THE MURRAY Bushrangers and Northern Knights will venture out on road trips to open Round 16 of the Coates Talent League, with eyes on taking down higher-ranked opponents. Murray locks horns with Western Jets in Williamstown, while the Knights take on ladder leader Gippsland on Saturday.

WHEN: Saturday July 26, 1:10pm
WHERE: DSV Stadium, Williamstown
WATCH: Live stream via Coates Talent League app

IN A SENTENCE:

The two lowest-ranked full-time regions lock horns in Williamstown with hopes of avoiding the foot of the ladder, both bolstered by emerging underage talent but without notable top-age stars.

WHERE THEY SIT:

Western Jets – 3-8 | 72.9% | LWLWL
Murray Bushrangers – 3-9 | 63.4% | LLLLL

TEAMS:

Western Jets

B: 26. F. Davis – 31. J. McDaid – 23. C. Battye
HB: 19. B. Podolczak – 13. H. Marial – 12. Z. Dalli
C: 5. B. Marsden – 2. D. Steedman – 4. R. Pavlidis
HF: 1. K. El Souki – 55. Z. Weis – 44. H. Gardner-Solomon
F: 36. C. Mackenzie-George – 37. G. Lafaialii – 25. O. Ainsworth
FOL: 38. M. Buck – 16. S. Koulouris – 6. J. Djatschenko

INT: 33. I. Abbay, 39. G. Barker, 40. L. Clements, 48. A. King, 51. J. Miller

EMG: 27. M. Parton, 45. J. Fenton, 47. T. Ferguson

Murray Bushrangers

B: 10. J. Hewitt – 21. M. Calleja – 33 K. Hadley
HB: 29. O. Roberts – 22. L. Koller – 28. C. Ratcliffe
C: 44. J. Porter – 6. C. Ainsworth – 32. F. Grumley
HF: 52. L. Brand – 30. T. McMillan – 39. J. Marks
F: 26. B. Newton – 24. H. Moon – 12. R. Kennedy
FOL: 3. Z. Harding – 23. C. Gardiner – 7. R. Corrigan

INT: 2. Z. Lambert, 14. O. Boddenberg, 34. I. Daley, 45. H. Howells, 55. M. Grumley

EMG: 11. B. Hilton, 41. A. Houston, 51. S. Trembath

ONES TO WATCH:

Western Jets regain a pair of Vic Metro Under 18 representatives in Oskar Ainsworth and Finn Davis, who will slot in at either end of the ground. Some Under 16 prospects also get their chance, most notably title-winning Metro captain Jake Miller, who booted four goals in his Jets debut last month.

Fellow tall Archie King and hard-nosed midfielder Griffin Barker come in for their maiden Coates Talent League outings, fresh off the same campaign with Metro’s Under 16s. The two Toms – Burton and McGuane – will be absent though, with the latter making his VFL debut with Collingwood.

Murray has a combination of Vic Country and Allies representatives to call upon. Country ruck Zac Harding is back to ruck to Allies midfielder Ryder Corrigan, while Giants Academy product Tallis McMillan looks set to team up with usual key defender Harry Moon as a tall forward pairing.

The Bushrangers have also recalled 2009-born midfielder Lincoln Brand, who broke into the lineup for two games in June. He’ll feature alongside fellow Vic Country representative Oliver Boddenberg after they teamed up at the Under 16 National Championships. It will be Boddenberg’s debut.

PREDICTION:

Neither side has necessarily set the world alight this year, nor are they at full strength, but should produce a good battle. Murray will arguably have the advantage in midfield and have a greater depth of experienced, hardened talls compared to Western’s emerging, developable ones. Bushies by 15.

WHEN: Saturday July 26, 1:10pm
WHERE: Morwell Recreation Reserve
WATCH: Live stream via Coates Talent League app

IN A SENTENCE:

Ladder leaders Gippsland Power will look to rebound straight back onto the winner’s list when the Northern Knights come to town, fresh off their breakthrough win over a Country region last time out.

WHERE THEY SIT:

Gippsland Power – 9-2 | 140.8% | LWWWW
Northern Knights – 5-6 | 87.7% | WLLLW

TEAMS:

Gippsland Power

2. Jesse Bills
3. Sam Grummisch
4. Zachary O’Keefe
5. Jack Hilton
9. Max Woodall
10. Cody Templeton
12. Jobe Froud
13. Blake Bibby
15. Thomas Macmillan
16. Jobe Scapin
17. Luke Cheffers
19. Yianni Caffieri
22. Finn O’Brien
24. Brodie Atkins
26. Mitchell Stevens
28. Harry Tatterson
32. Liam Masters
34. Jackson Honey
37. Keenan Boi
39. Cohen Dent
40. Xavier Ladbrook
41. Clancy Snell
44. Damian Leslie

Northern Knights

2. Seb Murphy
4. Liam Farrar
5. Harvie Cooke
7. Max Downes
10. Sean Tyrrell
11. James Allison
12. Nicholas Driscoll
14. Ryan Commandeur
16. Joshua Bawden
17. Lucas Yacoub
21. Kai Parker
23. Gabriel Stumpf
24. Tommy Vrkic
27. Jamison Leeson
29. Jamie Alder
32. Hudson Lawrence
35. Tyler Hamilton
41. Matthew Kayrooz
42. Toby Krasna
44. Lachlan Galletly
48. Chas Woodward
52. Xavier Rowley

ONES TO WATCH:

Gippsland will be buoyed by the return of gun midfielder Brodie Atkins, who was absent for an upset loss in Round 15. He’ll likely team up with fellow Vic Country squad members Zachary O’Keefe and Cody Templeton, who should provide some run and creativity through the engine room.

There will also be a watch on Vic Country Under 16 representative Cohen Dent, a towering 208cm ruck who debuted in Round 13. The likes of Jobe Scapin and Mitchell Stevens will also be assets around the square, while Xavier Ladbrook has immense talent as a versatile, athletic tall.

Northern has called upon Nicholas Driscoll fresh off his VFL debut with the Bullants. He’ll add speed through the middle alongside the likes of captain Sebastian Murphy, while James Allison and Ryan Commandeur do so on the outside. Bottom-ager Max Downes is also a chance to run on-ball.

The Knights also have a couple of important over-age cogs. Athletic tall utility Gabriel Stumpf has shown his potential at both ends of the ground over the last two seasons, while Liam Farrar offers marking presence either as a connection piece on the wing or up forward.

PREDICTION:

Gippsland has only been defeated two times this season, so seeing the pole-sitting side lose twice in a row would be no mean feat. Both sides are missing key personnel, but the Power will be backed by a flawless record in Morwell this season. That’s hard to predict against, Power by 24.

ROUND 16 FIXTURE

Saturday July 26:

Gippsland Power vs. Northern Knights
1:10pm @ Morwell Recreation Reserve

Western Jets vs. Murray Bushrangers
1:10pm @ DSV Stadium, Williamstown

Sunday July 27:

Eastern Ranges vs. Sandringham Dragons
10:30am @ Box Hill City Oval

GWV Rebels vs. Tasmania Devils
10:30am @ Mars Stadium, Ballarat

Calder Cannons vs. Bendigo Pioneers
1:10pm @ Highgate Recreation Reserve

Oakleigh Chargers vs. Dandenong Stingrays
1:40pm @ Belvedere Reserve, Seaford