AFTER meeting in Wildcard Round, both the Calder Cannons and Oakleigh Chargers were eliminated from the Coates Talent League premiership race over the weekend. Boasting star prospects and plenty of Vic Metro representatives, there were a bunch of positives to come out of either side’s seasons.

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CALDER CANNONS

RECORD: 3rd Overall | 2nd Metro | 8-7 | 110.2%
STREAK: WW | L | WW | LLLL | WWW | LL | W
WILDCARD: def. by Oakleigh Chargers 9.13 (67) to 11.15 (81)
QUARTER-FINAL: def. by Eastern Ranges 8.11 (59) to 16.11 (107)

THE STORY:

Calder started the campaign in red-hot form, building a 4-1 record before entering a mid-season slump of four consecutive defeats. The Cannons recovered to win four of their last six games, only losing to the two Metro preliminary finalists in Eastern (by three points) and Sandringham (37). Although a strong percentage put them top of five sides with 8-7 ledgers, the Cannons bowed out of the postseason in straight sets. They progressed through Wildcard Round as a lucky loser, only to be trounced by Eastern.

THE HIGHLIGHT:

The Cannons’ spirited 31-point victory over minor premier Gippsland holds up well, especially given they pulled it off in Morwell. It was part of a three-game win streak to get back in the positive after losing four on the trot. 2026 North Melbourne father-son prospect Sam Harris was best afield that day with 26 disposals, nine marks and a goal. Calder’s 4-1 start was another positive, including a five-point win over Oakleigh in Round 1, before thumping Tasmania and the Northern Territory by over 50 points each.

THE STAR:

Cooper Duff-Tytler
Ruck/Key Forward | 200cm | 22/08/2007

Season Averages [5 games]: 20.4 disposals, 5.6 marks, 17.4 hitouts, 1.0 goal

Undisputedly the Cannons’ leading prospect, Duff-Tytler only turned out for five Coates Talent League games but made an impact. Amid his representative call-ups, school football commitments, and even a VFL berth, the top five fancy showcased his ability to roam the ground and post big numbers. The athletic tall kicked two goals from over 20 touches in each of his two outings against Oakleigh, where he battled against fellow National Academy member Louis Emmett. He got a big tick for his forward craft late in the season, helping launch attacks and proving a marking threat inside 50.

THE MAINSTAYS:

Essendon NGA pair Adam Sweid and Hussien El Achkar were arguably the Cannons’ most important mainstays. The former came in with little fanfare after sitting out the 2024 season, but averaged 25 disposals per game to become a first round prospect. The latter led Calder’s goalkicking tally with 28.

Both earned Vic Metro representation and a National Draft Combine invite alongside Duff-Tytler. Industrious midfielder/defender Felix Kneipp would likely have joined them in both categories if not for a long-term injury, settling for six appearances at the season’s bookends and a state combine call-up.

Only two top-agers managed to play every game this year in powerful tall forward Taj Robinson, who booted 25 goals, and nifty midfielder Oliver Watt. Jackson Barber led the side along with co-captain Hamish Bird, while over-ager Gus Papal was a reliable defensive partner for Barber all year.

THE FUTURE:

The Cannons gave significant opportunities to plenty of underage talent, most notably blooding nine Under 16 prospects. Among them, tall forward Nathaniel Jenkins played five games, while Essendon father-son hopeful Koby Bewick managed four. Bombers NGA members Tevita Rodan and Moustafa Darwish turned out twice each, also looking promising for the 2027 crop.

Calder also boasts a relatively strong bottom-age core. Defender Jack Dodorico played every game, while Blake Justice blossomed as the season progressed to be included in the National Futures program. Both were also part of Vic Metro’s U17 side, along with Jackson Watkins and 2026 father-son candidate Sam Harris (North Melbourne). Levi West (Western Bulldogs) is another club-tied talent to watch.

OAKLEIGH CHARGERS

RECORD: 9th Overall | 5th Metro | 7-8 | 102.4%
STREAK: L | W | LLL | W | L | WWW | LL | WW | L
WILDCARD: def. Calder Cannons 11.15 (81) to 9.13 (67)
QUARTER-FINAL: def. by Sandringham Dragons 7.9 (51) to 10.9 (69)

THE STORY:

The Chargers’ finished second to last in the Metro conference but had a highly competitive record and a stacked team sheet at full strength. After falling to 2-5 on the verge of mid-season, they mustered three wins in a row and went on to take out five of their last eight games to finish just shy of parity. Oakleigh was the one team to benefit from Wildcard Round, beating the higher-ranked Calder before falling short of Sandringham in the quarter finals, for what was their fourth meeting of the season.

THE HIGHLIGHT:

Despite going 1-3 against rival club Sandringham for the year, Oakleigh’s 26-point win in Round 10 was a particular highlight. In what was a standalone fixture for the weekend, the Chargers kickstarted a three-game win streak to get their season back on track. Oakleigh also had the wood over Tasmania with two 70-plus point wins. The first of those came in Round 2 after going down by under a goal to Calder a week earlier. Then in Round 18, the Chargers repeated the feat to momentarily square up their record.

THE STAR:

Sam Grlj
Midfielder/Defender | 182cm | 26/07/2007

Season Averages [7 games]: 20.3 disposals, 5.0 tackles, 2.9 inside 50s, 0.7 goals

Grlj made an early-season bolt to be Oakleigh’s top prospect, trading his usual half-back role for more midfield minutes. The speedster proved difficult to contain each time he stepped out for the Chargers, amid his school football commitments, Vic Metro representation, and a VFL call-up for Richmond. While certainly flashy, Grlj compliments his flair with a competitive edge and thrives on getting stuck into the opposition. He models his game off the likes of Nick Daicos and Zak Butters.

THE MAINSTAYS:

No club in the land had more national draft combine invitees than Oakleigh’s eight, although a handful of that group played five games or less – through school and representative footy, injury, or both. Midfielder Hunter Holmes was a mainstay though, making 14 appearances to showcase his running power.

Sam Allen managed three games before going down with an ACL, and was set to feature in the Under 18 National Championships alongside the likes of Grlj and Holmes, Louis Emmett, Jack Ison, Max Kondogiannis, and Zac McCarthy, who will all attend the national combine early next month.

Also among that group is Western Bulldogs father-son prospect Will Darcy. His school football form put him on the radar, as did that of midfielder Archie Dollman. The latter earned a state combine call-up along with industrious rebound defender Aaron Sharkie, who was part of the Vic Metro side.

Utility Charlie Whitehead established himself as a key player with nine appearances in the Chargers’ bests across 15 games. Collingwood-tied small forward Jai Saxena was another to impress, leading the goalkicking with 20 majors. Fellow NGA prospect Doug Kerr also returned strongly off a long-term injury.

THE FUTURE:

Oakleigh had four players selected for the Vic Metro Futures side; Ricky Hobson, Archie Fogarty, Will Johnson, and Flynn Woolhouse. Midfielders Jack Poustie and Levi Prismall are well poised to emerged next year among the 2008-born crop, while Under 16 All-Australian Harper McCullough has already broken through for two games after debuting in Wildcard Round.