THE 2025 Coates Talent League fixtures were announced last week, with an 18-round girls regular season set to commence on the weekend of April 5-6. There are plenty of landmark events between then and the Grand Final, slated for September 20-21. We highlight some of the must-watch fixtures.

>> ANNOUNCEMENT: 2025 Coates Talent League fixtures

THE SEASON-OPENER(S)

Round 1 | Murray Bushrangers vs. Bendigo Pioneers
Saturday April 5, 11am @ Norm Minns Oval

Round 1 | GWV Rebels vs. Geelong Falcons
Saturday April 5, 11am @ Mars Stadium

Two matches happening at the same time are set to kick off the 2025 season, both being all-Country clashes. Over in Wangaratta, Murray Bushrangers host Bendigo to commence their campaigns, while 2024 preliminary finalists Geelong Falcons travel to face GWV Rebels at Mars Stadium. The first bounces are at 11:00am, with either match making up a double-headers with the identical boys Round 2 fixtures.

GRAND FINAL REMATCH

Oakleigh Chargers vs. Eastern Ranges

Round 2 | Sunday April 13, 2:20pm @ Highgate Recreation Reserve
Round 18 | Saturday August 23, 12:40pm @ TBC

Oakleigh and Eastern won’t have to wait long to recommence their rivalry having played against each other in consecutive Grand Finals. The Chargers have come out on top both times and won in all three meetings against the Ranges last year. They’ll be out to continue that trend when the sides meet in Round 2. The clash takes place on neutral ground at Highgate Recreation Reserve, as part of a double-header with the Western Jets-Sandringham Dragons fixture.

COUNTRY TRIPLE-HEADER

Round 2 | Saturday April 12 @ Epsom Huntly Reserve
Bendigo Pioneers vs. GWV Rebels (11:00am)
Murray Bushrangers vs. Gippsland Power (1:10pm)
Geelong Falcons vs. Dandenong Stingrays (3:20pm)

The April 12-13 weekend is primed to showcase the best Country talent in Victoria, with Bendigo hosting triple-headers between the six country regions. Epsom Huntly Reserve will be the scene for the girls on Saturday before the boys take centre stage at Queen Elizabeth Oval on Sunday. The Pioneers are first up, taking on GWV at 11am, before Murray and Gippsland meet in the afternoon, and Geelong locks horns with Dandenong to close out the show. The latter pair made the preliminary finals in 2024.

ACADEMIES USHER’ED IN

Swans Academy vs. Tasmania Devils
Friday April 25 @ Blacktown ISP

Suns Academy vs. Dandenong Stingrays
Saturday April 26 @ Austworld Centre Oval

Murray Bushrangers vs. Giants Academy
Saturday April 26 @ Lavington Sports Ground

Lions Academy vs. Geelong Falcons
Sunday April 27 @ Brighton Homes Arena

Every keen draft watcher and recruiter alike will be itching to see Ava Usher back in action this year, coming off her ACL injury. Usher is eyeing off a return via the National Academy match on April 21, so will be a wait and see if she plays then and again five days later or is put on ice for the Suns’ first match back.

Arguably the top prospect heading into 2025, she and her talented Suns Academy teammates will be eyeing off another scintillating Academy Series after knocking off Oakleigh last time around. The Chargers were otherwise undefeated en route to the premiership.

It all kicks off in Round 3, which also marks Tasmania’s first outing. The Devils travel to face the Swans Academy in Blacktown, which is the first of four academy fixtures across three days of action. Carrara, Lavington, and Springfield are the other towns set to host the Queensland and NSW/ACT’s brightest. All fixtures fit in line as double-headers with the respective boys programs, setting up a big few days.

NT TALENT TIME

The fifth Northern Academy set to be showcased in 2025 belongs to the NT. The Thunder’s three-game campaign commences on Thursday May 29 with a standalone Round 7 clash against Sandringham Dragons. Their Melbourne stay will extend to Saturday June 1 with a clash against Murray Bushrangers, before returning home to host Calder Cannons at TIO Stadium on Saturday June 14. That game will mark the first time the Northern Territory has hosted a Coates Talent League Girls match.

FINALS

The 18-round home-and-away season wraps up in August, making way for the finals series which begins on the 30th-31st. It all culminates in the Grand Final, which has been scheduled for the weekend of September 20-21. Oakleigh Chargers will be looking for an unprecedented third-straight girls flag.

>> MUST-WATCH: 2025 Coates Talent League Boys fixtures