WHILE four Tasmanian prospects shift into the Allies side, Victorian prospects will have their final hitout in the Coates Talent League before this year’s Under 18 National Championships get underway. It all kicks off in Round 9 with three games on Saturday, which we preview below.

IN A SENTENCE:

With a third consecutive win up for grabs, Dandenong Stingrays will look to take advantage of a depleted Tasmania Devils side which has four representatives moving into the Allies setup.

WHERE THEY SIT:

Dandenong Stingrays – 4-3 | 111.2% | WWLLW
Tasmania Devils – 3-4 | 83.3% | LWWLW

TEAMS:

Dandenong Stingrays

B: 6. C. Orchard – 21. J. Long – 38. R. Hilliard
HB: 31. J. Russell – 51. A. Cole – 8. M. Lee
C: 11. T. Sinnema – 16. T. Anic – 36 O. Lonie
HF: 14. H. Hayes – 4. M. Prasad – 19. J. Varlet
F: 57. N. Adrien – 37. T. Hose – 49. B. Carroll
FOL: 28. F. Marino – 3. N. Hibbins-Hargreaves – 29. C. Smith

INT: 15. G. Kennedy, 27. N. Wisken, 46. N. Bevis, 56. K. Sullivan, 63. L. Commons

EMG: 22. A. Le Clerc, 30. K. Harrison, 59. J. Georgiou

Tasmania Devils

B: 28. A. Thomas – 24. K. Matthews – 21. E. Bonde
HB: 27. J. Breen – 32. K. Lee – 1. R. Walters
C: 42. J. Clark – 20. M. Roney – 18. J. Stretton
HF: 17. R. Bugg – 15. A. Devine – 22. H. McCallum
F: 38. M. Brown – 25. C. Bovill – 30. A. Volta
FOL: 23. E. Dillon – 12. R. McHenry – 39. B. Clemons

INT: 2. M. Young, 5. J. Gilligan, 6. T. Thomas, 29. Z. Pennington, 35. L. Davey

EMG: B. Barwick, K. Peters-Chapman, T. Prokopiec

ONES TO WATCH:

While the Devils’ quartet of Allies representatives are unavailable, Dandenong has called upon four of its six Vic Country squad members. That includes captain Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves, who is steadily getting back to his best after a shoulder injury, and returning wingman Toby Sinnema.

Tasmania welcomes back Avery Thomas to a backline which will miss Toby Callow, while skipper Rylee McHenry takes over as the main man in midfield. Look out for bottom-age ruck Ewan Dillon in his Coates Talent League debut, he was the state’s Under 16 MVP last year.

PREDICTION:

Tasmania suffered a rare home loss last week and will only be poorer for the loss of four Allies squad members. Dandenong is not quite at full strength either but has consecutive wins under its belt and looks comfortable at Shepley Oval. Stingrays by 25.

IN A SENTENCE:

Fresh off four wins in their last five games, including a massive boilover in Round 8, Northern Knights play host to fellow Metro region Eastern Ranges who come in off a bye.

WHERE THEY SIT:

Northern Knights – 4-3 | 97.4% | WLWWW
Eastern Ranges – 3-3 | 100.2% | WLLWL

TEAMS:

Northern Knights

2. Sebastian Murphy
3. Tyson Gresham
4. Liam Farrar
7. Max Downes
10. Sean Tyrrell
11. James Allison
12. Nicholas Driscoll
14. Ryan Commandeur
16. Joshua Bawden
17. Lucas Yacoub
18. Samuel Gayfer
23. Gabriel Stumpf
25. Duncan McKie
27. Jamison Leeson
28. Rylee Ratkovic
29. Jamie Alder
31. Jack Stone
32. Hudson Lawrence
33. Logan Shepherd
35. Tyler Hamilton
37. Baylie Day
41. Matthew Kayrooz
45. Hugh White

Eastern Ranges

1. Blake Chambers
5. Darcy Jamieson
8. Lachy Dovaston
9. Jos Landy
11. Mitchell Gillan
12. Max Bartlett
13. William Waller
16. Thomas Swainston
18. Cooper Holdsworth-Rose
20. Jamie Armitage
22. Xavier Taylor
25. Oskar Taylor
27. Riley Hoffman
31. Andrew Barker
33. Hunter Ryan
34. Archie Spencer
35. Mason Porter
36. Jaden Lawrence
37. Rod Ali
38. Harrison Chapman
41. Sam Devers
51. Charlie Nash
59. Marcus Krasnadamskis

ONES TO WATCH:

Northern’s co-captains Sebastian Murphy and Tyson Gresham are hitting top form, with the latter looking to take that into his Vic Metro duties. They are respectively the brothers of current AFL players Lachie (Adelaide) and Jade (Essendon), with also Gresham a Carlton NGA member.

