MINOR premiers Gippsland Power were knocked out of the Coates Talent League flag race in Saturday’s preliminary finals, while 2024 runners-up Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels also made the final four. We recap the campaigns of both regions, out of the Country conference.

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GIPPSLAND POWER

H&A RECORD: 1st Overall | 1st Country | 11-4 | 131.7%
STREAK: WWW | L | WWWWWW | LL | WW | L
WILDCARD: Bye
QUARTER FINAL: def. Geelong Falcons 8.11 (59) to 7.9 (51)
PRELIM FINAL: def. by Sandringham Dragons 9.11 (65) to 11.9 (75)

THE STORY:

Gippsland Power rose to take out the minor premiership having arguably been the best side all season. They rode a six-game win streak to be 9-1 at one point, ending up 11-4 having dropped three of their last five matches. After earning the bye in Wildcard Round, Gippsland survived a quarter final scare to put Geelong away late, before going down to three-time reigning premier Sandringham in the prelims.

THE HIGHLIGHT:

The Power’s six-game run of wins ensured they earned and maintained frontrunner status this season. In that streak, they beat all off the three other preliminary finalists and chalked up their steepest winning margin of the year, beating Oakleigh by 66 points. If not for a four-point loss to Geelong in Round 6, Gippsland’s winning run would have extended into double-digits. It was a dominant stretch.

THE STAR:

Willem Duursma
Utility | 191cm | 21/06/2007

Season Averages [13 games]: 23.5 disposals, 5.2 marks, 5.2 tackles, 1.2 goals

Potentially the top prospect in the country, Duursma was a straightforward choice for this slot. The utility was thrown around in just about every position this year, finishing his campaign in strong form as a genuine midfielder-forward. His coverage of the ground and aerial ability were among the traits which made him a genuine threat each game, with the athletic 191cm talent well poised to take out further individual honours to go with his All-Australian and Vic Country MVP honours.

THE MAINSTAYS:

Duursma was Gippsland’s sole national combine invitee, though injury-riddled captain Thomas Matthews and tackling machine Brodie Atkins earned state combine call-ups alongside Adelaide father-son hopeful Mitchell Stevens. Atkins led the region for total disposals, averaging 23.1 per his 15 games.

On top of that group, the Power had crafty midfielder Zachary O’Keefe and utility Jobe Scapin move up to represent Vic Country. Imposing key position player Jonah Walker trialled for the squad and was a key part of Gippsland’s postseason run after his massive quarter final performance against Geelong.

A group of three top-agers played all of a possible 17 games for Gippsland. Midfielder-forward Luke Cheffers was among them, leading the team for tackles for an average of 7.2 along the way. Joining him in that trio was defender Harry Tatterson and Jesse Bills, who played his role each week.

THE FUTURE:

Boasting arguably the best bottom-age crop in the country, Gippsland had five players selected for the National Futures program – midfielder/forward Cody Templeton, key position utility Xavier Ladbrook, tall forward Wil Malady, diminutive midfielder Marlon Neocleous, and swingman Clancy Snell.

Among that group, Templeton played all 17 games and topped Gippsland’s goalkicking charts. Thomas Macmillan also played every game for the Power and joined all of the above in a talented Vic Country Under 17 side. He peaked with 24 disposals and six marks against Oakleigh in Round 8.

Elsewhere, goalsneak Keenan Boi looks a promising type, while Judd Burgiel and Jack Hilton both hit strong late-season form on the wings. Gippsland also blooded some Under 16 talent, with 208cm ruck playing six games, while Charlie Fischer and Noah Romeril broke through to debut.

GWV REBELS

H&A RECORD: 5th Overall | 3rd Country | 8-7 | 102.3%
STREAK: W | LLL | W | L | WW | L | WWWW | LL
WILDCARD: def. Tasmania Devils 16.13 (109) to 7.9 (51)
QUARTER FINAL: def. Dandenong Stingrays 12.10 (82) to 11.13 (79)
PRELIM FINAL: def. by Eastern Ranges 9.6 (60) to 17.9 (111)

THE STORY:

After surging into last year’s Grand Final, GWV made a 2-4 start to its 2025 campaign. Among that patch were three consecutive losses and a trio of games decided by under a goal. Despite that, they straightened up to string together a run of four wins and landed in the positive by season’s end, becoming one of five teams to land on an 8-7 record. GWV then breezed through Wildcard Round and won its quarter final against Dandenong after the siren, before being outgunned by Eastern in a 51-point preliminary final defeat.

THE HIGHLIGHT:

It could only be the dramatic quarter final win over Dandenong, where Charlie McKinnon‘s sixth goal saw the Rebels progress after the final siren. Ironically, they were the away side that day at Mars Stadium. GWV’s biggest winning margin came the week prior against Tasmania in Wildcard Round, saluting by 58 points. Among a string of four wins late in the season, the Rebels knocked off Tasmania and Western by a combined six points, signalling their ability to get it done in the clutch.

THE STAR:

Talor Byrne
Midfielder/Forward | 174cm | 14/11/2007

Season Averages [13 games]: 19.1 disposals, 5.2 tackles, 4.2 inside 50s, 0.7 goals

The diminutive midfielder-forward quickly rose to become GWV’s leading prospect this year, building on his average 7.1 disposals across 12 bottom-age games to average 19.1 in 13 top-age appearances. Byrne’s speed and punchy left-foot kicking were weapons on the attack, while his desperate defensive acts were eye-catching going the other way. He earned a call-up for Vic Country and booted five goals in game four against Vic Metro, spending plenty more time up forward as the season progressed.

THE MAINSTAYS:

While Byrne is the region’s sole national combine invitee, rebound defender Sam Niklaus will attend the state combine. He missed out on Vic Country selection, though mainstay Archie Taylor was called up for three games, making the squad alongside small forward/midfielder Harley Hicks.

Ruck/forward Chad Finck trialled for the squad and turned out 15 times for the Rebels, settling in alongside over-age talls Floyd Burmeister and Flynn Penry. Spearhead forward Charlie McKinnon was also a lock each week, leading the competition for goals with 54 in his 16 appearances.

Only two Rebels played every game this year in Sam Marris and Brodie Phillips. Defender Riley Holloway was resolute in his 17 games, as were midfielder Wilbur Shea and utility Fraser Molan. The latter ended up with 18 majors, only behind McKinnon’s haul of 54 and Cooper Glenwright-McGuane‘s 21.

THE FUTURE:

The Rebels had just one bottom-ager play for the Vic Country Futures, with wingman Lenny Stephens stepping into the Big V guernsey. There are high hopes for midfielder Ethan Drever, while defenders Michael Hughes and Tethloach Dak Liem also show promise, along with forward Charlie Kenna. Under 16 prospect Toby Hellessey also earned a berth with five games as a tall defender, while Patrick McKenna made his debut in Round 7.