TOP PROSPECTS made emphatic returns to the Coates Talent League in Round 17, while a bunch of club-tied talents continued to press their case across a weekend littered with tight tussles. We highlighted a bunch of the top prospects and performers from all five games.

>> CTL Round 17: Snapshot | Player of the Week | Team of the Week | Votes

Calder Cannons 11.7 (73) def. by Eastern Ranges 10.16 (76)

By: Michael Alvaro

CALDER CANNONS:

#15 Gus Papal
Tall Defender | 193cm | 22/09/2006

Stats: 21 disposals, 5 marks, 9 rebound 50s

Along with Jackson Barber, Papal blended his intercept duties with plenty of kick-in responsibilities. The over-ager was generally a reliable distributor out of defence, fanning the ball wide and helping contain possession in slow play. Papal was also prominent in the air, making good reads to either pluck the ball cleanly or get a spoil in on his opponent. Whether deep on the last line or supporting his teammates up the ground, he acted with composure and led a robust Calder defence.

#23 Adam Sweid
Midfielder | 175cm | 14/09/2007

Essendon NGA

Stats: 27 disposals, 3 marks, 4 clearances

Sweid was one of Calder’s best two players on the day, notching an equal game-high 27 disposals. He was prolific at ground level, handling chaos balls better than all comers and fighting his way out of congestion. The Essendon NGA prospect linked up effectively with teammates and thwarted any sense of panic with his clean distributive skills, showcasing terrific vision to execute by hand and foot. Sweid’s evasiveness was another key feature as he stepped back and laterally to avoid tacklers before dishing off. He is well and truly pressing for another surge up draft boards.

#34 Blake Justice
Midfielder | 190cm | 29/09/2008

Essendon NGA

Stats: 24 disposals, 9 marks, 2 goals

Along with Sweid, Justice fought hard for a Calder side which was beaten 37-21 in the clearances. He showed great desperation to win the ball and held up physically, utilising his 190cm to split packs and prise possession. The bottom-ager balanced out his play by accumulating nine marks and contributing to slow play on the outside, looking to hit inboard kicks and help his side retain the ball. He also hit the scoreboard with two goals, most impressively after a strong mark in term one.

#51 Moustafa Darwish
Small Forward | 179cm | 01/07/2009

Essendon NGA

Stats: 10 disposals (all kicks), 7 marks, 3 goals

Fresh off helping Vic Metro claim the Under 16 title, Darwish made an impact in his Coates Talent League debut. Another member of Essendon’s NGA, he lined up across half-forward and helped Calder link inside 50. He showed a happy knack for finding space in the forward half and often looked to wheel and go quickly. All three of his goals came in the second half, including two in the final quarter to help cut the margin to four points with only a few minutes remaining.

EASTERN RANGES:

#1 Blake Chambers
Wing | 182cm | 31/05/2007

Stats: 21 disposals, 9 marks, 4 inside 50s

Chambers was his usual self out on the wing, providing a constant outlet in space and connecting the lines in transition. He tracked back to be an option when Eastern looked forward after forcing turnovers in the defensive half, utilising his slick kicking to keep the play moving. His forward surges caused headaches for the Cannons as they scrambled to plug gaps, which Chambers would pick apart with his vision and bullet passes.

#4 Bailey Lloyd
Midfielder/Forward | 175cm | 02/04/2007

Stats: 25 disposals, 10 marks, 6 tackles, 1 goal

It was an industrious outing from Lloyd, who helped get his side going after a slow start. The diminutive midfielder covered plenty of ground, driving the ball forward with each possession and drilling long kicks. He also benefitted from direct ball movement out of the middle when resting forward, hitting up on some sharp leads throughout the day. While he couldn’t quite find his range with several set shots, Lloyd barrelled home a goal in open play during the second quarter.

