ALL 18 Coates Talent League teams will be in action during Round 4, building a stacked fixture of nine games across two days. From a triple-header in Bendigo to the Northern Territory’s first outing for the year, there is plenty to look forward to in the footballing pathway. We preview all the action.

Saturday April 15, 11:00am @ Trevor Barker Oval

LAST TIME OUT

Sandringham is one of just two undefeated sides left in season 2023, and dined out in Round 3 with a 38-point win over local rival, Oakleigh. On the other hand, the Giants Academy remains winless and opened last weekend’s proceedings with a 61-point loss to its own rival, the Murray Bushrangers.

ONES TO WATCH

All National Academy members will be absent from the Talent League this week, meaning Sandringham will be without Ryley Sanders and Archie Roberts. Nonetheless, skipper Will Brown has been in excellent form and bottom-age gun Levi Ashcroft promises to reprise a significant on-ball role. Then there’s Harvey Johnston and Miles Enders, who have been revelations up forward. While skipper Harvey Thomas remains absent, the Giants have a couple of strong midfielders in Daniel Gauci and Jack Glanvill, while over-age tall Dayne Posthuma is a handy addition.

PREDICTION

This is essentially a battle between top and bottom, so should be relatively straightforward on the prediction front. Dragons by 36.

Saturday April 15, 11:00am @ Punt Road Oval

LAST TIME OUT

The Swans Academy comes into Round 4 fresh off a bye, but has fared well in 2023 for a 1-1 record. A dramatic loss to the GWV Rebels felled the Swans last time out, so they’ll be keen to atone for that. Oakleigh has lost its last two games by a combined margin of 77 points, proving a far cry from the Chargers’ impressive Round 1 win over another Northern Academy.

ONES TO WATCH

Both sides will be without a pair of National Academy members each, giving an opportunity for others to shine. The Chargers’ bottom-age on-ball brigade of Jagga Smith, Finn O’Sullivan, and Tom Gross is tough to top, and they’ll have over-age tall Will Elliott to kick to in his return up forward. For the Swans, father-son gun Indhi Kirk will be the main man in midfield, while James Lugsdin looks like getting a chance on the inside.

PREDICTION

Though on paper Oakleigh is usually hard to look past during the opening month, the Swans Academy has proven tough opposition to date. The absence of National Academy members looks like hurting the Swans slightly more. Chargers by 5.

Saturday April 15, 1:30pm @ UTAS Stadium

LAST TIME OUT

These sides come in off quite opposite results, with Eastern having bested Northern by 36 points, while Tasmania went down to Bendigo by 38. The Ranges have played three games to date for a 2-1 record, but the Devils have a game in hand on the full-time regions and sit at 1-1.

ONES TO WATCH

Colby McKercher and Jack Callinan are huge losses for Tasmania, but it means skipper Tom Beaumont can take charge once again in midfield while a relatively new-look forward line gets to work. Eastern will be without electric small Nick Watson and bottom-age midfielder Josh Smillie, potentially opening the door for Cam Nyko to play on-ball. There will also be a heavy mid-season draft watch on Ranges ruck Clay Tucker.

PREDICTION

Eastern has lost in both of its last two trips to the Apple Isle, and that counts for plenty given Tasmania’s unique home advantage among the full-time regions. The respective absentees make this one tough to call, but the visitors look a touch stronger across the field. Ranges by 1.

Saturday April 15, 1:30pm @ Punt Road Oval

LAST TIME OUT

The Lions Academy is another side which comes in off a bye, though there hasn’t been much to write home about yet for the Queenslanders. A competitive showing in Round 2 against Dandenong will have lifted the Lions’ spirits, though they remain winless. The same can be said for Western, with the Jets looking competitive in patches but thrice falling short of nabbing four points. Last time out, they lost to Calder by 23 points.

ONES TO WATCH

Both sides will be unaffected by the National Academy game, and this might well be the chance for Western spearhead Logan Morris to bounce back from a couple of quieter weeks. The Lions have handy tall cover in defence – none more so than captain Bradley McDonald – while a midfield battle between Jake Smith and Sam Marshall promises to be highly competitive.

PREDICTION

If one thing is for sure, the Lions Academy will have a crack and is not afraid to draw sides into a scrap. Western has looked close to getting points but will need to put together a four-quarter effort against plucky opposition. Jets by 12.

Sunday April 16, 10:30am @ Queen Elizabeth Oval

LAST TIME OUT

Bendigo is one of the form sides of the competition having won by a combined margin of 120 points over the last two weeks, after suffering a loss in Round 1. Gippsland won its opening game but fell to Dandenong at home after a bye, so will be keen for a quick return to the winners list on the road.

