THE Coates Talent League rolls on into Round 8 over the weekend, with the fixture stripped back to its usual six games. For some players, it serves as one final audition before the mid-season draft and representative season, while teams like Dandenong and Geelong will be hunting ladder leader, Tasmania.

Saturday May 27, 11:00am @ Preston City Oval

IN A SENTENCE

Fresh off an extended break, the Northern Knights can join the competition’s leading pack with a win over Oakleigh, who scuppered a golden opportunity last week.

FORM

Oakleigh sits at 2-3 having knocked off a pair of Northern Academies but fallen to three full-time regions. Last time out, the Chargers squandered their 29-point fourth quarter lead in a four-point loss to Dandenong. Meanwhile, Northern enjoyed a bye but comes in looking to build on its 3-1 record having last trounced the Suns by 71 points in Round 4.

ONES TO WATCH

Both sides boast some handy talent despite being impacted by school football commitments – Oakleigh more than most. The Chargers still have National Academy member Nathan Philactides to call upon off half-back, while mid-season draft hopefuls Will Elliott and Luke Teal offer plenty.

Northern welcomes Nate Caddy back into the fold after he made his VFL debut last week. Fellow AFL Academy member and captain William Green will take on the primary ruck duties in Flynn Riley‘s absence, while Zak Johnson will be without fellow bottom-ager Jesse Dattoli in midfield.

PREDICTION

Oakleigh has a great opportunity to catch Northern cold and bounce back onto the winners list. With both sides making key changes to their sides before the community break, whichever team’s bottom rung of players holds up strongest will win. Chargers by 12.

Saturday May 27, 1:00pm @ Morwell Football Ground

IN A SENTENCE

Another region which enjoyed an extra week off, Calder, travels to Morwell to take on a Gippsland side which is slowly capturing form.

FORM

Both teams have played a game less than most of the competition, though Calder comes into this match having not played since April 16. Nonetheless, the Cannons have started strongly to sit 3-1, having only lost to the previously undefeated Sandringham. The Power got up last time out to move to 2-2, but have plenty of improvement left after their six-point home win over Western.

ONES TO WATCH

Round 8 serves as a mid-season draft audition for some and while Gippsland will be without Ryan Maric, Calder dasher Rye Penny will hope to press his claims. The Cannons will also hope to get rising key forward Jordan Croft into the game as much as possible.

Speaking of talls, the Power have decent depth in that department. National Academy gun Archer Reid looks like getting an extended run in the ruck as the likes of Harvey Howe, Lachlan Smith, and Wil Dawson line up at either end of the ground. That’s not to mention Zane Duursma in midfield.

PREDICTION

While Gippsland will undoubtedly enjoy the advantage of another game in Morwell, Calder looks like one of the most solid and even teams in the competition. The Power will have to hope for an early jump, but we’re taking the Cannons by 18.

Sunday May 28, 10:00am @ Mars Stadium

IN A SENTENCE

The Tasmania Devils will put top spot on the line as they travel to Ballarat to take on a GWV Rebels side keen to get back to winning ways.

FORM

Tasmania has soared to the top of the Talent League ladder with four-straight wins, albeit also with a game in hand. Amid that streak were two hundred-point thrashings, and last week’s 34-point win over the Swans Academy. GWV has lost its last two games, but still has a positive record after winning its first three.

ONES TO WATCH

With the Allies camp on this weekend, the Devils are set to lose a handful of key figures in their starting squad. Rebound defender Geordie Payne takes on captaincy duties, while Arie Schoenmaker is set to make his long-awaited return to the side, named for the first time in 2023.

The Rebels’ standout names are clear and big-bodied ball winner George Stevens is set to continue his move to midfield. Lachlan Charleson is a very handy inclusion, and wingman Joel Freijah may also get another run on the inside alongside them both.

PREDICTION

Tasmania looks a genuine contender at full strength, but that is not quite the case this weekend. The Devils outs look ominous and GWV is in prime position to take advantage of that in familiar conditions at Mars Stadium. Rebels by 23.

Sunday May 28, 11:00am @ Kinetic Stadium

IN A SENTENCE

Both coming off uniquely impressive wins, the Dandenong Stingrays and Eastern Ranges will resume their rivalry with eyes on establishing themselves as top four sides.

FORM

Dandenong pulled off a spectacular comeback last Friday night, downing Oakleigh by four points at the same venue after being nearly five goals down in term four. The Stingrays now sit equal-second at 4-1, while Eastern is a rung behind at 3-2. The Ranges bounced back with a win after the break though, with their best talent shining to defeat the Lions Academy by 38 points.

ONES TO WATCH

Eastern welcomes back even more running power to support wingman Caleb Windsor, as Cam Nyko slots in across half-back. Through midfield, bottom-agers Josh Smillie and Christian Moraes are in ripping touch having both racked up over 30 touches last time out.

Dandenong will be full of confidence, with co-captain Cooper Simpson leading last week’s game winners in Cooper Hynes and Ziggy Toledo. There was a promising debut from Riak Andrew too, so watch for him to only improve from here.

PREDICTION

Going off either side’s most recent form, it is difficult to look past Eastern for this one. There is solid talent across the field in both camps and it should make for one of the games of the round. Ranges by 10.

Sunday May 28, 12:30pm @ Avalon Airport Oval

IN A SENTENCE

Round 7 victors Geelong and Murray lock horns for the second time in three games, when they meet in a reverse leg at Avalon Airport Oval.

FORM

The most significant bit of context for this game is that Geelong rolled Murray by 44 points just last month, albeit with slightly different squads. Geelong is riding high on the back of consecutive wins, while Murray became the first team this year to knock off Sandringham last week, in what should be a big lift for the 2-3 Bushies.

ONES TO WATCH

The Allies camp sees Murray suffer a couple of blows at the selection table, with star tall Connor O’Sullivan and speedy small Phoenix Gothard both unavailable. Though, Darcy Wilson remains and Nick Newton is a welcome inclusion through midfield.

Geelong’s best addition is that of Tom Anastasopoulos, who lit up the first block of the season. He’ll enjoy crumbing under the likes of Zac McInnes and ruck Joe Pike, while Angus Hastie leads a back line with plenty of rebounding power.

PREDICTION

Murray will be full of beans after last week’s result, but a well-drilled Geelong side awaits. With last month’s clash in the back of both teams’ minds, perhaps a similar game will ensue. Falcons by 20.

Sunday May 28, 1:00pm @ Queen Elizabeth Oval

IN A SENTENCE

After both suffering tight losses last week, the Bendigo Pioneers and Western Jets will be keen to bounce straight back onto the winners list in Round 8.

FORM

Going down by one and two goals respectively last week, these sides are after their first wins post-break. The Pioneers have otherwise been impressive across their 3-2 start, as the only side to have knocked off ladder leader Tasmania. Western has had a slower burn at 1-4, with the Jets’ sole win coming right before the break against Brisbane.

ONES TO WATCH

Bendigo will again be without top prospect Harley Reid (head knock), but welcomes back the likes of Malik Gordon and Tobie Travaglia on either side of midfield. The Pios have some exciting bottom-agers coming through like Archer Day-Wicks, while Western will again miss Logan Morris after he injured his knee playing for Werribee.

PREDICTION

Having sprung up as one of the competition’s surprise packets before the break, Bendigo has a great opportunity to keep touch with the top four sides. Western has some solid talent, but this is another tough road trip. Pioneers by 15.