#8 Lachy Dovaston
Small Forward | 177cm | 29/05/2007

Stats: 11 disposals, 6 tackles, 2 goals

While quieter than usual, Dovaston owned his big moment to kick what ended up being the winning goal. He had 1.3 to his name at that point, but swung around to convert a long-range set shot shortly after conceding a costly 50m penalty. The livewire forward played with his trademark swagger, hitting the ball at speed and troubling the opposition around goal. He got a run through midfield and joined in at stoppages, too, as he has done recently. When goals were hard to come by, he stayed involved with strong tackling pressure and by celebrating his teammates’ success.

#11 Mitchell Gillan
Defender | 180cm | 27/05/2008

Stats: 18 disposals (15 kicks), 6 marks

While he has accumulated greater numbers this season, Gillan played an important role on Saturday. He had the matchup on dangerous goalsneak Hussien El Achkar, forcing him to search up the ground and helping restrict him to a single goal. Gillan also took on some of the kick-in duties and was a reliable distributor by foot, proving calm in a crisis. His positioning and smarts helped Eastern win back possession before driving forward, often disposing of the ball with minimal fuss.

#22 Xavier Taylor
Tall Defender | 191cm | 30/01/2007

Stats: 22 disposals, 6 marks, 7 rebound 50s

Taylor had claims on being best afield for another sturdy performance down back. He was ridiculously clean on the intercept, sweeping up loose balls and winning his one-on-ones before finding a way to surge forward. Taylor’s speed and agility got him out of trouble on several occasions and helped put Calder on the back foot immediately. He was reliable in the air and at ground level, playing with a sense of authority befitting of his status as a top 15 prospect. His most important moment came late in the piece as he recovered a loose ball thwart Calder’s final attack.

Murray Bushrangers 6.9 (45) def. by Northern Knights 10.6 (66)

By: Michael Alvaro

MURRAY BUSHRANGERS:

#3 Zac Harding
Ruck | 199cm | 01/01/2006

Stats: 26 disposals, 27 hitouts, 5 inside 50s

Harding continued his dominant form in the ruck, owning his domain while also impacting around the ground. He showcased a clean set of hands and great endeavour to follow up at ground level, staying engaged with the play as it moved away from stoppage situations. The over-ager presented nicely as a forward to hold a couple of solid marks on the lead, utilising his physicality to do so. Harding’s size was also a factor in the ruck as he jostled for front position and got first hand to the ball 27 times – more than Northern’s team total of 23.

#7 Ryder Corrigan
Midfielder | 186cm | 14/03/2007

Stats: 25 disposals, 5 clearances, 8 inside 50s

Corrigan was Murray’s A1 midfielder and worked alongside Coen Ainsworth to prise five clearances apiece. The Allies representative often used his penetrative kicking to drive the ball long, sometimes compromising accuracy for distance. He was more measured when looking inboard during kick-mark play, complimenting his crash-and-bash style nicely. Corrigan’s ability to bustle through tackles helped bring the ball to the outside and break play open with purpose.

#26 Blake Newton
Forward | 180cm | 16/12/2008

Stats: 15 disposals, 4 marks, 4 inside 50s, 5 goals

Newton took out our Player of the Week nomination having booted five of Murray’s six goals in a losing effort. The bottom-ager exhibited his core strength and ability to stride towards goal, proving a difficult player to contain throughout the day. He surged over the back into an open goal for Murray’s opening major, and often found ways to break open the play in short spurts. After a couple of misses in the second quarter, he straightened up with some robust one-on-one work and good open play finishing within close proximity of the big sticks. They couldn’t lay a hand on him at times.

#30 Tallis McMillan
Tall Forward | 191cm | 11/04/2007

GWS Giants Academy

Stats: 7 disposals, 4 marks, 1 goal

The stats don’t tell the story of how McMillan and bottom-ager Angus Williams troubled Northern’s defenders as mobile marking talls. McMillan was Murray’s only goalkicker aside from Newton, slotting a set shot in the opening quarter. The Allies representative extended at the ball nicely overhead and had a couple more gettable chances over the mark, but couldn’t convert. His ability to work up the ground was also useful as Murray tried to connect inside attacking 50.

