LAST year’s runners-up and minor premiers lock horns as Round 2 of the Coates Talent League season gets underway on Saturday. The Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels will turn out for the first time in 2025 after a bye last week, hoping to open their account against Geelong Falcons at Mars Stadium.

NEED TO KNOW

WHEN: Saturday April 5, 1:10pm
WHERE: Mars Stadium, Ballarat
WATCH: Live stream via Coates Talent League app

IN A NUTSHELL

The Rebels put their feet up last week as the other 12 full-time regions kicked off their campaigns in Round 1. Meanwhile, the Falcons went down by 49 points to Dandenong after conceding seven goals in the final quarter. A chance for redemption presents for Geelong – two-fold – looking to atone for that defeat, and for last year’s upset quarter final loss at the hands of GWV.

TEAMS

GWV REBELS:

B: #21 T. Bowman – #25 B. Phillips – #11 R. Holloway
HB: #12 S. Niklaus – #29 W. Rantall – #1 E. Drever
C: #26 W. Shea – #3 A. Taylor – #13 S. Burmeister
HF: #4 J. Grayland – #28 D. Penny – #20 L. Martin
F: #27 F. Batrouney – #5 F. Burmeister – #41 D. O’Keefe
FOL: #45 C. Finck – #16 F. Molan – #9 T. Byrne

INT: #8 D. Harten, #14 S. Marris, #15 J. McGuane, #34 S. Kallio, #42 O. Pittard, #48 H. Lewis

EMG: #10 E. Worthy, #19 P. Toner, #50 X. Gleeson

GEELONG FALCONS:

B: #9 B. Rongdit – #20 C. Lawless – #15 H. McGowan
HB: #16 G. Richardson – #21 J. Mooney – #7 F. Lucas
C: #47 N. Williams – #4 J. Mellor – #8 A. Ford
HF: #39 J. Pickett – #33 O. Johnson – #41 B. Riccardi
F: #35 M. Williams – #25 J. Elek – #14 A. Hanegraaf
FOL: #11 S. Jones – #6 J. Lindsay – #29 B. Coote

INT: #5 H. Morphet, #13 R. Aquilina, #22 C. Meadows, #33 F. Pulleine, #40 C. Hanegraaf, #57 V. Rahilly

EMG: #24 T. Roberts, #36 L. White, #37 R. McLeod

ONES TO WATCH

It will be a relatively new-look Rebels side in Round 1, boasting seven debutants. Even still, a pair of over-age mainstays form pillars at either end of the ground in Wil Rantall and Floyd Burmeister. Both players were part of last year’s grand final side and will push their case for the Mid-Season Draft.

Only one of the Rebels’ two Vic Country summer hub members will take the field, with speedy small Archie Taylor named to start in the middle. He played every game last year, mostly as a defender. Among the bottom-agers to watch is Ethan Drever, a classy operator set to get a run off half-back.

The Falcons’ top prospect is midfielder and co-captain Josh Lindsay, an elite ball user who started his season strongly last week. Fellow National Academy member Ben Rongdit is sure to compete hard down back. He and midfielder Jesse Mellor are part of the Cats’ Next Generation Academy.

Geelong will also have some firepower inside attacking 50. Emerging 200cm prospect Jett Elek looks a likely type and showed promise on debut last week. Bottom-ager Jack Pickett is another marking target who can break the game open in an instant, as he did with three goals in Round 1.

PREDICTION

Mars Stadium is typically a difficult venue to score at but the forecast is relatively clear on Saturday. Nonetheless, whichever side can adjust to be more clinical with their chances inside 50 will go a long way to winning in Ballarat. There’s the factor of GWV being fresher, but Geelong already blowing out the cobwebs last week. That may play into the Falcons’ hands. Geelong by 20.

AROUND THE GROUNDS

A double-header in Craigieburn headlines Saturday’s action. Three teams will be out to register their first wins of the season, while hosts Calder hope to go 2-0 after an opening round victory. The Cannons take on Tasmania this time out, who played at Highgate Recreation Reserve last week.

Ruck and pick one contender Cooper Duff-Tytler will be the main event there, along with Essendon NGA prospects Hussien El Achkar and Adam Sweid. Tassie over-agers like Nathaniel Sulzberger, Oliver Depaoli-Kubank, and Max Roney will be keen to make statements after influential starts.

Northern Knights and Oakleigh Chargers do battle in the second clash. Collingwood NGA prospect Zac McCarthy comes in after missing Oakleigh’s Round 1 loss, while Northern midfielder Mitchell Moate is also a welcome inclusion having recovered from a long-term knee injury.

Carlton fans will likely have keen eyes on the Murray and Bendigo fixture in Wangaratta. Father-son prospects Harry Dean (2025, tall defender) and Cody Walker (2026, midfielder) will take the field for either side, bringing hope to the Blues after a 0-4 start to the AFL season.

On Sunday, three-time reigning premier Sandringham once again takes to RSEA Park to host fellow Round 1 victors Eastern Ranges. Out in Morwell, Gippsland Power and Dandenong Stingrays lock horns having both notched impressive wins last week.

REMAINING ROUND 2 FIXTURE

Saturday April 5:

Calder Cannons vs. Tasmania Devils
11:00am @ Highgate Recreation Reserve

Murray Bushrangers vs. Bendigo Pioneers
1:10pm @ Wangaratta Showgrounds

Northern Knights vs. Oakleigh Chargers
1:30pm @ Highgate Recreation Reserve

Sunday April 6:

Sandringham Dragons vs. Eastern Ranges
11:30am @ RSEA Park

Gippsland Power vs. Dandenong Stingrays
1:10pm @ Morwell Recreation Reserve

Bye: Western Jets