NORTHERN Academies were the talk of the town, across several towns, in Round 4 of the Coates Talent League. That chatter was not lost on the Rookie Me Central Medal vote-givers, as club-tied talent swept the tallies across an elongated round. All 15 vote-getters had not previously polled in 2025.

>> SCROLL for the Round 4 votes & leaderboard

It was difficult to split Suns Academy pair Max Hudson and Jai Murray for Player of the Week honours. The former booted five goals to take out the three votes, while the latter led all-comers for disposals, tackles and clearances in the Suns’ big win over Dandenong Stingrays on Saturday.

Swans Academy over-ager Nicholas Andreacchio was their nearest rival. The zippy midfielder racked up 32 touches in a loss to Tasmania. Devils midfielder Nathaniel Sulzberger was hard to deny for votes, while Toby Callow snuck in ahead of defensive partner Avery Thomas. The pair combined for 20 marks.

Also nabbing three votes in a loss was Murray’s Harry Dean. The Carlton father-son prospect had 19 disposals and clunked eight marks down back in a defeat to the Giants Academy. Bottom-age defender Ethan Matthews was adjudged the victors’ best for his 24 disposals and five rebound 50s.

An imposing performance from Lions Academy tall Charlie Hewitt also had him in the votes. The 199cm over-ager was strong around the contest to claim 21 disposals, 13 hitouts and six clearances, while also getting the job done up forward with five marks and two goals.

With a slew of new vote-getters the overall leaderboard has not changed. Collingwood Next Generation Academy (NGA) member Jai Saxena stands alone in top spot with six votes, followed by midfielders Hunter Wright (Bendigo Pioneers) and Rory Wright (Sandringham Dragons).

ROUND 4 VOTES

Swans Academy 8.12 (60) def. by Tasmania Devils 9.13 (67)
By: Michael Alvaro

3 – Nicholas Andreacchio (Swans Academy)
2 – Nathaniel Sulzberger (Tasmania Devils)
1 – Toby Callow (Tasmania Devils)

Suns Academy 16.16 (112) def. Dandenong Stingrays 7.8 (50)
By: Michael Alvaro

3 – Jai Murray (Suns Academy)
2 – Max Hudson (Suns Academy)
1 – Nelson Beikoff-Smart (Suns Academy)

Murray Bushrangers 6.16 (52) def. by Giants Academy 11.11 (77)
By: Declan Reeve

3 – Harry Dean (Murray Bushrangers)
2 – Ethan Matthews (Giants Academy)
1 – Oliver Withers (Giants Academy)

Lions Academy 9.12 (66) def. Geelong Falcons 8.12 (60)
By: Michael Alvaro

3 – Charlie Hewitt (Lions Academy)
2 – Benjamin Lillico (Lions Academy)
1 – Fred Lucas (Geelong Falcons)

Calder Cannons 11.17 (83) def. Northern Territory 4.8 (32)

* Votes TBC

TOP FIVE LEADERBOARD

1. Jai Saxena (Oakleigh Chargers) – 6 votes [3, 3]
eq. 2. Hunter Wright (Bendigo Pioneers) – 5 votes [3, 2]
eq. 2. Rory Wright (Sandringham Dragons) – 5 votes [2, 1, 2]
eq. 3. Floyd Burmeister (GWV Rebels) – 4 votes [3, 1]
eq. 3. Thomas McGuane (Western Jets) – 4 votes [1, 3]
eq. 3. Adam Sweid (Calder Cannons) – 4 votes [2, 2]
eq. 3. Zac Walker (Gippsland Power) – 4 votes [2, 2]

LEADERS BY CLUB

Bendigo Pioneers – Hunter Wright (5)
Calder Cannons – Adam Sweid (4)
Dandenong Stingrays – Callum Smith (3)
Eastern Ranges – Oliver Greeves (3)
Geelong Falcons – Josh Lindsay (3)
Giants Academy – Ethan Matthews (2)
Gippsland Power – Zac Walker (4)
GWV Rebels – Floyd Burmeister (4)
Lions Academy – Charlie Hewitt (3)
Murray Bushrangers – Tanner Armstrong, Liam Hetherton, Harry Dean (3)
Northern Knights – Ryan Commandeur & Sebastian Murphy (3)
Northern Territory – Nil.
Oakleigh Chargers – Jai Saxena (6)
Sandringham Dragons – Rory Wright (5)
Suns Academy – Max Hudson (3)
Swans Academy – Nicholas Andreacchio (3)
Tasmania Devils – Nathaniel Sulzberger (2)
Western Jets – Thomas McGuane (4)