NORTHERN KNIGHTS:

#2 Sebastian Murphy
Midfielder | 176cm | 23/10/2007

Stats: 28 disposals, 9 tackles, 9 clearances, 1 goal

Northern’s standalone skipper in the absence of Tyson Gresham, Murphy had claims on being best afield. The scrappy onballer worked extremely hard throughout the day, getting his hands dirty in contested situations and spreading well in transition. His running game was just about unmatched, whether tracking back to defence or finding space forward of the ball once possession changed hands. While he would sometimes dump clearing kicks forward, Murphy’s ability to hit passes around his body on all sorts of angles opened up obscure options.

#15 Lewis Houndsome
Key Forward/Ruck | 199cm | 29/05/2008

Stats: 13 disposals, 5 marks, 10 hitouts, 1 goal

Houndsome has produced several moments throughout games this season to suggest he’ll be one to watch for next year. The towering tall shook off a slow start to impose himself both in the ruck contest and up forward. He took several strong marks, utilising his frame and reach to pluck the ball cleanly overhead. If not, the bottom-ager brought the ball to ground. Houndsome also showed promising mobility when presenting on the lead and converted one of three set shots on goal, with another going out on the full on the half time siren.

#23 Gabriel Stumpf
Key Defender | 196cm | 23/11/2006

Stats: 23 disposals, 11 marks, 6 rebound 50s

It was an indifferent kind of day for Stumpf, who showed enormous upside with his aerial ability amid a few costly clangers. He was tested defensively as Murray’s talls got busy on the lead, but backed himself to peel off and force intercepts with shewd reading of the play. The over-ager took some gutsy overhead marks and used his athleticism to arrive at each contest quickly. He was a little less assured with ball in hand, looking composed in open play but falling short on his execution by foot. He shared the ball generously along with the the likes of Roman Moxon and Ryan Commandeur.

Western Jets 9.13 (67) def. by GWV Rebels 9.15 (69)

By: Adrian Dixon

WESTERN JETS:

#10 Thomas Burton
Midfielder | 178cm | 09/01/2007

Stats: 32 disposals, 5 tackles, 6 inside 50s, 6 rebound 50s

Returning to the Coates Talent League for his first game since the National Championships, Burton was prominent as always. His endurance and running patterns were standout features throughout the day. Burton wasn’t afraid to execute the switch when he needed to and was prepared to lose metres to ensure that the Jets kept the ball, often finding the best option and shifting the angles. Burton would continuously deliver dangerously inside 50 and his disposal by hand was proficient in traffic, where he was able to execute quick ball movement.

#25 Oskar Ainsworth
Forward/Midfielder | 186cm | 26/04/2007

Stats: 13 disposals, 6 marks, 3 goals

Ainsworth was slow to get into the game, however came into his own into the second quarter and started to get going thereafter. His strong hands were shown with his marking, which in turn helped produce scoring chances. While opportunities went begging later in the game, in the third quarter he set up Hok Marial. Ainsworth managed two final quarter majors – one from a set shot kick, and the other from a close-range snap to make it three for the day. He could easily have made it more having also hit the post in the last quarter.

#26 Finn Davis
Defender | 187cm | 21/01/2007

Stats: 27 disposals, 5 marks, 6 rebound 50s

Davis once again was the designated kick-in option for the Jets, and continually played above his height as an intercepting defender. He took numerous marks and repelled opposition forward thrusts in the process. Davis would also provide plenty of drive coming out of defence, offering a running option on the overlap and pushing high up the ground. One of the highlights of the day saw him advance up to the wing to hit up Ainsworth for a mark on the lead in the second quarter.

