TWO of six sides in the Coates Talent League Metro conference were eliminated in Wildcard Round, meaning the post-season debrief begins. We break down how the campaigns of Eastern Ranges and Western Jets panned out with a look at their star players and what’s in store for the future.

>> 2024 Coates Talent League: Stats | RMC Medal | Team of the Year

EASTERN RANGES

RECORD: 8th Overall | 3rd Metro | 7-8 | 93.54%
STREAK: WW | LL | WW | L | W | LLLLL | WW
WILDCARD: def. by Northern Knights 8.4 (52) to 13.11 (89) 

THE STORY:

Eastern’s record fell into the negative on the back of five consecutive losses after the halfway point, though the Ranges managed to string together three separate pairs of wins. They won four of their first six games and bookended the campaign strongly, winning their opening and closing two games. They were felled by the lower-ranked Northern Knights in Wildcard Round though, just a week after defeating them for the second time in 2024.

THE HIGHLIGHT:

A couple of moments throughout the season stand out as highlights for Eastern. The first came in rounds six and seven when the Ranges bounced back from consecutive losses with a pair of spirited wins by under a goal each. They then found a late-season spark, snapping their five-game losing streak with an emphatic win over Western Jets, kicking their highest score of the year – 18.14 (122).

THE STAR:

One of the premier players of the competition and overall draft pool, Josh Smillie was Eastern’s star player in 2024. The 194cm midfielder started the season like a house on fire, yielding over 30 touches and multiple goals thrice in a four-game run before setting off for the National Championships. At his best, he’s near-on unstoppable with his extraction ability and poised ball use. Smillie averaged 25.5 disposals and 1.3 goals across 12 games in his third season with the Ranges.

THE MAINSTAYS:

Joining Smillie in a venomous midfield hydra this year were Christian Moraes and Cody Anderson. Offering vastly different styles to each other, Moraes was the forward bolter of the two, while Anderson was renowned for his toughness on the inside and defensive application.

The Ranges had an early win at the draft table with ruckman Iliro Smit taken by Collingwood mid-season. Fellow over-agers Ry Cantwell and Cooper Trembath also featured in the first half of the campaign for five games apiece and proved serviceable once again.

Another 2005-born talent to provide high value was leading goalkicker Remy MacLean, who booted 24 majors in 15 games. More experience came in the form of leadership group members Baylin Spencer and Jack Baldwin, who were consistent figures throughout the season.

The Ranges laid claim to a dangerous small forward pairing of Jordan Hider and Jak Ryan. Tall wingman/forward Seth Macdonald was another who showed his quality in the back-end of the season, while highly regarded defender Riley White provided a cool head on the last line.

THE FUTURE:

Eastern boasts a couple of standout bottom-agers in Oliver Greeves and Lachy Dovaston. The former is a tall midfielder with agility and poise in the mould of Smillie, while the latter is a small utility with great speed and smarts capable of playing at either end of the ground.

The likes of Andrew Barker and Xavier Taylor earned selection in the Vic Metro Under 17 squad having impressed in Eastern’s backline. They featured in that match alongside Greeves, Dovaston, and Bailey Lloyd, who played all 16 games this year like Barker and Taylor.

Other 2007-born prospects to have been prominent for the Ranges include Mason Porter and Blake Chambers, the latter of which played his part at the start and end of the season. Eastern also had six Under 16 prospects selected in the Vic Metro National Development Championships squad.

WESTERN JETS

RECORD: 10th Overall | 5th Metro | 5-10 | 95.6%
STREAK: LL | W | LL | WWW | L | W | LLLLL
WILDCARD: def. by Sandringham Dragons 15.9 (99) to 3.5 (23)

THE STORY:

Western Jets punched above their weight with many of their five wins in 2024, knocking off four eventual finalists – including minor premier, Geelong. The Metro region’s campaign can be split into thirds; losing four of their first five games, then winning four of their next five, before ending the season on a six-game losing streak, including their Wildcard Round exit at the hands of reigning premier, Sandringham.

THE HIGHLIGHT:

Western’s remarkable mid-season run of results was the clear highlight. The Jets toppled quarter-finalists GWV, Oakleigh, and Northern on the bounce, before getting the best of eventual minor premier Geelong after losing to Oakleigh by a single point in their return leg. The five-game period accounted for four of Western’s handful of wins, and clearly marked the side’s best form.

THE STAR:

The region’s most high profile top-age prospect and a true leader of the squad, Lucca Grego was a standout nearly every time he donned Western’s colours. The hard-nosed midfielder/defender played mostly on-ball for the Jets, averaging 22.6 disposals and 5.2 inside 50s across 13 games in his third season in the Under 18 side. He consistently showed a great hunger to improve.

THE MAINSTAYS:

Another of Western’s leaders this year was power forward Keighton Matofai-Forbes. Despite not appearing after Round 14, the Vic Metro representative booted 11 majors in seven games, including four hauls of multiple goals, and set a punishing physical tone for the side.

Midfielder Xavier Kardachi was a consistent performer through midfield, averaging 23.4 disposals and 5.4 tackles across a full allotment of 16 games. The likes of Daniel Snell and Massimo Raso also got a run through the engine room, with the latter also a handy fold up forward.

Speaking of the forwardline, Jack Gerardi was Western’s main source of goals with 25 in 15 games. The lively 175cm talent was held goalless just twice this season and booted multiple majors on six occasions, including a personal-best haul of six goals against Northern in Round 10.

Western also got good service from over-agers Lucas Impey and Lachlan McArthur. The former established himself as one of the competition’s premier rucks and earned Vic Metro selection, while the latter was a rebounding force down back and took on some tough matchups.

Along with McArthur, West Barker was another asset to the Jets’ aggressive ball movement from defence. He and over-age utility Darcy Weeks often looked to break the lines and take the game on with speed. They featured in 11 and 12 games this season respectively.

THE FUTURE:

Western will have two tantalising top-end prospects next year in Thomas McGuane and Thomas Burton. The former is a Collingwood father-son candidate (son of Mick) who led the competition for total disposals this season. He’s a classy ball user and accumulator through midfield.

Burton will likely be his partner in crime next year. Between school football commitments in 2024, he averaged 23.7 disposals and 5.6 tackles across seven games, dropping below 20 touches just once. His rebound running off half-back and defensive application in the middle are lethal.

The Jets had two 2007-born players selected in the Vic Metro Under 17 team, namely Oskar Ainsworth and Finnegan Davis. Ainsworth is a forward with tricks and athletic gifts who played all 16 games this year, while Davis showed promise down back in 12 appearances.

Much like with McGuane and Burton last year, the Jets also unveiled a pair of Under 16 talents late in the season. Vic Metro MVP Lachlan Hicks was one, a consistent and tough midfielder, while Angus Tippett was the other. Both played in Western’s last two games.