ONES TO WATCH

Bendigo has lost its cheat code in Harley Reid, but in a similar vein Gippsland will be without standouts Zane Duursma and Archer Reid. The Power’s midfield is somewhat of a mosquito fleet, so watch for the smarts of Sebastian Amoroso and Tom Hanily to shine. Ruck Harvey Howe is a handy inclusion too, as he presses for mid-season draft selection. The Pioneers have been super impressive of late and will hope Malik Gordon can replicate some of Reid’s power. Bottom-agers Archer Day-Wicks and Tobie Travaglia are others to watch.

PREDICTION

This promises to be another close contest. It’s difficult to look past winning form and the Pioneers have been comprehensive, so should be full of confidence on their home deck. Pioneers by 10.

Sunday April 16, 12:00pm @ Highgate Recreation Reserve

LAST TIME OUT

Calder has exceeded expectations to a point in 2023, boasting a 2-1 record with its only loss coming by six points to the undefeated Sandringham Dragons. Last time out, the Cannons downed Western by 23 points. Meanwhile, there is no exposed form to go off for the Northern Territory, which comes in for its first Talent League game of the season.

ONES TO WATCH

The Cannons’ midfield began to jell last week led by the efforts of Mahmoud Taha and Nash King, but Declan Willmore is set for a stint on the sidelines. Key forward Jordan Croft will hope to cash in this week, while small Isaac Kako is due a big game. As always, there’s some talent at the NT’s disposal. Waylon Davey-Motlop, the cousin of Alwyn and Jayden Davey, and Jesse Motlop, will captain the Thunder. Running through midfield alongside him are vice-captain Taj Stanley and Stanley Waistcoat. Calvin Peris-Chong, the brother of Geelong’s Brandan Parfitt, has also been named on the bench.

PREDICTION

There should be a few highlights to come from this Thunder group, though they may need time to settle into proceedings against a well oiled outfit which has three games under its belt in Calder. The Cannons have been impressive and again turn out at their familiar home venue. Cannons by 40.

Sunday April 16, 1:00pm @ Queen Elizabeth Oval

LAST TIME OUT

They may boast perfectly opposite records, but most recent form shows the lower-ranked side in this matchup on top. Murray, sitting 10th at 1-2, notched an impressive first win last week by 61 points against the Giants Academy. Meanwhile, the fifth placed Falcons (2-1) dropped their first game to GWV by seven points.

ONES TO WATCH

The Bushrangers will have to make do without National Academy guns Connor O’Sullivan and Darcy Wilson, but have unearthed Joshua Murphy as a capable tall forward. Fellow bottom-ager Joe Berry comes into the side, while 2022 Under 16 All Australian Brady Hall is a nice inclusion for Geelong. He’ll accompany the in-form Angus Hastie at half-back. 

PREDICTION

Geelong is a well drilled unit and will be unaffected by the National Academy showcase at selection. On the other hand, two key pieces of Murray’s side fall out of the puzzle. Falcons by 27.

Sunday April 16, 2:30pm @ Highgate Recreation Reserve

LAST TIME OUT

Northern suffered its first loss of the season in Round 3, bested by a polished Eastern side to the tune of 36 points in a home game away from home. The Suns Academy should come in fresh after a bye, but is still chasing a win having put up modest scores over the opening two rounds.

ONES TO WATCH

It’s a different looking Suns side this week, without its three National Academy members. The likes of Leonardo Lombard and Will Graham offer plenty of class in midfield though, and this may be a chance for Caleb Nancarrow to shine. St Kilda father-son prospect Boston Everitt also comes in for his maiden appearance. Northern looks set to unleash captain Christian Mardini up forward in the absence of Nate Caddy, while over-ager Flynn Riley takes on the lone ruck duties with Will Green out. 

PREDICTION

The Suns have struggled to kick a winning score in 2023 and that will only be made more difficult by the players who come out of the side. Conversely, Northern has found ways to win and will be a strong chance to register more points in this clash. Knights by 18.

Sunday April 16, 3:30pm @ Queen Elizabeth Oval

LAST TIME OUT

Dandenong got its second win on the board last week, and arguably the more impressive of the two in a 27-point victory over Gippsland in Morwell. Meanwhile, GWV seems to be flying under the radar at a perfect 3-0, after consecutive single-digit wins. Most recently, the Rebels held on to beat Geelong last Thursday.

ONES TO WATCH

Harry De Mattia will reprise the sole captaincy role with Cooper Simpson undergoing National Academy commitments. Vice-captain Kobe Shipp returns at half-back, and Ziggy Toledo looms as an over-ager to watch after his six-goal haul. GWV boasts an even squad of contributors but will be without George Stevens. The Rebels’ on-ball core consisting of Lachlan Charleson, Alex Molan and Sam Lalor has been solid.

PREDICTION

As one of just two undefeated sides to this point, GWV will be hard to look past here. Simpson offers a lot to the Stingrays, who have only won with him in the side, but look to have found their groove of late and stand a great chance of knocking off the Rebels. Stingrays by 3.