#35 Jake Miller
Key Forward | 195cm | 07/05/2009

Stats: 16 disposals, 13 marks, 3 goals

In just his second game at Under 18 level for the Jets, Miller was industrious for a key forward. He presented strongly up the ground to provide a linking option, highlighting his incredible running power for a key position player. Miller managed his first goal for the day from a snap kick on an angle. He can continue to develop his set shot kicking with a couple of attempts falling short late in the piece, however there is plenty of time for the 16-year-old to fill out his game. Miller was strong overhead in marking contests and was able to draw free kicks, with his size proving a factor already.

GWV REBELS:

#3 Archie Taylor
Defender/Midfielder | 178cm | 25/05/2007

Stats: 23 disposals, 6 marks, 10 tackles, 7 inside 50s

Taylor started off well for the Rebels, taking an intercept mark to defuse an attempted inboard kick within the opening few minutes of the game. Rotating between the midfield and backline, Taylor would fight hard for the ball and was relentless with his pressure, while also spreading well around the ground to provide an option for his teammates. Taylor showed excellent speed while making smart decisions with the footy. He rose to the occasion when it mattered, too, squaring up a nice ball late in the game for Charlie McKinnon, who put GWV into the lead in the dying stages.

#9 Talor Byrne
Midfielder | 174cm | 14/11/2007

Stats: 26 disposals, 5 marks, 5 tackles, 5 inside 50s

Byrne continued his form for the Rebels, bringing his strong tackle pressure to the game and leaning on his running capacity to be prominent around the contest all day. He also spread from the contest to impact around the ground where possible. Byrne was proficient with his disposal by foot, being quick to get boot to ball and hit targets while shifting the angles where he needed to. Byrne’s decision making and football IQ also came to the fore, especially in the last quarter when he took valuable seconds off the clock to ensure the Rebels would retain possession before the siren.

#22 Charlie McKinnon
Tall Forward | 190cm | 25/10/2007

Stats: 12 disposals, 7 marks, 5 goals

Presenting well early, if McKinnon wasn’t marking the ball, he was crashing packs and would also show quick hands and vision for a key forward of his size. He positioned strongly one-out and showcased strong hands while reading the ball very well. McKinnon lifted his intensity as the game went on, highlighting an improved work rate where he started to position himself a little more up the ground. Continuing to get the better of his matchup, he broke away on the lead constantly and threatened to break the game open in the third quarter, however missed some gettable opportunities. McKinnon stepped up when it mattered though, kicking a goal to get the Rebels back in front for his fourth of the day, then slotting his fifth from point-blank range for what ended up being the game-winning score.

#24 Lenny Stephens
Defender | 182cm | 18/09/2008

Stats: 27 disposals, 7 marks, 6 rebound 50s

One of the many bottom-agers in the Rebels’ lineup, Stephens spread well to begin with and used the ball nicely out of defence. He also provided excellent ground coverage and had the right intent with his delivery by foot inside 50, hitting up Charlie McKinnon on a lead for the Rebels first. In defence, he provided excellent leadership and direction to his teammates. Pushing up to the midfield throughout the game, Stephens would offer an option on the overlap and with his accurate ball use finding targets and showcasing his kicking power.

Geelong Falcons 8.12 (60) def. Bendigo Pioneers 8.10 (58)

By: Michael Alvaro

GEELONG FALCONS:

#3 Kobe George
Defender | 188cm | 22/04/2006

Stats: 30 disposals, 9 marks, 5 rebound 50s

It was a dominant display from George, who had his hands on just about everything that came out of Geelong’s defensive half. The over-ager was well-rounded in his approach, making reads to impact aerially, taking the game on with spurts of run, and utilising his kicking skills on the move. George played with the confidence to step around tacklers and was strong enough to get handballs away when caught. His playmaking style saw Geelong connect the lines and spark transitional play out of tight spots. It was George’s second 30-plus disposal haul in as many appearances.

