighting win over Sandringham can in Round 16 on the back of five final-quarter goals to one.

THE STAR:

It’s hard to look past Joe Berry as the best of the Bushies. The classy forward kicked 27 goals in 14 games to feature on the top rung of goalkickers this year. That tally included a quartet of four-goal hauls in his first five games, and seven instances where he booted multiple majors. Berry was kept goalless just thrice – twice in his last two appearances as a primary midfielder.

THE MAINSTAYS:

Among Murray’s four National Draft Combine invitees are the Whitlock twins. Jack, a ruck-forward, kicked 25 goals in 12 games, while swingman Matt bagged 27 in 14 to form a dangerous attacking duo. Both brothers represented Vic Country and were called up to the National Academy.

>> Marquee Matchup: Jack Whitlock vs. Matt Whitlock

Also part of Murray’s attacking hydra was competition leading goalkicker Joshua Murphy, who booted 32 in 12 games, including three hauls of six. He went on to captain the Allies at this year’s Under 18 National Championships and stuck fear into opposition defenders close to goal.

Murphy earned a state draft combine invite alongside ruckman Zac Harding and defender Ben Kennedy. The pair spent much of their seasons in respective school footy campaigns, but were reliable figures at Coates Talent League level in a combined 15 appearances.

Speaking of school footy, Oliver Warburton thrived in the APS system and even got a run for Collingwood’s VFL side. He played seven games in his third season in the Bushrangers’ Under 18 team, averaging 25.9 disposals and earning a national combine invite.

Elsewhere, Murray got solid service out of rotating midfielders like Darby Wilson and Max Mahoney, while ruck Indhi Kotzur was a mainstay in the middle. Key defender Reuben Bourke was another crucial role player who held down a spot throughout the season.

THE FUTURE:

An exciting future awaits for Murray, who boast some serious bottom-age talent. Riley Onley shapes as the best of the lot, a 194cm midfielder with great balance and craft. He’ll likely team up with powerful hard nut Ryder Corrigan, who got plenty of experience under his belt this season.

Key position pieces are falling into place with Liam Hetherton showing some nice signs up forward, while Lenny Koller has potential down back. Speaking of, prolific rebounder Harrison Wilson is one to watch from the NSW side of Murray’s zone. The Bushies have also berthed Under 16 talent Tanner Armstrong, who hardly looked out of place up forward and can play on each line.

TASMANIA DEVILS

RECORD: 5th Overall | 3rd Conference | 9-5 | 132.99%
STREAK: LLL | WWWWWWWW | LL | W
WILDCARD: def. by GWV Rebels 5.4 (34) to 4.13 (37)

THE STORY:

Tasmania overcame its slow start to the season to string together a remarkable run of form. Thriving with a wonderfully settled group, the Devils won eight consecutive games after losing their first three. Having had one fixture postponed, they ended up playing one less game than every region bar Gippsland and landed on a record good enough for fifth overall. GWV brought upon their downfall in a Wildcard Round slog amid dour conditions.

THE HIGHLIGHT:

The Devils’ mid-season streak of eight wins had them competing to be the top ranked side of the competition. They beat four eventual finalists, including GWV and reigning premier Sandringham, while making the Apple Isle a fortress having travelled to Melbourne and Sydney for their first five games. In said period, Tasmania held an average winning margin of 34 points, with a high of 85 and low of 14 – twice.

THE STAR:

Co-captain and best and fairest winner Connor Ling was a consistently reliable outlet in the Devils’ midfield. Playing alongside twin brother, Liam, he averaged an even 20 disposals per game to go with 5.6 tackles, often taking a team-first approach. He finished the campaign strongly with consecutive personal-best hauls of 28 touches having not missed a game all season.

THE MAINSTAYS:

The Devils had an early win this year with Geordie Payne taken with pick one in the mid-season draft. Fellow over-ager Max Mapley, a mobile and versatile tall, had hopes on joining him but remained in the Devils’ setup and showed his potential in each key position post.

Another tall, Oliver Dean, was the state’s sole National Academy member this year and is also its only state draft combine invitee – barring Sandringham Dragons’ Nathaniel Sulzberger. Dean proved his wares as the side’s primary ruck before spending more time forward late in the year.

Along with Dean, forwards Oliver Depaoli-Kubank and Lenny Douglas earned Allies selection at the Under 18 National Championships. The former was also exposed to roles in midfield and on the wing, while the latter kicked more Coates Talent League goals than any other Devil with 28.

Co-captain Harry Elmer was another key player with his run off half-back, while Liam Ling plugged in for roles in each third of the ground. Similar can be said for Emig French, though the likes of Dominic Pitt (midfield) and Max Roney (defence) were regular assets in their favoured positions.

THE FUTURE:

Ruckman Jasper Hay is clearly Tasmania’s best prospect for 2025. The spring-heeled tall moves well and is a competitor. He backed up his Under 16 MVP-winning campaign last year with another solid season, and eventually moved into the primary ruck role ahead of Dean.

Fellow bottom-agers Rylee McHenry and Lucas Wootton look like forming a potential midfield pairing next season after showing strong form there in the back-end of the season. Dashing outside runner Jarvis Breen is another who has showed some potential in Colby McKercher‘s number 27 jumper.

Lastly, it would be remiss to overlook Under 16 talent Charlie Bovill. The talented swingman booted five goals on his Coates Talent League debut before earning All Australian honours at the National Development championships, then returning to run out the season with the Devils. One to watch.