STATE captains, club-tied talent, and many other representative stars were among the promising juniors to turn out at state league level over the weekend. South Australian standout Kodah Edwards debuted for South Adelaide, as did Essendon-tied prospect Blake Justice and Fremantle Next Generation Academy (NGA) member Joshua Nathan in the WAFL. Catch up on how they all fared up the grades.

SANFL

2026 SANFL League & Reserves Round 15

State captain Kodah Edwards was unleashed at League level with South Adelaide, making his senior debut in a 61-point loss to Glenelg on Sunday. The competitive midfielder posted 16 disposals, seven marks and three clearances. Former state representative Tom McKay also made his debut for the Bays.

Port Adelaide Next Generation Academy (NGA) member Zackariah Young turned out for the first time in Magpies colours, contributing 11 touches and five tackles to his sides loss to Woodville-West Torrens. He made one appearance for the state Under 18 side before sitting out the remainder.

Also in that boat was West Adelaide utility Lincoln Pitt. The hulking tall was part of the West Adelaide ruck division tasked with thwarting Adelaide’s Reilly O’Brien. He had as many hitouts as disposals – five – in the 11-point defeat at Richmond Oval on Saturday, but is stringing together senior games.

A further four players earned promotions to the Reserves grade, including North Adelaide pair Ethan Herbert (13 disposals, four marks, 16 hitouts) and Memphis Webb (12 disposals, five clearances). The ruck-midfielder duo played their part in North’s 43-point loss on the road to Sturt.

Herbert’s state ruck partner Jobe Janeway also made his first Reserves appearance, winning 30 hitouts in a 50-point win over South Adelaide. Over-age Bays Under 18 captain Kobe Gibson was prominent with 20 disposals, five clearances and two goals in his seventh game at the level.

Three state players featured in the Eagles’ 71-point thumping of West Adelaide at Richmond Oval. Bloods bottom-ager Laurence Andriani led all comers with 27 disposals, while teammate Anthony Long bagged a goal on debut. Meanwhile, Eagles forward Jack Slattery booted three from 10 disposals and four marks having recently been named at full forward in the Under 18 All-Australian team.

VFL

2026 VFL Round 17

Among the weekend’s most high profile state league debutants was Essendon NGA member Blake Justice, who donned the sash having been rotated out of the Vic Metro side. The athletic 191cm utility has had his season interrupted by injury, but suited up to win seven touches in the Bombers’ 53-point win over Coburg at Windy Hill.

Rising Swans Academy midfielder Henry Meaney also earned a VFL berth, collecting 15 touches and laying eight tackles in Sydney’s 16-point win over Brisbane. The Lions fielded dual club-tied prospect Cooper Hodge (nine disposals, nine tackles) and fellow Academy product Ethan Duke (17 disposals). Meaney and Hodge were recently teammates in the Allies squad.

Gold Coast was another side to unleash plenty of junior talent. Hard-running utility Archie Hill racked up 18 disposals and five marks, not to be outdone by Leroy Kaesler (20 disposals) and Isaac Mayne (19). Jake Callinan also played in the 50-point loss to Footscray, kicking a goal from his seven touches.

Along similar lines, Greater Western Sydney had a few over-agers turn out in the Giants’ 64-point defeat to Frankston on Sunday. Crafty forward Brody Kane snared a goal, while versatile tall Jim Houston took three marks and Reeve Simmons won 20 hitouts.

A feel-good story of the weekend was Dandenong Stingrays powerhouse Mitch Toner making his VFL debut for Williamstown, where his elder brother Jack is vice-captain. While overlooked for Vic Country honours, he has been impressive form and kicked a goal while laying six tackles on Saturday.

Elsewhere, Sandringham over-ager Ricky Theodoropoulos was back to his best with three goals from 20 disposals as the Zebras drew with Southport. Fellow 2007-born prospect Zachary O’Keefe, also playing his second VFL game, impressed with 26 disposals at 88 per cent efficiency in Richmond’s loss to Box Hill.

WAFL

2026 WAFL League & Reserves Round 15

A bunch of state stars resumed regular programming over the weekend, including captain Leo Steed. After finishing WA’s final game on the bench through illness, the speedy mid-forward returned for Swan Districts with 15 disposals and five marks in an 11-point loss to South Fremantle on Saturday.

Competitive over-age ruck Frazer Rickson showed his wares in Subiaco’s eight-point win over West Perth. Renowned for his follow-up work, he posted 14 disposals, seven tackles and 30 hitouts against a Falcons ruck group which included former West Coast-listed tall Coen Livingstone.

One to monitor for Fremantle fans and recruiters alike is NGA candidate Joshua Nathan. After averaging 11.4 tackles across five Reserves appearances, he made the step up to League level in a three-point loss to Boorloo. He contributed 12 disposals and four tackles for the Sharks.

In the Reserves, West Perth unleashed key forward Harvey Spawton-Guy to good effect. After being a focal point in the West Australian side, he booted 3.2 from 14 disposals and seven marks in the Falcons’ 14-point win over Subiaco.

Fellow talls Cooper Ramsay (10 disposals, 26 hitouts) and Ben Wood (five marks, one goal) also made their maiden appearances at the level for East Fremantle, adjusting well despite their side suffering a 122-point loss at the hands of Boorloo.