#4 Jesse Mellor
Forward/Midfielder | 185cm | 04/01/2007

Geelong NGA

Stats: 13 disposals, 4 tackles, 1 goal

Fresh off a VFL debut and All-Australian honours at the National Championships, Mellor was relatively subdued on Sunday. He was forced to search further up the ground to get involved and even had a run in midfield, where he attacked the contest with vigour. Mellor’s clean hands and deceptive strength helped both there, and when he was unable to gain separation on his opponent. He snared a goal off hands in the third quarter but couldn’t find the target with a pair of set shots.

#8 Angus Ford
Small Forward | 175cm | 17/12/2007

Stats: 18 disposals, 8 marks, 3 goals

Ford was among the most lively forwards afield, producing six scoring shots for three goals. His clean hands and quick thinking put Bendigo on the back foot, with Ford finding space to do damage on his favoured left side. He put a few chances wide when rushing to get boot to ball, but energised his side and straightened up to kick what ended up being the winning goal off a gilt-edged forward 50 turnover. He was also busy on the lead outside 50, helping Geelong connect into attack.

#10 Hugo Mikunda
Midfielder | 180cm | 13/03/2007

Stats: 23 disposals, 5 marks, 7 tackles, 5 inside 50s

Mikunda carried on from his strong form at the National Championships, getting busy in the attacking phase with his run and creative kicking. He was the ideal link player for Geelong, finding the ball in space on the spread and linking up with teammates. His vision and finesse were complimented by some strong holding-the-ball tackles to win possession and make statements when the game was on the line. While capable of hurting the opposition by foot with time and space, Mikunda also knew when to use his hands and find a quick option under pressure.

BENDIGO PIONEERS:

#1 Cody Walker
Utility | 184cm | 26/01/2008

Carlton F/S

Stats: 23 disposals, 6 marks, 3 tackles

While not as prolific on the stats sheet, Walker was ultra-impressive in a slightly altered role. He started in defence and rotated up to the wing during the first half, before eventually being released into the midfield battle. The Carlton father-son prospect showcased his ability to accelerate into space and was full of running in the early stages. That same running power was evident once he shifted on-ball, generating forward momentum with his blazing kicks and intensity around the contest. He has the tendency to kick around the corner, so can continue to become more precise with his execution, but is capable of firing off incredibly effective passes.

#3 Connor Evans
Forward/Midfielder | 182cm | 02/06/2006

Stats: 12 disposals, 8 marks, 5 goals

Evans was somewhat of a surprise packet on Sunday, booting five goals from nine scoring shots to very nearly drag his side over the line. His fifth major put Bendigo ahead for a 10-minute patch in the final quarter, having booted his previous four goals in the opening half. Evans provided a reliable marking target deep inside 50 and was clean overhead, going on to provide connection up the ground. The left-footer also had stints in midfield and while impactful on the scoreboard, left a few opportunities out there which could have made his big haul even greater.

#13 Patrick Blake
Midfielder | 182cm | 27/12/2007

Stats: 21 disposals, 14 tackles, 4 inside 50s

Bendigo’s plus-15 tackle differential could almost singlehandedly be attributed to Blake, who wrapped up opponents and forced spills. When he was tackled himself, the top-ager was able to keep his hands free and stay upright long enough to release effectively. The well-rounded midfielder balanced out his tough inside work with the ability to attack on the outside, taking metres and hitting leading targets. He arguably outshone some well credentialed teammates in another strong outing.

#59 Max Thompson
Wing/Defender | 175cm | 06/03/2009

Stats: 26 disposals, 4 marks, 7 rebound 50s

Making his first Coates Talent League appearance after being crowned Vic Country’s Under 16 MVP, Thompson could not have been more impressive. He was an All-Australian forward, but showed his wares as a wingman who rotated to defence. It was in the latter role where Thompson’s elite foot skills shone, picking out passes on the move and bringing the game forward. He also did so with overlap run and used his smarts to get into spots to support teammates in transition. The 16-year-old had no trouble racking up possessions as a hand-off option or kick-in distributor, but also proved capable of mopping up to win his own ball at ground level.

