A COATES Talent League conference crossover shapes Saturday’s preliminary finals, with Casey Fields setting the scene for a bumper double-header. Among the four remaining flag contenders are both of last year’s grand finalists, along with the top Country and Metro seeds respectively.

WHEN: Saturday September 13, 11:30am
WHERE: Casey Fields
WATCH: AFL & Coates Talent League apps

IN A SENTENCE:

Minor premiers meet reigning premiers as Gippsland Power and Sandringham Dragons play off for a spot in the Coates Talent League Grand Final.

POSTSEASON RUN:

Gippsland Power

QF: def. Geelong Falcons 8.11 (59) to 7.9 (51)

Sandringham Dragons

WR: def. Northern Knights 17.8 (110) to 9.3 (57)
QF: def. Oakleigh Chargers 10.9 (69) to 7.9 (51)

TEAMS:

Gippsland Power

B: 15. T. Macmillan – 41. C. Snell – 21. O. Wilson
HB: 40. X. Ladbrook – 32. L. Masters – 28. H. Tatterson
C: 5. J. Hilton – 7. W. Duursma – 6. J. Burgiel
HF: 11. M. Neocleous – 17. L. Cheffers – 2. J. Bills
F: 33. W. Malady – 10. C. Templeton – 16. J. Scapin
FOL: 42. J. Walker – 24. B. Atkins – 4. Z. O’Keefe

INT: 9. M. Woodall, 25. C. Macmillan, 26. M. Stevens, 37. K. Boi, 39. C. Dent

EMG: 12. J. Froud, 31. H. Gill, 36. A. Mounsey

Sandringham Dragons

B: 20. H. Thomas – 16. T. Bradley – 12. K. Nadji
HB: 41. B. Martin – 9. R. Wright – 30. D. Heelis
C: 29. P. Janover – 2. J. Dalton – 49. J. Hayter
HF: 75. W. Reidy – 34. K. Fincher – 33. G. Dimer
F: 32. M. Tyrer – 8. S. Buck – 6. A. Butler
FOL: 4. J. Galbally – 27. X. Bamert – 60. S. Levine

INT: 10. G. Teixeira, 13. A. Lambert, 15. O. Griffin, 56. J. Noorbergen, 63. F. Brayshaw

EMG: 17. L. Burrows, 70. K. Watt, 73. J. Davies

ONES TO WATCH:

Gippsland is stacked on every line and boasts talent throughout the age groups. Pick one fancy Willem Duursma leads a seasoned midfield line alongside tackling machine Brodie Atkins and the crafty Zachary O’Keefe. Bottom-agers Cody Templeton and Marlon Neocleous will also roll through there, offering plenty of excitement between their forward rotations.

The Power’s key position stocks are littered with future talent too. Xavier Ladbrook has been named to start in defence alongside Clancy Snell, while Wil Malady is a dynamic marking target capable of scoring in bunches up forward. Meanwhile, in the ruck is 208cm giant Cohen Dent.

Looking to stretch the Power’s midfield will be hard-running Dragons pair Jack Dalton and Xavier Bamert – both 2024 premiership players. St Kilda NGA member Kye Fincher is another explosive member of the on-ball group, adding power alongside bottom-ager Gus Teixeira.

The Dragons have a genuine wildcard up forward in Arki Butler, one of the most promising prospects for next year. At the other end of the ground, left-footer Rory Wright has settled into a playmaking role, recapturing some of the early-season form which propelled him onto draft boards.

PREDICTION:

Gippsland got the job done last week but will have to turn it up a notch to do the same against Sandringham. The Dragons are better than any other side at turning it on in the postseason, showing great togetherness and system at full strength – something the Power have steadily had throughout the year. Having a competitive game under their belt should put the Power in good stead after a Wildcard Round bye. It’ll be a corker either way – Dragons by 3.

WHEN: Saturday September 13, 2:00pm
WHERE: Casey Fields
WATCH: AFL & Coates Talent League apps

IN A SENTENCE:

GWV Rebels will be hunting for a second consecutive Grand Final berth when it takes on top-ranked Metro region, Eastern Ranges – arguably the form side of the competition.

POSTSEASON RUN:

Eastern Ranges

WC: def. Western Jets 20.14 (134) to 7.3 (45)
QF: def. Calder Cannons 16.11 (107) to 8.11 (59)

GWV Rebels

WC: def. Tasmania Devils 16.13 (109) to 7.9 (51)
QF: def. Dandenong Stingrays 12.10 (82) to 11.13 (79)

TEAMS:

Eastern Ranges

B: 41. S. Drevers – 37. R. Ali – 31. A. Barker
HB: 11. M. Gillan – 22. X. Taylor – 25. O. Taylor
C: 38. H. Chapman – 7. J. Knapp – 1. B. Chambers
HF: 55. S. Robben – 8. L. Dovaston – 14. Z. Antonellos
F: 34. A. Spencer – 16. T. Swainston – 29. R. McConnell
FOL: 59. M. Krasnadamskis – 9. J. Landy – 26. O. Greeves

INT: 4. B. Lloyd, 15. M. Buckland, 36. J. Lawrence, 42. O. McKenzie, 51. C. Nash

EMG: 5. D. Jamieson, 13. W. Waller, 39. M. Reynders

GWV Rebels

B: 11. R. Holloway – 25. B. Phillips – 53. T. Hellessey
HB: 21. T. Bowman – 14. S. Marris – 2. M. Hughes
C: 24. L. Stephens – 1. E. Drever – 42. O. Pittard
HF: 17. C. Kenna – 45. C. Finck – 5. F. Burmeister
F: 16. F. Molan – 22. C. McKinnon – 9. T. Byrne
FOL: 23. F. Penry – 3. A. Taylor – 26. W. Shea

INT: 4. J. Grayland, 13. S. Burmeister, 18. C. Glenwright-McGuane, 33. A. Elliott, 43. J. Sobey

EMG: 38. L. Munyard, 39. K. Nicholls, 51. J. Connolly

ONES TO WATCH:

All the talk this week has been around a pair of bolting Eastern Ranges prospects in Sullivan Robey and Oskar Taylor. Clubs are pushing for both players to earn a national combine promotion given they are increasingly likely to be called out with picks in the teens come draft night.

Robey is a 192cm physical phenom, while Taylor is a run-and-gun defender with piercing left-foot kicking. The latter will feature down back alongside namesake Xavier Taylor. The tall interceptor likes to venture up the ground, with the solidity of Andrew Barker and Rod Ali allowing him to do so.

Add A1 midfielder Oliver Greeves and livewire forward Lachy Dovaston into the mix, and Eastern boasts a half-dozen genuine first round chances. The Ranges also have an emerging crop of bottom-agers led by crafty midfielder Jordan Knapp, who is sure to find plenty of the footy.

Among the key features of GWV’s side is a three-pronged ruck/forward group. Primary ruck Flynn Penry and fellow over-ager Floyd Burmeister will take up much of those duties, while top-ager Chad Finck also offers a chop-out from his usual post in attack.

Another player set to cause headaches inside 50 is competition leading goalkicker Charlie McKinnon, whose sixth goal last week helped the Rebels to an after-the-siren victory. Also keen an eye on the speed and power of Archie Taylor and Talor Byrne through midfield.

PREDICTION:

The form guide says Eastern is arguably the best team in the running having breezed into the final four. The Ranges are deep in talent across the age groups and boast as much high-end talent as any side. GWV can never be counted out though, having had home ground advantage in both postseason games and won a thriller last time out. They’ll fight it out, but Ranges by 20.