The Knights have a couple of handy additions in bottom-age midfielder/forward Max Downes and explosive over-ager Hugh White. They should both be raring to go, much like the talented Eastern Ranges outfit fresh off a bye, boasting a trio of Vic Metro squad members.

Defensive duo Xavier Taylor and Andrew Barker have proven difficult to beat, and will be especially so with over-ager Rod Ali returning from a stint with Collingwood’s VFL side. Up the other end, livewire Lachy Dovaston has been lighting up the forward 50, and wingman Blake Chambers will have a point to prove as a train-on for the Metro squad.

PREDICTION:

Northern’s tail is up after upsetting the three-time reigning premier last week, and its key players are hitting their stride. Eastern remains a solid side with good defensive cover, but may be up against it here off the bye. Knights by 7.

IN A SENTENCE:

Two sides coming off losses in Round 8 meet for a Round 9 clash with eyes of shifting into a positive record, as reigning premiers Sandringham Dragons travel to take on Bendigo Pioneers at Queen Elizabeth Oval.

WHERE THEY SIT:

Bendigo Pioneers – 3-3 | 89.3% | LWLLW
Sandringham Dragons – 3-3 | 106.7% | LLLWWW

TEAMS:

Bendigo Pioneers

B: 30. B. Warfe – 5. R. Dillon – 2. T. Evans
HB: 12. F. Lockhart – 29 R. Bassett – 3. C. Evans
C: 52. G. Iudica – 9. H. Wright – 24. J. Johnstone
HF: 15. J. Davis – 47. S. Doherty – 53. N. Willits
F: 32. H. Bremner – 45. S. Watson – 20. E. Curran
FOL: 44. Z. Lockwood – 1. C. Walker – 7. N. Thompson

INT: 13. P. Blake, 17. B. Cowley, 27. C. King, 42. J. Howard, 48. J. Bell, 50. L. McNamara

Sandringham Dragons

B: 28. A. Eales – 66. E. Pitt – 62. S. Haywood
HB: 30. D. Heelis – 64. F. Johnston – 19. H. Shepherdson
C: 53. J. Cutler – 41. B. Martin – 29 P. Janover
HF: 75. W. Reidy – 37. C. Rozenes – 5. R. Theodoropoulos
F: 15. O. Griffin – 70. K. Watt – 49. J. Hayter
FOL: 4. J. Galbally – 27. X. Bamert – 60. S. Levine

INT: 8. S. Buck, 12. K. Nadji, 39. S. Bailey, 46. A. Duke, 71. J. Meredith, 76. L. Mahimarajan

ONES TO WATCH:

Bendigo bottom-ager Cody Walker is one of the form players of the competition right now and will be looking to keep his momentum rolling into the National Championships. Watch for him to team up with skipper Hunter Wright through midfield, a well-rounded left-footer with size and class.

The Pioneers also look like shifting utility Shaun Watson forward, while competitive over-ager Zaydyn Lockwood will have his hands full in the ruck. Sandringham has named Julian Galbally, who should take over the primary duties from usual forwards Sam Buck and Kayne Watt.

The Dragons boast a couple of tricky small forwards in Charlie Rozenes and Ricky Theodoropoulos. The former is an over-ager who backs his speed and can hit the scoreboard, while the latter is a diminutive and creative type who works hard up the ground but can set up scores with his disposal.

PREDICTION:

It is always hard to tip against Sandringham but three consecutive losses makes for poor reading and there have been a heap of changes to the squad. Bendigo is a little more settle around this time of year and have been competitive most weeks, so should be in good shape at home. Pioneers by 15.

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ROUND 9 FIXTURE

Saturday May 31:

Dandenong Stingrays vs. Tasmania Devils
11:00am @ Shepley Oval

Northern Knights vs. Eastern Ranges
11:00am @ Highgate Recreation Reserve

Bendigo Pioneers vs. Sandringham Dragons
12:00pm @ Queen Elizabeth Oval

Sunday June 1:

Gippsland Power vs. GWV Rebels
11:00am @ Windy Hill

Murray Bushrangers vs. Western Jets
1:40pm @ La Trobe University