Tasmania Devils 8.9 (57) def. by Gippsland Power 13.12 (90)

By: Declan Reeve

TASMANIA DEVILS:

#15 Archie Devine
Defender | 180cm | 13/02/2008

North Melbourne NGA

Stats: 19 disposals (16 kicks), 6 marks, 5 rebound 50s

One of his side’s main distributors, Devine took the bulk of Tasmania’s kick-ins, where he was able to utilise his accurate right foot kicking and attempt to get his side moving into the front half. Devine worked hard to ensure his teammates had a safe outlet option in space when Tasmania moved the ball in its defensive half, holding wide as a switch target when nothing presented forward of the ball.

#20 Max Roney
Midfielder | 186cm | 16/03/2006

Stats: 24 disposals, 8 marks, 6 tackles, 1 goal

The over-age midfielder yet again fought hard against the Power, leading his team in the way of disposals, marks and tackles to challenge his opposition at every contest. Roney used his strong frame well around stoppages, often finding himself getting in the way of Willem Duursma to try and be first to the ball, before kicking long when he won it. Roney’s work rate was clear to see as he got back to aid in the defensive 50, and got loose with his side in possession to provide a safe territory-gaining option as Tasmania looked to build into the front half. 

GIPPSLAND POWER:

#4 Zachary O’Keefe
Midfielder | 177cm | 22/03/2007

Stats: 23 disposals, 5 marks, 9 tackles, 1 goal

The Vic Country representative went about his usual business at the coalface, throwing himself at the footy whenever he was near it in an effort to dish it out to runners, or tackling opponents that beat him to it. O’Keefe remained composed under pressure around the ground, often finding ways to get the ball to teammates out wide with his trusty left foot.

#5 Jack Hilton
Wing | 175cm | 06/05/2008

Stats: 25 disposals, 12 marks, 1 goal

The bottom-age winger had a breakout performance against the Devils. His work rate in all phases of the game and composure with ball in hand stood out as he acted as a key link in transition. Hilton may not have breached the arcs often but was involved in a lot of chains from the defensive half, outworking his direct opponent to get loose as a marking option further afield, with typically clean ball use off his right side following. He pushed back into the defensive 50 to create an outnumber and showed confidence in possession to take on opponents and switch the ball.

#7 Willem Duursma
Midfielder/Forward | 191cm | 21/06/2007

Stats: 26 disposals, 10 tackles, 6 inside 50s, 2 goals

Duursma continues to do everything in his power to put any queries on his draft stocks to bed. He brought his usual energy, speed and cleanliness to the contest, while continuing to show development with his contested game and defensive work. Duursma led the game with a season-high 10 tackles, with most of them coming around stoppages to stop opposition bursting out with ball in hand. As per usual, Duursma looked most damaging when collecting the ball at speed as the opposition struggled to keep up with him. Up forward, Duursma was at his high-flying best, taking a couple of impressive overhead grabs on his way to two majors.

#36 Ash Mounsey
Forward | 189cm | 22/10/2008

Stats: 10 disposals, 8 marks, 3 goals

Another Power bottom-ager to have enjoyed a breakout performance, Mounsey led the game with a season-high three goals – his first multiple major effort of the season. Mounsey was strong on the lead as he gained easy separation from opposition, aided by his ability to read the play and time his leads well. Mounsey was able to hold the ball at full stretch on the run a couple of times, making it near impossible for opponents to spoil. While the three goals certainly stand out, Mounsey wasn’t selfish when inside 50, looking to pass the ball off a couple of times from difficult angles. 

#40 Xavier Ladbrook
Key Defender | 200cm | 16/10/2008

Stats: 14 disposals, 8 marks, 5 rebound 50s

The 200cm bottom-aged talent has been trialed in a few different roles throughout the season with mixed success, but showed real promise against the Devils as one of the Power’s deepest defenders. Ladbrook was strong overhead and intercepted a few of the opposition’s opportunities heading inside 50, typically following up by kicking to a safe option further afield.