THE WEEKEND’S preliminary finals saw Sandringham Dragons and GWV Rebels progress to the Coates Talent League decider. We break down how the campaigns of eliminated sides, Dandenong Stingrays and Oakleigh Chargers 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

DANDENONG STINGRAYS

H&A RECORD: 3rd Overall | 2nd Country | 10-4-1 | 123.3%
H&A STREAK: LL | WW | L | D | WWWW | L | WWWW

WILDCARD: def. Bendigo Pioneers 12.7 (79) to 7.11 (53)
QUARTER FINAL: def. Gippsland Power 9.10 (64) to 7.16 (58)
PRELIM FINAL: def. by Sandringham Dragons 6.7 (43) to 14.10 (94)

THE STORY:

It was a season of two contrasting halves for Dandenong. The Stingrays went 2-2 across the first month and ended up falling to 2-3-1 before turning things around. What followed was eight wins in their last nine outings, including two seperate four-game winning streaks. The region’s only loss in that time came by eight points at the hands of Sandringham, who went on to make a third consecutive Grand Final. The Dragons also ended Dandenong’s season in Sunday’s preliminary final, by 51 points.

THE HIGHLIGHT:

A few of the Stingrays’ wins hold up particularly well given how the season panned out, including their two victories over GWV. They also got up over fellow preliminary finalist, Oakleigh by a thumping 50 points in Round 11. It’s difficult to pinpoint one game as their best, but the run of eight wins in nine games, which extended to 10 in 11 come their final appearance, was a special streak.

THE STAR:

It could only be Harvey Langford. The co-captain, Larke Medallist and Vic Country MVP starred across 15 games this season, averaging 25.9 disposals, 5.1 marks, 4.8 inside 50s, and booting 20 goals. He dominated in his usual midfield-forward rotation, booting a high of four goals to go with his personal-best 33 touches against Gippsland in Round 19. Few of his peers could compete with him.

THE MAINSTAYS:

Along with Langford, Cooper Hynes was another dominant force for the Stingrays all season. The 190cm powerhouse kicked 23 goals in 15 games, averaging 23.7 disposals and 4.5 inside 50s. He, Langford and injured key position utility Noah Mraz all earned National Combine invites.

Talls Riak Andrew and Jordan Doherty were also mainstays in their over-age campaigns and garnered Vic Country call-ups. Both were invited to the state draft combine along with fellow 2005-born bolter Sam Toner, St Kilda father-son hopeful Elwood Peckett, and defender Charlie Orchard.

Another over-ager in Ben Hopkins also provided good service, added 16 appearances to his 14 last year down back. A comprehensive list consisting of Justin Barnes, Tahj De La Rue, Harrison Doughton, Henry Hayes, and Kane Hurst all joined Orchard in playing a high of 17 games, proving how settled the side was.

THE FUTURE:

Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves is Dandenong’s leading prospect for next year. The 185cm utility kicked a bunch of clutch goals throughout the season in his time forward, while also spending time on the wing. He played 16 games and was called up for Vic Country, averaging 14.9 disposals and 4.4 marks.

Hibbins-Hargreaves kicked the side’s most goals, with Tairon Ah-Mu landing only one behind on 22. The hulking ruck-forward featured 11 times between his school football commitments, booting three majors on four occasions and managing a high of four in Round 8.

No bottom-ager turned out more times than Toby Sinnema (17) this season. He was selected in the Vic Country Under 17 squad alongside the likes of Riley Hilliard and Archie Leclerc, among others. Under 16 forwards Marcus Prasad and Mitch Toner were also handed debuts along with Darcy Szerszyn.

>> RECAPS: Country Wildcards | Metro Wildcards | Country Finalists | Metro Finalists

OAKLEIGH CHARGERS

H&A RECORD: 13th Overall | 6th Metro | 4-11 | 72.5%
H&A STREAK: LL | W | LLLLLLL | WW | LL | W

WILDCARD: def. Calder Cannons 14.10 (94) to 10.7 (67)
QUARTER FINAL: def. Northern Knights 9.16 (70) to 10.8 (68)
PRELIM FINAL: def. by GWV Rebels 8.18 (66) to 10.10 (70)

THE STORY:

Oakleigh fielded an absurd amount of talent in 2024, forced to scour the region for players in the face of heavy school football and representative commitments. At one point, the Chargers were 1-9 with their only win coming against the Suns Academy. Their first victory against a full-time region came over Western in Round 13, sparking a run of three wins in their last five home-and-away games. They finished the regular season last, but then came the finals revival, ending in a narrow preliminary final exit.

THE HIGHLIGHT:

It is hard to look past Oakleigh’s 39-point win over local rival and reigning premier, Sandringham as the highlight. The Chargers had lost their previous encounter after the siren and were felled by 52 points before that, but rallied to spark a terrific late-season run. That result was the catalyst for their Wildcard Round win over the top Metro seed, along with a thrilling two-point quarter final victory over Northern.

THE STAR:

Oakleigh was absolutely blessed to have Jagga Smith freed of school football commitments this year. The Rookie Me Central Medallist missed some games while representing Vic Metro and Richmond VFL, but turned out 12 times for averages of 33.8 disposals, 4.7 marks, and 4.8 inside 50s. His best haul was a 50-touch game against Western in Round 9 – one of nine times he surpassed the 30-mark.

THE MAINSTAYS:

The Chargers produced three more National Combine invitees along with Smith, namely Finn O’Sullivan, Jasper Alger, and Tom Gross. O’Sullivan, once considered a pick one contender, battled through injury to play four times, and was otherwise tied up in APS and National Championships football.

Alger was also felled by a finger injury late in the season having made an impact off his school and Vic Country stints. He bagged four goals in the Chargers’ Wildcard Round win. Meanwhile, Gross was integral to the quarter final victory, and averaged 22.3 disposals per his eight games.

Four Chargers earned state combine invites. Among them, wingman Patrick Retschko (Vic Metro) and small forward Waylon Davey (Allies) also featured at the Under 18 National Championships, while midfielder Zane Cochrane and dashing defender Blake Leidler showed enough despite being overlooked.

Among the non-representative squad members, Kobe Askew played all 18 games up forward. Small midfielder/forward Kane Emery turned out 17 times and was integral during the middle of the season, going on to earn a call-up to the Northern Bullants VFL side. Over-agers Boston Dowling and Isaiah Markovsky featured for Collingwood.

Club-tied players Luke Quaynor (Collingwood NGA) and Noah Yze (Melbourne father-son) also played crucial roles in defence and midfield. Elsewhere, key defender Lucas Tovey and tall forward Charlie Richardson were selected for Vic Metro, with the latter leading Oakleigh’s goalkicking charts on 13 majors.

THE FUTURE:

Ruckman Louis Emmett is the leading prospect in Oakleigh’s promising and evenly spread 2025 crop. The mobile tall played nine games this season after debuting in 2023, averaging 16.7 disposals, 3.2 marks, 13.2 hitouts, and booting 11 goals. He also represented Vic Metro’s Under 18s.

Plenty more bottom-agers established their spots in the side this year. Wingman Sam Allen and defender/midfielder Sam Grlj were among them, along with Max Kondogiannis and Carlton NGA’s Jack Ison. There’s also another Collingwood NGA member coming through in ruck/forward Zac McCarthy.

To go with their raft of ring-ins, rotation of draft eligible players, and emerging group of 2007-born talents, the Chargers also blooded a whopping nine Under 16s (2008-born). It came during the difficult mid-season patch where the Chargers suffered a seven-game losing skid.