BENDIGO Pioneers prospects are littered through our Coates Talent League Team of the Week, in what is the final instalment for 2025. A handful of Pioneers feature in our 24-player team after defeating Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels in Round 19 to see out the home-and-away season in style.

>> CTL Round 19: Snapshot | Player of the Week

DEFENCE

B: Tom Evans (BP) – Shaun Watson (BP) – Xavier Taylor (ER)
HB: Finn Davis (WJ) – Harry Dean (MB) – Kye Fincher (SD)

Bendigo’s strong group of players in this week’s squad begins down back, where over-ager Tom Evans features alongside Shaun Watson on the last line. Evans led all comers with 34 disposals and two goals, while Watson kept competition leading goalkicker Charlie McKinnon scoreless from three touches.

Murray’s Harry Dean was resolute as usual with 21 disposals and eight marks in a loss to Geelong, locking in his spot at centre half-back. Alongside the Carlton father-son gun, Eastern tall Xavier Taylor also went about his business with an identical stat line as the Ranges defeated Western.

Jets defender Finn Davis was back to his best with 37 disposals, seven marks and eight rebound 50s in the same game to earn selection for another week. Meanwhile, Kye Fincher returned to the fold after his VFL debut, notching 24 touches and a goal in Sandringham’s win over Oakleigh.

Fincher is part of St Kilda’s Next Generation Academy, joining Dean as one of two club-tied players in our hypothetical defence. He was primarily used as a midfielder-forward in Round 18 but slotted behind the ball to help settle the Dragons late on, hence why he has squeezed into a half-back spot.

MIDFIELD

FOL: Zaydyn Lockwood (BP) – Willem Duursma (GP) – Sam Grlj (OC)
C: Thomas McGuane (WJ) – Jack Dalton (SD) – Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves (DS)

A high-quality midfield is led by Player of the Week Jack Dalton. The hard-running prospect amassed 37 disposals, seven marks and two goals to earn the starting centre spot. Also running on-ball are Willem Duursma and Sam Grlj, who showcased their first round credentials once again over the weekend.

Duursma, who is firming as a pick one fancy, bagged a game-high 24 possessions, seven tackles and two goals in Gippsland’s defeat to Dandenong. Grlj also stood tall in Oakleigh’s losing effort, notching an industrious 23 disposals, four tackles and one goal as Dalton’s Dragons got the upper hand.

The trio is rucked to by athletic Bendigo tall Zaydyn Lockwood. The over-ager continued his outstanding late season form with 24 disposals, six marks, 16 hitouts, and seven clearances in Sunday’s win over GWV. He beat out a deceptively deep pool of rucks vying for the starting spot this week.

Out on the wings, Dandenong captain Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves was hard to deny for his 21 touches and five marks against Gippsland. He also rotated on-ball, as did Collingwood father-son candidate Thomas McGuane in Western’s loss to Eastern. 30 disposals and eight marks ensured his selection.

FORWARD

HF: Jamie Gilchrist (ER) – Floyd Burmeister (GWV) – Sullivan Robey (ER)
F: Hussien El Achkar (CC) – Harry Van Hattum (NK) – Jack Pickett (GF)

Eastern Ranges boast a pair of forwards in this week’s starting lineup. Jamie Gilchrist worked into the game against Western to boot four goals from 17 disposals and four marks. State combine invitee Sullivan Robey was also prominent with 16 disposals, 10 marks and two goals in the win.

Having been squeezed out of the starting ruck spot, Northern bottom-ager Harry Van Hattum (22 disposals, five marks, 16 hitouts, five clearances, one goal) and GWV over-ager Floyd Burmeister (15 disposals, five marks, nine hitouts, five clearances) occupy the key position posts in attack.

Essendon NGA prospect Hussien El Achkar was also busy in the Northern-Calder clash, booting three majors as his Cannons got up by 19 points. Geelong Falcons spearhead Jack Pickett rounds out a relatively tall front six having booted 5.3 from 12 disposals and six marks in the win over Murray.

INTERCHANGE

INT: James Allison (NK), Willem Bennett (BP), Jordan Knapp (ER), Adam Sweid (CC), Angus Tippett (WJ), Cody Walker (BP)

Competition for midfield spots spilled onto this week’s bench. The likes of Adam Sweid (28 disposals) and Cody Walker (30 disposals, nine clearances, one goal) were must-picks nonetheless, along with Eastern Ranges accumulator Jordan Knapp (28 disposals, seven marks). All played in wins.

Western bottom-ager Angus Tippett booted two goals from 23 disposals and seven clearances in an imposing performance, while James Allison (19 disposals, nine marks, one goal) was strong in Northern’s loss. Bendigo’s Willem Bennett also snuck in for his 13 touches, five marks and 2.3 up forward.