SANDRINGHAM Dragons midfielder Jack Dalton is our Coates Talent League Player of the Week after filling his boots in Round 19. The prolific top-ager racked up 37 disposals, seven marks, seven inside 50s, and two goals in his side’s 39-point win over Oakleigh to see out the home-and-away season.

Dalton’s latest feats continue a strong run of form, amassing over 30 disposals for the third time in five Coates Talent League appearances this season. The elite runner also posted a whopping 29 uncontested possessions and 19 handball receives, showcasing his ravenous work rate throughout four quarters.

Terms two and four, which Sandringham dominated with a combined 10 goals to Oakleigh’s four, saw Dalton rack up 11 touches in each 25-minute period. He started both halves at the centre bounces but also spent time forward, notching four scoring shots to go with his three centre clearances.

Having had his last two seasons heavily interrupted by injuries, Dalton has quickly gotten back up to speed in 2025. He overcame breaks in both wrists to turn out for Vic Metro at the Under 18 National Championships, plying his trade in the middle and out on the wing. He even spent time across half-back last week for Sandringham.

It is no secret that Dalton is one of the draft pool’s best runners, if not the best, having recorded the equal-top Yo-Yo Test score during preseason (22.4). With that trait in tow, the 18-year-old is building back to the form he showed as Vic Metro’s title-winning Under 16 captain and MVP in 2023.

Dalton becomes the sole Sandringham talent to earn a Player of the Week nomination this year, and the seventh from a Metro region. He also breaks a streak of four-consecutive Country-aligned players taking out the nod, with four Western nominees dominating the award before that.

Around the grounds in Round 19, Jets defender Finnegan Davis got back to his best with 37 disposals, seven marks and eight rebound 50s in a loss to Eastern. Teammate and Collingwood father-son prospect Thomas McGuane also returned with a bang, notching 30 touches and eight marks.

Northern ruck Harry Van Hattum was also prominent in defeat, managing 22 disposals, five marks, five clearances, 16 hitouts and a goal. In the same game, Calder midfielder Adam Sweid led all comers with 28 disposals, four marks, and four clearances to help his side secure the second Metro seed.

Pick one fancy Willem Duursma did his RMC Medal chances no harm with 24 touches, six marks, seven tackles and two goals in a loss to Dandenong. Meanwhile, bottom-age contender Cody Walker went big with 30 disposals, seven marks, nine clearances and a goal as Bendigo beat GWV Rebels.

Elsewhere, Round 15 Player of the Week nominee Jack Pickett was another bottom-ager to star. The high-flying tall forward booted 5.3 from 12 disposals and six marks to spearhead the Geelong Falcons to a 52-point win over Murray. The percentage boost put Geelong into eighth overall.

2025 CTL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Round 1: Willem Duursma (Gippsland Power)
Round 2: Cody Templeton (Gippsland Power)
Round 3: Thomas McGuane (Western Jets)
Round 4: Max Hudson (Suns Academy)
Round 5: Daniel Annable (Lions Academy)
Round 6: Beau Addinsall (Suns Academy)
Round 7: Cody Walker (Bendigo Pioneers)
Round 8: Charlie McKinnon (GWV Rebels)
Round 9/10: Thomas Burton (Western Jets)
Round 11: Lachy Dovaston (Eastern Ranges)
Round 12: Oskar Ainsworth (Western Jets)
Round 13: Jake Miller (Western Jets)
Round 14: Lachlan Hicks (Western Jets)
Round 15: Jack Pickett (Geelong Falcons)
Round 16: Ryder Corrigan (Murray Bushrangers)
Round 17: Blake Newton (Murray Bushrangers)
Round 18: Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves (Dandenong Stingrays)
ROUND 19: JACK DALTON (SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS)