WESTERN Jets midfielder Lachlan Hicks is our Coates Talent League Player of the Week after filling his boots in Round 14. The bottom-ager amassed 34 disposals, 10 marks, six inside 50s, five clearances, and four goals as his side soared past Bendigo to the tune of 74-points in Mildura on Sunday.

>> SNAPSHOT: 2025 Coates Talent League – Round 14

It was a dominant four-quarter performance from the 17-year-old, who has been utilised on the inside, outside, and up forward. He racked up the ball at will, combining with teammates to rack up 23 uncontested possessions and 12 handball receives. To top it all off, he hit the scoreboard with 4.2.

Hicks becomes the fourth Jet in five weeks, and third in a row to earn a Player of the Week nod. His feats, following the trend of his teammates’ video game numbers, helped Western claim a second win in three weeks to climb off the bottom of the ladder – even in the absence of three Vic Metro representatives.

Having been part of the preseason training hub, Hicks was overlooked for selection in the final Vic Metro squad. He won the side’s MVP award at last year’s Under 16 National Championships and began to find form this season with Wesley College in the APS competition – which is currently on break.

Many other Western prospects stuffed the stats sheet on Sunday. Recent Vic Metro squad addition Oskar Ainsworth booted five goals from 18 touches and seven marks, while Finn Davis (30 disposals, nine marks) and bottom-ager Angus Tippett (26 disposals, seven clearances) were also prominent.

Around the grounds, 2026 prospect Arki Butler impressed with 18 disposals, eight marks and three goals in Sandringham Dragons’ 25-point loss to Greater Western Victoria. In the same game, run-and-gun Rebels defender Sam Niklaus led all comers with 24 disposals, eight marks and five rebound 50s.

In Eastern’s three-point win over Oakleigh, Mitch Gillan (28 disposals, 11 marks) and Charlie Whitehead (26 disposals, eight inside 50s, one goal) were named best afield for the respective sides. Only five games were played in Round 14 as opposed to the usual six, as there will be in Round 15.

2025 CTL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Round 1: Willem Duursma (Gippsland Power)
Round 2: Cody Templeton (Gippsland Power)
Round 3: Thomas McGuane (Western Jets)
Round 4: Max Hudson (Suns Academy)
Round 5: Daniel Annable (Lions Academy)
Round 6: Beau Addinsall (Suns Academy)
Round 7: Cody Walker (Bendigo Pioneers)
Round 8: Charlie McKinnon (GWV Rebels)
Round 9: Thomas Burton (Western Jets)
Round 11: Lachy Dovaston (Eastern Ranges)
Round 12: Oskar Ainsworth (Western Jets)
Round 13: Jake Miller (Western Jets)
Round 14: Lachlan Hicks (Western Jets)